Letters to the Editor

Rejecting bailout bill was the brave thing to do

Bailout is a bitter pill | Oct. 4, editorial

Courage was in rejecting the bill I firmly believe that those who voted against the bailout bill are those who were most courageous. It was a cheap shot that your paper took in the Saturday editorial page, suggesting that they are cowards who took the safe route. The people who voted against this bill stood their ground and voted their consciences.

As they say, time will tell who was right, but all have to agree the bill does nothing to ease the real problem, which is the credit crunch. A vote for this bill is a vote for pouring $850-billion of taxpayer money down a black hole.

More bailouts will come. Will your paper attack these same people again if they vote no for the next bailout, and the next, and the next?

When our government does the right thing in a thoughtful way and doesn't force our representatives to vote for a bad bill, I would hope they would then vote for that bill.

Rick Shale, Homosassa

Who's in charge?

As I read about and hear about events going on in our country, I doubt that I am alone in finding them scary.

A quote from one of my favorite authors, Mark Twain, pretty well sums up my feelings about our situation:

"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it." All who agree may express their opinions by voting carefully.

Betty J. Mack, Sun City Center


Punish them

at the polls

So many people are angry at the passing of the $850-billion bailout bill last week. They are marching, they are calling Congress, they are writing letters to their newspaper, all of which will have no effect. Instead, they should vote out the representatives and senators who voted for this bailout, which will keep our children in debt for years.

In our area, Reps. Adam Putnam and Vern Buchanan and Sen. Mel Martinez voted for the bailout. Sen. Bill Nelson and a number of our other congressmen withstood the pressure of the money people and voted for us. The only way to get Congress to listen to the people is to vote out the ones who don't.

Roger W. Gambert, Palm Harbor

Haphazard help

Whew! I'm so relieved that the bailout bill included help for NASCAR and arrowmakers. Couldn't spot the provisions for unemployed auto workers or those folks with a lot of financial arrows sticking out of their backs.

David R. Carr, St. Petersburg

Regulation's purpose

I am bewildered by the convoluted logic with which conservative Republican ideologists view government business regulation. They seem to be of the opinion that the public is engaged in some form of internecine warfare with the business community, and what they seek through regulation is to gain unfair advantage.

One wonders if they will ever come to the realization most outside their circle have long accepted — that, in reality, regulation is nothing more than a tool to protect business from itself.

Robert A. Shaw, Madeira Beach

GOP to rev up Obama attacks | Oct. 4

Watching the bias

If I had any doubts about which candidate gets the more sympathetic treatment by the Times, they were laid to rest in the Saturday paper.

The sidebar to this story featured two articles critical of Sarah Palin, one all but accusing her of tax evasion. Sandwiched in between was a story about Joe Biden's lawyer son heading to Iraq. I'm sure Joe couldn't be more proud given how much he disagrees with the war.

Even more pitifully obvious was the beautifully moving picture of Barack Obama buying roses (white ones at that) for his lovely wife, and then flying off to have dinner with her. What a romantic! Such passion! Imagine what he'll do for the country!

Contrast that with mean old John McCain vowing to "get tough" and "attack" Obama. (Did I mention he was old? And mean? And conservative?)

Thank goodness for Fox News.

Gary Compton, Wesley Chapel

GOP to rev up Obama attacks | Oct. 4

Sick of the sleaze

I believe the GOP will be much surprised to learn that Americans are sick and tired of partisanship and slime. We have passed into the 21st century, and using 20th century thinking and methods just won't work any longer.

John McCain promised a clean campaign and has in no way upheld that promise, starting with allowing a questioner in a town hall meeting to call Hillary Clinton the B word. It has since gone downhill.

Americans are much smarter after the Bush presidency and better understand that attacks are a desperation move. They can try to slime Barack Obama, but they will soon discover that is not the way to win.

Kay Kelly, Clearwater

Stick to real issues

Why can't the McCain/Palin campaign stick to real issues in the absolutely critical tipping point in this country's history? With the bailout, two wars etc., why try to invent an issue when we have serious things to talk about so the voters can make their decision?

A recent quote from Gov. Sarah Palin: "Our opponent … is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."

Really? This is a valid issue? Something that someone Obama has condemned for events done nearly 40 years ago? Not even they believe this to be real, but it does bring them 15 minutes of free news coverage. Stick to what is real and important. If your ticket is the best, we will choose that and if not, no made-up sleaze will help.

Bill Baird, St. Petersburg

Black voters

Look beyond skin color

Twice now you have printed columns that stress black voters. To encourage anyone to vote is admirable, but to overly stress that "we will make history this election" or that a black vote means a vote for a black candidate is 100 percent racist and a slap in the face for all voters.

To insinuate that the color of a person's skin or gender dictates who you will vote for is taking away any thought process on the part of the voter. For any one to preconceive where my vote is going strictly because of my skin color or wether I am male or female is stupidity on their part and a total lack of respect for me the voter.

This seems to be the idea I keep getting for the Obama crowd, that the minds of all black voters have already been made up and that they will be voting for Barack Obama.

History has already been made just on the fact of who the candidates are. The next step in history needs to be the number of registered voters who exercise the right to vote and vote for themselves, not how someone told them they had to vote just because of their skin color or gender.

Leslie Mallett, New Port Richey

Black voters could be key | Oct. 4, story

Historic opportunity

Saturday's paper had this headline along with the subhead: "How many turn out could determine: President McCain or President Obama."

What a wonderfully proud new piece of American history it will be if the black vote can be credited with saving America from a repeat of the last eight horrible years!

Art Palmer, Largo

Gouging reports come up empty | Oct. 1

Ineffective officials

What a shame — more than 5,000 taxpayers complain to the state and the gouging continues! What a waste of time complaining. Attorney General Bill McCollum doesn't care and does nothing except name four companies and won't state what's going to happen. Gov. Charlie Crist could not care less. Two of many empty suits doing nothing! Each station does what it wants. Look around — there's a 20-cent plus or minus difference on each block.

So don't waste your time calling anyone because there is no one! As I write, there's gouging going on. Bill McCollum, shame on you.

Michael F. Sofarelli, Clearwater

Rejecting bailout bill was the brave thing to do 10/06/08 [Last modified: Wednesday, October 8, 2008 3:12pm]


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