posted August 26, 2008
I heard a news comment that the Democrats are not going to allow Sen. Edwards to speak at their convention, due to the moral issue of his affair. In his place, they substituted Bill Clinton. Say what? Oh, Monica.
For months we have heard the call for change in government. The first words concerning Joe Bidens' being named as the vice presidential candidate were, "Washington has 'not' changed Joe Biden in over 20 years." Say what? Nothing new there. More innocent people were killed in the 9/11 attacks than were killed at Pearl Harbor. Thank God, George Bush had the courage to meet the terrorists on their home soil rather than here.
I predict that if Obama is elected we will be at war with Iran or someone else from that region within four years. With his Muslim background and leanings, he will withdraw American support for Israel and they will be attacked along with U.S. interests. Israel will respond with their nuclear arsenal and that will be the beginning of the end. God will not stand by and let his "chosen people" be destroyed.
I pray that each voter will use common sense in making their choice.
Our future is at srake.
Bob Kendall
Chattanooga
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I agree with Bob Kendall that it is somewhat hypocritical that the Democrats banish John Edwards from
Denver, allegedly over his extra-curricular marital affair, and invite, of all people, Bill Clinton.
Yet even with all of Clinton's affairs at least he never left one of his partners underwater overnight to die while he tried to concoct an alibi after driving off a bridge. To invite Ted Kennedy to speak last night says all we need to know about the, "integrity, " of today's Democratic Party.
Douglas Jones
Chattanooga
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I appreciate Mr. Kendall’s passion in imploring people to vote this coming November, and agree wholeheartedly. What I am having a hard time reconciling in Mr. Kendall’s letter are his other areas of concern.
While I am not about to go near the topic of Sen. Edwards or Bill Clinton, I will make note that neither of their lies cost over 3,000 servicemen their lives. Nor did their lies turn an entire region of the world into a hotbed of newly invigorated terrorist recruitment and training. While it may be reasonable to assert that President Bush challenged terrorists on their home turf in Afghanistan, it would be downright false and misleading to suggest Iraq, prior to Mr. Bush invading that country, had anything to do with the terrorism with which our country was faced. Additionally, President Bush failed to follow Osama Bin Laden to Pakistan, so one must question his true motivations at the very least.
And Iran? Well, let’s just say that President Bush and Mr. McCain have both looked mighty hawkish as of late when it comes to Iran. If you are truly concerned with a war in Iran, look no further than the current administration and the doppelganger found in Mr. McCain.
No, Mr. Kendall, the true enemy of this country is far more nefarious and dangerous than this nebulous idea of “terror.” The true enemy of this country is poverty.
Since President Bush has taken office, the poverty gap in America has grown substantially. Our country even received a rebuke from the United Nations in 2005 for an infant mortality rate that equaled Malaysia’s. In fact, the infant mortality rate among African Americans rivals the infant mortality rates of an extremely poor area of India. As you can well imagine, more infants die every year in America as a result of poverty than those who have lost their lives to the intangible things we are fighting now.
So, am I saying stop fighting the “terrorists?” (Please note, I did not say ‘stop fighting the war on terror,’ if I had said that, many would have assumed I meant fighting the scourge of wealthy, drunken heiresses who torment my sense of reason.) No, I am not. But you cannot fight an ideal with weapons. You can fight an individual with weapons. You can fight a bomber with weapons. But you must first start by changing the conditions and the thinking that cause one to become a terrorist or a suicide bomber. After all, no one is born a terrorist.
So, let’s fight poverty. Let’s better the education system in a real, concrete way. Let’s make sure people have access to affordable and effective health care. If you truly want the best for this country, let’s make sure no one here or abroad needs to or wants to become a terrorist. And we can do that. We can make the changes necessary to better our own safety and well-being. As far as I am aware, Mr. Obama is the only candidate to have addressed either issue. (That is, unless you count Mr. McCain’s staff laughingly referring to the current recession and the associated hardships as being something the American public has imagined.)
What’s the first step? Change — real change, here at home. Like you, Mr. Kendall, I hope our country does come to their senses and vote not out of fear, but with hope and promise for the future.
Chris Dutton
Chattanooga
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Mr. Dutton is like so many people I know, including myself, who want something better for everyone in this country. Every four years we go through this process of a leader that we hope will bring about the "Change" we all look for. Obama has made it a buzzword and will most likely get elected and will most likely not be able to "Change" anything. Talking about it and being about it are two different things and all the Changeling's out there will be disappointed in our political system once again.
The point Mr. Kendall and Mr. Jones were making were about the lack of morality and hypocrisy displayed with their choices of Kennedy and Clinton to speak. I guess time heals all wounds and seemingly washes away the sins of adultery and murder.
And now lets get to Malaysian infant mortality rates vs. US infant mortality rates, according to UNICEF, the Malaysian population is 26.8 million(2006) vs. U.S. 305 million(current). Put aside all your horrible feelings about U.S. infant mortality rates because as with most things it's all about numbers, the U.S. has approximately 4 million births per annum, Malaysia has approximately 556,000, and we were equaling their mortality rate. We have more than 11x more people than Malaysia. Any infant death is bad. Instead of just addressing infant mortality rates, address the moral issues revolving around all of these poor impoverished Americans breeding without any thought on how to support themselves and their children and expecting taxpayers to foot the bill for their health care.
I believe anyone that works should have access to affordable health care and it could be funded with what we spend on health care for those around us that choose not to work and live off the big Teat known as our welfare system. Change, yeah change would be nice. I've been voting for it for over 20 years now and haven't seen it yet, it's the same old nonsense every four years.
Michael Jackson
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What lie is Chris Dutton referring to? Oh, I forgot, the real lie that somehow President Bush was lying. Where is the real lie, Mr. Dutton? Saddam Hussein defied countless UN resolutions. The Security Council gave him one last opportunity or it would use force. He refused.
Then a coalition of countries entered Iraq, secured the country, defeated this dictator, made sure no more WMD’s would be made. The only thing we did not get was the WMDs transferred to Syria which we have countless intelligence that happened including Iraqi commanders.
So please for the sake of everything pure and holy, give up spreading this lie from the left. Three thousand servicemen and women gave the ultimate sacrifice, not for a lie, which cheapens their service and dishonors their name, but they sacrificed for the call of their country to join forces with other nations to remove a threat.
History will prove you wrong on this issue because I pray I live long enough to see the intelligence out there that you know nothing about.
Johnny Franks
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