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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2008

Voting In Comfort

Regarding the letter from Summer Loduca concerning her 89-year-old grandfather ("Poll Problem") and a front-page article about the nudists at Caliente Resort, all in the Oct. 31 Tribune:

How old must one be to be wise enough to realize you can sit at home in your most comfortable chair, with a drink of your choice if you desire, and in your birthday suit if that is what you enjoy, and vote at your leisure? How can it possibly be Buddy Johnson's fault?

Also, the people at Caliente could set up a pseudo-polling location in their community and vote in the altogether, then drop their ballots in a common box to be mailed all at once.

I voted absentee. I didn't stand in a long line, I didn't waste gas, and I didn't get disenfranchised.

LARRY HENDERSON

Clearwater

Big Meet A Success

Thank you to Katherine Smith and The Tampa Tribune for the great coverage of the 3A District 4 swim meet held last Thursday at the New Tampa YMCA pool. Over 400 swimmers from 10 schools and two counties participated in the all-day event.

Often, swimming does not get the press it deserves. Swimmers spend countless hours in the pool, encouraged by coaches who are there for the love of the sport, not the paycheck. Many thanks go out to the head official, Bob Griffiths, and his team. Many who worked this meet did not even have a swimmer participate.

A special thanks to Mitzi and Mark Tighe and the staff at the YMCA for being such gracious hosts.

ANDY ALBRIGHT

Meet Director

Party Pooper
I was very disappointed, to say the least, with Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and her decision to show Tampa's appreciation to our Tampa Bay Rays by hosting a mere luncheon party in downtown Tampa. Like many other Rays fans, I don't work in downtown Tampa, and with a work schedule a luncheon party is not very thoughtful for fans who want to show their appreciation.

I would certainly hope this was not her best effort to say "thanks" for a team that gave us their "all." The Rays put Tampa Bay on the map (with something good!), and this is all our mayor can do for them? Shame on her!

C. ELLIOTT

Plant City

Spotlight On Bias

Your editorial stating the Florida Supreme Court "refused to extend to Floridians the right to sue papers for embarrassing them in public by portraying them in an unflattering way, a "false light," was very interesting ("Court Favors Expression In Rejecting 'False Light'" Nov. 3). I believe the court ruled correctly but did not go far enough.

What about biased reporting? Does the media have a responsibility to report the facts as they are? You conclude your editorial by stating that the "public's right to receive truthful information is preserved." Is biased reporting truthful, or does it color the facts in a false light?

The media may have the legal right to report in a "false light," but what about their obligation to the public? Is biased reporting misleading? Not all reporting is biased, but it is unfortunate that it is not limited to the editorial pages.

COLE MOLYNEUX

New Port Richey

Tribune Sets Example

I was happy to see your "Tribune's Picks In General Election" on Oct. 31 with just what I asked for - simple terms for what we were voting for on each of the proposed constitutional amendments.

I do have one question: If you could boil it down to simple, understandable language, why couldn't those who requested a vote on these items have done so? The first sentence could have been something simple like your examples; then a paragraph with more information could have followed, wouldn't you think?

But in any case, thank you!

NORMA LEHMANN

Sun City Center

Be Like Charlie

It must have been an extremely slow news day for Catherine Dolinski's article, "More Early Voting Draws Boos" (Oct. 31) to be The Tampa Tribune's lead story. Voting, after all, is a constitutional right, and it is the duty of our elected officials to ensure every person has an opportunity to vote and make that process as easy as possible.

While I am an independent, I have to take my hat off to Gov. Charlie Crist. He made a decision that was unpopular with some in his own party but in the best interest of Florida's voters. Wouldn't the USA be so much better off if all politicians did this? All? What am I thinking? I must have taken too much cough syrup.

If only five percent of the politicians did this it would be an improvement.

JIM GIBSON

Brooksville

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