The headline of the Journal Star's lead article May 27 is leading in more ways than one: "Just how liberal is Obama's nominee?" Not just informative, such as: "Obama picks Sotomayor for court."

Is this a slip-up? The Journal Star headline on Sept. 6, 2005, read: "Bush nominates Roberts to replace chief justice," not "Just how conservative is Bush's nominee?"

Yet Jeffrey Toobin, in the May 25 issue of the New Yorker, meticulously examines John Roberts' record and concludes: "In every major case since he became the nation's 17th chief justice, Roberts has sided with the prosecution over the defendant, the state over the condemned, the executive branch over the legislative, and the corporate defendant over the individual plaintiff. Even more than (Antonin) Scalia, who has embodied judicial conservatism during a generation of service on the Supreme Court, Roberts has served the interests, and reflected the values, of the contemporary Republican Party."

No one expected anything different when Roberts was nominated. The Journal Star could at least keep its front-page headlines "leading" in only one sense.

Tim Borstelmann, Lincoln

Consider restitution

What is the price for freedom? Or better yet, what should the price be if someone is denied their freedom?

The judicial system in the United States is not perfect. Thousands of people every year are wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit. Is this fair to the people who have to suffer incarceration for something they didn't even do when they should be happily living their lives pursuing whatever goals or dreams they have.

In this specific Beatrice case ("Presumed guilty," eight-part Journal Star series), six convictions were reversed after a 24-year-long murder case. Three people still serving time were released, including Joseph White, who was serving life. A DNA test proved him innocent like many others wrongly convicted.

Of course, it didn't help the way this investigation was carried out. The investigators missed hard evidence and even let the man who actually committed the crime get away. The interrogators and psychologist played a role in shaping the story.

There are many cases like this every year where someone is wrongfully convicted of a crime because they can't afford a lawyer or because investigators and interrogators do a bad job on the investigation.

I believe people wrongfully convicted like this should receive restitution for pain, suffering, permanent damage and the loss of freedom. Only half of the states actually pay restitution to the wrongfully convicted. These states that don't should seriously reconsider.

Nick Flewelling, Lincoln

Giving away freedoms

In response to the Local View ("Beware of promises of change," May 10) by Juan F. Alonso, I would like to applaud him.

I am baffled every day when I listen to people around me, and a great majority of the media, at how in love with President Barack Obama they are.

The media are so infatuated with him that they forget that their job is not to bestow on me the great fashion sense of Michelle Obama, or tell me about the president's six-pack abs. It is their job to inform me of the policies and decisions the president is making.

Ever since this man stepped into the public light, there has been little criticism of him or his associations or the things he openly preaches as his political agenda.

He is not a man of democracy and capitalism; he is a man who believes our lives should be taken care of by the government. I don't know what other people think, but I do know that there is little the government does right or runs successfully, so why would I want to put the government in charge of my entire life?

Isn't that what people come to America for, the opportunity to do and become whatever they want? Giving all of your problems to the government means giving them all of your freedoms as well. Are people ready to do that? I, for one, am not.

Suzanne Klein, Lincoln

Pit bull misinformation

In regards to the article, "Neighbor would bar pit bulls next door" May 13: I find it in poor taste that this article used the name "pit bulls" as an attention getter.

The owner of the dogs stated the dogs accused were not pit bulls but were mixed boxers. This just reinforces the thought that all pit bulls are of aggressive behavior, when in actuality the headline was misleading as to the breed of dog that turned aggressive.

As for the circumstances to just how Lillian Maschman was bitten, there are two sides to this story. Whether Maschman was in her garden or being handed her dog over a dividing privacy fence will be up to the judge to decide.

The Cokes seem to me to have gone above and beyond the call of neighborly goodness when they had Shorty (the accused) put to sleep, then gave Red away, and expect to pay for Maschman's medical bills. I don't see any point in Maschman taking them to court to ban them from owning pit bulls when the accused dogs are not pit bulls.

This sort of publicity about pit bulls is what misleads the public about the breed. I have had large breed dogs all my life, and have friends with two pit bulls, who I find are friendly and loving dogs.

Once again, though, the pit bull breed gets the rap.

Lisa Vilda, Beatrice

Take flu precautions

Swine flu has the nation panicked. However, I feel the public is not well informed on how it is spread and what can be done to prevent outbreaks. The more knowledge is discussed with the public, the more people can feel at ease about this issue.

Swine flu is believed to be spread by coughing, sneezing or coming into contact with the infected person. Symptoms are similar to the normal seasonal flu, and precautions for swine flu should be the same, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It upsets me that people are in an almost paniclike state about this whole new flu ordeal.

As a nursing student, I know that generally speaking, if you wash your hands frequently and stay home at the first signs of illness, this significantly prevents you from coming down with the illness or spreading it to others.

If we take preventive steps, like with any other disease, this should keep the problem from spreading.

Danielle Kite, Lincoln

Fix health care

As a veteran, I am lucky. They say I earned my health care from my time in the Army, but, as American citizens, why should it have to be earned? Shouldn't it be a birthright?

My 24-year-old daughter cannot afford any kind of health care, nor can my 2-year-old grandson. Nor can my 50-year-old ex-wife. They are left with going to the emergency room, running up a bill and then not being able to pay it.

Their credit is ruined and they are unable to get health insurance. Taxpayers end up paying for them.

Health care, as Sen. Edward Kennedy said, should be a right, not a privilege for the few! Why can't all Americans have free health care? Some Third World countries are better off than we are. We send them free health care by way of a naval hospital!

President Barack Obama cannot solve everything that is wrong with health care, but I think we ought to give him a chance. It sure is screwed up!

Fred Marks, Lincoln