Bartlett: A leader I trust

To the editor:

Jennifer Dougherty running for Congress made history as the Mayor of Frederick. She became the first mayor in Frederick's history to be rejected for a second term by her own Democratic Party. With no experience as a legislator, she now wants to go to Washington by running down Roscoe Bartlett. It's a fact - Jennifer said publicly that she supported Bartlett's no vote on the expensive Wall Street bailout bill. Bartlett offered a detailed, reasonable legislative alternative - with its focus clearly on working families. Roscoe Bartlett is the only member of Congress from Maryland to consistently vote against congressional pay hikes. Rep. Bartlett has voluntarily (and quietly) returned a major portion of his congressional salary to colleges and universities in the 6th district for scholarships to help our students.

Jennifer said publicly that she would close a local congressional office. Which one will it be? Congressman Bartlett has offices across the 6th district that are open, accessible, and provide excellent service to constituents. His toll free line works 24 hours a day and the Congressman (who lives on a farm) is listed in the phone directory,

There are good reasons why the American Cancer Society, the Farm Bureau, the Armed Forces Foundation, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America all recognized Congressman Bartlett for his legislative record and genuine concern for the well being of Western Maryland. In a thoughtful letter to the editor, the president of Frostburg State University thanked Roscoe Bartlett for "going the extra mile so FSU can do its part to solve this critical national energy issue."

Jennifer Dougherty: a one term Democrat who was defeated by Democrats.

Roscoe Bartlett: Leadership we can trust.

Lisa Griffith

Frostburg, Md.

Sen. Obama and abortion

To the editor:

Webster defines abortion as, "the expulsion of an embryo from the uterus esp. to end a pregnancy."

It fails, however, to describe the procedures used, especially the barbaric partial-birth operation where the baby is dismembered alive. It also doesn't tell of the devastating emotional effect abortion has on many mothers and fathers.

Sen. Barack Obama has an outstanding record of supporting abortion. However, he has stated that he is not pro-abortion and we should be able to find ways to reduce the amount of abortions.

Based on his record, I find that statement very hard to believe. Here are some reasons for my unbelief. Obama has not endorsed or supported his own party's Pregnant Women Support Act - a bill meant to reduce abortions by providing assistance for women facing crisis pregnancies.

This legislation would not make a single abortion illegal. It would make it easier for pregnant women to not choose abortion. He also wishes to strip federal funding from pro-life crisis pregnancy centers that provide alternatives to abortion.

While a senator in Illinois, Obama opposed legislation to protect children who are born alive. This legislation would not have banned any abortions. Indeed, it included a specific provision ensuring that it did not affect abortion laws.

Obama once quoted scripture which said, "Whatever you did not do for the least of these you did not do for me." Obama's actions choose not to let those God created have life.

Apparently that's not above his pay grade.

Rudy L. Hawbaker

Waynesboro, Pa.

Bush doesn't deserve to be bashed so much

To the editor:

President Bush will be out of office soon, after being subjected to the attacks from all sides both at home and abroad. Even the Republican presidential candidate is doing all that he can to distance himself from the Bush administration.

W is being blamed for. let's see:

1. The failure of the economy, although on several occasions as late as 2007, he introduced legislation to control, among others, the operation of Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae, but his proposed reform bill was blocked by the Democrats. Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, anyone?

2. The hurricanes that have hit our shores: Granted, the federal government reacted poorly in its response to the devastation brought on by Katrina. But much more preparation could have been done by New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisian Gov. Kathleen Blanco before the feds arrived. They didn't plan very well, either, and, for the most part, have received a free pass from the critics.

3. Manipulating the intelligence estimates about Iraq when every western intelligence service, including those of the UK, Germany and Israel all said that Saddam Hussein had or was working on WMDs.

After all, Saddam had used poison gas to kill Kurds and Shiites after the first Gulf War, necessitating more than 12 years of allied air patrols over the "no-fly zones" to prevent him from conducting additional gas attacks.

Further, Gen. Tommy Franks stated in his book that our troops found more than 5000 brand new protective suits in a warehouse in the area of operation of the Iraqi Republican Guard to be used in the event chemicals were employed against our troops.

Also found later were some artillery shells loaded with Sarin gas.

Even Joe Wilson's trip to Niger, which has been used by Bush-bashers to attack the now famous 16 words in the 2003 State of the Union address, revealed that Iraqi intelligence agents were trying to establish a trade agreement with Niger. What is Niger's only export? Yellowcake uranium.

And guess what? Tons of Yellowcake have been found in Iraq after all and have been secretly transported to Canada to be processed into nuclear fuel. With lots of oil, Saddam didn't have any need for nuclear power plants.

4. Illegally monitoring our telephone calls. This program, among the others contained in the Patriot Act, which Sen. Harry Reid boasted in 2005 to have "killed," has foiled several terrorist plots and has not, as feared, infringed on the privacy of our citizens. To my knowledge, not one bit of information has surfaced that has revealed the private affairs of any of us.

5. The price of gasoline. In 2003, President Bush proposed a comprehensive energy plan that included research on alternative fuels and drilling for more domestic oil. It was not passed by the U.S. Congress.

The war in Iraq has been long and painful. Only recently, it appears that the original goal to rid the world of a maniacal dictator and establish a workable democracy in that part of the world is being achieved.

However, Bush deserves the credit for taking the war outside our shores to keep us safe here at home.

Carlo Belella

Smithsburg

I don't vote; here's why

To the editor:

I have often wondered, what is the use of having political parties anymore? What is the point of having two people to vote for, who may have differing opinions about what their own party believes in.

Wouldn't it be nice, to have "people" instead of Republicans and Democrats? Wouldn't it be great to have a committee dedicated to scouring the country looking for promising candidates with strong moral fiber, values, and a genuine interest in the good of their community and the U.S., instead of rich, privileged people only?

Why should it be only for the ones that have a lot of money, the ones that can afford to blow their pay and donations on slandering the other person in the race.

I thought it was a novel idea. Maybe you believe in a woman's right to choose, but don't believe in another area that the party aligns itself with. Without parties, you wouldn't have to be saddled with all the stuff that comes in the gray area, yet is never addressed due to the strict party lines.

I am not a voter, and will not vote, simply because of the ridiculous state that the political system is in. Good, solid, respectable people leading their communities around the country, could never become president because they don't have the money it takes, to practice democracy at its finest!

Steve Smith

Greencastle, Pa.