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Letters to the Editor

Ethics in this government?My reflection on Watergate 40 years later is different from David Shribman's ("Watergate's enduring legacy, 40 years later," Sunday). He ends his article stating that the expectation of ethics in government is an assumption that "though tested and tattered remains with us still."I remember watching the Watergate hearings in amazement as members of both houses of Congress put loyalty to country over partisan politics day after day. A president, paranoid and arrogant, barricaded himself in the White House, waging war on his presumed enemies — to the point of committing a crime to ensure his reelection. This action was a direct affront to the process of an orderly transition of government and was recognized as such by patriots of both parties. Nixon was dealt with as he should have been, by being forced to resign in disgrace. How would today's Congress handle a similar circumstance? Where are the Howard Bakers, Lowell Wieckers, and Sam Ervins in today's Senate and House? They are nowhere to be found. Therefore, I wouldn't count on ethics in this government trumping partisanship.

Ethics in this government?

My reflection on Watergate 40 years later is different from David Shribman's ("Watergate's enduring legacy, 40 years later," Sunday). He ends his article stating that the expectation of ethics in government is an assumption that "though tested and tattered remains with us still."

I remember watching the Watergate hearings in amazement as members of both houses of Congress put loyalty to country over partisan politics day after day. A president, paranoid and arrogant, barricaded himself in the White House, waging war on his presumed enemies — to the point of committing a crime to ensure his reelection. This action was a direct affront to the process of an orderly transition of government and was recognized as such by patriots of both parties. Nixon was dealt with as he should have been, by being forced to resign in disgrace.

How would today's Congress handle a similar circumstance? Where are the Howard Bakers, Lowell Wieckers, and Sam Ervins in today's Senate and House? They are nowhere to be found. Therefore, I wouldn't count on ethics in this government trumping partisanship.

A new low for Ed Rendell

As a onetime fan of Ed Rendell, I was shocked to read that he disrupted a Mitt Romney campaign stop by organizing a protest ("Romney dodges Rendell rally," Sunday). For the former mayor, governor, and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, this act can only be defined as classless. The people of Pennsylvania deserve to hear what Romney has to say. They can form their own opinions and vote accordingly.

Rendell's protest at the campaign stop was a new low. Imagine if a former Republican governor disrupted a President Obama campaign stop. The media would be all over it. Shame on Rendell. I can forgive him for being involved with throwing snowballs at Santa Claus at an Eagles game, but the suppression of Pennsylvania voters' right to hear a presidential candidate is disgusting.

Obama is no liberal

I never would have believed that I would agree with Charles Krauthammer, but he is right that both President Obama and Mitt Romney would bring serious harm to the common man ("2012: Two mediocre candidates battling to a draw," Monday).

I do take offense, however, when Krauthammer calls the president a liberal. We liberals are more fed up with Obama than conservatives. Most of us feel we have been locked out of any decisions his administration has rammed down our throats.

We were locked out of any debates over health care. First thing off the table was single-payer. And I can't find any liberals saying, "Way to go for killing American citizens abroad without trial." Not holding bankers, Wall Street, and credit-rating agencies responsible for the 2008 collapse is even something liberals and conservatives most likely can agree on.

Obama is nothing more than George W. Bush light.

Using data to sway voters

The writer of the letter "The inheritance" (Saturday) shows what cherry-picking data can prove.

When President George W. Bush took the oath of office, he inherited from Bill Clinton a budget surplus, a Dow at 10,587, and unemployment at 4.2 percent. Eight years later, when President Obama took the oath of office, the Dow was at 8,077 and unemployment was 7.7 percent. And with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one can only speculate what the budgetary situation was.

Between now and November, I predict there will be a lot of cherry-picking of data to sway voters. Sadly, many people merely accept this data as the truth.

No credit for gas prices

The letter "Credit to Obama" (Saturday) asks if Republicans have given President Obama credit for the recent decline in gas prices. Obviously, they have not and should not. The small recent drop is due primarily to the current poor economy.

The fact is, gas prices were well under $2 a gallon when Obama was inaugurated. Today the price is about $3.50 per gallon. The Obama administration has slow-walked drilling permits, blocked the Keystone pipeline, and shut down drilling in the Gulf of Mexico after the BP spill, resulting in many of the drilling rigs being moved outside the United States.

The Obama administration has given billions of taxpayer dollars to failed solar companies run by political cronies or campaign money bundlers, while waging war on all traditional fuels. There is no credit due Obama for the recent blip in prices at the pump.

Protecting individual liberties

Erin Daly's commentary "A supremely slippery slope" (Tuesday) contains the slippery argument that we can un-elect Congress but not the Supreme Court. It is surprising that a law professor would ignore the fact that it is the court's ability to be free from transient political pressures that permits us to be faithful to the intent of the framers, and to protect individual liberties.

Use military for airport security

With all the issues and complaints by travelers regarding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), I suggest replacing the TSA with military personnel.

We entrust our nation's security to these well-trained members of the military, and I would feel a lot more confident seeing them at security checkpoints instead of TSA employees. There is nothing more intimidating to a terrorist, drug dealer, smuggler, or other types of criminals than a military person at a checkpoint who is in fatigues, and armed with an automatic weapon and possibly a dog.

I travel a lot for business, especially internationally, and I feel a lot more confident at an airport in countries that use their military for airport security. I can't tell you how many times I have traveled through security in the United States and had to listen to TSA agents complain about their jobs. It's a little scary to think that these are the people between me and the best-trained terrorists in the world.

Using our military seems to be the most logical, safe, and effective method to man our airport security checkpoints.

Privatize Pa. liquor stores

Thank you for printing the editorial cartoon by Signe Wilkinson in Tuesday's Inquirer about the costs of the State Store system.

It's too bad space permitted showing only New Jersey siphoning dollars from Pennsylvania because of the State Stores. Wilkinson could easily have included the additional five states that abut the commonwealth and drain millions of dollars that could be used to help balance our budget and restore cuts that negatively affect our citizens. Of course, there are also a half-dozen or more websites that will gladly ship wine in via UPS, tax and delivery free.

Privatizing the liquor distribution system could create a bonanza equaling the California gold rush. It would also help the environment, saving thousands of gallons of gas because Pennsylvanians will no longer need to drive such a distance for a better selection of wine and alcohol sold by knowledgeable people at a lower price.

One lives in hope.