Bush lied. Everybody knows that. But did he? Lied about what? What evidence do we have that he did? Many people are convinced that Bush lied and more, evidenced by frequent letters to the editor.

What follows is the liberal thought pattern that has planted this seed of distrust. First the notion is planted that he lied about certain things, such as WMD, Iraqi connection to terrorism, etc. Then this is expanded to include such things as the Valerie Plame case, where the real culprit was an anti-Bush State Department person, Richard Armitage.

But in none of these cases was supporting evidence provided, only innuendo and opinion. Now we have “progressed” to the “fact” that he lied about anything and everything. Again, no specifics, no evidence. And this has expanded to the “fact” that Bush is the most corrupt, dishonest, disreputable, arrogant, prideful and deceitful president of all times (as one writer has said). Wow!

Actually, it is the ultraliberal groups and many in the Democratic Party that have fostered the idea of the lie, themselves having perfected it, and which in large measure is supported by the majority of the major news and entertainment media.

But Bush lied? Let’s just take one example, the extent of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Iraqi Gen. Georges Sada was a top 10 adviser to Saddam Hussein and has firsthand knowledge of what Iraq had and what happened to them (WMD). His information tends to support President Bush. But have you heard of Gen. Sada?

Not only do I approve that we are bringing freedom to Iraq, but I approve our action because President Bush actually has attempted to do something about the spread of terrorism at the root cause, in the Middle East. If successful, this could provide the seeds of a democratically established government in that area in addition to that of Israel.

The Bush policy may not succeed, but at least he tried to do something to arrest the spread of terrorism at or near its source, something no one else in the past 15 years has attempted.

Wayne Simpson, Lincoln

Affirmative action needed

Jennifer Christiano (letters, June 2) wrote that Nebraskans should abolish affirmative action and “go back to allowing everyone to compete on their own merits.” Unfortunately she is idealizing a mythical past. Before affirmative action, Jim Crow and slavery reduced most African-Americans to poverty, while gender roles and mores kept women largely in unpaid household labor or unskilled work. This country has a history of racism and sexism, which has had a significant impact on the accumulation of wealth and access to opportunities, a history that continues to impact opportunities for ethnic minorities and women to this day.

There is empirical evidence that racism and sexism continue to be a problem. A study released in 2003 by professors at the University of Chicago and MIT showed that job applicants with names common to white people received 50 percent more callbacks than applicants with names common to black people. Women working full-time all year earn on average only slightly more than 75 percent what men earn. Affirmative action, despite being heavily pruned in the decades since its institution, is one vital way of ensuring the trend of opportunity continues to be one of progression (however slow) toward equality rather than regression.

The aggressive behavior of the petitioners is another reason not to sign. Petitioners have not only called friends of mine derogatory and bigoted names but, without provocation, have threatened to call the police for harassment and stalking. Similar instances, I’ve learned, occurred in other states with the same petition, often for such menial things as asking questions about the petition. Even those not supportive of affirmative action should “Keep Nebraska Beautiful” by not rewarding their behavior.

Alex Stamm, Lincoln

Support medical marijuana

In January the American College of Physicians, the largest medical specialty organization and second-largest physician group in the United States, joined the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Nurses Association, many other medical groups, seven major church denominations, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access and 12 states in expressing support for this medicine.

The White House drug czar’s anti-marijuana media campaign delays the time when medicinal users’ needs will be properly met. His ludicrous ads were supported by a budget of $99 million in 2007 and $60 million in 2008. President Bush’s request for 2008 was $130 million.

Patients risk loss of freedom, funds and home just to live a life with less pain (cancer, MS), to combat the wasting syndrome (AIDS) and many other ailment symptoms, all without detrimental effects of so many pharmaceuticals.

The Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program began in 1978; the program was closed to new applicants in 1992. The federal government provides a canister of as many as 300 cannabis cigarettes each month to a small number of patients.

One recipient was a grandmother in Nebraska. Her use held interocular pressure in her eyes (glaucoma) at bay. She enjoyed seeing friends, family and grandchildren for more than 95 years. May others be as fortunate.

If cannabis were changed to a Schedule II drug, alongside cocaine, methadone and morphine, doctors could then recommend, and perhaps prescribe, cannabis for thousands of qualified patients.

Wayne B. Whitmarsh, Lincoln

Treatment, not jail, needed

Regarding the recent story of Lonnie Miller, I myself am incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail in Golden, Colo., and was taken aback and saddened by the news of Lonnie Miller’s early and sudden death. You see, I, too, have been through two treatments at Cornhusker Place, and that is where I met Lonnie. Lonnie was sober and doing well.

During the next few months I watched as Lonnie fell back into the cracks of alcoholism, court dates, detoxing periods and declining self esteem. That helped plummet him back down to the bottom. I, too, have taken this fall many times myself. This time with Lonnie it seemed different. I think this last fall his spirit had been broken.

Everyone, I don’t care who you are, has his breaking point. This is especially true when you have been in and out of the system at least 300 times with citations, serving out fines, in and out of handcuffs and long painful periods of detoxing and loneliness.

Most would say that he made his choices or put himself there. Any man can fall into this rut. Once in — the staying out becomes more and more difficult.

This letter is meant in a positive way and is not to put blame on anyone or anyplace. I just feel us as Americans need to start fixing America first. The Cornhusker Place is a great place to start getting better if you are sick like Lonnie or myself. The constant ticket writing and jailing of people completely down on their luck or with drug and alcohol diseases is just robbing Peter to pay Paul and will never accomplish anything.

Philip K. Stubbs, Golden, Colo.