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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2008

Making Choice Clearer

When General Wesley Clark decided that John McCain's war record was not relevant to his candidacy for president, it made me consider McCain's sacrifice.

McCain proved early in his life he would give his life to defend our country. He spent five years refusing to give the enemy anything they could use against us. When he was given the opportunity to leave, he remained with his men and proved his loyalty and demonstrated true leadership even if it meant paying the ultimate sacrifice.

Thank you General Clark, you have now made it crystal clear to me what kind of man I want in the White House. How could you possibly begin to compare these two men?

JOHN MINTON

Tampa

Trying For VP Spot
General Wesley Clark has never had his armchair shot out from under him over enemy territory. His only torture has been trying to decide which cocktail to order at the officer's club bar.

Kissing up to the Clintons and now Barack H. Obama should qualify him for the vice president spot on the Democratic ticket.

HENRY QUELL

San Antonio

Blame The Democrats

In 2006, American voters voted for change after the Republican-controlled Congress forgot the principles of the "Contract With America" that got them elected. When the Democrats took control of Congress, consumer confidence was at a two and a half year high, gas was just over $2 a gallon and employment was at 4.5 percent.

Since the Democrats took control, consumer confidence is at a near record low, gas is around $4.50 a gallon, unemployment is about 5.5 percent, Americans have lost more than $2.3 trillion in equity in stock, bond and mutual funds, more than 1 percent of homes are in foreclosure, and homeowners have lost more than $1.3 trillion in home equity,

President Bush gets the ire of the nation for our economic woes, but Congress, and only Congress, can pass the laws we have to live with. Is it any wonder that its approval rating is the lowest in history?

KENNETH LOWE

Sun City Center

A Faithful Ally

Regarding "America's Next War Already Being Planned" (Other Views, July 2):

The recent flyover by Israel's skilled air force has once again served the free world well in its struggle against Islamic jihadists. The Wahhabis now know that they are vulnerable.

Once again our democratic ally, Israel, has demonstrated their value in the war against Islamic extremism. In a recent trip to Israel I was given a shirt which said it all. With the usual Israeli "chutzpah" it read, "Don't worry America, Israel is behind you."

NORMAN N. GROSS

Palm Harbor

Must Be A Better Way

Regarding "Greenpeace Founder Goes Nuclear" (Other Views, June 27):

It is clear that Patrick Moore is suffering from one of two serious problems, if not both. Either he has lost the ability to think clearly and rationally or he is on someone's payroll.

While his statement of a significant reduction of emissions may sound convincing, how can the "co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition" skip right over mentioning the solid radioactive waste that will replace it? I believe the estimate is around 10,000 years that this garbage remains dangerous. Anyone with any questions, just look up Yucca Mountain and you will find a lot of answers.

There has to be a cleaner way to deal with this oil problem and we have to at least look for it before rushing into a replacement just as dangerous.

JAMES JONES

Tampa

Our Wasteful Ways

It is said nature abhors a vacuum. But what nature detests most are waste, inefficiency and excess. Yet humans seem bent on ignoring this, with Americans having mastered the art. And we are at our most wasteful, inefficient and excessive when it comes to our most valuable resources, namely food, water, oil and money.

We treat water as an infinite and imperishable resource, using large quantities to water decorative lawns and treating rivers and oceans as trash receptacles. Is it a surprise water shortages and ocean dead zones are increasing?

We have been spending money we didn't have on things we don't need while taking on more and more debt. Could that have anything to do with the troubled economy and shrinking dollar?

We have dismissed conservation for the past 30 years when it comes to oil, behaving as though it were infinite in supply and innocuous in its use. Now we have to live with high prices and the threat of global warming.

As it becomes painfully clear that not only are there consequences to our actions, but that they can occur in our lifetime - to us as opposed to some unknown generation years from now - we might want to focus on our genuine needs and accommodate nature's zero tolerance for waste, inefficiency and excess.

CHIP THOMAS

Tampa

Don't Blame Candidates

Regarding "Strip Write-In Candidates Of Power To Close Any One-Party Race" (Our Opinion, June 30):

It is not the fault of the Republican Party or the write-in candidate that non-Republican voters can't vote in a Republican primary.

Your biased editorial left out one important question: Why did Democrats not step up to the plate and run? If Democrats want a voice in elections, then they should concentrate less on Republican primaries and more on producing worthwhile candidates for office.

KELSO TANNER

Riverview

Justice Was Delayed

Regarding "Execution First Since Revamp" (front page, July 2):

Mark Dean Schwab finally was executed 17 years after he raped and murdered a child! This is outrageous!

Justice is not well-served when the victim's blood calls out for justice year after year. When justice takes this long, it barely precedes the eternal justice which comes to all after death.

RICK CLEWIS

Tampa

The writer is president of PRIMER.

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