RSSPrinted letters June 24, 2012
In the last few weeks, President Obama has used his executive power to adopt immigration changes for political reasons when even his Democratic-controlled Congress would not touch them when they had control for more than two years. Today it is executive privilege to cover up the fast and furious.
He has stretched the truth about drilling being increased. The only increase was on private land that he could not control. He is trying to shove health care reform down our throats.
Sure the stars, liberals and environmentalists will do everything to stop any form of energy but what they choose. Have they thought of the impact on wildlife and the environment with solar panels and windmills all over?
They complain about nuclear plants or coal-powered power plants at least 60 miles from any town. Here’s a big suggestion for such places as Telluride and Ophir: Let’s turn all your coal-supplied power off in the middle of the winter. Then maybe the towns would go back to what they were intended for.
God help us if we have the same stuff for four more years. Will we end up with our version of Hugo Chavez for life?
LORIE CULLUM
Grand Junction
Penry’s opinion of Krugman shows a lack of maturity
I make it my business each day to read as much of the commentary on the editorial pages as I can, whether or not I agree with the political views. I believe it is up to me to be an informed consumer of information, and I appreciate looking at issues from various angles.
However, I could not bring myself to read Josh Penry’s Friday column when, as I scanned the content, I glanced at this phrase: “Paul Krugman … is a know-it-all jerk.” While it is not necessary that Penry paint Krugman (a Nobel Prize winner, by the way) in a positive light, his own choice of words portrays him as sophomoric and adolescent.
Penry would do well to take a page from David Brooks’ playbook and treat his political opponents with respect, thereby promoting civil discourse, something sorely needed these days.
SHARI VANDERVELD
Grand Junction
Obama has double standard regarding foreign affairs
Were it not for the reasonably imposed word limitation on letters to the editor, letter writer Rick Coleman could easily have gone on to mention other foreign policy errors committed by Obama over the past three-plus years.
Many of us watch in amazement over such brilliant military decisions as “leading from behind” in Libya because the Libyan government had killed 200-300 civilians, but not engaging in any way in Syria where its government has now killed more than 10,000 innocent civilians in just the past year.
But Obama did finally respond, seriously denouncing Syria’s brutal treatment of Syrian civilians, and seriously pulling American diplomats out of Syria. How devastating to Syria.
Obama campaigned adamantly against the Bush-Cheney enhanced interrogation policy, the policy that directly led to the killing of Osama Bin Laden by our capable Seal Team. And why did Obama so strongly oppose enhanced interrogation? Pouring a little water up the nose of a brutal murderer is “inhumane,” but blowing him to pieces and everyone around him with a drone attack is not inhumane?
The same administration that insisted on extending Miranda rights to captured terrorists, to which they are not entitled under the U.S. Constitution, is quite comfortable blowing them up without so much as an investigation.
To be clear, I have no concern regarding the extermination of these vermin, other than the fact the Obama administration has no interest in obtaining critical information that might further protect American lives. My issue is the obvious double standard of the Democrats and the blatant disingenuous actions of the Obama administration in cherry picking if, when and how it addresses terrorist and brutal dictators.
DON BOYLES
Grand Junction
Emergency responders merit a family’s deep gratitude
Receiving the call last Friday that my mother and our two young sons were involved in a rollover accident on Interstate 70 was by far one of the most heart-wrenching moments of our lives.
Several Good Samaritans quickly stopped to call 911 and assist. (We didn’t get their full names but hope this reaches them. They know who they are.)
Thanks to them and to responders from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department, the Colorado State Patrol, the Clifton Fire Department and the remarkable ER staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, all three of our cherished family members are alive and well.
The compassionate, professional actions of these individuals are a blessing for which we are forever thankful.
We are deeply grateful for how this situation turned out and wish to take this opportunity to remind everyone to please buckle up and use the appropriate car seats and booster seats for children. Had our family not been properly restrained, this story would likely have had a tragic ending.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
BRAD and JAMMIE MCCLOUD
Grand Junction
COMMENTS
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.Shari Vanderveld labeled Penry as, “sophomoric and adolescent.” Sophomore is derived of two Greek words meaning ‘wise’ and ‘fool’ which is indicative of a person not knowing as much as they think they know and an implied trait of adolescents of being ‘know-it-alls’ without experience. Penry’s wording of ‘jerk’ certainly validates Vanderveld’ observation. She very ably showed mastery of writing to opine Penry’s being a ‘jerk’ (as Penry probably meant it) by applying descriptors to his ‘choice of words’ to point that Penry was guilty of his own accusation. Her greater goal of civil discourse is commendable.
Penry writes an opinion column, if he is paid, then the Sentinel has the right to either edit, have him change wording, or not print/pay. However, like anyone else writing ‘letters to the editor’ that gets rejected for ‘name calling’, so should they do so with Penry when he takes this tact. Penry should retract and apologize, if he is not able to opine his disagreement of ‘philosophy or ideas’ without name calling, then the Sentinel needs to rethink the value of his opinion.