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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 6, 2008

Blame Florida Officials
Regarding Daniel Ruth's column "People Have Shed Blood For This?" (Metro, April 30):

The problem is not arbitrary rules set by the Democratic National Committee, but rather the Florida Democratic Party violating rules that they helped write.

If Ruth wants to set his sights on someone to blame for this mess then he needs to look not at Howard Dean but rather at Karen L. Thurman, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, and on Diane Glasser, Clarence Anthony, Carrie Meek, Luis Garcia, Janee Murphy, Charles Whitehead and Rudolph Parker, who are the FDP officials.

In addition to them he needs to look at all of the Democratic legislators in Tallahassee who agreed to the primary date. And he needs to look at the governor who signed the bill allowing the too-early election, and then refused to change it.

ALAN PETRILLO

St. Petersburg

Al Gore To The Rescue?

The end result of the Democratic primary race at best appears to be verging on disaster. Hillary Clinton's pulling out all stops in bloodying Barack Obama and she has connected with middle America. Still trailing, with scant hope of winning the nomination, Clinton is exposing Obama's dangerous weaknesses. Other than racism, his inopportune words about bitterness resulting in "clinging" to religion and guns could prove to be his undoing.

There is a way out. It is not pretty and could well have its own pitfalls, but the superdelegate system could prove to be of great advantage for the Democratic Party. If the superdelegates would stand on the sidelines or vote for a third candidate during the nominating process, neither Clinton nor Obama would have enough votes for the nomination. Negotiations at the convention would then determine the candidate. One possible solution would be Al Gore.

VALD SVEKIS

Sarasota

The Wright Factor

Is Rev. Jeremiah Wright trying to torpedo Barack Obama's candidacy? After viewing his arrogant, sarcastic and insulting presentation at the Press Club on April 28, one has to wonder. His flippant answers and unwillingness to show any regrets for the outrageous statements he made as Obama's pastor all reveal a man who appears to be on a huge ego trip.

One thing we can be thankful for - Wright is helping to define a presidential candidate we didn't really know!

DARYL L. UNNASCH

Tampa

Count Cars In Malls

Regarding "Economic Roller Coaster" (Business & Money, April 27):

The illustration of the roller coaster and the descriptions interested me in that the economists know what these cycles look like, but they cannot put dates to the chart until the recession is over. They always look back to tell us what happened. I have a better way of determining the dates in real time.

I look at the number of cars in the mall parking lots. The number of cars was decreasing rapidly last June and July and seemed to hit bottom around Christmas time. Now the number of cars has been increasing during February and March. To me it is just the question if the trend follows the depicted economic loop or trends back to normal.

The government economists should contract to have satellite pictures taken of a few major malls at regular intervals and then chart the estimated number of cars. This would provide them an objective picture of where the country is in the economic cycle. Then the government could react quicker in implementing corrective fiscal measures.

WILLARD OTTMAN

Apollo Beach

Fix Income, Not Fuel Tax

Federal relief from fuel prices could help, but not in a tax cut from the pump. Instead, let's put a change in the income tax.

Figure that for an average driver, 15,000 miles per year at 20 mpg, gas would cost $3,000 per year at $4 per gallon. So, let's add a $2,500 deduction per vehicle in our federal income tax. Families and individuals could save enough to offset the increase in fuel.

However, because the tax refund or decrease is annual, it's less likely to increase consumption; a cut in taxes in the pump would simply increase it. It's a "win-win" that way and provides necessary relief for taxpayers who are all struggling with the issue of increasing fuel prices.

GREG LACHS

Tampa

Beyond FEMA's Ability

Regarding "Ray Of Hope Turns Into Cloud" (Metro, April 29).

First, I am not unsympathetic to families who are less fortunate or in situations such as the Gables'. However, I fail to understand several things about their situation.

In 2004, they were given by FEMA more than $21,000 for hurricane damage to their trailer - and they lived in a FEMA trailer, at no charge, I am sure - while trying to "get back on their feet." How long, exactly, does that take? And they have nothing left of it?

I understand that Mrs. Gable cannot work due to health reasons, but it seems Mr. Gable is perfectly able to, but instead of going out and getting another job after his construction job completed, he chose to live on unemployment until it ran out. Now, he can't look for work because of a recent arrest for driving on a suspended license and drug possession. And despite these self-destructive habits that are obviously not going to help the situation, he expects sympathy because now FEMA is asking for some of that money back?

LORI DOBSON

Palm Harbor

Correction

Jame Vasquez's first name was misspelled in a May 5 letter.

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