Posted on Wed, Jun. 11, 2008

Bush and Cheney’s prewar claims

More damning news about how this administration took us to war in Iraq surfaced recently (6/6, A-1, “Review critical of Bush, Cheney; Some assertions are exonerated, but al-Qaida-Baghdad alleged link draws reproach”).

Repeated lies and intense propaganda. Where was the press?

The report was actually supposed to be made public back when Pat Roberts was in charge of the Senate Intelligence Committee, but he and Kit Bond and the Republican majority on the committee suppressed it.

It is apparent to me that political loyalty to them is of greater value than loyalty to our country. How many good families are suffering through the loss of their loved ones today simply because Pat Roberts and Kit Bond, devoid of the political courage to do otherwise, wanted to be loyal politicians?

The irony, of course, is that in Kansas City we are going to honor one by naming a prominent bridge after him and re-elect the other to six more years of the same inane behavior. How sad on both counts.

Jim Kendall

Kansas City, Kan.

With the latest “Intelligence Report” issued on the Bush-Cheney administration’s overzealous march to war, the only answer is that no matter which candidate wins in November, we should send Bush and Cheney to Iraq as a team of ambassadors.

This could help Bush’s legacy and give him a chance to bring peace to the Middle East as he claims he wants, and Cheney is good with guns. They’ll make a great team as they tackle what they started.

They could meet those they sent to war on false pretenses. Their wives could wait and pray for their return.

McCain, Bush and Cheney want us to “win,” so this is a good match. Obama wants us out and, once there, Bush and Cheney will want that too. So again, it’s a win-win situation.

I was always brought up that if I made a mess, it was up to me to clean it up. Let Bush and Cheney do the manly thing and clean up their mess.

Ann Goodrich

Kansas City

Race isn’t the issue with Obama

In response to “aging black American” Eddie Clay (6/9, Voices): When will people such as yourself understand the hypocrisy in your racist remarks? I am an aging American. I will not vote for a socialist such as Barack Obama.

As with the West Virginia voters, we are sick of being told it is a race issue. I am sure many of those West Virginia voters on the Republican side voted for Alan Keyes in the 2000 primaries, as I did. We did so because he was a qualified candidate, not paying attention to his race.

The biggest bigots are definitely the liberal, political media machines. They are the ones doing the counting and stirring things up.

Jim Davis

Independence

True Dems can’t support McCain

Most Democrats could never support McCain. He has a dismal record on the environment. He gets zero rating from women’s groups for his poor stance on reproductive rights and advocating “abstinence-only” programs. He opposes equal pay for women, saying they just need more experience and education.

He admits knowing little about the economy and supports President Bush’s permanent tax cuts to the rich. His chief economic adviser, lobbyist Phil Gramm, helped cause the subprime crisis with deregulation; McCain blamed homeowners. He opposed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. He leaves health care to insurance companies with only a $5,000 tax credit for us to shop around. It’s too little and excludes anyone with pre-existing conditions.

He opposed the GI Bill and says we could remain permanently in Iraq. More jobs left the U.S. when he and his lobbyist advisers got a Pentagon contract outsourced to France over Kansas’ Boeing Co. He’s out of touch with America.

McCain says he is a “maverick,” but a 95 percent voting record with Bush in recent years tells us otherwise. Before voting for McCain, know who he is.

Some say that McCain 2000 wouldn’t vote for McCain 2008.

Kathy Butler

Parkville

Time worth more than gas

Here we go again. Drive slower to save gas. That works if you don’t have to make a living selling merchandise that requires you to call on customers. The last time this country’s speed limit was 55 mph, it required me to increase the length of my workday by 30 percent.

Think of this: Following the letter (6/9) on this subject: It took the writer about 5 1/2 hours to drive 360 miles at 65 mph. I would have gone 75 mph, arriving about 45 minutes earlier. In that 45 minutes I could have made one business call, which normally resulted in my getting $75 to $100 in commissions from my sale.

The writer had to purchase 12.8 gallons of gas, and I would have burned 16.3 gallons of gas. At $4 per gallon, it would have cost me $14 more.

If you are retired, I guess it doesn’t matter, but if you are trying to pay the bills, I would take the quickest trip.

John Proctor

Stilwell

Politicians’ heavy use of fuel

Billy Burke (6/6, Letters) is worried about how much money President Bush wasted by attending a fundraiser in Kansas and traveling on Air Force One. I wonder if Billy also worried about Clinton when he was doing the same thing. Plus the fact Clinton sat on the runway of a large airport, with the engines running, while he received a $200 haircut.

Not to mention the fact that his wife, Hillary, traveled all over the world at the taxpayers’ expense.

It’s all in the eyes of the beholder, Billy.

It’s also part of a president’s job. So get over it.

Bill Austin

Kansas City

I have just about had enough of the politicians telling us to conserve.

When Ted Kennedy goes home from the hospital, he gets into an SUV. The candidates for our president are shown getting off private jets. Couldn’t they fly the commercial airlines or take Amtrak? Aren’t the buses still running?

I don’t believe they practice what they preach.

Jim Schmitt

Liberty

It’s time for Gloria to go

I read Mike Hendricks’ column (6/6, Local, “Dear Gloria: Time to stop talking and start packing”) about the embarrassing situation with Mayor Funkhouser’s wife, Gloria Squitiro.

I agree with Mike’s assessment of the whole mess with Ruth Bates’ lawsuit. The Funk’s handling of his wife’s embarrassing activities in his office makes me question his leadership ability. If he can’t manage his wife’s activities in a way that’s productive for the good of Kansas City, can he run Kansas City? The Bates lawsuit is an embarrassment for Kansas City’s leadership.

I’m amazed at how the mayor has managed to stymie the progress former Mayor Kay Barnes made for Kansas City. We have a revival of downtown business and progress on the light-rail issue, but we can’t get past annoying distractions like the Funk’s volunteer. Ridiculous!

For the good of Kansas City, Ms. Squitiro, please follow Mike’s advice.

Leilani Haywood

Raytown

She must be on funnel cloud nine

I have been racking my brain trying to imagine the exhilaration, the exuberance, the unholy tingling sensation, the thrill and level of personal excitement that Katie Horner must feel when the possibility of devastating weather exists anywhere near Kansas City.

About the best I can do is what a dog must feel like when turned loose inside Fritz’s Meat Market. Oh, the joy!

Don Cameron

Overland Park

Workers can’t demand anything

I agree, Mr. Christifano (6/6, Letters, “Time to demand higher wages”), that senior citizens should get a discount on taxes. I will go even further to propose that they pay no taxes at all. But your age is showing by suggesting that we “demand a wage increase.” You obviously have not been in the work force for quite some time.

A good portion of the people my age that I know cannot “demand” anything. This is the era of corporate greed, and fair and just wage increases are a thing of the past. We are lucky to have a job.

Today’s non-union employers do not follow the unions. They follow the dollar, and the fact is, if it is not profitable, it will not happen. Equitable wage increases are not profitable. We will take what they give us and be thankful.

To paraphrase John Steinbeck, “If’n he pick that bushel for 25 cents, I’ll do it for 20! We don’ need no meat this week.”

Michael Brodie

Independence

WWI Museum a KC treasure

One recent Saturday morning my son and I toured Kansas City’s National World War 1 Museum at Liberty Memorial. The grounds were spotless and well-manicured. Parking was more than adequate. As visitors approach they walk the path of honor, and as they enter the museum they walk across a large glass floor covering a field of poppies.

The tour begins with a movie explaining how and why the war started. The movie comprises actual footage from the time. There are well-informed and courteous guides, or you can wander on your own.

There is an enormous number of high-quality items maintained in first-class exhibits. There are large guns, planes, a torpedo and a tank, machine guns, a field hospital, trenches so the visitor can have an actual experience, rifles, pistols, medals and many personal stories and newspapers of the day. There is a second movie and a gift shop.

We were surprised by the large number of visitors on a Saturday morning. It’s just a superb museum and a first-rate educational experience.

Clark Redick

Mission Hills

Helping prevent school shootings

While new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a drop in some risky behaviors among teens (6/5, A-7, “Risky teen behaviors near record lows, CDC says”), high school students continue to engage in dangerous behavior when it comes to weapons. More than a million high school students still carry weapons to school at least once a month, and 8 percent of students are threatened or injured with a weapon on school property each year.

New research has also been released about students’ willingness to report threats of school shootings. In 81 percent of school shootings, the attackers tell other people about their plans beforehand. Whether those students tell school authorities what they know depends in part on each student’s relationship to the school and faculty.

Both sets of findings underscore the importance of 1-866-SPEAK-UP, a nonprofit hot line for students to report threats anonymously. Since 2002, the hotline has received 25,000 calls. While creating a school climate of trust is essential over the long term, the hotline can play an immediate role in allowing students to take a responsible, rather than risky, course of action and potentially save lives doing it.

Daniel Gross

Co-founder and CEO, PAX/Real Solutions to Gun Violence

New York

Shameful treatment of Marines

I was pleased to read the letter from Elisabeth Jackson (6/4) about the shameful treatment of the Marines Special Operations group in Afghanistan (5/24, A-6, “Charges rejected against two Marines”). My husband and I have followed the case for more than a year and ask, “Where is the outrage?”

It’s inconceivable that Lt. Gen. Kearney and Army Col. Nicholson would take the word of the Afghans against the sworn testimony of the Marines, apologize, and pay reparations to the families of “deceased civilians.”

It’s war, Gen. Kearney, and the last I heard, it’s permissible to shoot back when shot at.

Apparently, Army Gen. Kearney was more interested in defending his turf than in having the Marines’ help to get the job done. Thanks to his approach, a highly trained, dedicated unit was brought back to the States to face trial. I shudder to think of the financial and emotional cost to the Marines involved, to say nothing of the waste of time, talent and taxpayers’ money.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has a new “get tough” policy. I hope Gen. Kearney’s actions are brought to his attention.

Helen Zuber

Raytown

Making sport of the Royals

Rather than “bobbleheads” as KC Royals souvenirs, more appropriate would be “bobble gloves.”

Steve Sherry

Kansas City

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