Printed letters, July 29, 2012

By Staff
Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Supreme Court’s health care decision is one month behind us, and while the histrionic displays of emotion exhibited by Republicans have subsided, the radical right has launched its latest barrage of character assassination upon President Obama.

The whining and vilification is more of the same “over the edge” behavior we have come to expect from the Republicans for what they are — poor losers who presume to be entitled to govern. These tactics are just another element of the GOP’s three-pronged strategy to defeat the Democrats at all levels of government in November.

The first prong, proclaimed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., within hours of the 2009 inauguration, was his intention to deny the president a second term through obstructionism.

Second, spurred by Grover Norquist, Republicans adopted a “take no prisoners” attitude toward governance, willing — even anxious — to allow a government shutdown.

Third is a rogue’s gallery of GOP congressional leaders, and pundits from the right — all expert storytellers — not at all reluctant to resort to lies about Obama.

All of the GOP’s obstacles have failed to discourage and tarnish the president. On the other hand is Mitt Romney, a candidate conflicted by contradiction and inconsistency.

Once again the GOP leaders are to blame, each pulling on different strings like so many puppeteers, pushing him into blind corners and dead ends. What must have seemed like an uphill climb is quickly becoming insurmountable. Before June 30, Romney bore a resemblance to stale bread. These days he is simply toast.

JIM GERNHOFER

Grand Junction

Voters have chance to join team with best business sense

Reading the paper, listening to conversations and certainly being exposed to the prolific political ads in this election year, I have often heard Obama supporters voice the thought, “Yes, but at Bain, Romney outsourced jobs.” They are missing the point.

Whether at Bain or the Salt Lake Olympics, Mitt Romney and his team were wildly successful at what they did. If you were on his team, you, too, were successful. Some of those who were not on his team were not successful.

You and I now have an opportunity to be on the Romney team. Before, Romney’s focus was on what made Bain or the Olympics successful. This time, if he becomes the next president, his focus will be on America and what makes this country successful.

Both Obama and Romney have, in no uncertain terms, stated that the economy and jobs will be their focus. Part of the Bain strategy was undoubtedly to outsource certain jobs, a quite common business strategy that has become a successful strategy because of the prevailing business climate throughout our country. If elected, Romney’s focus would be on how to largely reduce the desire for business to use such a strategy.

You have to ask: Which team offers more demonstrated success in such a business environment? Whose team is the most likely to achieve success in this endeavor? But the biggest question and most critical question of all: If you truly want the job(s), if you truly want a good economy, whose team will you be on?

RODNEY JOHNSON

Delta

 

We should all request and give a little respect

There is one crucial element that has been slowly declining in our society and we need to start getting it back: respect. Children need to respect their parents. Parents need to respect their grandparents. Grandparents need to respect young people.

Citizens need to respect the law, including the speed limit. We need to drive as though our friends are in the cars around us, not our enemies.

We need to treat the president of the United States with respect and refer to him as President Obama, not just Obama. Politicians on both sides of the aisle need to treat each other with respect. They need to take responsibility for their campaigns and not let political action committees distort and lie about each other, whether they are Democrats or Republicans.

Parents need to pay attention to their children when they are walking or driving with them and not be talking on their cell phones.

Finally, we need to respect human life, as the recent tragedies have demonstrated. We need to help each other in times of need and plenty.

There is a saying that applies to all of us: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, respect each other.

We all need to teach this to our children and grandchildren. We need to remember and live by what we believe.

DAVID E. HILDEBRANDT

Grand Junction

 

There’s a double standard when it comes to free speech

Let’s see if I have this correct. If you are gay or lesbian you can say and do pretty much what you want with your rights guaranteed under our Constitution and Bill of Rights.

But if you are a white, male businessman who happens to espouse his religious beliefs, then you will be denied building or zoning permits in Chicago, Boston, etc. Isn’t this discrimination under current law?

Dan Cathy, of family-owned Chick-fil-A, is not discriminating against the gays or lesbians in any form. Why is there such an outcry because he is standing up for his religious beliefs under the auspices of freedom of religion and freedom of speech, just a couple items our Founding Fathers fought for over 200 years ago?

I will be eating at Chick-fil-A on Aug. 1. Hope to see you there.

ROD MARTINEZ

Grand Junction