Now
Fair
19°
High
32°
Low
20°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > Opinion > Letters
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Letters, 8/16: There’s a lot odd out there

Comments 23 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

Saturday, Aug 16, 2008 - 01:06:46 am CDT

Regarding Jordan Stump’s remarks, “McCain’s bellowing odd” (letter, Aug. 8): That word can be used to describe any number of things going on in this country these days.

Example: I find it odd how the news reports that decreased demand is the cause for dropping oil prices of late (a factor to be sure), yet failing to also credit the immediate market response on President Bush’s lifting of the presidential ban on offshore drilling a short while ago.

Also odd is the ever-growing list of influences and associations of Sen. Barack Obama who have direct communistic affiliations. How odd is that, and how long do you think John McCain would have lasted on the scene with that kind of baggage?

Then there’s the recent scandal involving Sen. John Edwards locking himself in a Beverly Hills motel men’s room when confronted by reporters while leaving from a rendezvous with a former campaign worker, while his wife is dying from terminal cancer, by the way.

In other news, as Americans, we’re expected to bow in deference to the wishes of the International Court of Justice wanting to stop the execution of an illegal immigrant who was one of several responsible for the rape, torture and murder of two teenage girls in Texas. No thanks to Bush, Texas demonstrated to the world court that America will not have its judiciary system dictated to by foreign and liberal American politics. A lingering echo of the America we used to be.

All of this is nothing, though, compared to the daily torrent of “odd” in the news. We have no leadership in our nation’s capital!

Chad Miller, DuBois

Turn off the lights

After reading the article about Lincoln Electric System and the proposed rate increase (LJS, Aug. 6), and the cost of power generation, we looked around our home and saw four lights burning as we were enjoying breakfast in one room.

A suggestion we can make is when people are finished and leave a room, turn off the lights in that room. We tried it this morning and were amazed at the amount of energy we waste!

We all need to form a habit. People should always flick off those switches when they leave a room.

Jane and Tom Allman, Lincoln

More courteous driving

In response to Misha Coleman (letter, Aug. 11, “Share the road”), I agree 100 percent. I am an over-the-road trucker, and I have wanted the traveling public to share the road for years.

Now I am sorry to report that these days, sharing the road means all four-wheelers in the left lane, all the time, never allowing us fellas with 75-foot rigs to enter the left lane. Oh, that would mean you would have to kick off cruise control. Or better yet, when I try not to cut off any car and throw my blinker on (yes, I use a turn signal to switch lanes; sorry for that distraction, too), I guess that means if you’re in the left lane, ya better push the accelerator down, right?

Look, I am not trying to be sarcastic here, but I love the idea of sharing the road. We all have our reasons to be there, and in 38 years of driving over the road, I have seen a lack of courtesy increase at troubling percentages. Whether you are riding a bike or pushing a big rig, or in between, we need to just take a few seconds off our busy schedule to use some common courtesy a bit more often.

Let’s pull together with that in mind, like we pull for the Huskers. Let’s remember, we are identified by the license plate we bear and show the rest of the country; we here in Nebraska not only are the best fans in college football but the most courteous drivers on the highway. Does a few seconds really mean that much?

We certainly know of someone who died as a result of an accident. Wouldn’t that person or family love to just have a few more seconds? We are all human and do make mistakes. Let’s try to eliminate the silly or uncalled-for mistakes. Common courtesy goes a long way, and drivers will be happy for using it. Thanks to those who do.

Charles Endorf, Fairbury


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Letters > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Zoomie wrote on August 16, 2008 1:40 am:
" Why do Americans (like Chad) get so resentful over the idea that America should have to live by the rules America came up with? Over 50 years ago, the US led the charge for a set of international rules and laws (which we've used to protect our own citizens hundreds of times). One of those agreements (ratified into an international treaty, ratified by the US Senate, signed by a US President) says if you're arrested in a foreign country, officials of that country must tell you that you can speak to your embassey or consulate, and that they can provide you with legal assitance if they wish. Pretty simple, really. But the state of Texas refuses to follow this law, routinely convicting and executing people from other nations (especially Mexico) without informing of their right to speak to their consulate. Note that no where in this law is Texas required to not execute someone, nor is anyone (except the US Gov't) dictating anything to anyone. Its just other nations see nothing unreasonable in expecting that the US will obey the laws WE demanded of them, and demand they follow (at least when they arrest one of our citizens). "

 JohnR wrote on August 16, 2008 1:47 am:
" First, who cares about John Edwards having an affair long ago (other than his wife)? He's not running for office, holds no office. Other than supermarket tabloids (the ones that tell us Dubya has fallen off the wagon), who cares?
Second, why would you ever think Bush deserves ANY credit for declining oil prices? Because he ordered a lifting of a ban on offshore drilling? So what? The ban is still in place, since Bush can't unilaterally remove it. Congress has to pass a law removing it, or nothing changes. And since Bush changed NOTHING, why would the price go down EXCEPT declining demand? Oh, I forgot. The 20 or so GOPers sitting in DC holding daily rants against Democrats (apparently for failing to override GOP obstruction of the bills the Dems actually tried to get votes on) claim just the fact they've been talking about wanting to lower oil costs caused them to drop!! WOW!!! As economist Paul Krugman more accurately every day noted, the Republican party seems to want to run this election cycle as the party of stupid! "

 Turn OFF the lights wrote on August 16, 2008 3:42 am:
" Like THAT would help. LES has said for YEARS to try and conserve energy. But yet, when you DO they STILL come up with yet another reason to raise rates. Why save it??? Why should you turn down the Air Conditioner??? It does absoultely no good. Six months later they will say..."Oops, we didn't make enough money and we have to raise rates again".

Leave the AC on and don't worry about those lights in the other room. Because it won't make a difference anyway. "

 Whtas odd is... wrote on August 16, 2008 6:49 am:
" ... that Chris doesn't understand how long drilling and production would take despite the "lifting of the ban". As many sources have already noted, we will be into the next decade before increased domestic drilling realizes it's meager benefit. "

 Odder Still..... wrote on August 16, 2008 8:30 am:
" That someone, with straight face intact, could claim lifting of a ban on offshore drilling is responsible for lowered gas prices. Or, the oddest Howler of the bunch, how long would McCain have lasted "with that kind of baggage?" McCain has been divorced, he did his share of running around on his first wife, he was one of the "Keating 5" in the Savings and Loan scandal, he's never held a job in his life, other than living off the backs of taxpayers, he was among the bottom 5 of his class at the Naval academy, he's associated with religious figures who have said even more inflammatory statements than Rev Wright, etc... McCain doesn't knows what bad press is. The suggested idea that we have a liberal press is pure hogwash, and any realistic observer of politics in this country can see that....bottom line is that you can't get informed listening to RushHannityOreillySavage, you need to go deeper than that or you are a unwitting rube, a duped cog in the machine that churns day and not for the haves and increasingly grinds the have nots into dust. "

 Edgar Pearlstein wrote on August 16, 2008 9:01 am:
" Mr. Miller says "We have no leadership in our nation's capital". Wrong! We have been led into a no-end war. We have been led into enormous debt, which devalues the dollar and is partly responsible for the high dollar-cost of oil. We have been led into thinking that the way to combat terrorism is to give up our civil liberties. We have been led into a situation where we lost moral respect of much of the world. "

 Hi Charles wrote on August 16, 2008 9:18 am:
" I agree with you. I drive 200 miles a day on a regular route. Small towns and rural routes. Out in the country people drive 60mph on the gravel roads not looking for other vehicles at the intersection. On Hwy 34, the speed limit is 60, but people don't realize you can't go over 60 in order to pass. 60 is 60. They are doing it on hills, oncoming traffic. The regular driver doesn't realize either that some trucking companies only allow their drivers to go 65mph on the interstate and have goveners on the vehicles. Wake up people, metal, flesh, metal, flesh....hmmmmmmm wonder who is going to win that one? What is that saying, better late than never? "

 Cole wrote on August 16, 2008 9:27 am:
" I'm torn on this Texas death penalty thing.

The knee-jerk response is to have him drawn and quartered - which I would fully support even after my knee relaxed. However, if a U.S. citizen was accused of an identical crime in, say, Riyadh and was due to be publicly dismembered or something, I for one would like to see him back here so we could check the evidence and go through some due process we could (more or less) trust.

So should we have given him to Mexican authorities? I suppose the problem with my metaphor is alien status. We would assume the U.S. citizen was in Riyadh legally.

Thoughts anyone? "

 Turning wrote on August 16, 2008 9:33 am:
" off the lights should be like flushing the toilet. Once again this starts at home. I was taught this in elementary school. Leave the room, turn off the lights. "

 Gee... wrote on August 16, 2008 9:34 am:
" Charles, it would be easy to let trucks enter the left lane if it were not for the fact that it is a normal occurance for a truck to cut someone off so they can spend the next several miles passing another truck who is going 1 mph slower than they are, thereby holding up traffic. "

 RE Chad wrote on August 16, 2008 9:57 am:
" What does John Edwards affair have to do with Obama? If you want to play that card, how about the republican who was caught in the minneaplis mensroom with his pants down? As far as bush goes, what he has done to america is beyond rediculous. The constitution has gone away, the government has snooped on people, the economy is in shambles, the oil prices are through the roof, housing is gone, and middle class is a has been. How about the 4000+ kids who won't be seen by their familys again?
You are reaching a lot to call Obama a communist. Maybe georgie and dickey will forgive that discresion though. I do think faux news would be proud to put your letter on the air. "

 Bob wrote on August 16, 2008 11:36 am:
" I find it very odd that a letter like Chad's even got printed. "

 Zoomie wrote on August 16, 2008 11:39 am:
" you get the point of why the rest of the world is so critical of us over this. The international treaty involved was initiated by the U.S., and pushed by the U.S. To this day, we actively use it to protect our citizens who commit crimes in foreign nations. But our conservatives freak when other nations expect US to actually obey the law we got everyone else to obey!
But one correction - NOTHING in this law mandates you turn this killer/rapist over to Mexico. NOTHING!!! All it requires is when you charge them with the crime, PER U.S. FEDERAL LAW, you tell them they can request someone from their embassey or consulate come advise them, and IF the other nation's gov't wants (not the criminal, the gov't) they can offer legal assistance to ensure there is a fair trial. Simply do this, and even if you convict them, there is no complaint under international law! In this specific case, Mexico was complaining that since TX failed to obey the law in convicting the guy, the conviction isn't really legal and should be overturned (to be followed by another trial, in which they would be allowed to counsel the perp, as allowed by law). Should he then again be convicted, so be it. But TX claims allowing ANY involvement of the Mexican gov't in the case somehow is usurping their state powers. To the rest of the world, this proves our arrogance and hypocrisy! "

 Hum wrote on August 16, 2008 11:39 am:
" I would agree with Chad Miller. However, not only is there no leadership
In Washington, but its nation wide!! Those people are coming from our
"nation wide". What kind of a person are they that would do the horrible
things John Edwards has, and has NO empathy for his cancer stricken wife,
which is a load no one can imagine unless they have been thru it!! And
this man thinks he should have been the PRESIDENT of this country???
And if we don't live by AMERICA'S rules, then this is no longer America!!
This is what America is becoming, a hodge podge of "WHATEVER". Take a
look, our past Service men and women didn't give their lives for the crap
that is going on in our country today!! And yes, we should have concern
for John Edwards and show disapproval. Thats what this county has become,
its, oh well on to the next, who cares!! My Bible doesn't teach me that.
Unfortunately I see these selfish greedy people every day!! "

 re John R wrote on August 16, 2008 11:45 am:
" Paul Krugman is an editorial columnist for the NY Times, not an economist. "

 Yup wrote on August 16, 2008 1:08 pm:
" Sorry Charles, I've been on the interstate plenty of times when truckers don't share the road. Yes, I drive cruise control, but I kick it off when I'm passing to get around a vehicle quickly and back into the driving lane. But truckers don't seem to want to drive any limit, slow going up the hill (so I pass), then go like he#@ going back down. Drive right up on a vehicles bumper and ride there before swinging out to pass. Yup, maybe you share the road, but many of your buddies don't. "

 to re John R wrote on August 16, 2008 2:15 pm:
" Ummm......actually, Krugman is indeed, an economist. He's been teaching at Princeton for years. He was an economist long before he started writing for the NY times....perhaps the Times only sane columnist bye the way....certainly better than "liberals" like Frank Rich, Maureen O'Dowd, and the loony right winger Bill Kristol. "

 Careful Hum wrote on August 16, 2008 2:36 pm:
" What KIND of person? I understand that Sen. McCain (by his own admission) cheated on HIS wife a number of times before divorcing her and marrying money. That would be the "kind of person", I guess. Sen. Edwards (lest you need reminding) is not the one running for president. One wonders exactly what it is that your Bible IS telling you. You obviously missed the part about hypocrisy and stone-throwing. "

 JohnR wrote on August 16, 2008 4:01 pm:
" Re Re JohnR - Yes, Paul Krugman does a twice-weekly column in the NYTimes. But Krugman is also a full-time economist at Princeton University in New Jersey. He's been on several short-lists for the Nobel Prize in Economics, and its likely before he dies he'll get one! "

 Zoomie wrote on August 16, 2008 11:38 pm:
" I discovered yesterday that the source of much of Chad's rant against Obama is the new fiction book written by Jerome Corsi, which is a bestseller amongst GOPers, and Corsi has been on every rightwing TV (Hannity, O'Reilly) and radio (Limbaugh) show out there. And all of them insist Corsi (who previously started the swiftboating of Kerry) is a scholar who only writes the truth.
So color me amused when I read that Corsi has also written about McCain! At his column on WorldNetDaily.com, he says that McCain has received substantial donations "from overseas sources with direct al-Quida connections", and that McCain and his wife owe much of their wealth in Arizona to their direct ties to several major crime families!! WOW!!!
Of course, while the press can't stop giving Corsi a stage to talk about his Obama book, none of them seem interested in what he's written about McCain? Wonder why? Aren't they "fair and balanced"? Aren't Obama and McCain BOTH Presidential candidates? Isn't Corsi a wonderful, truthful scholar? "

 John wrote on August 17, 2008 12:07 am:
" What is this about Edwards? McCain is the only candidate on his second wife and he certainly didn't have an affair. As to what Bush said about oil, he a "lame duck" and is just saying what his buddy Channey wanted to hear. We all know who is "odd" here. "

 H wrote on August 17, 2008 3:35 pm:
" You're naive to think that Obama doesn't have political baggage. If there's no truth to that book, then what do you have to worry about? Just keep thinking Obama is squeaky clean, and have another far left Kool Aid. Both candidates are less than desirable this year, face it. "

 DR wrote on August 20, 2008 6:02 pm:
" I am continually amazed, but no longer surprised, at the lack of comprehensio of posteres who reply on this site. For some of the ignoramouses who replied to chad's letter...go back and read it again. He never claimed our President Bush should take credit for decliing oil prices. IN fact he realized the market response to the Presidents uninforible request to life the ban was exactly what it is...a market response. Ignorant and emotional responses are very revealing of the authors character and lack of inteligence. Chad, Thank You for a well thought out adn thought provocing letter. However, it had no influence on my vote this fall. I have selected the candidate who has earned my vote based upon their character. "

Ads by Yahoo!