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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

Keep On Editorializing

Regarding "Now It's Your Turn" (Letters, Jan. 19):

I was both appalled and amused by the many comments, pro and con, that you received concerning your recent endorsements of John McCain and Barack Obama. I guess I expect too much of adults in our purportedly educated society.

I definitely do not always agree with your editorial positions. However, I not only believe you have a right to make them public, I want you to do so. Occasionally your editorials, endorsements or otherwise, will highlight or enlighten me on aspects I hadn't previously considered. Moreover, it is evident to me that they are opinions and not news.

The negative comments largely dealt in attacking you instead of rebutting your positions. That sort of "argument" is usually practiced in elementary school playgrounds. Unfortunately, a lot of adults seemingly fail to outgrow that form of "logic" in which if you cannot discuss the topic, attack the person who dares to disagree.

Whether good, bad or merely mediocre, keep up the editorializing work.

JIM MOYERS

Sun City Center

What Gives Us The Right?

Concerning the Tribune endorsing a candidate, I ask what gives you the right, authority or even arrogance to suggest I vote for someone? You can't even list deceased people in the correct alphabetical order.

REV. ED LAMP

Tampa

Keep Yourself Informed

Many readers expressed their opinions of your choices for the next president (Letters, Jan. 19). In my humble opinion, the election in November promises to be one of the most important elections in our country's history.

Aside from the ramifications of who the candidates will be, there are extremely important issues to be undertaken by the lucky winner. Of great importance are two issues affecting all our good citizens: affordable health care and financial security.

Some very strong decisions must be made at the executive level, and I do mean the next president of the United States. AARP has a national campaign to bring these issues to the attention of the candidates now vying for nomination. "Divided We Fail" means voters must make themselves aware of how a candidate will address these two issues. Health care and financial security are the bedrock of today's living, affecting all of us. So read, keep yourself informed and choose wisely.

CHRIS PRINZIVALLI

Valrico

The Best Candidate

I read with interest your Jan. 19 letters, especially those regarding Sen. John McCain, my choice for president. The first writer decries the war - yawn. The second writer is holding his nose. How about holding his mouth? He seems to know nothing about conservatism, a salient feature of which is minding one's own business as opposed to trying to get the government to further one's personal agenda.

The third writer questions the senator's loyalty to the party. Let me remind him that part of being a Republican is to independently do the right thing and to vote for the best candidate. I always class "party loyalty" with "union membership" and other unthinking, undesirable traits. Several writers attack the media - another yawn.

We need to hunker down and vote for the best candidate, the Honorable John McCain.

P.D. STERLING

Lakeland

Constant Reminders

Regarding "McCain's Time to Shine" (Commentary, Jan. 20):

You had a full color portrait of the man - very impressive. The inflated egos of the editorial board have decided that all the little people in our voting area should adhere to their wisdom and vote for whom they have deemed to be the most qualified candidate for president of this great country.

Again, on subsequent days on the "Other Views" page, we are reminded, bottom right, that you have endorsed John McCain and, oh yes, as a courtesy to the Democrats, Barack Obama was mentioned. The other candidates running aren't as fortunate.

Can you imagine what would happen if we didn't have the editorial board advising us on whom we should cast our vote for? We'd have to focus our attention on this election and decide for ourselves who we want for our next president. Good grief!

JEANNE PARRISH

Tampa

Insulting Readers

I am a firm believer in everyone having a right to their own opinion. However, being in the position that the editorial board is in, I find it disturbing to find "Tribune Endorsement" included every day. In my opinion you have overstepped your authority by forcing your opinion on your readers to this extent.

I, like so many of your readers, have yet to make a decision as to who I intend to vote for. I neither agree nor disagree with your choice. That is not the issue. Once you have stated your "opinion," I do not believe you should continually try to sway your readers to accept it.

Your readers are not sheep that you can steer into accepting your choices. You insult our intelligence, and I resent it.

JOE CARAMOTO

Tampa

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