Paean to integrity?
I was glad to see Mark Fefer's article exposing the obvious subtext beneath the Times' endorsement of Bush ["Bush helps Blethen," 10/26]. In view of Frank Blethen's campaign to eliminate the estate tax and Bush's commitment to support such legislation, no other facts are required to understand the Times' position. The assertion that the estate tax issue did not even arise in the editorial board discussion simply underscores that the Blethen family representatives had rehearsed their act beforehand and did not want to draw undue attention to their self-serving stance.
I also read Mindy Cameron's column of muted protest that appeared alongside the Times endorsement. While upset with the outcome, she seemed to accept the legitimacy of the ownership editorially promoting its own personal agenda in the guise of a paean to Bush's integrity. Ms. Cameron may well have been dismayed, but she clearly understands the importance of counting her Blethens.
STAFFORD SMITH
KENMORE
Forward!
For 10 years Mr. Nader was my all-time hero, when he jumped GM about the Corvair. At the time I had two Corvair vans for my service men. However, they did not have the problems of the car.
For 30 years I have dedicated my life and money to clean air transportation and traffic control. I hope that allows me to be called a dedicated environmentalist. I am a full member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Al Gore is a dedicated and knowledgeable environmentalist. Through research for his book Earth in the Balance he interviewed more than 160 specialists, from different areas of environmental sector and from around the world.
I would hope that Mr. Nader would drop out and ask his followers to vote for Al Gore if he really cares at all what happens to his country.
A VOTE FOR NADER IS A VOTE FOR BUSH—A VOTE FOR BUSH IS A VOTE TO GO BACK TO THE DARK AGES—LET US GO FORWARD TO A NEW WORLD OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND NEW JOBS WITH AL GORE.
CLARENCE ELLERS
YACHATS, OR
Boom?
Re: James Bush's article on Ralph Nader [4th & James, "No thanks, Ralph," 10/19]—Nader does NOT propose "dismantling" our economic system, unless you mean getting corporations off the government dole and putting an end to the legal bribing of our elected officials with soft money and PAC money. The truly controversial part of Mr. Nader's pitch is that his economic model puts people before profit! Unthinkable! I think I know better how to spend my hard-earned tax dollars than the corporations do, but the politicians don't say much about that kind of welfare. By chance, do you think there's a connection there?
There are more than a few of us out here for whom the economic "boom" is something we only read about, but have yet to experience. If this is dismantling of the economic system, give me a sledgehammer so I can help!
ROXIE PHINN
BREMERTON
Sick of all you!
I am so sick of all of you Democrats classifying Republicans as dim bulbs [see "Bush helps Blethen," 10/16] or stupid. I know you didn't outright call me that, but by insinuating Bush is a dim bulb and since I support him it doesn't t take a huge leap to also classify me as a dim bulb. Why do you feel the need to express yourself as intellectually superior? Your opinion of Bush's intelligence is an opinion, backed by little fact. I will refrain from offering you my opinion of your intelligence.
What you Democrats don't get is that people are tired of the rancor, the division, and the anger that you seem to think is required to get things done. The Democrats are the party of finger-pointing, blaming everyone and everything for their failures. We have seen this time and time again with this administration. And when backed against the wall with facts, you always come out with the personal insults.
There is evidence of Gore's tendency to exaggerate. There is evidence of Gore's willingness to ignore authority and principles. Offer me one piece of evidence, besides your opinion, that Bush is ignorant. Until you can do more than spout personal insults, work as a mouthpiece for a party that promotes hate, class division, and pitting one American against another to accomplish their political goals, I would watch who I called stupid.
Americans want someone who unites them, not divides them. Anything else is simply counterproductive. We don't need people who will fight for us and with us. We need people that will work with us. And just think, a dim bulb figured that out all on his own.
JOHN D. COOK
VIA E-MAIL
There are some things I'd like to point out regarding George W. Bush:
1) I would remind voters about the Bush family role in the Savings and Loan Scandals which cost taxpayers millions: He's as much a liar as any man that has ever held office in any party.
2) He talks about things our present government failed to do, but conveniently forgets to add how a Republican congress impeded much of what this administration tried to accomplish: He speaks about bipartisanship while practicing the opposite.
