Letters, 10/2: Attacks on Palin unfair
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I have watched politics since I was old enough to know what politics are, and I have never seen such hate for a candidate that I’m seeing for Gov. Sarah Palin.
She is under attack because of not having traveled overseas, having a special needs child and a daughter who is pregnant, among other senseless things. What are the attackers afraid of?
Before throwing too many stones, people should take a look at her opponent. Joe Biden thought Franklin D. Roosevelt was president in 1929 and that he spoke to the American people on television about the Great Depression. Television?
Dan Quayle was crucified in the media about misspelling “potatoe.”
Let’s be fair here.
Doug Vandervort, Lincoln
Safe haven a good idea -- in theory
In theory the safe haven law was a good option. Having the option to place an infant in a safe place rather than abandon or worse, leave it for dead, does address that specific issue. I certainly find comfort in knowing that an infant will be safe in the care of hospital staff.
However, the lack of information about who and how the law should be used has been severely neglected. But it does bring a serious and significant problem to the forefront for Nebraska. Fourteen children have been dropped off at hospitals in Lincoln and Omaha. Can you imagine just being dropped off by your family?
I think the real problem is lack of support and resources for families in crisis. First we have the proverbial waiting list. We can’t just say, “Hey, we need to wait for this crisis because was are on a waiting list to get some help!” What are families supposed to do during a crisis? We have some great programs in Lincoln that truly help, but you have to wait. And cost is always an issue for services.
I think the use of “abandon” to describe how families are utilizing the safe haven law is very degrading to both the children and their families. These are folks with nowhere else to turn for help. It is responsible to take the children somewhere safe.
The problem here is not the safe haven law but an issue that has been facing many Nebraska families for a long time. Families struggle every single day with little to no support.
Families need to become a priority for our state. Developing programs for families in crisis should be the priority. I will not judge the families who have used the safe haven law to take their children to hospitals. I will, however, say this is not a new problem. It has simply been brought to light for the public to see, and maybe, just maybe, the real issues that families in crisis face every day will get the attention and appropriate action that is desperately needed.
Teresa Vanderzee, Lincoln
Focus on Congress this election year
The country is in the middle of one of the most serious financial crises in its history, and power politics is again raising is ugly head in the Congress. As usual, it’s the Democrats against the Republicans and the Senate against the House, and enough roadblocks are thrown up by the sides that nothing gets done and the country suffers. The do-nothing Congress wags its jaw until the next excuse to go home and look for campaign donations.
This current circus makes me wonder if we are spending too much time, money and effort selecting a new president and not enough on changing the makeup of the Senate and the House. The current members of those once august and respected bodies have done little to nothing for the benefit of the people of the United states for a number of years.
They have run up excessive debt, have messed up taxes and have found ways to spend money without having public hearings. They are among the highest paid people in the country, have a health insurance program none of their constituents can afford, and work only three or four days a week. Most seem to do little other than that which their party leaders direct them to do for fear that by showing some independence of thought, campaign money from K Street will not be available.
The mortgage loan crisis has been building for a long time. A plan to recover is necessary. The risky loans that are the basis of it have been used for more than the eight years President Bush has been in office, and nobody has had oversight responsibility. Members of the various committees of the Senate and House, while not having specific oversight of these practices, should have been asking questions (the lack of responsibility has not stopped them in the past).
This situation will only get worse if congressional infighting is the only action we see. It may be time to think about removing the bunch.
Patrick J. Henry, Lincoln
Haar stands up for families
I was glad to see candidate Ken Haar talking about a plan to lower taxes in the state Legislature (Sept. 22, LJS). Too often campaigns are filled with attacks and distortions instead of thought and innovation. It is refreshing to see a candidate like Ken Haar presenting ideas and plans that will actually benefit Nebraska families. Ken has a record of standing up for families and working with others to find solutions. Ken Haar will be a great asset to the Nebraska Legislature.
John C. Harper, Lincoln
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We don't need to criticize Palin about her children, she's giving us daily reminders on dozens of other things for why we should not vote GOP this year. "
I'm Cole and I sanctioned this message. "
Your comparison with Dan Quayle speaks volumes. "
The Republicans, especially the evangelical Repubs, would have an absolute FIELD DAY talking about the devolution of "family values" and whether or not a person with such low moral character is qualified to be VPOTUS! You know it and I know it.
Spare me the holier-then-thou, 'poor innocent me', jargon. It goes both ways. "
Ahem. When is the last time you have seen a PRESIDENTIAL candidate SO unqualified??? "
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzXLYA_e6E&eurl=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/ "
Who "hates" her? She gets criticized because she is a moron and has no business being in a position to potentially run the country. That doesn't mean that anyone hates her. As for attacking her family and such, don't think that the Republican party wouldn't be going after a Democrat if the shoe was on the other foot. This is politics, get over it.
Poor, poor, poor Sarah... She knew what she was getting into when she accepted the role as McCain's running mate. What did she expect would happen? "
After all....he is just an old school "experienced" politician. Isn't he? "
So, what's the problem? "
Now you have John McCain's first big pick, and it's Sarah Palin. Don't blame Sarah Palin, John. This was your pick. Who are your cabinet picks going to be????? Maybe you can get Rumsfeld out of retirement. "
They can tell you what they want to do, but can they really accomplish it?
As far as spouses go, it seems obvious to me that Obama's wife might run the show and advise him on various subjects as white house advisors do for the President.
Just my personal opionion. "
George W. Bush, a Yale grad, really cares. "
And btw Doug, the depression lasted more than a year and there were TWO Roosevelt presidents, Thodore and Franklin D, the later who was in office in the 30's DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION. See, its people like you who start spouting off unfactual information and complete ignorance that give Republicans a bad name. You only make yourself look ridiculous when you write your letters to the paper. "
around & start in on Biden, etc. Going to be in politic's you better be
able to shoulder the comments, as well, as your dear GOP party knows how
to hit low. That is one reason I left the Republican party. Now look at
the mess we are in because Bush/cheney were able to cover up the truth about themselves. Better to tell the truth about this gal now, then find
out later that she isn't the change we need. "
I think it's valid to criticize her for raising a daughter who became pregnant out of wedlock at the age of 17. But only because Palin is an advocate of “abstinence only” with regard to sex education, and this is an obvious poor result of such a stance.
All other criticisms I’ve heard are also valid. She is running for elected office! The voters have the right to know what kind of person she is and where she is strong or weak, competent or inept. That’s part of the deal! As Truman said, “If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” For Palin, if she can’t stand the criticism, she needs to get out of politics.
I think folks like Mr. Vandervort take issue with all this is because it does smack of “piling on” with the amount of criticism. But that is only because she has provided the public with so very much to criticize. "
Go Sarah - take a bite out of that career politician Biden!! "
Step Two: Intimidate moderator of the debate.
Step Three: Make excuses for candidate's showing...before the debate even happens.
It's pretty clear that even McCain's camp knows they have a time bomb on their hands and they are doing anything they can do to subvert the debate and hide Palin from scrutiny.
The bar has been set so low for Palin that even if she's able to string together some words to form a coherent sentence, it's a huge huge victory for her. She's in way over her head.
I think the United States can do better and deserves better. "
And - why is everyone AGAINST having a common Joe six-pack in the White House?? I think that would be the best thing to happen to America!! Get someone in there who will say NO to keeping the fat cat gravy train rolling and YES to making everyday US citizen's lives better. "
And to those posting that say Palin is not hated by the liberals. Go back and read your own posts and the others spouting their venom. I have never read so much hatred for one person in my life. Calling her a moron, stupid, deceitful, selfish, and uninformed. You haven't spouted your hatred for even Sadam or Bin Laden. Where is your hated for these dictators and murderers? "
Where is this perception coming from? After the VP debate last night, the pundits treated her as if she had won, or at the very least, stroked her for "holding her own." Far from it, she looked like an idiot.
She is completely unqualified for the job. It was obvious in last night's debate that she doesn't even know what the Constitution says about the powers of the Vice President. We are not vetting a 7th grader for a geography bee, we are looking for the next Vice President of a very large superpower. One heartbeat away from taking over the office from a 72 year old cancer survivor.
What I don't understand is why everyone treats her with kid-gloves. Her "folksy" speech is not disarming, it is alarming. Her politics are incredibly divisive, and her continuous reference to her "executive" experience is akin to Nebraska electing a governor because the person was voted in and reigned as Homecoming queen at her high school.
I'm sick of people electing officials because the person is "a regular person." The forefathers of this country were explicit that only the best should lead. It wasn't until the general election process began to erode this early principle that we have started this downward spiral to mediocrity. That's right, I believe that the allowing "Joe six-pack" to vote is NOT a good idea. Think about the decisions "Joe six-pack" made to get to where Joe thinks a six-pack is his closest friend. "
Now let's stop sending money to Iraq and help the American people and buy made in the USA! "
The reality is that this would be a much better election if it was McCain vs. Biden for President and Obama vs. Palin for VP. "
As a side note to "Its true," "unrelevant" is not a word. Why is it that so many Repuglicans cannot form a complete sentence, write coherently, spell correctly, and/or use proper grammar? I'm guessing you managed to buy your way through all those pesky English classes. "