Letters, 8/30: No validation coming for W.
Is William Stone’s letter (LJS, Aug. 24) attempting to justify George Bush’s criminal presidency: A) myopic, B) absurd, C) laughable, D) preposterous, E) all of the above?
It is true that the United States has not been attacked since Sept. 11, 2001, “as was … predicted.” What is overlooked, however, is the fact that it was on Bush’s watch that we actually were attacked — as was predicted! (I love irony.)
Describing Bush as being “too Christian” is an interesting concept. We certainly want to keep our Christianity in check so we don’t follow Jesus’ teachings too closely — who knows where such appeasement might lead! I do believe, as does Mr. Stone, that George Bush saw something in Vladimir Putin that was not there. Bush has an almost infallible record of believing in things that don’t exist (do the letters WMD come to mind?)
Speaking of letters and, unlike Mr. Stone, I believe that Bush saw, as did John McCain, KGB when he peered into Putin’s eyes. For Bush, though, KGB stands for King George Bush.
Leaving Bush’s absolution to “history” is a convenient way to avoid holding him accountable for the havoc he has wreaked in the here and now. And we all know how adept W. is at shunning responsibility. He even arranges for others, like Mr. Stone, to do it for him. Mr. Stone is correct that history will ultimately validate George Bush’s reign for what it is, but not as a “better-regarded president” (that’s the laughable part). Just as time has proved Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Idi Amin and Pol Pot to be the arrogant, self-serving, compassionless tyrants they were, so will it do likewise for the current despot.
Incidentally, the answer to the question posed is E.
Larry McClung, Lincoln
Way to stop robberies
I have a suggestion that just might help cut down on all the convenience store robberies we’ve had lately. This is actually so simple it is borderline brilliant. Here it is: Remove all the “Conceal Carry Prohibited” stickers off the doors of the convenience stores!
Obviously, those who are robbing the stores either don’t know what the signs mean or more than likely don’t care about breaking the law. Perhaps if the crooks weren’t sure if there was a customer or a clerk with a conceal-carry permit carrying, they just might move on to a place that doesn’t allow conceal carry.
I think we should try it for a year and see if things change.
Doug Vandervort, Lincoln
Council needs leadership
At the Lincoln Electric System hearing on Aug. 5 regarding the rate increase, some residents and community organizations acknowledged that the rate increase is the result of a failed energy policy in our country. Members of the community stated that efficiency and renewable energy development are critical in solving sustainability problems. When the Lincoln City Council met on Aug. 18 to vote on this issue, LES and the City Council failed to discuss these concerns.
The public is calling for solutions, and it is not coming from city-elected leadership. One person who did speak about his plans for a renewable energy future recently was T. Boone Pickens of Texas. A crowd of 1,200 eager Lincolnites gathered to hear about this vision. Throughout the nation, cities like Lincoln that are experiencing increases in costs are comforted by local leaders who are pursuing mechanisms to resolve these problems before they resurface. I will be excited when that type of leadership emerges from Lincoln’s City Council.
Margaret Milligan, Lincoln
It is true that the United States has not been attacked since Sept. 11, 2001, “as was … predicted.” What is overlooked, however, is the fact that it was on Bush’s watch that we actually were attacked — as was predicted! (I love irony.)
Describing Bush as being “too Christian” is an interesting concept. We certainly want to keep our Christianity in check so we don’t follow Jesus’ teachings too closely — who knows where such appeasement might lead! I do believe, as does Mr. Stone, that George Bush saw something in Vladimir Putin that was not there. Bush has an almost infallible record of believing in things that don’t exist (do the letters WMD come to mind?)
Speaking of letters and, unlike Mr. Stone, I believe that Bush saw, as did John McCain, KGB when he peered into Putin’s eyes. For Bush, though, KGB stands for King George Bush.
Leaving Bush’s absolution to “history” is a convenient way to avoid holding him accountable for the havoc he has wreaked in the here and now. And we all know how adept W. is at shunning responsibility. He even arranges for others, like Mr. Stone, to do it for him. Mr. Stone is correct that history will ultimately validate George Bush’s reign for what it is, but not as a “better-regarded president” (that’s the laughable part). Just as time has proved Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Idi Amin and Pol Pot to be the arrogant, self-serving, compassionless tyrants they were, so will it do likewise for the current despot.
Incidentally, the answer to the question posed is E.
Larry McClung, Lincoln
Way to stop robberies
I have a suggestion that just might help cut down on all the convenience store robberies we’ve had lately. This is actually so simple it is borderline brilliant. Here it is: Remove all the “Conceal Carry Prohibited” stickers off the doors of the convenience stores!
Obviously, those who are robbing the stores either don’t know what the signs mean or more than likely don’t care about breaking the law. Perhaps if the crooks weren’t sure if there was a customer or a clerk with a conceal-carry permit carrying, they just might move on to a place that doesn’t allow conceal carry.
I think we should try it for a year and see if things change.
Doug Vandervort, Lincoln
Council needs leadership
At the Lincoln Electric System hearing on Aug. 5 regarding the rate increase, some residents and community organizations acknowledged that the rate increase is the result of a failed energy policy in our country. Members of the community stated that efficiency and renewable energy development are critical in solving sustainability problems. When the Lincoln City Council met on Aug. 18 to vote on this issue, LES and the City Council failed to discuss these concerns.
The public is calling for solutions, and it is not coming from city-elected leadership. One person who did speak about his plans for a renewable energy future recently was T. Boone Pickens of Texas. A crowd of 1,200 eager Lincolnites gathered to hear about this vision. Throughout the nation, cities like Lincoln that are experiencing increases in costs are comforted by local leaders who are pursuing mechanisms to resolve these problems before they resurface. I will be excited when that type of leadership emerges from Lincoln’s City Council.
Margaret Milligan, Lincoln
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