Letters to the Editor/<br>  Free Press Forum

Bob/Harvey,  

Please have more journalistic integrity than to say that you have found a dozen ways that Bush is personally stealing the election in Ohio. The complaints you have listed concern local election processes. I wouldn't be so unsettled if you had at least cited the Ohio GOP, but this is simply another dishonest attempt to stab Bush personally.

Respectfully,
Sam Crepeau  (Upper Arlington)

Once we understand that The White House neo-conservatives will do anything to win the re-election, we can see that they will borrow activities from agitation/propaganda history.  These are very competitive people who value winning above all morality. The neo-conservatives can easily create “situations.”  The polls are too close for them to leave the election up to chance.  They know that in uncertain times, people want to escape to safety and seek a father figure, who acts with conviction.  George W. Bush does have conviction.  He practically claims a link to God.

At nearly the last minute the White House could create and manipulate voter pre-polling fear that will turn voters to vote for Bush.  For example, CIA-hired spooks could bomb polling locations and/or major metropolitan areas a day or so preceding the election, October 31, or November 1.  Also, they will enhance the security/Bush propaganda by placing Bush closer to God by placing him on Air Force One (near heaven) for several hours on November 1.  Once you understand that for the neo-conservatives winning is everything, this is not so far-fetched.

Have you read this guy's manifesto?  It was online at one point, but is no longer -- he's virulently anti-choice, a little TOO supportive of the Second Amendment, if you get my meaning, and thinks that Separation of Church and State is BS.   If you want a copy of the .pdf file, entitiled "A Vision For America - Renaissance and Manifest Destiny" I can send it to you, but this guy is no Democrat -- your endorsement could result in a November Surprise if the anti-choice crowd (whom I imagine is responsible for getting this guy on the ballot -- he's not backed by the Dems) all vote for him, coupled with the 'throw the bums out' crowd.  Deb Pryce has disappointed me in many ways, but she's a moderate bipartisan (and powerful), that we can't afford to trade in for a DINO. 

PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT AND GET THE WORD OUT ON THIS GUY!

Brenda Keltner
St. Marys, Ohio
(columbusite for many years)

One thing often overlooked in the debate about same sex marriage is that gay people are PEOPLE too. They have a mother, father, siblings. A great deal of the time, they have children too. Are their children less worthy of all the protections that marriage brings?

I am also tired of hearing about if gays can marry, it "demeans" the institution. How? No one ever answers this and yet ignores blatant contradictions - convicted felons can marry while in prison. Thousands of people don't pay child support leaving their own flesh and blood destitute in many cases and they can still marry again. Divorce is against many religions, but is allowed by law.

We often help other countries obtain freedom and democracy - let's have some here too. If a union negotiates DP benefits, or a school board or city decides to offer benefits, is it someone else's right to decide it can't be done? This is exactly one of the things that will happen if Michigan's constitutional ban on same sex marriage occurs. Vote no and also contact your Senators to say NO to prejudice and discrimination being amended into our Federal Constitution for the first time!

Richard M. Lapham

When are we going to wake up and get the point?  Now that we have counted 1,000+ dead soldiers in Iraq, isn’t it about time to reconsider what we are doing?  There are no weapons of mass destruction - just lies.  There is no connection between September 11 and Iraq - just lies.  There was no connection between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda -just lies.  The world and especially America is not safer as a result of these actions. The Bush administration continues to manipulate your emotions with constant false alarms, vague warnings, or nonspecific information from unspecified sources, and elevated color alerts.  Does this make you feel safer?

The Columbus Dispatch's editorial in the August 21st issue stated that the ACLU was addressing a nonexistent problem and an unworthy cause. Perhaps we should reconsider.

Dear America,

“My silences had not protected me. Your silences will not protect you.” –Audre Lorde The Cancer Journals

               I begin my letter with this epigraph because I routinely have been labeled as a member of a silent generation; I am twenty-four years old, a woman, and a college student. Three markers which have led to me and others like me being labeled apathetic when it comes to politics. As the election date nears, I can be silent no longer. America I am here to tell you that our apathy is caused by the feeling that we don’t count. In the year 2000, our government told us our voice doesn’t matter. It is the Supreme Court and the Senate who choose the president, not the American people. Now, I come to you on bended knee to beg that you reignite in me the belief in democracy.

The presidential election of 2004 is all about fear.

     That is the simple yet complete truth. November 2, 2004 is a referendum on fear: should we, a nation of 260 million people, make all of our major political and life decisions based on the actions of nineteen monsters who hijacked four airplanes on a beautiful morning in September three years ago and murdered 3000 of our fellow citizens? Are we obliged due to our natural and understandable terror on that horrible day to eliminate civil liberties and common decencies for which Americans have fought and died since our country’s inception?

     When the citizens of the United States step into their voting booths, they should understand that the choice is not between George W. Bush and John F. Kerry. The ballots should read Fear and Freedom.

     Anyone who votes for Bush, regardless of their stated reasons, is casting a ballot for fear; for making decisions based upon what scares them, or what they are told by the Bush administration should scare them.

Do you really believe we would be in Iraq if they didnt have the second biggest oil supply in the world?

Our sons and daughters are dying for future oil profits for the rich, and we are also paying the bill.

Was George bush "miked-up" during his second debate with John Kerry like he was during the first debate? In the first debate it became very obvious when, roughly half way through the debate in the middle of talking about how a commander in chief acts, Bush told someone to "let me finish"?. There was no one in the room talking to Bush and the only place Bush could have heard a voice was from a microphone in his ear or on his person. Also, can anybody really believe Bush could have remembered all those facts and figures he came up with? How can Bush call himself a leader when he can't even debate John Kerry without help?