Posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 7:00 pm
At last Saturday’s Nebraska Democratic Party convention, I nominated Kate Witek as the Democratic candidate for state auditor. Let me tell you why.
The NDP is open to those who change their views and/or find that the GOP is not what it claims.
The burden is not on the NDP to defend its actions but rather on Ms. Witek to demonstrate that she is sincere in her reasons for leaving the GOP. Perhaps some can read Ms. Witek’s mind; I can’t. Her independent actions as auditor speak more loudly than the cynicism of skeptics.
I am not going through life assuming that anyone who registered as a Republican can never see the error of their ways. I did not question the sincerity of Ed Zorinsky or others when they switched parties.
Understandably, in 2006, there are many, many Republicans who agree with Sen. Chuck Hagel’s comments last Sunday as he acknowledged that the GOP has lost its way. Hagel asked, “Where is the fiscal responsibility of the party I joined in ’68? Where is the international engagement of the party I joined — fair, free trade, individual responsibility, not building a bigger government, but building a smaller government?”
The NDP does not have a “hierarchy.” We welcome the disagreements, the discussions, the arguments, the dissent and the genuine debate which goes on every day within the party of those who do not take orders.
Let me say to those Nebraska Republicans who agree with Sen. Hagel’s assessment after his 10 years working with his fellow GOP senators and six years observing a Republican president that the GOP has lost its way, “Come look over the Nebraska Democratic Party.” Take a look at the party that stands for those things that Sen. Hagel wishes the GOP represented and for more. Do not let others tell you what the NDP stands for; decide for yourself.
Vince Powers, Lincoln
Member, Democratic National Committee
Stop bashing councilman
If one City Council member has so much power and influence, let’s make him Lincoln’s next mayor.
Jonathan Cook is one person with just one vote doing what we all would do if the city wanted to widen streets in our neighborhood. So get off his back!
It’s time to quit whining about 27th Street and dogs. Believe me, there are more important topics to discuss in this city.
Landon K. Osborne, Lincoln
Where are moderates?
Did anyone else besides me enjoy a chuckle over the ironic humor of the Aug. 17 Journal Star Opinion page?
Barely 6 inches from the accusation that this is a “right-wing propaganda page,” there was a picture of Molly Ivins.
Yup. That ol’ Molly sure spews the right-wing propaganda, doesn’t she?
The truth is that Cal Thomas and Molly Ivins probably “balance” the opinion page, but the Journal Star could do us all a favor by dumping both of them, and achieving your balance by presenting a variety of moderate points of view. That is assuming you can find any moderates in this day and age.
Jerry Lusienski, Ashland
Cyclists’ right to ride
I was disappointed to read the letter by Derald E. Gottsleben (“No rules for bicyclists,” Aug. 18) criticizing the behavior of bicyclists in Lincoln.
It is unfortunate that a very small percentage of commuter cyclists are ruining the image of those who are obeying the traffic laws. However, the same runs true for motorists. For every 200 cars that pass me on my commute, there is usually one that nearly clips me with its side mirror, cuts me off at a turn or honks at me as if I have no business riding in the street.
As a member of one of Nebraska’s largest bicycle clubs, Team Kaos, we constantly preach to our members to follow the rules of the road, ride defensively — and to always wear a helmet. The majority of us also own cars, so we are paying for our right to ride on city streets.
Sean Weide, Omaha
Reasons to ride bikes
In response to the letter about bicyclists not obeying the rules, yes, there are some bicyclists who ride in places where I wish they weren’t and do things I wish they wouldn’t, and I am probably one of them.
I do try to not do things that would bother me if I were in the automobile. I don’t ride on busy streets, for one, but when I am on a street, I do have the right and privilege to ride on that street. I ride as far to the right when I am able, and you can pass me when you feel like it. I may not always be to the far right, and that is usually because it is unsafe for me to ride very far right on some streets. That is why a nicely maintained bicycle lane on some streets would be a blessing for both of us.
Now, let’s talk about you in your automobile. Do you support the war in Iraq? Do you support opening more Alaskan wilderness to oil drilling? Do you believe that automobile exhaust does not contribute to global warming? Are you comfortable paying $3 per gallon of gasoline? If you answered no to any of these questions, then get out of your plush automobile and ride a bicycle to work or the store or school.
As I sit on my bicycle at the stop lights along Capitol Parkway, O Street and Vine Street, most automobiles have a single passenger. What a waste of gasoline. No wonder prices are so high.
Paul Morrison, Lincoln
Just show some respect
After reading the letter to the editor about wasting money on bike lanes and all the comments left online concerning that letter, it was very disappointing and sad.
The other night I was woken up by our dogs barking. I got up to see what was going on. I looked out the front door to see a cop car and an officer walking toward our house. I froze with fear because I thought that something happened to my husband.
Suddenly I saw my husband. He was fine, but someone did try to run him off the road on the way home from his job.
We need to stop this fighting and bickering. It is my worst fear to be notified by an officer that I have tragically lost a loved one. Be respectful of cars, bicyclists and pedestrians. They all have someone who loves them and wants them to come home safely.
Samantha Barber, Lincoln