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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 7, 2008

Executive Responsibility

Regarding "Party's Task Is Just Beginning" (Commentary, Aug. 31):

State Sen. Mike Fasano states that "a strong executive branch must provide a check and balance to a Congress that has not been meeting the needs of Americans." This is just the opposite of what must exist in order to better serve the needs of Americans and to restore the global view of our great country.

Congress should keep in check the executive branch, which has taken and assumed powers not given by the Constitution. Both branches need to meet the needs of the people, not lobbyists, campaign donors or the ruling party.

The false assumption about a required strong executive branch proposed by Fasano does not do justice to the system of government wisely set up by the Founding Fathers of the United States.

JOHN JAMISON

New Port Richey

Should Have Vetoed More

Regarding "Not All Bush's Fault" (Letters, Aug. 31):

The letter writer states not all the problems we are having are Bush's fault and that he will take McCain's experience over a "rookie." The one thing that Bush is responsible for is the way spending and taxes have been balanced. He is the one who signed every single spending bill and tax cut which put us into a record deficit. A real leader would have vetoed all the bills that were over budget, or raised the taxes back to where they were under Clinton, who had a balanced budget and didn't have to borrow money from China.

Anyone who has been elected to the level of governor of a state or any level of Congress for any amount of time has experience. Intelligence, judgment and a real desire to do good things for this country, is what we should be debating about the candidates.

JIM HARVEY

Tampa

Obama Not A 'Rookie'

I agree that "not everything is President Bush's fault." The president probably gets more blame than he deserves. I also agree with the letter writer's assertion that Iraq is a mess.

However, I do disagree with his implication that Senator Obama is "a Monday morning quarterback." Obama spoke against going to war in Iraq on Oct. 2, 2002. He correctly foresaw that the "war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaida."

Pretty good call for a "rookie."

JERRY WEEKS

Lakeland

More Plain Talk Needed

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal used understandable political language to impress New Orleans residents with the urgency of leaving the city in preparation for Hurricane Gustav. Mayor Nagin used understandable street language telling potential looters they would go straight to jail. Both were effective in their different ways.

I hope to hear more plain language from all politicians.

STEVE ROSEN

Tampa

For Players' Benefit

Regarding "LPGA's English Policy Is Out Of Bounds" (Our Opinion, Aug. 31):

Could it be your editorialist is pontificating above his/her pay grade? Our country's language of life is English. The LPGA conducts its business in English in securing fans, sites and sponsors, all vital for any tournament in building good will. A pro-am event provides a relaxed, yet competitive, time for players/sponsors to meet/learn from one another. It was an invaluable experience for our daughter in sharpening her PR skills and she often gave tips to her amateur teammates to help them improve.

Yes, it's an American social, cultural and business occasion and all for the love of the game. And English is the tie that binds. Those who participate earn the rewards.

Requiring English conversation is for the benefit of foreign language players. They are not required to compete in America. If they desire to do so, then be a good Roman and many are.

ANN FOYER

San Antonio

More Than Greed

For months the newspaper has allowed voices pitching that greed created our housing crisis. It was said that people bit off more of a house mortgage than they could chew. In reality, the insurance and property taxes doubled and tripled.

I have been a licensed Realtor in the Tampa Bay area since 1988. People didn't buy more of a house than they could afford; taxes and insurance went up 20 to 40 percent after they purchased the home. Most were around 40 percent total debt, and housing increased to over 70 percent of their debt. That did not include utilities, cars and credit cards.

Adjustable rate mortgages and 29-percent-interest credit cards made it impossible for America to have the American dream. It is called the free market Bush administration plan for friends paying to play with campaign contributions. This separates the Dems from the GOP Bush Republicans. Think before you vote on another thing. Gas and oil prices were also free market.

Think when you go to the polls. The wrong vote can continue this pain and greed by big business.

PEGGY ARVANITAS

Seminole

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