Letters from our Readers - December 2006

Famous Last Words 
One of the original members of the neo-conservative Project for a New American Century who pushed for U.S. pre-emptive strikes and hegemony in the Middle East, Richard Perle, was among the two dozen “fellows” from the American Enterprise Institute who pervaded the Bush Defense Department. In November 2002, President Bush commended AEI as having "some of the finest minds in our nation." Obviously in the throes of euphoria, Perle wrote the following soon after the fall of Baghdad:
“This was a war worth fighting. It ended quickly with few civilian casualties and with little damage to Iraq's cities, towns or infrastructure. It ended without the Arab world rising up against us, as the war's critics feared, without the quagmire they predicted, without the heavy losses in house-to-house fighting they warned us to expect”. ….“Iraqis are freer today and we are safer. Relax and enjoy it.” (May 2, 2003)
Out of a sampling of 35 AEI fellows, 15 are signers of Project for a New American Century papers. 11 are on boards or otherwise connected to corporations. 12 are or were imbedded in the Bush Administration. 13 are connected in some way to Israel. And only 3 have served in the US armed forces.
Other fellows in this collusive cluster of “fine minds” are: John Bolton, Eliot A. Cohen and Dick Cheney. Some non-AEI collaborators in Project for a New American Century are: Jeb Bush, Elliot Abrams, Gary Bauer, William Bennett, Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Dan Quayle, Paul Wolfowitz and Donald Rumsfeld.
These elite intellectuals worked in high-paying positions of trust and influence in our government. Yet their arrogant agenda spilled more American blood, did more harm to our standing in the world and cost more $billions than a million terrorists. They should all answer for their apostasy if not downright sedition.
Bill Barnes 
Conroe, TX 

If the Shoe Fits…
In a recent interview with CNN, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor expressed her displeasure with America’s current fixation on criticizing “activist judges” for writing the laws instead of interpreting them. She feels that this “mantra” is one that is causing the other branches of government to create legislation to limit the powers of the judiciary, the Supreme Court notwithstanding. I say, if the shoe fits… wear it!
It is interesting that those whom our founders intended to be fair, balanced, and yet weaker than the other branches of government, cast their opponents – the American people – as a McCarthy-esque bunch of witch-hunters out to burn members of the judiciary with which we disagree. Evidently, those little dictators in their black robes just do not get it.
This is not the 1950s; there is no Communist scare in the United States. What is here, however, is a lack of tolerance for those who show a blatant disregard for the basic tenants of our Constitution when adjudicating. What is here is a lack of accountability, which is exactly what the legislature hopes to implement through the passing of laws that govern the judiciary to an extent – a right the legislators clearly have been given in the U. S. Constitution! And what is here is a federal judiciary that has outgrown the boundaries our Founders envisioned, and the American people have had enough.
This is frowned upon by Justice O’ Connor, as she argues not all of the apples in the barrel are bad, but obviously a precedent needs to be laid down. If we have judges misbehaving from the bench, they will be roped-in, and for those who are not, the new judicial restrictions created by Congress will have no effect on their decisions.
The legislation that Congress is yearning to put in place is not supposed to inhibit the work of those who preside over our courts, but rather to safeguard the rights and freedoms of the American people. Those judges who have a bone to pick with Congress are the same individuals who believe that ruling based on their personal beliefs is more important than ruling as the law dictates. The judges’ jobs are not to set precedents that alter or supersede our current laws, as this is the very essence of activism and does not fall within the bounds of their job descriptions. What Justice O’ Connor is truly guilty of more than just activism, however, is judicial elitism. 
Clearly, Congress is in the right by limiting the powers of our federal judiciary, and as Americans, we should be thanking all of them and encouraging even more restrictions. Justice O’ Connor and her elitist colleagues need to hear the voice of the people loud and clear – sending them a resounding message – the “activist judges” personal preferences will no longer trump our Constitution!
Gina Parker
Waco, TX

Election Won, Election System Broken
American voters should not think that our election system is working fine just because control of Congress changed hands in 2006. The election system nationally, and likely in your local community, is broken!
We do not have reliable, standard voting procedures and equipment in every community. Many voting machines are still not reliable and can be easily corrupted. Vote counting is still in private hands and controlled by a small number of “for profit” corporations. Voting rights are still being manipulated, and often denied, by partisan officeholders. Elections are still hugely expensive and more advertising exercises than public discussions of issues and policies. The right to have your vote counted honestly and correctly is still not Constitutionally guaranteed.
We have an election crisis. The system must be fixed. Both national and state Constitutions should be amended to guarantee uniform equipment in all voting jurisdictions, that all votes be honestly and correctly counted and that all citizens residing in a jurisdiction should have the right to vote. 
No government, at any level, should be allowed to restrict voting rights by any group of citizens except those currently institutionalized in mental facilities or jails. Of course, non-citizens residing in the community should not be permitted to vote. ID laws should not be used to restrict voting rights of the poor. All citizens should automatically be registered when drivers’ licenses are applied for, school enrollments registered or Social Security cards issued. All citizens should be able to enroll by using postcards mailed to all addresses in the nation. Any type of ID should be accepted. 
Penalties for double voting or voting by non-citizens should be severe. Strong felony charges and long sentences should be imposed on anyone attempting to rig elections. The strongest penalties should be faced officeholders who systematically deny the voting rights of large groups of citizens or who corrupt honest vote counts. 
Personally, as a death penalty advocate, I would favor the death penalty for fraud by the top election officers in any state involving either large numbers of voters or that potentially alter election outcomes (although life without parole would be acceptable as an alternative to the death penalty.) The penalty should be as severe as treason during wartime. The crimes are comparable in my opinion. Both attack our existence as a free nation.
Equality of votes should be a guiding standard strictly applied in law. Differences in voting equipment can result in votes being lost in voting jurisdictions with sub-standard equipment. Federal money should be used to buy the same safe equipment for every community. The equipment should provide a paper trail that cannot be manipulated and can be audited. The entire process should be open and public.
Campaign finance laws should be passed everywhere to reduce the cost of running for office. If required to prevent court interference, constitutions should be changed to specifically state that spending unlimited amounts of money to influence election outcomes is not guaranteed by free speech rights. Reasonable restrictions should be permitted by law.
This election crisis is critical to preserving American freedom. The entire future of our nation is at stake. This crisis is more important than any other issue facing our nation. We must act, now!
Stephen Crockett
Earleville, Maryland 

Where is the Outrage?
Can you believe it? Our republican congress has allowed President Bush to: 
1. Give tax breaks to the richest 1% of Americans by taking away from the 
middle class-- therefore shrinking the middle class. 
2. Lead us into a illegal war in Iraq where there were no weapons of mass 
destruction thereby proving Bush mislead the American people. 
3. Give Halliburton a contract without a competitive bid to rebuild Iraq and 
then allow them to rob us blind by overcharging us 
4. Pass a energy policy that makes oil companies rich and hurts the consumer 
5. Allowed the Bush administration to give us a record deficit 
6. Broke their promises of fiscal responsibility by outspending any democratic congress with even more fat. 
7. Did nothing after it was proven we are in a no win war in Iraq that is being 
badly mismanaged by the Bush administration. 
8. Did nothing as our young military personnel by the thousands came home 
in caskets, missing arms, legs, loss of eyesight, and their sanity except cut 
benefits to the veterans hospitals. 
Oh, the military-industrial people, who President Eisenhower warned us of in 
his farewell address, got smart after Vietnam -- they ended the draft. Today, they do not have to worry about college students demonstrating against the war as they have no fear of going. Yes, the military-industrial complex is profiting by the spilling of our young people's blood and few object. 
Yet, the American people kept re-electing these republicans and it looked 
like they would again this year until a congressman was caught e-mailing sexual e-mails to under age male pages and the republican leadership covered it up. 
Have we become so immune as a society to violence that we can ignore our 
young people being killed, maimed, blinded and robbed of their sanity yet become so incensed at them being sent sexual e-mails? 
The experts say the American people will throw out the republicans because of this incident because they covered it up. How about allowing the Bush administration to take us into a illegal war with most of the world dissaproving and ruining our reputation as a leader of doing the right thing? 
Iraq was not where the terrorists were, but they sure are there now. Saddam was not any worse than most of the other Arab dictators and yet we do not invade them. 
We allow our young people to spend hours watching violence on t.v., in movies, 
and playing violent video games but have a conniption fit because they see a woman's nipple for a couple of seconds on t.v. 
I can not believe we do not get upset watching our young people being killed and 
coming home maimed for life fighting a war we should never been in and which has 
been mismanaged by the Bush administration. Our republican congress allowed it to happen and continue to do so. Yet, many were ready to vote them back in until congressman Foley was outed and it was discovered the republicans covered it up. 
How can we be so upset at nasty e-mails sent to underage boys but not at others just a few years older being blown to smithereens? Still others maimed for life? All experts tell us we created more terrorists by invading Iraq so what have we accomplished? 
This administration and republican congress have ruined the good will and sympathy the world felt for us after 9/11 by invading a country that had not provoked us. Thereby violating a United nations agreement we made sure was in there after the second world war. We have made such a mess of Iraq that no one can see an end to it as the terrorists rule and no one is safe. The Iraqi people want us to leave as we are making matters worse, yet, this president and congress "stays the course" of disaster. 
Yes, I am sure the young pages will recover and live normal lives BUT thousands of other young people and their families will not recover as many return in coffins and others maimed for life. Where is the outrage for them? 
Yes, the republicans need to be thrown out, but for much more serious offenses than a sex scandal cover up. 
Bill Talley 
Houston, TX

Flip Flop
People like Gina Parker can't have it both ways. She can't put down the United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq and then ask them for help in Darfur. Her party- the GOP- has been in total charge of the US government for 6 years so whose fault is it that Darfur has received no help? Ms. Parker insinuates that "conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda where U.S. involvement came too little, too late" were Clinton's fault. So who has been in charge for the last 6 years Gina? Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton? George Clinton?
The rationale for the war in Iraq has progressed from imminent danger to the US to helping the people depose a dictator. So why hasn't thie regime rushed to the aid of the people from Darfur? Want to help the people in Darfur? spread the rumor that there is oil under their soil and watch the republicans and Halliburton rush to the rescue. Like a typical GOPster she talks alot but does little.
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas

USA Destruction Underway
Relatively few Americans are aware that the destruction of the United States is well under way. How can this be? It is because the federal government wants to entangle us in a North American Cooperative Security Act with Canada and Mexico.
This Act will be used as a stepping stone to build a North American Union (NAU) similar to the European Union (EU). Our borders with Canada and Mexico will be
erased, and we will be subjected to rulings from an unelected NAU governing body. We will lose our sovereignty and our constitutional protection. This is not speculation. It is official government policy. 
Futhermore, as part of the NAU, the federal government plans to build a NAFTA
Super Highway throughout our country. It will be linked to both Canada and Mexico. It is expected to be about a quarter-mile wide. The government will use the power of eminent domain to condemn private property for this highway.
Inspection stations will be moved from our borders to hundreds of miles inland
because our borders will have been erased. This means that terrorists and contraband can easily enter our former independent United States.
Concerned citizens should contact their two U.S. Senators and their U.S.
Representative and urge them to stop this so-called Security Act: S. 853 in the Senate, and H.R 2672 in the House of Representatives.
Edward Milton Ventresca
Canyon Country, CA

Stop The Grinches! 
As we near that most joyful time of year, it never seems to fail that certain militant individuals who are staunchly anti-Christmas (better known as “Grinches”) seem to come crawling out of the proverbial woodwork. This year, the City of Chicago has banned a yearly public square Christmas festival for, of all things, talking about Christmas! 
New Line Cinema, one of the festival’s sponsors, planned to play a loop of their new film The Nativity Story on televisions mounted around the square. According to the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, the German Christkindlmarket was encouraged to drop New Line as a sponsor because of concerns that ads for the film might “offend non-Christians.” When asked by Associated Press for a comment, an executive of the studio remarked, "One would assume that if [people] were to go to Christkindlmarket, they'd know it is about Christmas." 
Well said. To assume otherwise is delusional, so it seems clear that this concern was not the true motive behind the actions of Mayor Daley and his anti-Christmas cronies. The true motive probably has something in common with the reason a woman from Raleigh, NC called McDonald’s corporate headquarters last year during the Christmas season to complain that a franchise in her town was displaying a “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” sign. The Grinches, or “Christophobes,” as columnist Peter Brimelow affectionately refers to them, frequently hide behind the guise of “political correctness” and “tolerance for all holidays” (except for Christmas itself, of course) to accomplish their humbug agenda. 
Despite the Christophobes’ best efforts, however, the tide is slowly turning in favor of those who love Christmas. Wal-Mart in early November announced that they would be launching a more “aggressive” Christmas campaign this year, with their TV and print ads proudly displaying “Christmas” trees and ornaments, as opposed to “Holiday” ones, as well as the “Merry Christmas” slogan. Target has followed suit by making a conscious effort to re-integrate the word “Christmas” into its holiday ad blitz. As encouraging as these announcements may be, incidents like the one in Chicago are becoming all too common and all the more egregious in nature. 
The best way to take Christmas back for America is to take action. Call Best Buy or Lowe’s at their corporate headquarters and ask why the word “Christmas” is conspicuously absent from their campaigns. Better yet, call Mayor Daley’s office and ask for a logical explanation behind its muscling out of The Nativity Story. The worst thing you can do is absolutely nothing at all, because that is really how the Grinches win. 
Gina Parker
Waco, TX

'Happy Holidays' Strikes Out
According to a Zogby Poll: Survey finds very few upset by ‘Merry Christmas’ greeting. “Merry Christmas” is back on the lips of many retailers greeting shoppers this holiday season—much to the delight of the 32% of those who say they’re offended when a store clerk who instead uses the generic but politically correct “Happy Holidays,” a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.
Last year’s decision by many retailers – including retail giant Wal-Mart – to curtail the use of “Merry Christmas” for fear of offending those who don’t celebrate the holiday caused a backlash from conservative Christian groups as well as consumers. Wal-Mart’s change of heart this season could help bring more people into their stores – 35% of respondents said hearing “Merry Christmas” makes them more likely to shop there this season. For weekly Wal-Mart shoppers, that figure jumps to 54%. This year’s poll showed opinions on holiday greetings have changed little from last year. The survey, including other fascinating American thoughts about consumer behavior during this holiday season, is featured in the December issue of Zogby’s American Consumer newsletter, now available at www.zogby.com .
Zogby polling shows an overwhelming majority (95%) say they are not offended by being greeted with a “Merry Christmas” while shopping, including 98% for weekly Wal-Mart shoppers. But greet them with a “Happy Holidays,” and 46% say they take offense. The Zogby Interactive poll surveyed 12,806 adults between Nov. 21-29 and has a margin of error of +/- 0.9 percentage points.
Of course, not everyone will be excited to hear more “Merry Christmas” greetings this season. One in three respondents who identified themselves as Jewish (32%) said they were upset by hearing “Merry Christmas” as were 10% of those of non-Christian faiths or who did not identify themselves with a religion. Democrats are more likely to take offense at “Merry Christmas” (8%) compared with fewer than 1% of Republicans and 1% of Independents. 
While “Happy Holidays” is a greeting intended to appeal to everyone, retailers’ efforts to avoid offending anyone may have backfired. More than half of those polled (51%) said they are bothered by store clerks who greet customers with “Happy Holidays” in an effort to help stores be politically correct. For some shoppers, a clerk who says “Happy Holidays” might as well be saying “Don’t shop here”—36% say they have avoided shopping at a store or have cut their visit short after being greeted with a “Happy Holidays” instead of a “Merry Christmas.” That figure jumps to 41% for weekly Wal-Mart shoppers and 42% for those older than 65.

What Did She Say?
Gina Parker once again is back to being the blind conservative after showing a little compassion and even a bleeding heart in her last letter. She is preaching the conservative agenda of destroying the supreme court. After Franklin Roosevelt packed the court with liberal justices to 
raise the country out of the depression over the conservative objections the conservatives have been trying to destroy the court. 
Roosevelt helped the working man and gave him social security and we have seen Bush try to destroy that just last year. The conservatives have always been at war with the working class and will not rest until 
they destroy social security. 
They believe in segregation of the rich from the rest of society and also from minorities. When the supreme court outlawed "separate but equal" schools and outlaw segregation once again the conservatives were outraged. 
When the supreme court ruled we were not a theocracy and gave women the right of privacy and the right to abort a pregnancy they did not want, the conservatives went bonkers. 
However, when the supreme court violated the constitution by voting 5-4 to NOT allow a vote recount in Florida as the Florida supreme court had ruled the conservatives cheered. As a result of that decision, 2800 young Americans have died in a illegal war in Iraq. 
Our founding fathers did not trust the masses so they created an electoral college and as a result even though there was no doubt that Gore won the popular vote in 2000 he lost the electoral college due to the illegal, immoral workings of conservatives led by George's brother the governor Jeb Bush. 
Where did Gina get that the supreme court was supposed to be weaker than the other 2 branches of government? The founding fathers knew for us to have justice we would have to have a judiciary that was not influenced by having to be re-elected. It was to be free of politics so justice could prevail. That was a basic wisdom and Gina wants to take that away and make it political. 
If and when that happens we will no longer have justice but will have a court 
that will bow to the will of the people-- right or not.. There will no longer be justices with the courage to end segregation type decisions. In other words our democracy will end as no longer will minorities be protected. No longer will the justices decide on what is right or wrong but whether it is politically correct or not. 
No, we will have shameful political decisions as we had in 2000. We already 
have to worry about a conservative court that would like to take us back to the 1920's. Take away the independence of the court and make it even more political. 
They will no longer rule on what is righr or wrong but what is the most popular. with 
the masses. With this logic we would never have integrated our schools, it was 
unpopular then and still today with most white people. 
Conservatives talk about getting back to the founder's intentions but are working 
to destroy a branch of government that was designed to be non-political. 
Bill Talley 
Houston, TX

Foxes Guarding the Hen-House
When the whispers about Missing / Exploited Children chairman and avid writer of erotic overly-friendly instant messages, Mark Foley, reached the hallowed halls of the House, no problem. Like always, the bigwigs simply pulled the rug back and broke out the old congressional whiskbroom. Newt’s “Contract With America” remained pristine, pious and page-proof, if not pervert-proof. Shhh! 
But then the dreaded Leak, that two-edged sword used by some inside the loop with such devastating effect, struck without warning. The intrepid lawmakers tossed the suddenly radioactive secret around like an improvised explosive device. Majority Leader John Boehner, doesn’t remember seeing it but he might have passed it to Thomas Reynolds who doesn’t remember recieving it but thinks he might have passed it to Speaker Hastert who doesn’t remember anything. 
All of these fine GOP leaders have said, without either knowing or recalling anything, that they referred the matter promptly to John M. Shimkus, head of the two-Republican, one-Democrat panel that oversees the morals of the House page program. Shimkus told the other Republican member of the panel but somehow neglected to inform the token Democrat, Dale Kildee. 
This is a throwback to the Nixon era where the hypocrisy of the cover up is as bad as the perversion of the deed. It's time to crawl out from under this train wreck by electing qualified leadership at all levels of government.
Bill Barnes
Spring, TX

All The Wrong Reasons
I early voted today. I went to the polls ready, willing and able to cast votes for candidates that I was knowledgeable about and believed were the best choice available, not only for me, but for all of my fellow citizens. I spent hundreds of hours over the past 2 years researching and learning the candidate's positions on issues as well as the candidate's integrity and ability and past record. I used every form of media coverage available to get my information. I contacted many of the candidates through the mail and Internet and even personally spoke to 2 opposing Senatorial candidate's campaign managers to make sure I was getting a fair and balanced assessment. I informed other voters of the different candidate's platforms and went door to door to petition for one person to have the right to run for office as an independent. So when it was my turn at the booth I was ready to make an informed choice. After being assured by the voting officials that these machines were not "hackable"- like the Diebold machines in Ohio I went to the booth to vote. It took me several minutes to learn the new machine and navigate through the list of candidates but I considered that a very small price to pay for such an important duty. I was careful to check and double check my selections and when I was finished and the waving American flag came on screen to signify that my votes were registered I walked away with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I was proud to exercise my most fundamental Democratic right. 
But only minutes later did I learn that my vote was basically nullified -by a good friend no less- who, I felt, used the exact opposite methodology as I did to exercise their voting right. I consider my friend to be a "good person" but their reasons for voting as they did were as equally uninformed as my vote was informed. My friend was negligent for their effort given to this important task. My friend voted a "straight ticket" because: 1. the machine was too tricky to learn and her party was the first listed on the ballot, 2. Her daddy always voted the straight party ticket and told her so should she, 3. Her mom believed a common "scare tactic" used by an opposing party that scared her too so she voted out of fear - like her mom. I could expect and almost accept such behavior if the person was young and participating in their first election- but my friend is 45 years old. I have much greater expectations for her.
So my friend chose the easy and lazy way out. When I queried her on her party's platform she could not recite any of that party's beliefs (except their claim that they would not raise taxes- the scare tactic) because my friend had never given much thought or effort to her obligation when choosing our next generation of leaders. But my friend's vote had the same weight, the same impact as mine did all for a hell of a lot less effort. Something is wrong with this picture. Now one party may say that I am just "crying over spilled milk" and that all is fair in politics. But I would remind these people that "turnabout is fair play" and that any election decided through the use of scared and uninformed voters hurts every single American... period. 
I suggest a new program where potential voters would have to show solid knowledge of a candidate's platforms, records, etc... before they could vote for, or against them. We certify candidates so why can't we certify voters? Basically good, but lazy, timid and uniformed people like my friend would be forced to immerse themselves into the election process and become educated and informed - if they wanted to vote (and to all of the millions of apathetic people in our country who "vote by not voting" I say "shut the hell up and don't come bitching and crying to me when you made no effort whatsoever to help this country and therefore yourselves"). And if a certified voter still votes for a candidate that I don't agree with at least I won't feel that my vote has been cancelled for a cheap and meaningless reason. The result would benefit every single American...period. 
Richard Amburgey
Spring, TX

Let Them Play Bingo
So, state lawmaker Rep. Edmund Kuempel wants to help hunters who are legally blind by allowing them to use laser sights to target animals. 
What’s he going to do to help hunters who aren’t visually impaired but still can’t shoot straight?
Hunters have shot—and sometimes killed—other hunters, people walking their dogs, people tending to disabled cars alongside the road, people sleeping in their beds (yes, inside their homes), and sometimes, themselves. Other hunters injure themselves falling out of tree stands, they get lost in the woods, or they suffer heart attacks because their bodies are not used to anything more demanding than changing channels with the remote. 
For the sake of both animals and humans alike, hunters (legally blind or not) should lay down their weapons and stick to less dangerous pursuits, like bingo or shuffleboard.
Paula Moore, PETA
Norfolk, VA 

Nice Article On Rock And Roll
FIRST OFF, PLEASE EXCUSE THE “ALL CAPS”, BY ALL MEANS I AM NOT SCREAMING(I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THAT CONCEPT ANYWAYS), I JUST TEND TO TYPE FASTER WHEN IN “ALL CAPS”!!
I WORK STAFF SECURITY(USUALLY IN FRONT OF THE STAGE AT MOST CONCERTS) FOR THE WOODLANDS PAVILION AS WELL AS TOYOTA CENTER AND OTHER CONCERT FACILITIES! I HAVE BEEN DOING SECURITY FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW, AND BY NOW I HAVE GOTTEN USED TO HEARING THE STORIES FANS PAY(AT FACE VALUE AND SOMETIMES THROUGH SCALPERS) JUST TO SIT WITHIN THE FIRST SEVERAL ROWS OR IN THE PIT FOR G.A. SHOWS!! AT LAST MONTHS AERO-CRUE SHOW IN THE WOODLANDS, FANS PAID ROUGHLY $500 FOR A 2ND ROW SEAT!! ITS RIDICULOUS FOR ANYONE TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR ABOUT 3 TO 4 HOURS OF LIVE MUSIC!! FOR THAT PRICE I BETTER GET A HANDSHAKE AND AN AUTOGRAPH FROM AN ARTIST IN BETWEEN SONGS! 
I AM 37 YEARS OLD KNOW AND HAVE ALWAYS LOVED GOING TO CONCERTS, I REMEMBER MY FIRST CONCERT WAS SEEING KISS AT THE MEMORIAL COLISEUM IN 1983 IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, THE TICKET BACK THEN COST $13 TOTAL(I BELIEVE IT WAS $10 WITH A $3 FEE), AND THE T-SHIRT I GOT AT THE SHOW WAS $15 AND TOURBOOK $10!!! I WOULD GO TO SHOWS EVERY YEAR AFTER THAT, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY YEAR THE TICKET PRICE WOULD RISE A COUPLE OF DOLLARS ALONG WITH MERCHANDISE PRICES! BY 1995, I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE, THE PRICES HAD RISEN WAY OUT OF MY BUDGET AND I WAS ANNOYED TO PAY THAT MUCH TO SEE A BAND THAT I SUPPORTED(BUYING THEIR MUSIC, VIDEOS, MERCHANDISE, ETC). BUT I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT THE REASON TICKETS HAVE RISEN SO MUCH IS BECAUSE OF WHITE COLLAR ENITITIES SUCH AS CLEAR CHANNEL AND TICKETMASTER AND OTHER PROMOTERS WANTED “A PIECE OF THE PIE”!!!!! WHO WINS??---THE CORPORATE BIG WIGS, WHO LOSES??---THE REAL FANS!!
I FINALLY GOT SMART AND DECIDED TO WORK AND GET PAID TO SEE THE CONCERTS!!---I GET THE BONUS PLAN THAT WAY, I GET THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE, GET TO MEET THE ARTISTS, VIEW THEIR SOUND CHECKS, AND SOMETIMES END UP WITH FREE STUFF LIKE A GUITAR PIC OR A SET LIST OF THE EVENINGS SHOW!!!!!!! I RECOMMEND IT AS THE BEST PART TIME JOB IN THE WORLD!!!
BUT WHAT REALLY TICKS ME OFF NOWADAYS IS HOUSTON ROCK RADIO (OR LACK THERE OF)!!!!!!!!!!!! WHY DOES HOUSTON HAVE 3 CLASSIC ROCK STATIONS AND NOT ONE “HARD ROCK” STATION?? I HAVE GONE IN CIRCLES WITH SOME DJ’S AND RADIO PROGRAMMERS AS TO WHY WE HAVE TO HEAR LED ZEPPLIN EVERY 90 MINUTES!!...ITS COOL IF YOU’RE A CLASSIC ROCK STATION, BUT NOT ON A SO CALLED ROCK STATION!! SOME OF THESE DJ’S BLAME THE AGE OR GENERATION BRACKET, MEN OVER 40 HAVE OR MAKE MORE MONEY TO SPEND ON PRODUCTS, ETC. FOR WHICH THEY PREFER THE “CLASSIC ROCK ERA”(LED ZEP, BOSTON, THE WHO, HENDRIX, ETC), AND THAT IS WHY THAT’S ALL WE EVER HEAR ON THE RADIO!!! IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY SENSE, BECAUSE THE SMALLER CITIES SUCH AS CORPUS CHRISTI AND SAN ANTONIO ARE PLAYING THE STUFF HOUSTON ROCK FANS ARE HUNGRY TO HEAR ON THE RADIO SUCH AS: IRON MAIDEN, PANTERA, QUEENSRYCHE, KISS, POISON, CINDERELLA, MEGADETH, AND ALL THOSE OTHER 80’S HEAVY METAL HEROES THAT RULED THE AIRWAVES IN THE 80’S!!! IT SEEMED LIKE ONCE CLEAR CHANNEL STAKED A CLAIM IN RADIO, THEY WANTED TO KILL OFF THAT ERA AND JUST CONCENTRATE ON THE “DEPRESSIVE ALTERNATIVE STUFF” OF NIRVANA AND ALL THOSE OTHER FLANNEL DRESSED SHORT HAIRED DEPRESSED ARTISTS!!! THANK GOODNESS KISS REUNITED IN 1996 AND FUELED HARD ROCK ONCE AGAIN, EVER SINCE THEN ROCK HAS BEEN IN AN UPWARD BATTLE TO RULE THE AIRWAVES, BUT IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ONLY BECAUSE THE CORPORATE JERKS DECIDE WHAT GETS PLAYED AND WHAT DOESN’T!!! WE NEED A STATION THAT IS GONNA BE RUN BY FAN REQUESTS ONLY, “OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE”!!!
AND ON THAT NOTE, I CONCLUDE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!!! ROCK WILL NEVER DIE!!!.......IT MAY BE SWEPT UNDER THE MAT, BUT IT WILL NEVER DIE!!!
MR. RENE ADAME

Tax Equality For Texas
The holiday shopping season is upon us, and over the next few weeks, Texans will spend millions of dollars purchasing gifts for friends and loved ones. Added to each purchase price is a sales tax, which is higher in Texas than most other states. In the past, these purchases were essentially taxed twice – first by the federal government on the earnings used to make the purchase, and then by the state on the purchase itself. However, a bill passed by Congress in the last days of our December session allows Texans to deduct the sales tax from their federal income taxes.
Extending the state sales tax deduction was one of my top legislative priorities this fall. The Texas Comptroller’s Office reported that the sales tax deduction saves a family of four $310 a year, or a total of about $1 billion each year for the state’s residents who itemize deductions. 
Maintaining this deduction is an issue of fairness. Taxpayers in Texas, Alaska, Florida, Washington, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming were set to be penalized had this deduction not been reinstated. In states where revenue is collected through state income taxes, residents have long been allowed to deduct state income taxes on their federal tax returns. From 1986-2004, the residents of states without a state income tax were penalized because of their state’s choice to collect revenue through sales taxes.
Congress approved a two-year sales tax deduction in 2004, but that expired at the end of last year. Had Congress not reinstated this deduction for 2006 and 2007, Texans would have been unfairly penalized again. Thankfully, Congress did and ensured tax equity. However, this unfair limitation is set to return in 2008. I remain dedicated to making this deduction permanent, so Texans are not treated like second-class citizens in regards to paying taxes.
The tax extenders package included several other measures that benefit our state’s students, citizens and businesses. Among them is a deduction for college tuition and fees. This saves families thousands of dollars and allows a greater number of students to attend college each year. It allows those who earn up to $65,000 (or $130,000 for a married couple) to take an educational deduction worth up to $4,000. Families with higher incomes (up to $80,000 for an individual or $160,000 for a couple) may qualify for a deduction worth up to $2,000.
Another important part of this bill benefits classroom teachers, who will be allowed to deduct $250 for classroom supplies and expenses. Our teachers certainly deserve a break for reaching into their own pockets to improve the learning environment of our children.
Technological innovation makes crucial contributions to long-term economic growth, and research and development is the lifeblood of innovation. To support this, the research and development tax credit was also extended. Supporting research and development helps American manufacturers and the U.S. economy remain competitive with increased competition from foreign countries and leads to additional American jobs in high-tech industries.
Low tax rates continue to stimulate our economy and create jobs. The economy has grown for 20 consecutive quarters. In the past year, almost 2 million jobs have been created, and the unemployment rate is 4.4 percent, which is lower than the average rate of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
I firmly believe that taxpayers know better than the government how to spend their money, and I will continue to support pro-growth policies, because our nation benefits when taxpayers are allowed to keep more of what they earn.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Good Riddance 
The 109th. Republican US Congress has now decided to go home early (December 8th.) and leave the business of our nation to the incoming 110th. Congress. After given themselves another raise, the 109th Congress will have worked about 80 days this year. Not bad for $165,200/year. Now, remember, this is the same Congress that told us an increase in the minimum wage would be infationary! You just can't make this stuff up. 
All my life, I've been preached to by self righteous Republicans that our country is founded on a work ethic which lays the foundation for our great society. Well, I am a firm believe in our work ethic. It's just too bad that those who proselytize about it, Kevin Brady and Kay Bailey Hutchinson type Republicans, talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Their collective work ethic reminds me of one of Jackie Gleason's old characters; Regionald Van Gleason. When Reggie's parents would mention to him that he had to stop being a playboy and get a job, Reggie would start shaking, his eyes would get real big and he would almost faint! Reggie would certainly be in good company with the outgoing 109th Congress. Good riddance! 
Jim Farrell 
Oak Ridge North

Republican Vandalism 
On November 7th, the American people spoke out loud and clear against, among other things, corruption, torture, warrant less wiretapping, holding the minimum wage down, war on the middle class and unjustified pre-emptive invasions.
Everywhere, except municipalities like Montgomery County where the Republicans again swept all races. At least there’s one judge who knows she’s been in a fight. 
During nights leading up to the Mid-Term Elections, there have been several disturbing incidents of cars being keyed (scratched) and hate-motivated “egging” of the homes of Montgomery County Democrats, not to mention the many, many Democratic candidate’s campaign signs that disappeared. 
On several occasions the vandals even had the gall to leave threatening notes demonizing the victims’ Democratic Party affiliation. It isn’t very likely the perpetrators were Democrats. 
The majority of our nation’s citizens do not consider “hate” a family value. But when do hate “pranks” become hate “crimes?” And when did the Party of “Values and Morals” decide that “hate” was one of their motivators? 
It is unacceptable that there are people living in our supposedly civilized county who are capable of such cowardly crimes, simply because someone’s political beliefs are different from theirs. I wonder if Sunni and Shiite bombers started this way? 
Destruction of property is a crime. When Democratic Party Chairman Wendy Melton’s tires were slashed recently, a threatening note on her windshield clearly identified the thugs as Republican. A broken box-cutter blade, the favored weapon of terrorists, was in one of the tires.
UCLA psychologist Edward Dunbar says, “Those who commit hate crimes are not psychotic, but they're consistently very troubled, very disturbed, very problematic members of our community who pose a huge risk for future violence."
My question is this: If an election, which was simply “eye-catching” and not even close, can trigger goons like these to slash tires, what other hate crimes would they be capable of if they were to actually lose an election?
Perhaps this is worth an editorial by our “impartial” Courier editor, whose paper arbitrarily endorses Republicans by the carload because of their conservative values. 
Bill Barnes
Conroe, TX

“ACLU Nativity Scene” Depicts What Season Has Become
If you stroll through the University of Texas campus over Christmas, you will see something that at a glance would seem to be standard holiday fare: a crèche scene. A closer look, however, will reveal Nancy Pelosi in the form of an angel and several other personalities that would confound most sensible Americans. What you have found is not so much an abomination as a wake-up call: it is the “ACLU Nativity Scene” of the Young Conservatives of Texas – a parody intended to show the ridiculous lengths employed by the liberal left and the antics of the ACLU in general to hijack Christmas.
A gay married couple, Gary and Joseph, take the place of the more traditional Mary and Joseph, and Stalin, Lenin, and Marx – holding a book bearing the title Child Porn – portray the three wise men. In the parody, a shepherd portrays a Muslim extremist with a bomb strapped to his chest. Jesus Himself is absent from the manger; the words “The Season” appear in His place, and the words “Nativity Scene” are crossed out with the words “Solstice Barn” scribbled underneath. The parody’s message is resoundingly clear: Americans have slowly but surely permitted not only Christmas, but also America to be stolen by the cranky and wayward minority. 
The crèche parody is a call to action, a reminder of why passivity and preoccupation on the part of the sensible are ruining our nation. According to YCT Executive Director Joseph Wyly: “The ACLU and other left-wing extremist groups are working diligently to destroy Americans’ rights to a free expression of religion…. We’ve already seen in Chicago an attempt to censor the nativity by a city government this week. It’s just more evidence that there is a War on Christmas being waged by the far-left in this country.”
The “ACLU Nativity Scene” has received the attention of several pundits and politicians across the nation, including Brit Hume and Bill O’Reilly of FOX News. Brit Hume featured the crèche in his popular segment “The Grapevine,” and Bill O’Reilly condoned the parody as “totally acceptable.” 
While many liberals have been quick to attack the parody scene, saying that it “fell flat” since the ACLU responded to it with “tolerance” rather than outrage, these folks have missed the point. The message is not to the ACLU so much as it is about them. The crèche is a wake-up call for Americans who have allowed the behavior depicted in the scene to go on far too long. Let us hope it wakes up the right kind of people – people who have no “tolerance” for liberal-minded absurdity whatsoever.
Gina Parker
Waco, TX

We Support Organized Crime
Now this is just my opinion, but think about it. It is against the law to support illegal activities! For instance, if you were financially supporting the illegal importing of canned goods into the USA you could, and probably would go to prison. 
Well, and this may come as a shock to you, but you are breaking the law. You are financially supporting organized crime!
That's right, You! How?
You pay taxes, right? Well guess what? Part of your tax dollars are supporting illegal activities! Your money is being used to financially support illegal aliens. The key word is illegal. Yes you, hard working, honest, legal, Americans are being forced to break the law by paying taxes! So, in essence, everyone in America should go to prison! Or, maybe find away to stop the government from forcing you to break the law.
Get off your duff! Get involved! It's time we put a stop to this Baloney! You as the majority have great power, but you gotta use it!
"Cheap Labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie. There is no such thing!
Take, for example, an illegal Mexican who sneaks in here with his wife and five children.
He takes a job for five or six dollars an hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax! At year’s end he files "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free!
He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent! He qualifies for food stamps! He gets free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care! His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school!
Bi-lingual teachers are required to teach his children English! Books and supplies are also supplied! He doesn't have to worry about car insurance! He doesn’t have to worry about life insurance! He doesn’t have to worry about Homeowner’s insurance!
He is provided with Spanish language signs, bulletins, and printed material! He cannot be fired, harassed, or sued! He and his family receive the equivalent of $20 to $30 an hour in benefits!
We, on the other hand are lucky to have $5 or $6 an hour left after paying His bills!
We also pay for the increased crime, graffiti, and trash cleanup! Sure the employer that breaks the law and hires him saves a few bucks, but look what he, and his new employee, cost us! They both need to pay, and pay dearly! 
John L. Sulak
Tyler, Texas

Celebrate Christmas Texas-Style 
Across our great state, children anticipate opening beautifully wrapped presents, parents and grandparents look forward to embracing visiting family members, and young families eagerly await their first Christmas together. These are all signs that the holidays have arrived.
The holiday season has come to include many things, such as Christmas carols, decorations, trees, lighting of Menorah candles, egg nog, and a break from work and the daily routine. This time of year also brings several traditions and celebrations that are unique to our state.
For many Central Texans, the holiday season begins with spinning under the Tree of Lights in Austin’s Zilker Park. This tree is 155 feet tall, 180 feet in diameter, and dangles 3,309 bulbs on 39 streamers strung from Austin’s historical Moonlight Tower. The park’s mile-long Trail of Lights Festival includes 43 lighted scenes such as North Pole Express, Santa’s Sleigh, 12 Days of Christmas, and Home for the Holidays.
Galveston’s historic commercial district, the Strand, is transformed during the first week of each December to Victoria-era London during the Dickens on the Strand festival. Characters from Charles Dickens novels march through the streets, while vendors, carolers and musicians provide entertainment.
Marshall’s downtown courthouse is centerpiece of one of the largest Christmas lights shows in the country. Known as the “Crown Jewel,” the courthouse is decorated with more than 125,000 lights as part of the city’s Wonderland of Lights. 
In Cleburne, the Whistle Stop Christmas Lights cover 11 acres and always attract visitors from across North Texas. In West Texas, Santa Land has illuminated the Lubbock sky for 50 years. This holiday village features a 60-foot Christmas tree, animated displays, bonfires, traditional holiday scenes, and Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Since 1977, Christmas trees have been grown on approximately 150 Christmas tree farms in Texas. These farms produce 200,000 trees annually on 2,500 acres. Texas Christmas tree growers contribute $12 million each year to our state’s economy, and this year an estimated 36 million families nationwide will decorate their own Christmas trees.
While participating in activities such as these, it is important to remember the silent night in Bethlehem 2000 years ago when our Savior was born in a manger. On this night, there were no elaborate lights or decorations, but there was joy and hope for peace. The good news of His arrival was not delivered to the wealthiest and the most powerful; instead, angels appeared to the poorest shepherds in the field.
As we gather around the Christmas tree, many of our men and women in uniform are unable to be home for the holidays because of deployments overseas. These brave soldiers protecting our freedom may be thousands of miles away, but they are always present in our thoughts and prayers. They too are providing messages of hope and peace to future generations. 
The holidays offer us all an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months, share stories and memories with friends and family, and ring in the new year with an optimism representative of the Texan and American spirit. This hope for a brighter tomorrow and a better future for our children and grandchildren guides us in our daily lives to do all we can to make our world a safer place.
Christmas in Texas may not always be white, but it is always full of laughter, hope and joy. May we all appreciate the gifts we have all been given and enjoy a festive, safe holiday season.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison

Flip Flop
People like Gina Parker can't have it both ways. She can't put down the United Nations weapons inspectors in Iraq and then ask them for help in Darfur. Her party- the GOP- has been in total charge of the US government for 6 years so whose fault is it that Darfur has received no help? Ms. Parker insinuates that "conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda where U.S. involvement came too little, too late" were Clinton's fault. So who has been in charge for the last 6 years Gina? Bill Clinton? Hillary Clinton? George Clinton?
The rationale for the war in Iraq has progressed from imminent danger to the US to helping the people depose a dictator. So why hasn't the regime rushed to the aid of the people from Darfur? Want to help the people in Darfur? spread the rumor that there is oil under their soil and watch the republicans and Halliburton rush to the rescue. Like a typical GOPster she talks alot but does little.
Richard Amburgey
Spring, Texas 

Texas Has 9th Highest Property Tax Burden
As a new year dawns, Texans should be looking forward to exploding fireworks and expanding opportunities. Unfortunately, many families cannot help but feel financially deflated by the property tax bill that has come due for 2006. 
Indeed, a new national study shows Texas has the ninth highest property taxes in the nation as a percentage of personal income. 
Early January will bring anticipated recommendations for property tax relief from Gov. Rick Perry’s Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform. The state’s taxpayers must hope the Legislature will both heed those recommendations, and at the same time return the $15 billion surplus to taxpayers as tax relief.
For much too long, Texans angry over their property taxes have been dismissed as selfish misers. The conventional wisdom has been that Texas is one of the nation’s lowest tax states and complainers should just be glad they don’t live in Massachusetts. However, the Tax Foundation’s national report on property taxes released earlier this month shows Texas homeowners are being drowned in rising property taxes, forcing some to flee their homes for the safer ground of lower appraised property.
The report documents how property taxes have skyrocketed relative to personal incomes. From 1999 to 2005, property tax appraisals in Texas went up 75 percent. while personal incomes rose only 35 percent. 
This is the result of rising property appraisals, on which state and local governments have been cashing in rather than rolling back tax rates accordingly. No wonder many Texans are struggling to simply pay their property tax bill. 
The report not only reveals that Texas has higher property taxes than 80 percent of other states; it also shows that the property tax burden is particularly severe in several Texas localities. 
For example, residents of Houston endure the highest effective property tax rate of any major city in the nation at $2.99 per $100 valuation. While other cities had a much higher statutory rate, they had significant exemptions. As a result, Houston's effective property tax rate is nearly three times that of New York City and more than five times that of Denver.
In addition, Fort Bend, Williamson, and Tarrant counties made the Tax Foundation's dubious list of the 20 counties with the highest median property taxes paid as a percentage of the median home value. The other 20 counties were in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. 
Relief is already on the way. Legislation passed in the last special session will reduce the current maximum school property tax rate of $1.50 to $1.33 in 2006 and $1.00 in 2007. Just as importantly, starting in 2007, rollback elections will automatically be required when appraisal creep effectively produces a school property tax increase of more than four cents per $100 valuation. 
Now, Gov. Perry’s panel is preparing to unveil recommendations that will go further in relieving property taxes. It’s widely rumored the proposal will include finally placing meaningful restraints on the de facto property tax increases that can be levied by local governments through skyrocketing appraisals. 
In addition to adopting the panel’s recommendations for reforming appraisals, the $15 billion surplus lawmakers will have in-hand this session should be used to provide an additional 25-cent tax rate reduction. With a stroke of the pen, Texas taxpayers can be given needed relief.
Thanks to Texas’ reputation as a low-tax state, our rate of economic growth has exceeded the national average in recent years, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.
Let’s make a new year’s resolution: Texans deserve to be secure in their homes, not forced to live in a house of cards is subject to the whims of an unaccountable appraiser. With an overpayment of taxes resulting in a record state surplus, this is one New Year’s resolution for which there is no excuse not to keep.
Marc A. Levin, Esq. 
General Counsel for Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (www.empowertexans.com ) mlevin@empowertexans.com 

Taxpayers Owed $15 Billion Surplus
When lawmakers begin the legislative session on January 9, they will have $15 billion in surplus revenue. Those funds represent the overpayment of the state’s economy for covering the cost of government, says the president of a state taxpayer group, and it should be returned to taxpayers.
State Senator Tommy Williams of The Woodlands is a member of the important Senate Finance Committee, which will in part determine whether or not the surplus is returned. The surplus could reduce property tax rates by 25-cents, or significantly reduce the new business tax. 
“Every minute of every day, special interests in Austin, representing agencies, bureaucracies and entrenched programs, are crowding the halls of the Capitol seeking to convince legislators and staff to keep the money. But that surplus is rightfully owed to the taxpayers,” said Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (www.EmpowerTexans.com ).
“While it might be attractive to spend the $15 billion surplus, legislators should do the right thing and first return the surplus, then come back to the taxpayers and make the case for more spending.”
Sullivan said that if lawmakers spend the surplus, they will be committing taxpayers to continuing to spend those monies in the future. “Legislators buy programs and employees with surplus revenues, and those have ongoing costs that rise much faster than the ability of taxpayers to keep up.”
With intense pressure in Austin on budget writers to simply spend the money rather than use it for tax reduction, added Sullivan. Sen. Williams needs to know constituents’ wishes.
“Lawmakers like Sen. Williams need to know taxpayers back home are anxious for tax relief, and not interested in growing the size of government. But unless the legislators hear from their constituents, its very hard to withstand the pressure of the big spenders.”
Sen. Williams can be contacted in Austin at (512) 463-0104, and in the district at (281) 364-9426.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
919 Congress Ave., Ste. 1135
Austin, TX 78701 (512) 236-0201

The Sky Is Falling
The 70's rock band, “The Who” recorded a song with the words, “meet the new boss, same as the old boss.” After reading a statement by the new Secretary of Defense which stated that withdrawing troops from Iraq would be a “debacle” I was reminded of this song.
The reason that the former Secretary of Defense was given the boot is because 
Iraq is already a debacle. Withdrawing the troops from Iraq will not make things worse. It is already as bad as it can be. The longer that we (the US) stay in Iraq the more that we show the world that the US is the bad guy and Saddam Hussein did what was necessary to keep a lid on the violence that we released by opposing him.
Look at the facts. While Saddam Hussein was in power Iraq was a secular state that was inclusive to women. Now Iraq is becoming a Shiite dominated religious state that demands that women stay covered and in the home. 
It is true that a Sunni minority was in power over a Shiite majority, but the Shiite majority is a majority that does what it is told – even killing people – by a religious hierarchy that is a minuscule minority. Now that the Shiite hierarchy is in power there is a civil war in Iraq. In addition to this, the new government is using the same, if not worse, techniques to deal with enemies of the state that were used to depose Saddam Hussein. 
The new Secretary of Defense is just like the old Secretary of Defense. He cannot, or will not, speak the truth about Iraq. He will be just like the old boss, he will continue to make public statements that amount to stating that the sky is falling. He will do this in a vain attempt to buy more time for a 
failed policy.
Let the sky fall. Pull the troops out of Iraq. The new boss is exactly the same as the old boss.
Charles Henry Schoonover
Washington, DC 

Who Gets Hurt?
In early November, an editorial calling for Donald Rumsfeld to be replaced as secretary of defense, showed up simultaneously in the Army Times, Navy Times, Air Force Times, and Marine Corps Times. Distributed to members of the U.S. armed forces throughout the world, these publications stated that President Bush must "face the hard bruising truth [that] Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress, and with the public at large."
Only days earlier, Mr. Bush stated that he wanted both Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney to remain in their posts for the remaining two years of his administration. As he spoke, more troops were being killed and wounded in a war that has degenerated into a civil conflict between Muslim factions competing for power.
Then, one day after the Republicans suffered what Mr. Bush himself called a "thumping" on Election Day, Rumsfeld’s resignation was announced. To replace him, Mr. Bush turned to Council on Foreign Relations veteran and former CIA Director Robert Gates, a move that does not bode well for the troops caught in a civil war between Islamic factions. Iraq is no place for American forces no matter who is secretary of defense.
Frank M. Pelteson
Las Vegas, NV

Meet The Medium
Read your article. Very informative. I saw the medium on Channel 11 a couple days ago. She is much better than Sylvia Brown, and most of the other so-called mediums. With the exception of John Edwards, who I regard as the real deal, this is the first person I have seen who convinces me that she does hear and speak with the dead. I believe in the spirit world, and Angels, so I hope that if I ever get the chance to meet this lady, she does not disappoint me. Thank you for your article. 
Marilyn Bilyeu

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