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Letters, 9/14: Case exposes hatreds

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Thursday, Sep 14, 2006 - 08:31:19 am CDT

David Broder (LJS, Sept. 7) gets it right in exposing the whole Valerie Plame “leak” case as the fraud it has been from the beginning. 

Anyone whose view of the world is not incarcerated in the New York Times-CNN-NPR matrix has known all along that this much hyped “case” of Bush administration “bullying” is nothing other than a strategy of knee-jerk Bush-hating robots who want to claim, against all evidence, that the Bush administration is “suppressing” dissent and engaging in character assassination. 

And, sad to say, the Journal Star played its own role in hyping the Joe Wilson-Valerie Plame lie. Readers will recall the ridiculous, out-of-proportion full-page spreads about Scooter Libby, as if a major scandal was breaking. Perhaps the lesson to be learned here is that those who holler the loudest about dishonesty and lies are perhaps projecting their own awareness of themselves on others for whom they harbor nagging hatreds.

Broder says that the people who have promoted the Wilson-Plame lies owe Karl Rove an apology.  Don’t hold your breath.

Richard Terrell, Lincoln

Voters: Reject ballot item

This November, Nebraska voters will be faced with the Stop Over Spending (SOS) ballot question. Under the amendment’s inflation plus population formula limit for state spending growth, SOS does not account for rapidly increasing health care costs that are growing much faster than the rate of inflation. Nor does it take into account the aging of the population, which uses more health care.

SOS will pit state programs and services against each other. It limits funding to address unmet or emerging needs when there is an economic downturn and the inevitable budget shortfall. SOS will slowly starve services on which state residents rely. Local property taxes will also have to be raised even more to make up for the loss of state aid to cities and counties.

The process of having Nebraska citizens vote on any tax increase is extremely cumbersome, expensive and, in the case of emergencies, potentially fatal. Nebraska voters should reject SOS.

Kenneth T. Ring, Lincoln

Witek snubs democracy

State Auditor Kate Witek is just another example of a politician wanting to keep that high-paying cozy position! I think it’s absolutely absurd what she is trying to do!

Anyone with even minimal common sense should be able to see through this masquerade of changing from Republican to Democrat, when the general election is just two months away. I say she’s just another politician snubbing her nose at democracy.

America needs to rid itself of the “career politicians” because they are not getting the job done.Does anyone see this other than myself?

Tom G. Maul, Lincoln

Free computers available

I heard a call to action in the Sept. 6 article regarding the digital divide among students. Access to information on the Internet for class work is only one benefit.  Without regular Internet access, many families miss out on great opportunities to increase their economic independence and improve their quality of life. 

There are solutions.  At Lincoln Action Program, with the help of corporate and private donations, we are shortening this gap. This year alone, Lincoln Action Program has distributed more than 330 computers to individuals that successfully completed 30 hours of basic computer competency classes and homework in our computer lab. Donated computers are refurbished and presented to class graduates. All systems come Internet-ready with a modem. There are about 500 computers ready for distribution now.

The ability to access ideas new and different from our own enables us to learn and reach our potential. It should be a goal of this community to ensure each of its members has this opportunity regardless of race or income. A stronger Lincoln benefits us all.

Sue Hinrichs,

Executive director, Lincoln Action Program


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Susana wrote on September 14, 2006 1:18 am:
" Oh, and David Broder is a middle-of-the-road, no-ax-to-grind reliable source? Get real, Mr. Terrell. You can buy the lies and spin. Those of us in the reality based community never will. "

 Unknown wrote on September 14, 2006 6:38 am:
" Bush has never done anything wrong on these issues and the people that are trying to put us in danger will always plug in their hatred toward someone or something that helps promote causes for peace. Just as in the past when the Romans placed people in cages and treated them like animals, people today will use whatever means possible to destroy progress and put us in danger. This whole issue with Scotter Libby etc. should never have been and still should be rejected. The people that tried to make this an issue should and will in the end be found out for making false statements about the administration, hopefully it has not destroyed our ability to protect ourselves from the evil terrorist. "

 Nemesis wrote on September 14, 2006 7:39 am:
" Mr. Terrell, you better start working on your letter about Bush's impending impeachment. Proceedings should start sometime after November. "

 Hank wrote on September 14, 2006 7:47 am:
" Over the past century, there has been no administration that has so aggressively suppressed dissenting views within its ranks and has so manipulated the truth. At every Federal agency, from the Justice Department to the agencies conducting scientific research, everything has to fit the administration's conservative/Christian philosophy or else. Reports are changed, hidden, and evidence is contorted. Policies routinely ignore the evidence and advice of professional bureaucrats and administrators. The Plame affair is just one of many cases where crucial information was suppressed and replaced by spin in order to justify the administration's destructive and divisive policies. Evidence is suppressed to justify a war against a country that did not attack us or cause any more trouble than many other countries, to suppress evidence on the environment, to advance extreme religious agendas in education and health, to suppress scientific research that does not conform with certain religious ideologies, to promote political ends, to advance the interests of financial backers and lobbyists, and to divide the country clearly into supporters and opponents for political gain. There was nothing good about how Plame was outed, and the administration is clearly to blame for this no matter how you right-wing lackeys want to spin it. It was not the Bush-hating liberal who revealed her identity or hid the truth about the administration's attempts to manufacture a case for war. "

 Pat wrote on September 14, 2006 7:55 am:
" Richard Terrell is incensed by what he perceives to be the "lies" directed against the Bush administration in the Valerie Plame affair. He apparently has forgotten that the only individual being prosecuted for lying is ex-administration official Scooter Libby. "

 Sue F. wrote on September 14, 2006 8:01 am:
" I am absolutely sure that all of you that believe the Valerie Plame issue is a non-issue and a partisan attack, would feel the same way if a Democratic administration had leaked the name of a CIA agent whose spouse was out spoken against their policies. "

 Mike wrote on September 14, 2006 8:32 am:
" Richard seems to forget the basic facts in the Valerie Plame situation. An undercover operative's real identity was revealed illegally, and it was a member of this administration that released it with malicious intent. Karl Rove and Scooter Libby broke the law. The government is not above the people. "

 Josh2 wrote on September 14, 2006 8:41 am:
" Mr Terrell's comments need a little adjusting. They should read as follows: "Anyone whose view of the world is not incarcerated in the Karl Rove-Bill O'reilly-Ann Coulter matrix has known all along that this much hyped “case” of [insert any issue here] is nothing other than a strategy of knee-jerk Clinton-hating robots who want to claim, against all evidence, that the Clinton administration was evil in all ways. Readers will recall the ridiculous, out-of-proportion full-page spreads about Hillary and Health catre, as if a major scandal was breaking. Perhaps the lesson to be learned here is that those who holler the loudest about dishonesty and lies are perhaps projecting their own awareness of themselves on others for whom they harbor nagging hatreds." Funny - what goes around, comes around...... "

 Ben wrote on September 14, 2006 8:51 am:
" I really am starting to think the libs are all nuts. Do any of you actually know what happened in the Plame incident, or are you just repeating what you have heard for the last 2 1/2 years. The source for Robert Novak's column (where her identity was revealed), was Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, no friend of the President. The prosecutor Fitzgerald knew this from the beginning and continued with a 2 year investigation anyway. Why investigate when you already have the leaker? Also, you'll notice that Armitage has not been charged. Why? Because revealing Plame's identity was not a crime because she had not been in a covert status for some time (6 or 7 years I believe). So Fitzgerald plows ahead and gets an indictment against Libby because he couldn't remember every single event from 2 years before. Is your memory that good? Libby was never involved in any conspiracy, he wasn't the leak, and even if he was it wasn't a crime. He never should have been investigated because Fitzgerald knew all along it wasn't Libby. This whole thing is madness. Rove deserves an apology from everyone, Scooter deserves a pardon, and Fitzgerald should be charged with prosecutorial misconduct! "

 Chip wrote on September 14, 2006 8:59 am:
" The SOS ballot issue is HUGE! Do your research and find out who is behind it. This is VERY DANGEROUS for Nebraska. Proponents make it look the cure-all for Nebraska, but it is one of the most potentially devastating issues we have faced as voters in the past 2 decades. I will definately vote against this one. Find out the truth about it so you know what it is about. "

 Justin wrote on September 14, 2006 9:14 am:
" We NEED SOS. It HAS worked in Colorado. Anyone else know how to stop runaway state spending? What haven't we tried. There's an overide clause for emergencies, and Chip, I don't know what you mean by who's backing it, but I do know that the people opposed to it are the people who don't want to lose their free hand-outs of MY money, and the politicians who need to throw money at the strong lobbys so they can rake in cash for their own campaigns! We'd be cutting our own throats not to vote FOR this. Give me ANY good reason we should give our government carte blanche to spend as much of our money as they want, however they want!!! "

 Check your facts wrote on September 14, 2006 9:41 am:
" SOS did NOT work in Colorado. That's why part of it was repealed. Talk to a resident of state that has passed & implemented similar legislation like Missouri. They'll tell you it was the worst thing to happen to they're state budget. "

 Mark M wrote on September 14, 2006 10:01 am:
" So Scooter is innocent in the Plame case because there was no crime until he was investigated? Sounds just like Clinton's oral sex case doesn't it? By the way knee-jerks, there are really no Bush haters out here. What people hate is his ineptly pathetic job performance. "

 Brandon wrote on September 14, 2006 10:09 am:
" Ben -- ever heard of Whitewater? "

 Remember civics class? wrote on September 14, 2006 11:23 am:
" Give me ANY good reason we should give our government carte blanche to spend as much of our money as they want, however they want!!!" The reason? We elect our representatives. "

 Ed wrote on September 14, 2006 12:21 pm:
" The Bush administration will go down in history as the worst the most criminal government in US history. The lies the cover-ups and the way they try to repress free speech by cloaking it in false patriotic attacks against everyday folks who have a right to ask and to question the government about how things get done is being used here by Mr. Terrell to stop us from pointing the figure at this Whitehouse and saying Ms. Plame was ousted for political reason and this administration will find itself in court after the turn around this November. Cover that up with paint Richard. "

 Unknown wrote on September 14, 2006 1:00 pm:
" Anyone who says that the Bush Administration will go down as the worst and most criminal government in the United States History has their head buried in the sand and does not see both sides of this issue or for that matter any of the issues of today. Bush should and will be placed in the History books as one of the better Presidents if not the Best that the United States has had for a period of time, of course History books that are written with an agenda and without facts will of course say other wise, and as most of us know, most history professors and historians tell their own version of what they want people to believe depending upon what they feel will best fit into their own little world just like I have my own little world and you yours, none of us are big enough and smart enough to know exactly what history will say. So to predict what will be in history books and history is just plain silly. "

 Carla wrote on September 14, 2006 1:41 pm:
" Matthew Cooper of Time magazine, who received the leak later than Novak, stated that it was given to him by Karl Rove and confirmed by Lewis "Scooter" Libby. On 2 July 2005, Karl Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, said that his client spoke to TIME reporter Matt Cooper "three or four days" before Plame's identity was first revealed in print by commentator Robert Novak. On July 11, 2006, Robert Novak confirmed that Rove was his second source for his article that revealed the identity of Valerie Plame as a CIA agent. Walter Pincus, a Washington Post columnist, has written that he was told in confidence by an unnamed Bush administration official on 12 July 2003, two days before Novak's column appeared, that "the White House had not paid attention to former Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s CIA-sponsored February 2002 trip to Niger because it was set up as a boondoggle by his wife, an analyst with the agency working on weapons of mass destruction." Pincus wrote that because he did not believe it to be true, he did not report the story until an October 12, 2003 article in The Washington Post. According to Pincus, "I wrote my October story because I did not think the person who spoke to me was committing a criminal act, but only practicing damage control by trying to get me to stop writing about Wilson. Because of that article, The Washington Post and I received subpoenas last summer from Patrick J. Fitzgerald." Days after Novak's initial column appeared, Matthew Cooper of TIME magazine published Plame's name citing unnamed government officials as sources. In his article, titled "A War on Wilson?", Cooper raised the possibility that the White House had "declared war" on Wilson for speaking out against the Bush Administration. It was later learned that Cooper's sources were Karl Rove and Scooter Libby. New York Times reporter Judith Miller was also told of Plame's CIA affiliation by Scooter Libby, though she never published an article on the topic. "

 JMK wrote on September 14, 2006 2:59 pm:
" I used to live in Colorado and that was the worst thing they voted in. And yes, it was repealed. So how DO we change things? It is called VOTING. Vote the people currently in office out. This will shake up those remaining into actually trying to help the people. Ifit doesn't Vote the rest of them out the next election. "

 ET wrote on September 14, 2006 3:07 pm:
" Unknown says that no one can know exactly what history will write, but then he states that Bush should and will go down in history as one of the better presidents. Then, he goes on with the typical sophistry to make W look good. Thanks for telling us that we can't determine what history will be, but then telling us what it will be! "

 AJ wrote on September 14, 2006 5:15 pm:
" SOS (aka Sink our State) is being backed by out of state interests who are pushing for this not based on what it will do to our state, but in an attempt to change the petition process in their own state. They have NO INTEREST IN NEBRASKA just in the precident it could set. Nebraskans need to become informed and vote this potential disaster down! "

 Marvin wrote on September 14, 2006 6:33 pm:
" Carla read Ben's comment, he has it right. Armitage admitted he was the source and nonpartisan prosecutor Fitzgerald knew from the beginning Armitage was the source. "

 Zoomie wrote on September 14, 2006 10:20 pm:
" Kenneth Ring is right about the SOS ballot measure. This was pushed 100% by an out-of-state group, whose funding came 100% from out-of-state (NY and IL, via ID and MT). Its also virtually identical to the TABOR referendum item Colorado citizens passed almost 10yrs ago, and which has been a total catastrophe for them. It severely caps increases in spending in years costs go up sharply or unexpectedly (ie. fuel costs), but it requires immediate reductions if any costs decline. The declines must reflect the actual reduction; the increases are always limited to inflation-plus-growth, making it impossible for costs that have fallen behind to ever catch up. Think it'll work? A few years ago, the CO legislature (GOP controlled) voted to suspend TABOR (and have extended the suspension) after the state's finances reached near collapse. Since, they've recovered nicely and there is now a movement to try and repeal TABOR/SOS. Lets not repeat the same mistake other states have already made! "

 Carla wrote on September 14, 2006 11:18 pm:
" Armitage was Novak's first source. There was more than one journalist and more than one source involved. Read my comment, bud. "

 No SOS wrote on September 14, 2006 11:47 pm:
" Save our State from SOS - just say no! "

 Julia wrote on September 15, 2006 12:20 am:
" Our current lawmakers have not limited government. I will vote for SOS because I see that as the only way to limit government. Those now in government will not do it. I used to live in Colorado, and those people who I talk to now thought that the TABOR was great. Something must be done! "

 Dan wrote on September 15, 2006 9:04 am:
" I would just like to know what motivation all you people think these 'out of state' backers of SOS have? THAT's what you should be looking at, not panicking at the first mention of the words 'out-of-state'. When did Nebraskans become such slavering xenophobes?! "

 Huh wrote on September 16, 2006 2:41 pm:
" Its easy to see why "out of staters" try to wake up Nebraska. Nebraska has NO backbone, or the state and city of Lincoln wouldn't be over taxed. The "inflation-plus-growth" is a cover up for those who can see nothing but the Sky's the limit. One's inflation figure is different than another, guess who wins. Nebraska citizens lose any way you look at it. Proof - - look at the taxes and Nebraska's growth. "

 Lisa wrote on September 17, 2006 10:00 pm:
" My brother lives in Colorado - the initiative was a disaster. That's exactly what will happen to Nebraska. As for out-of-staters? Nebraskans can take care of ourselves. We don't need an ultra-rich group with an agenda funneling money into THEIR cause - why would they care? they don't live here! "

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