Letters from our Readers - November 2004

The Facade of Christian Conservatism

For those of you who missed it, ABC aired a special "Peter Jennings Reporting: From the Tobacco File - Untold Stories of Betrayal and Neglect" (9PM CDT, 8 Sept 2004) was inundated with references to and video of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX - Rep) as an avid supporter of the tobacco industry. 
Hutchison learned her survival tactics from her mentors, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex) and Dick Armey (R-Tex). It's never been a mystery that supporting the tobacco industry is the easiest path to donations from the enormous matrix that embodies RJ Reynolds, Nabisco, Kraft, Philip Morris, etc. For the naïve among you, the tobacco giants purchased the largest U.S. food industries years ago. Therefore, the immoral executives of RJR and Philip Morris now control the major U.S. food industries. Isn't that enough to scare you into growing your own food?
So why do their constituents still support Hutchison and Barton? I believe it's the facade of "Christian Conservatism" that attracts most Texans to Hutchinson and Barton. Problem is nothing could be further from the truth. Christianity's focus is on the spiritual and physical welfare of people. Hutchinson's and Barton's focus is limited their survival in office and to the wants and needs of corporations and wealthy tobacco investors. 
Sorry folks, corporations (especially those owned by the tobacco cartel) possess neither a conscience nor a set of real ethics. Do you actually expect to find either of these attributes in Hutchison or Barton? Sorry folks, Democrats are no exception. Rep. Martin Frost (D-Tex) also receives a lot of tobacco money.
Leonard Jensen
Fort Worth, Texas

Please Help

I have a 3 year old cousin who has bacterial endocarditis because of an existing heart condition. She was supposed to have heart surgery in April of 2004 but Texas Children's denied her because they wanted $50,000 up front, (down payment). Brianna's father makes too much money for the state to help and does not have insurance. Even if he gets insurance now it will not be covered because Brianna's condition is existing. We are going to have a benefit for her December 4, 2004, to help raise money.
Her mother has opened a bank account for donations. So please if anyone could donate or contribute it would be greatly appreciated. For the benefit we are still in need for silent auction prizes, food, drinks, and etc. You could e-mail me at trucountry299242@aol.com if you are serious. And then I will get in contact with you with the account number or Federal Tax / Employer Identification Number, and any other information you may need. Thank you so much, On behalf of the McBane family.
Jesica Havran
Cleveland, TX

Grasping for Straws

I read the Perspective letter by Donald Kaul and had to write a letter. His opinion of the debates was juvenile at best with his obvious choice of debate winner for your left field paper. His most persuasive argument that Kerry looks presidential during the debates is really grasping for straws on one of the lousiest democratic candidates since Michael Dukakis.
Finally, what really prompted me to write this was your conclusion of “whether the Republicans can steal the election again.” To set the record straight, Al Gore lost his home state by 88 thousand votes. He is the only serious democratic candidate to lose his home state in the entire history of our nation. Even pathetic Walter Mondale won his home state but Al Gore, two time senator of Tennessee lost his home state by 88 thousand votes. Why wasn’t there a recount in Tennessee? Because Al Gore lost by a landslide. He also lost Arkansas, Mr. Clinton’s former state, by 80 thousand votes. If Al Gore had carried his home state like every other serious candidate has, he would not have needed Florida. The only place where Bush stole the election was Tennessee. Keep writing your paper and keep supporting the party that supports abortion, but wants to ban the death penalty. Kerry is the best flip flopper the democrats have puked up in years. 
Melecio C. Franco
New Caney, Tx

Who Profits from Bush-Economics? 

I have a question that maybe you can find the answer to. We are paying outrageous prices at the gas pump, but, Exxon-Mobile posts a 56% profit yesterday and Chevron-Texaco posts a 62% profit today. Is this more of the Bush-economics? 
Sandra Durham
Conroe, TX

Leaders Only in their Own Minds

Your article, "Cry me a river" , assumes that the RLC is the Republican party. If that is the case, we can say that Moveon.org is the Democratic party. Both are so out in either field as to defy logic. Please don't present the party I support as being at the beck and call of the RLC. They are Republican leaders only in THEIR mind.
Jay Winfield

Your Job Is!

I found your your article "Buzz This" about buzzfest XIV quite disturbing. I understand that it is your job to write about music for the local paper, but i don't understand why you have to be rude about it! Your job is to write about facts on the concert, not your opinions. Especially if they are rude and deceiving! Just because you do not like 94.5 The Buzz does not mean the rest of us do not. You have no right to call people "soulless" and "bastards". If no one liked 94.5 then no one would listen to them and then they would not have a radio station. Also when you wrote about Velvet Revolver, you have no right to call them mildly overrated. Scott Weiland might have had some problems in his life but who are you to judge him. He is a great singer and just because he did heroin and went to jail does not mean he is any less of a singer. He isn't perfect, but neither are you! Thank you for your time and i hope this letter helps you realize something before you write your next piece! 
Lauren 

(Lauren: The Bulletin is all about opinions -- and I have mine about radio. Corporations that strangled radio in the past few years, turning it into a homogenized mess with no point of view. Just as with other industries, corporations have put plenty of people out of work and squeezed the creativity and fun out of the media once known as radio. If you like the stuff they play on The Buzz, more power to you, for you have a stronger stomach than I. As far as Velvet Revolver goes, it is my opinion that their debut album is overrated, but that they have potential to do great stuff. I didn't criticize Scott Weiland for his addiction problems, for God forbid we criticize a junkie, but I did point out that Weiland's problems have railroaded his career in the past, and have the potential to do so again. I personally hope that doesn't happen. Thank you for your opinion and for reading The Bulletin. - Mark Williams, Music Editor)

You Lying Pigs

You bunch of lying, hate-mongering democrats are going to be stomped into the ground on 11/02. I wouldn't pee on you lying pigs if you were on fire. 
P.E. Lee

Happy Days

Hahahahahha four more years. Take that Mr. Liberals. Yahooo. :)
Tic Tac

You Must Yield to Us

I was a Louisiana Democrat for 42 years. The party left me in 2000, and I switched my party affiliation. I am now a Mississippi Republican. 
U-S voters have spoken overwhelmingly and with great finality in this 2004 national election, making it abundantly clear that we Americans do not want what the liberal and leftist socialist Democrats advocate, desire and represent. 
The losers need to understand why they lost this election, adjust their thinking and actions, and try to work amiably with the winners. 
Winners may reach out to losers, but winners do not have to make concessions to losers. 
Former President Bill Clinton understands the true meaning of the results of this election. John Edwards, Ted Kennedy and the radicals evidently do not. The Demos would do well to seek Clinton's counsel and guidance. 
The Democratic Party would be well-advised to moderate their positions on most issues, adjusting them toward the center of the American mainstream. 
Liberals, leftists and socialists in the Democratic Party and in the media need to realize the election is over, and they lost. They should get over it and move on. 
All patriotic Americans should immediately yield to the will of the clear majority of our citizens and states, and respect our duly elected President George W. Bush and this Republican administration.
Let us all help unify the United States of America...not divide it. 
"In unity, there is strength." 
And may God richly bless all of us! 
R. Tullos "Dan" Hanchey
Ridgeland, MS

Thank You, Thank You! 

It never ceases to amaze me how the Republicans use so many dirty tricks, ignore the truth, take comments out of context, bash the war records of true heroes while ignoring Bush's record (my cuz confirms he was AWOL and no one would fly with him because of his dependencies), etc.----------then they cry "foul" when the Democrats actually stand up for themselves and show the hypocracies that run by the RNC throughout this campaign. 
The matter of Cheney's daughter is a prime example---they spent a lot of time and money trying to vilify homosexuals, ignore states rights on gay marriage, yet when it's pointed out that the Cheneys have a gay daughter, they can't handle it. At first, they tried to ignore it, finally Mrs. Cheney had the guts to come out with support of her daughter (Hurray for her!) and then Dick had to follow suit. All the while, Bush is continuing his bashing, acting as if none of the other banter is going on. 
I can't understand how Bush/Cheney can say we are in Iraq to preserve our democracy AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, all the while they are taking the civil liberties away from us in the United States. Forget about the polls here---the polls in Iraq show that if indeed the election is held there in January as planned, the bad guy will win! Then, where will our valliant servicemen and women be (including Jenkins' son)????? More like sitting ducks than ever. 
Bea Rouse 
Montgomery, TX

Just Say No

Now that the election is over, and much of what the progressive American culture believes in will be challenged over the next four years, take heart in over 56 million American voters saying NO to corporate control to the media, NO to robbing the future of the elderly, NO to no health care for millions of poor American children, NO to oil before human life, NO to disdain for the recognition of human rights, NO to the identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause, NO to the supremacy of the military, NO to continued rampant sexism, NO to an obsession with national security, NO to religion and government are intertwined, NO to corporate power being protected, NO to labor power being suppressed, NO to the disdain for intellectuals and the arts, NO to an obsession with crime and punishment, NO to rampant cronyism and corruption, NO to fraudulent elections, and NO, NO, NO.....
kenne

I Found Peace

As a registered Democrat and a proud American-Christian I can't help feel torn myself. I am of Irish-Italian decent and was raised a Roman Catholic, however as of the first of the year I was Baptized and later joined "Fellowship Of The Woodlands".My Faith led me to this church because I needed to be apart of a church where I could make a difference in my community instead of being so-self absorbed I almost frightened myself. 
I found Peace at this church and with a leader and teacher like Pastor Kerry Shook and his wife Kris I have slowly come out of my self-centered world and have begun a journey of caring for others. On that note I feel that now that this election is over WE AS ONE NATION UNDER GOD need to try and heal and love each other again because I know in my heart it is what "OUR LORD" would want us to do. May God Bless Our President and May GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!! 
Cheryl A. Farrrell 

Governor Perry: 

Please remember the Alamo by calling a moratorium for all capital cases. There are now 117 reasons why a moratorium is justified. Ernest Willis is the 117th person exonerated from death row. Because of the advances in forensic science, especially in the field of arson investigation, it is highly improbable that Ernie Willis was guilty of the crime which kept him on death row for 17 years. 
Everything is big in Texas including the injustice done to Ernie and the mistakes of the Houston Crime Lab. Thank God Texas at least had the grace to give Ernie $100 before giving him a foot in the rear out the prison door. "Sorry Ernie, we goofed. Better luck next time." Rick, couldn't Texas at least have given Ernie $117 in honor of the occasion? 
Now, I've heard of "Poor Richard's Almanac", but what Texas now has is "Poor Rick's Death Row." Remember the Alamo Rick, and make Texas proud of you my boy! For a few dollars more, you'll have Santa Anna laying his sword down. 
Then when you lay down your lethal needle, victory will be yours and all of Texas' as well
Matt Dunnigan 
Roma, Italia 

The Democrats Don't Get It

As a life-long Conservative, I want to congratulate you on a well written article. You have hit the nail on the head. Brought up in New York and living in the south since College, I'm 54, I have seen both sides of the fence. When I lived in South Carolina, a Republican could not get elected as garbage collector. Now, the Democrats are facing the same fate. Why is this? The 'hinterland" as it derisively referred to by liberals, do prefer the evil they know, rather than the evil they don't. Personally I believe that Pres Bush won the election when he said simply "Well you at least know where I stand, and what I will do." (please excuse the butchering of the quote). 
The Democrats simply don't get it, You are correct concerning Hillary and "08. I don't believe, you will correct me please, a front runner four years prior to an election has ever made it as the actual nominee. The "08 election will be interesting, if not entertaining, as neither party will have a successor, as Cheney has already stated he is retiring after the second term. This hasn't happened since the '68 election. Interesting enough, the candidates were Nixon and Humphrey. Two candidates that actually talked the issues. Lets hope for both parties and the nation, we can have an election cycle like '68, with issues, debates and an examination of where we want to go as a country. Choices make good results. 
Jim Bingham 
Conroe, Texas

To My Democratic Friends

I have been told that you learn much about a person when you see them handle failure and loss, but you learn even more about them as you see them handle success.
Since the week of the Presidential election and a few days before, I have been verbally attacked by a Republican, invited to a celebration the day after the election by a group of Republicans to "eat cake with them" (al la Marie Antoinette), and have viewed a flood of Democratic bashing on TV, including an almost rabid vermin on MSNBC's Scarborough Country last Thursday night(kudos to Robert Reich). But perhaps the ultimate was hearing an elected Republican stating he will not work on issues with Democrats as they are "losers".
As Democrats, our loss is profound. We grieve the loss of our country, an America that once said, "Give me your tired, your poor...". 
We grieve the loss of America as a symbol of light to the world. A light that is not a laser pinpointing only one point in darkness, but the light that reveals the world in all its complexity.
49% of America is now engulfed in waves of grief and despair. That grief should be respected.
But Republicans will soon realize that Senator Kerry returns to Washington not just as "the Honorable Senator from Massachusetts", but as the Senator supported by 49% of this country. That is where our hope lies, and in ourselves.
Let us look forward to the work at hand.
Janis Allen
Montgomery County, Texas

Are these the people who voted Bush?

I am responding to a few of the letters that were printed in the November 5-11 issue. 
Mr. Lee's letter and the response from "Tic Tac" were highly professional and classy. 
You can tell that these people are highly educated and must have an astute political acumen. 
Reading these letters will give the Democrats solace in the fact that these people represent the constituents that voted for Bush.
E.J. Damon 
Montgomery, Texas

Get used to the smell

On November 02, 2004 61-million Republican voters voted for "Four More Wars". 
The same day 58-million Democratic voters voted for "No More Bush-It". 
If you sit in the outhouse long enough, I guess you get used to the smell. 
Matt Locklin 
Willis, Texas

Thank You Election Workers

In response to your article "Tampering with Democracy" dated October 29th, I
disagree with your statements concerning our County Elections Administration
office and staff. I believe that they deserve only positive reviews.
During the last 20 years that I have worked as an Election Judge, I have
always praised the County Elections Administrator and her staff. They are
always professional, dedicated, and committed to the integrity of the
election process. Four months prior to each election, Elections Central begins a long and exhausting process with many overtime hours to prepare for each election and continues that schedule for several weeks following election day. During early voting, which lasts two weeks, they work extremely long hours and manage to remain gracious, professional and non-partisan while processing voters. Election day is exceptionally long and hectic running into the wee hours of the following morning while ballots are being counted. After election day the staff remains busy processing Provisional Ballots and overseas ballots plus processing thousands upon thousands of Statement of Residence cards, reports, and additional payroll which requires overtime work with a limited staff as well as many temporary workers. I cannot thank Elections Cental enough for all their hard work.
I do not know Ann Isaac, the disgruntled ex-employee of Election Central, who
made many allegations in your article. However, I do know County Elections
Administrator Carol Chedsey Gaultney and Voter Registration Director Janie Voss. I have great admiration for these women and their hard work. The staff at Election Central is always courteous, knowledgeable, and goes to great lengths to protect their integrity of impartiality. Elections Central
displays strictly non-partisan behavior. Carol Chedsey Gaultney is a woman of character and integrity and our county is blessed to have her serving as our Elections Administrator. She would never participate in any questionable behavior concerning the voting process. 
Furthermore, during the eight years that Janie Voss has worked at Elections
Central I have witnessed her character. I have deep respect for her and believe she would never make racial slurs against any ethnic group at work or in her private life. You printed the allegations that Ann Isaac made against Janie but never interviewed Janie to hear her response. 
I would like to thank all the Elections Judges and Election Clerks who also
worked so hard during the election to process voters. Thanks to all the voters who stood in long lines to exercise their right to vote. We should be proud to live in a country where democracy is the foundation upon which we can all call ourselves "winners" because of the freedom we enjoy. I
choose to believe that America is not only great, but is also good.
Rosemary Roe
The Woodlands, Texas

Where Were You?

Maybe you didn't know about it, maybe you couldn't take off work. For all the "Support our Troops" stickers on vehicles, there was but a handful of attendance at the Veterans Day Service at the Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Conroe this morning. One speaker at the event said, we must actually support the men and women in our armed forces, not just with tangible items, but with our prayers and meditation everyday. What better way to show support for our active troops than to have taken the time to show your support and appreciation for our veterans. Favor or oppose the war, we all should actually support our troops and their families here at home. I found it disheartening that the streets weren't lined with those vehicles, who's drivers claim support by display of a sticker. As for me, I extend my personal gratitude to my Dad, Ira Joe Taylor (1919-1970) 36th Division 143rd Infantry - and to all those who have so gallantly defended our country. 
Emy Kolander 
Saratoga, Texas

Partisan politics were never discussed

I was disturbed to read about the comments lodged against Carol Chedsey the Elections Administrator for Montgomery County in your newspaper. I worked as a volunteer in that office as did other members of the League of Women Voters. I can assure you partisan politics were never discussed. I worked as a volunteer for the League of Women Voters but was also an elected official in the county at that time but the vast majority of workers only knew me as a volunteer. I can assure you from experience, that office is run ethically and legally. After reading the allegations lodged by the employee, I can only conclude that employee was disgruntled to say the least. 
Ms. Chedsey has turned that office around completely and is running it like the office should be run. In the presidential election of 2000, I made complaints to the Secretary of State about that office which was managed by another person; ironically much the same as the complaints you had in your story this week about the Republican Leadership Council recruiting people to sign a petition within the 100 yard distance marker that says no one shall electioneer or loiter within this distance. The former Elections Administrator allowed this, but Ms. Chedsey does not. That's not to say it wasn't done, but it was not condoned by the office which is a complete turnaround from the year 2000.
In the year 2000, the Republican Leadership Council was out in force, petitioning to dissolve the hospital district. They loitered within the distance marker and in some places inside the polls with the blessings of the Elections office. That is where the idea came from to go after the library. It was so successful in 2000 they thought it would work again in 2004. My guess is Ms. Chesdsy put a stop to it. They have every right to loiter and electioneer beyond the distance marker but many (even in this election) decided they didn't have to obey the laws of the state of Texas since they didn't have to in 2000. 
Please delve deeper into this story. I believe you will find a fair, honest and hard working Elections Administrator and a staff that this county can be proud of. If you have doubts, do what I did and volunteer. Believe me, their budget is tight and they are overworked and underpaid. I have the utmost respect for the Election's office employees. I would like to take this forum to thank each of those who work there under such scrutiny and unbelievable time constraints. 
Nicol Huff
The Woodlands, Texas

Greedy Power Hungry Bastards

From what I have read, the PNAC planned for years to use our military and treasury to exploit the end of the cold war to create an American corporate takeover of oil reserves in Middle East nations. In their view, the end justifies the means making even biological warfare acceptable. They wanted a Pearl Harbor type of attack to kick off their plans. While researching this on the web, I have found information that contradicts NORAD procedures prior to 9/11 when they were not ordered to scramble the fighters until after the 4th plane had already plunged into the ground. OBL did thank Bush for just sitting there and giving them 3 times as much time necessary to complete their objectives. The 9/11 commission glossed over the PNAC, focused on the communication failures and basically ignored the contradictions. I don’t recall them saying much about the communication that should have occurred between Bush’s brain and his ass when he learned of the airliners crashing into the towers. Apparently, not much attention was made regarding the exercises ordered by Rumsfeld months prior to 9/11. My guess, he was testing the system for a stand down of the fighter jets to insure success of the hijackers. The PNAC was able to count on this scenario being so outrageous that the public and the world would never believe it even though it was in their plans going back to 1997 and had gained support by the religious right. The assumed inevitable peace throughout the Middle East to be brought on by the actions of the PNAC would fulfill the prophecies in the Bible culminating in Armageddon and the second coming of Christ. This transformed their actions from a military corporate take over to a Holy War securing the second term of the Presidency.
The founders of the PNAC fail to see how this sort of aggression gives rise and legitimacy to our enemies as well as the much feared nuclear proliferation. Most tragic of all, they fail to see how poor they were at planning the war in Iraq and gave no thought to securing the peace or the magnitude of the loss of Iraqi lives. How arrogant and stupid! I am really curious to see how they will finance the other wars they have planned, now that our deficit is well beyond reason. Will we have to suffer another strike on our soil to continue the public support? Greedy power hungry bastards!
Peggy

What do you think?

Should the US Army prosecution for the Abu Greib torture stop at the young soldiers or continue on up the chain of command? Consider what John Kerry said regarding the war crimes committed by William Calley in Viet Nam. Lieutenant William Calley herded old men, woman and children into a ditch and shot them. When asked by Senator Pell to comment on William Calley's behavior, John Kerry said in his testimony to the United States Senate:
"My feeling Senator, on Lieutenant Calley is that what he did quite obviously was a horrible, horrible thing and I have no bone to pick with the fact that he was prosecuted. But I think that in this question you have to separate guilt from responsibility, and I think clearly the responsibility for what has happened there lies elsewhere. I think it lies with the men who designed free fire zones. I think it lies with the men who encouraged body counts. I think it lies in large part with this country, which allows a young child before he reaches the age of 14 to see approximately 12,500 deaths on television, which glorifies the John Wayne syndrome, which puts out fighting man comic books on the stands, which allows us in training to do calisthenics to four counts, on the fourth count of which we stand up and shout "kill" in unison, which has posters in the barracks in this country with a crucified Vietnamese, blood on him, and underneath it says "kill the gook", and I think that clearly the responsibility for all of this is what has produced this horrible aberration."
"Now, I think if you are going to try Lieutenant Calley then you must at the same time, if this country is going to demand respect for the law, you must at the same time try all those other people who have responsibility. This is not to say that Calley should be freed, not to say that he is innocent, But to say that you can't just take him alone"
Do you think he would have these young soldiers prosecuted and let the chain of command get off free?? Does this sound like the guy that the so-called swift boat for truth group is accusing of being a traitor? What do you think? 
David Hanks

Take Business to a Flat Tax

There is no problem with the idea of tax simplification. It is a very straightforward concept that should be immediately tackled. America is literally "wasting" billions of dollars every year complying with the monstrosity that is now in place. 
Let's not start with the easy stuff first, though. Let's not start on the items that consume the least amount of time and effort but on the areas where the most amount of money is spent complying with our convoluted tax code. 
Let's start where the rubber hits the road. Let's actually start on the most complex and work our way forward from there by simplifying business taxes. 
Business spends huge amounts of money preparing federal income taxes. If you think your personal income tax return is confusing just think about the complexity of a fortune 500 multinational company like Exxon or IBM – or perhaps Enron or MCI.
We talk about the costs of lawsuits and health care administration to businesses and yet have a tax code that costs businesses more than lawsuits and health care administration put together — try $154 billion dollars annually.
We talk about the value of free markets and yet have a tax code that has its tentacles into every market and professional adjunct. 
We talk about the benefits of transparency and yet have a tax code that is as thick as pea soup. 
We talk about the importance of fairness for all and yet have a tax code that has been bought and sold so many times that it is truly a mass of multi-headed snakes.
We indignantly talk about corruption in countries such as Mexico and Indonesia and yet have a tax code that fosters "hiding the hat". 
Let's take business to a flat tax – no deductions for anything – immediately.
What is a business flat tax? A flat tax on business would simply mean that there would be one income tax rate on NET profits. Companies would still deduct sales expenses, cost of good sold, insurance etc. The key is that there would be no tax deductions such as getting a tax credit for when you buy an SUV.
Tax loopholes would be a thing of the past. They would not exist. So... the tax loophole that Kerry referred to during the election that gives incentives to multinationals to outsource American jobs would not exist.
Think of it. There would be no need for 80% to 90% of the new energy bill that President Bush wants. It's mostly tax "give-aways" to induce companies to spend money to find oil so that they can make money selling it back to the American people. If oil is where the money is, the U.S. government doesn't need to induce investment. Let free markets reign.
Think of it. The Bush Administration wouldn't have to push for making the tax cuts permanent. With a flat tax, all those deductions and credits that business has learned to feed on would disappear. The dysfunctional and wasteful occupation of living off of tax loopholes would evaporate.
Think of it. All the time that the IRS currently spends on trying to enforce the tax code labyrinth would vanish. Some funds could obviously be spent on collecting the now clear-cut taxes owed the government. Simultaneously, the size of the IRS' budget could be reduced because we simply wouldn't need as many people to manage a vastly simpler environment.
Tackling tax code simplification for individuals would be a snap after cleaning house on the business side.
Mr. President. Don't settle for simply "retooling" our counterproductive, obsolete tax code. Go for the whole enchilada. Truly establish a lasting change in the way Americans pay taxes. You have an opportunity here that may never come again. Don't let the politicians gut the idea while they make sure to continue the status quo that benefits them versus their constituents. 
Once and for all break the grip of special interests on the United States and let a free market truly soar. Spend your political capital on something that will change the course of history for the good of all Americans now and in the future.
Angie Pratt

Every effort is made to count every vote

Having observed and worked with the Montgomery County Elections office and Mrs. Carol Chedsey Gaultney (and her staff), as the Montgomery County Democratic Party Primary Administrator, I can only praise the work and efforts of her office. I have found Mrs. Chedsey and her staff ready to assist the Democratic Party with any information, advice, and equipment that we may need. Mrs. Chedsey and her staff have always conducted themselves in a professional manner. I have not detected any bias or ill feeling towards the Democratic Party, any individual or any group.
In addition to serving as the Primary Administrator for the Montgomery County Democratic Party, I have served on several Early Ballot Boards. I can personally assure the citizens of Montgomery County that every effort is made to count every vote that meets the legal requirements of Texasregardless who the vote is for. The Early Ballot Board is made up of representatives from the Democratic and Republican Parties who review each and every completed ballot that is mailed to Election Central. Duties of the board include verification of the voter's signature on the mail-in ballot envelope with the signature on their ballot request card. After the signature is verified the on ballot envelope (the outer envelope) it is opened and the inner envelope containing the ballot is collected and opened later for counting preserving the secret ballot concept. Additional duties of the Early Ballot Board include reviews of overseas ballots, military ballots, and ballots that are rejected by the scanners. If the ballot is rejected by the scanner, we review the ballot. If we can determine, without uncertainty, for whom the vote was made, the vote will be counted, otherwise the ballot will be saved for a period of time as a blank vote or ballot. If a ballot, mail-in or provisional, is rejected, the envelope remains sealed and the voter is notified that their ballot was rejected. The notification letter includes the reason for the rejection. Their ballot is retained for a period of time. I want to add that the election office staff, made up of Democrats and the Republicans, go about their tasks in a non-partisan manner. I have never witnessed a call on rejecting or accepting a ballot because it was a Democrat vote or Republican vote--by any of the members of the election office staff or by the party representatives on the Board. 
To conclude, conducting an election requires a lot of hard work, long hours, and cooperation among all of the participants. In Montgomery County, the election was a success because of the efforts of Election Central, Election Judges, Election Clerks, Early Ballot Board, and the political parties. The success and cooperation is in no small part due to the leadership of Mrs. Carol Chedsey Gaultney.
Leslie M. Rosenblatt
Montgomery County Democratic Party
Treasurer

Brady broke his Oath

Kevin Brady admitted Oct. 12th. at the college he refused to file impeachment articles in congress. He broke his oath to protect the constitution by this action. If Wright gets the military behind him Brady could be in real trouble. But it is the only way to clean up this mess. All responsible persons should support James Wright for trying to protect this country. I think the wrong person won this election. An Wright says he will run again. 
A Voter
(from James Wright's computer)

"There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance." Goethe

Jim Jenkins and the Republican Leadership Cult shout that the library and the head librarian Jerrilynn Williams are advocating the homosexual lifestyle and promoting the gay/lesbian agenda because .2 percent of the books (2 for every thousand books) has a gay character, mentions the gay lifestyle or has a gay author. These same people then deride the library for not having enough “classics” in the collection. 
Using the same logic that they use, Jim Jenkins and his followers must be in favor of incest since Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is considered a classic. It follows that they must also be in favor of juvenile love affairs and suicide pacts in that Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is also considered a classic. To follow further in this line, they must be in favor of animal cruelty because they specifically mention Jack London’s Call of the Wild and this book describes dogs being beaten and starved. This type of silliness and fuzzy logic could continue forever.
The Red Badge of Courage, that Mr. Jenkins and his cronies espouse as an example of a classic was reviled by just the same type of far right wing extremists as they are, when it was published. Alexander McClurge, an influential conservative of the time and owner of the Dial magazine said, that Stephen Crane’s classic was a "vicious satire upon American soldiers and American armies," as part of a plot to undermine confidence in the nation's armed forces. They went so far as to try to get it banned from publication. Had the Jim Jenkins of that time won out, there would be no Red Badge of Courage for the Republican Leadership Cult to wax philosophic about. 
Samuel Clemmons, aka “Mark Twain”, was risqué and a raconteur in his time. Many considered him a radical and and urged banning his writings. The same type of behavior as demonstrated by Jim Jenkins and the Cult, could have resulted in no Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn for us to get to know and consider childhood friends. It is interesting to note how times change the outlook on many books. Sam Clemmons himself said of his now classic tales, "I wrote 'Tom Sawyer' and 'Huck Finn' for adults exclusively, and it always distressed me when I find that boys and girls have been allowed access to them.”
Censorship at the time of the publication of many classics and sadly later for the political benefit of a radical few could very easily deny future generations the benefits of wonderful thought and literature. It was true in nazi Germany and is true now in Montgomery County that censorship is driven by ignorance and politics. The decision as to what should be available in our libraries should be left to professional librarians who have dedicated their lives to literature and the free flow of information, not to the nutty few who shout the loudest. 
“Don’t join the book burners. Do not think you are going to conceal thoughts by concealing evidence that they ever existed.” Dwight David Eisenhower American General and 34th President of the United States
Sterling Huff
The Woodlands, TX 

Don't Beat Up Poor Jim

Hey Mark, is it really necessary to beat up on Jim Fredricks, his wife Melinda or even Robb Reeves because you don’t agree with their conservative views? I happen to agree with a lot of your points – about Bush Jr., the billboard, certainly about the RLC, but come on – cheap shots at The Courier are uncalled for. If you want a target, keep your focus on Jim Jenkins. He’s the real devil-in-not-much-of-a-disguise. I hear he’s been costing you guys some business, too.
Look, I understand that you view The Courier as Bulletin competition, but the fact is we live in a conservative county. Neither one of us is particularly conservative, but is it necessary to force our opinions down people’s throats in super-long editorials that bash our general audience's views? I am more fortunate than you, I think, in that my readers are all in South County. In this part of the county, people think more before they speak or react and more often than naught have open minds. Yes, I know the initial call to arms over the ridiculous billboard issue started here in my office (Sharon Johnson called me personally and asked me to write a story on the "lurid" display). I think she was probably disappointed with my editorial, which was quite different from Jim Fredrick’s. And yes, I understand that the whole embarrassing David incident originated in South County, too – propagated by the RLC (whose members are mostly Conroe residents, I think).
It is obvious after reading your “story” on the billboard, which was more of an editorial and commentary, that you and I have similar political and social beliefs. But the great thing about Jim and Robb is that they hear my opinions with an open mind. We agree to disagree most of the time, but they are nice people who maintain strict guidelines to keep the news content of their paper unbiased and objective, as I do for my own paper. 
I know to an outsider it may seem like they are in line with the RLC and yes, I know Melinda shares a lot of RLC views, but Jim and Robb both have open minds and Melinda is a real sweetheart. It isn’t fair for you to classify them with Jim Jenkins or the RLC – I know them all personally and they do not deserve that stigma. 
Jim Fredricks and Robb Reeves keep their opinions confined within their opinion pages, which is where opinions belong and which is within their rights to do, as it is yours and mine. In fact, that is the one thing I particularly dislike about your “Couried Away” article – it was not clearly defined as an opinion piece and was presented as news or fact. Maybe I am simply unfamiliar with the Bulletin's typical policies on content, but I think that is misleading from a journalistic standpoint.
I am sure you did not like the way Jenkins attacked your paper with the whole advertising war, so I cannot understand why you would not take the higher road yourself. I don’t understand why you would launch your own attack on The Courier or how you could possibly place them in league with the RLC. Even Dr. Wally Wilkerson denounces the RLC. I consider Jim Fredricks and Robb friends as well as co-workers and although I don’t agree with most of their political views, I don’t think it is fair to attack them when they use the proper venue to share their opinions. 
You are never going to turn this county into a liberal county, so I would give up trying to compete with The Courier and concentrate on building your own paper. Focus on your own readers instead of The Courier’s. You can coexist – you always have, but it is Jenkins who is stealing the Bulletin's advertising, not The Courier.
Thanks for you time and attention,
Amy Logan
Editor-In-Chief, The Villager

What a Bunch of Idiots

I loved your article on The Courier. The paper has been a far Republican Rag for years and years. I had to ask my Mom for a copy of the paper from Thursday, oops I mean Friday. 
I just could not believe that someone would actually be a big enough hypocrite to ask people to harass a company for advertising the same thing that they advertise all the time. 
The way to determine community standards according to these idiots is to have a few people call a couple of national companies who care less about our community.
The billboard is a national buy. Viacom can flip it in a minute for another national buy and no one at Wunderbra will ever give it a second thought. 
These people are either setting up this community for censorship by a few people or they are truly just plain stupid. 
Joe Burch

Bless All Our Heroes

On this Veterans Day let's take this time to reflect on what is occurring in our world today, whether we are a Democrat, Republican. or Independent we must UNITE for the common good of ALL OUR PEOPLE and show other countries we will always be proud to live in a Country that OUR LOYAL MEN AND WOMEN Of OUR ARMED FORCES are trying to protect!! May God continue to Bless all our past and present Heroes!!!!
Cheryl A.Farrell

A Poem for the Election 

The election is over, results are now known.
The will of the people has clearly been shown. 
Let's show by our thoughts and our words and our deeds 
That unity's just what our country now needs.
Let's all get together. Let bitterness pass.
I'll hug your elephant.
You kiss my ass. 
Name Withheld

Holy #*&^
My mouth dropped open when I found this newspaper just now. I'm here in Northwest Houston and I've been feeling so lost and sad. I can't believe there's an independent community news outlet nearby (at least I think it's nearby...I need to look at a map).
Well, even if you aren't physically close, you are close to my heart. thank you for existing.
Alicia Williams
Austin, Texas

Do we want our children to be Osama
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., hit the nail on the head when he referred to the release of a video game that recreated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, in 1963 as ''despicable.'' I'd go a bit further and say that at a time when our country is engaged in a war against terrorism, such a game is itself a threat to the security of our nation, as it teaches users how to be assassins.
This type of trash is not needed. The only practical applications such a computer program has is for criminal investigative purposes, as in the re-enactment of a crime. But to promote such a game as educational and informative, as a game of skill, is utterly ridiculous.
It is a well known fact that the military uses computer simulation to train for warfare, to aid soldiers in learning tactics and strategies. Law enforcement also is now using simulation as applicable to fighting crime. But to market such a game focused upon the assassination of the President of the United States is outrageous, if not criminal!
This game should be banned world wide as it does nothing but teach people how to kill and how to destroy the leaders of the free world and democracy. This is the type of game Osama bin Laden would buy for his children. Do we want our children to grow up to be like Osama bin Laden?
I hope that the Kennedy family sues those who have produced and developed this game out of existence. Oh I'm sure there are some who will cry fowl and that to ban this game is a violation of freedom of speech and press if such a suit is made. But really, how can anyone market such trash to the children of the world at a time when terrorist are killing government officials in Iraq, taking hostages of women and children, blowing people up right and left, and calling for a Jihad? Such a game is an insult to the free world, especially to Americans and British who are at the forefront leading the war against terrorism.
The Glasgow-based firm Traffic which has produced and is marketing this game on the Internet for $9.99 should be boycotted by all Internet users. Should copies of this game appear in the homes of any parents with children I would hope they destroy all copies of this program and express their concerns to the Kennedy family, that this game has caused psychological harm to their children, and would join in any legal action against Traffic to put them out of business!
Terry Lynch
Montgomery, AL

Fox TV created a misconception?
Jeff greenfield cnn analyst said that Kerry was for gay marriage when in fact he was for civil unions(so is Bush) and not "gay marriage' at all . Fox tv created that misconception . Gay bashing Tom Delay created the bill to prevent gay marriage -he is a sinister republican caught bribing a senator in the medicare bill-,having democrats followed and god knows what else(and not even impeached for that-In fact now protected by the inner circle, like "conflict -of -interest -Halliburton -cheny") .
Bush created the bill that makes a single person pay more in taxes than a married person .-which led directly to gays trying harder than ever before to be "married"Civil unions would not offend the religious customs of America and changing the law to "everyone pays the same -married or single" would cause the need to be "married " to subside and help single moms.
As for Delay -I watched him ranting about the Gay marriage bill "wewillbebackwewillbebackwewillbeback"-He should retire and wear his white sheet full time .
Jane G Taylor
Rome, NY

And now for a good whine!
I just finished Nov. 12th's Bulletin, and I find it really funny that you had nothing better to put on the front page, so you decided to bash the Courier as well as Jim Fredericks and Rob Reeves! What is SO wrong with the Courier? Are you just angry that they publish other information, rather than bashing the conservatives, like the Bulletin does on a weekly basis? 
The Courier publishes opinons from both conservatives & liberals, where as the Bulletin only publishes a bunch of "Bush bashers" and alot of the time your articles are totally based on one of your reporters opinions which some readers (like myself) could care less about! We want the facts, not just someones perception of the facts! 
I enjoy reading your paper, but this week's issue did not do anything but make me angry! I have a question, would your anger stem from the fact that some of your past employees now work for the Courier? 
Maybe your readers should know where your anger comes from, and not read just a lot of crap that you write up! Your article went from the "wonderbra billboard" to the RLC, to Fredericks & Reeves input on who would win the Presidential election! 
We, the readers all know that you are a liberal, and you publish a very Liberal paper, but come on.....YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT ARTICLE!!! Because if not, you just might lose more readers to the Courier. 
J. Bryant 
Willis, TX 

The truth be told!
"Couried Away: Has the far right (and our daily newspaper) finally gone too far right?" made me laugh harder than anything else that has transpired in this county in these lovely post-apocalyptic post-election days. I actually worked at the Courier, in the circulation department, and your (very accurate) description of Rob Reeves and Jim Fredericks swaggering around as if they were waiting for Wally and the Beav to come in was so dead-on, I believe I actually teared up. You can actually feel waves of conservative machismo flowing off those men, as well as Mr. Lonon. That place and the people inside lean so far to the right that I'm surprised they can stand and walk to their nice River Plantation homes. Not as if they'd actually walk, because then they might see a sign, billboard, or Post-It note on the side of I-45 that would drive them into a religious frenzy. 
I am ashamed to be from a county that would aspire to cover the great work of Michelangelo with a plastic fig leaf.. every time I pass Porto Fino, I hang my head in shame. This county will love and embrace you, so long as you fit into their recommended demographic. As a non-racist, non-Republican female lesbian, I embrace none of the characteristics that would allow me to fit in with these people.. And no fact gives me greater pleasure. Working as I did at the paper, I kept my sexual identity a secret for fear of losing my job. They wouldn't have actually fired me for being gay (or would they?) but I'm sure they would have trumped up some charge or imagined wrong-doing to terminate me. 
Your article was absolutely wonderful, Mr. Williams. I applaud it and your efforts to open the eyes of those in this county who will allow their eyes to be opened to the corruption present even in our daily periodical. If I could only express a fraction of what I saw going on in that newspaper office... But I'm sure you already know. Cheers and huzzahs to you, and as far as I'm concerned, the Courier and all its staff can jump up.. well, jump to a very unpleasant place. 
Congratulations on maintaining your integrity, sir. 
Amy M. Vollert

Long live Rock
Thought you might be interested in the local efforts to get Rock 101's format back. We do understand that they won't be back on KLOL, but we'd like to see another station pick up the format. The following ABC13.com story has a lot of information about things we've been doing. Also, check out www.rock101.info, the forum has a lot of chatter on there. Contact Robin @ 832-233-7380 for more info. We've ALSO have a concert set up at the Steven's and Pruett Ranch on December 11th. 
Everyone has revamped their sites. Please go check them out and let us know what you think. Anyone who has not signed the petition please sign it. We need all the help we can get. If anyone has any suggestions on the Rock the Ranch, Save the Rock campaign please feel free to contact us. 
Last Train Out 
www.lasttrainout.com  
www.rockhouston.com  
www.rockaid.com 

No communicating with Clear Channel
I am so angry and sad about KLOL being taken off the air.. just sick. I am glad to hear a familiar voice on the buzz but it is just not the same! It' s not fair they did this to our community.. Why are they deciding what We should listen too? 
I have not found a "new station" don't know if I ever will...... 
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I have tried to contact Clear Channel Communications to no avail... 
Maureen Trigg
Conroe, Texas

Corporate America is firmly in control
Your article “Runaway Radio” was fabulous and probably one of the most relevant pieces I have seen in a long time.
Deregulation has changed things quite a bit. Turn on your radios in the morning and what do you hear on every channel: lack of local programming (At one time stations carried local news and public affairs programs), similar chatter going on between two or three people (The music is the only thing different), and a blatant disregard for the community (Before deregulation, radio stations had to prove they were serving the public in order to justify the use of “public airways"
They were required to conduct public surveys and post a notice in a local newspaper notifying the public their frequency was up for renewal). In the 1960's a few licenses were not renewed when the public objected.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) along with National Public Radio (NPR) were even successful at limiting legislation that would have released low-power FM frequencies to local entities three years ago. The intent of the legislation was to allow colleges and other educational institutions to provide community programs. Even though radio stations are now ignoring their responsibility for local programming, they do not want anyone else filling the void.
It is true that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently done a few things to resurrect itself; however, corporate America is firmly in control of something that once belonged to the public. It would take radical changes to return the airways to public control.
Jim Becka
Splendora, TX

The cover said it all
You didn't have to get past the cover of Run Away Radio to get the message. A bunch of Anglo's now own radio. Hell they always have. But now one Anglo company owns a bunch of stations.
They turn a 101 into a spanglish station to reach a targeted demographic profile. O- Kay I guess they have that right they own it. They paid enough to republicans to change the rules so they could buy all of Radio. But to come up with Latino and Proud and Finally A Station We Can Call Our Own. When it is clearly not Latino nor is it a station that Latino's can call their own should be against some kind of false advertising laws. 
But if they say it enough the Latino's will be saying. Wow man we finally own our own radio station. Cool!
Name Withheld

Texas is the leading tobacco state 
U.S. House Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex) has stated, "Our founding fathers, many of them grew tobacco. If they knew we were trying to regulate one of the first cash crops that made our nation independent, I don't think they would appreciate that."
This statement illustrates Barton's dedication to the tobacco industry. Let me remind Barton and his supporters that our founding fathers also embraced slavery. It took a hundred years to finally remove slavery as an impetus for financial security. America still struggles to realize that allowing an industry to kill 400,000 Americans per year for profit is neither ethical nor moral.
Barton is the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce has the power to assure anti-tobacco bills are never considered and thus "die in-committee". Barton's defense of tobacco along with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's support of the tobacco industry has lowered Texas to the morbid status as the leading Tobacco State.
Want tobacco to loosen its stranglehold on Texas and congress? Don't vote for Barton or Hutchison.
Leonard Jensen
Fort Worth, Texas

Would our Founding Fathers approve?
One of the most common, serious, and costly problems facing American families is premature birth. More than 49,000 babies are born prematurely each year in Texas. 
Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death. Babies who survive can have serious, lifelong health problems. We do not know all causes of preterm birth, but we do know that smoking is a risk factor. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to have babies that are born premature,
stillborn, or die because of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The March of Dimes will ask the Texas Legislature to require tobacco retailers to post signs warning of the risk factor of smoking and preterm birth. Prematurity takes an enormous toll on families and costs society billions.
During November, Prematurity Awareness Month, please go to
www.clicktosavebabies.org  to learn more about premature birth, connect with families of premature babies, and
support the call for research.
Meganne Walsh, M.D.
Chair, State Public Affairs Committee
March of Dimes, Texas Chapter

Rice has no credibility
No one argues that Colin Powell isn't a man of integrity. When Colin Powell speaks the truth is expected. His sincerity is not questioned. His facts are expected to be facts, not hyped spin. That's why when he gave his speech to the UN about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq it was taken as being generally true. 
At the same time, it is also a recognized fact that Colin Powell is the odd boy out at the Bush frat-house. His words while spoken with conviction were his and, as was shown numerous times, not necessarily those of his neoconservative boss. His diplomatic, reasoned approach has constantly been pushed aside for the “might makes right” approach of the far right ideologues that dominate the Bush administration. 
By accepting Colin Powell's resignation and replacing him with Condoleezza Rice, George Bush is trading credibility for certitude. 
No one argues that Condoleezza Rice doesn't have the full faith and backing of George Bush. She is a confidante of Bush. Her neoconservative credentials are impeccable. The fact that she speaks for the Bush administration will not be in doubt. 
All will immediately know that her words are those of the White House. And her diplomatic parties will be well served from soup to nuts and from Brahms to Brahms -- a Brahms contemporary perhaps said it best -- "a pedestal without a statue." 
As such, Condoleezza Rice's new job is to front the Bush administration foreign policy positions to the world. In so doing, she will ride shotgun over the neoconservative philosophies that are replacing the tried and true method of “winning friends and influencing people” with “like it or lump it” diplomacy. “You're either with us or against us” is pretty self-explanatory. 
The problem, of course, is she has no credibility. The whole world saw her spin away about WMDs last June on "Meet the Press" where her quote on the screen refuted what she had just said.
Angie Pratt

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