Don’t blame Bush

Jim Webb

I was just reading the Dec. 21 letter from Mr. Jeffery Stewart. I would like to ask him if he spent time in the Armed Forces. If he had, he would know you can’t just pull out of a war. If America pulls out of the war, the war will just follow Americans home.

There has to be a plan to end the war, not just quit. I don’t want my grandchildren to worry about a war on our land. Also I would like to ask Mr. Stewart if he votes in all elections? If not, he needs too.

We needed to stop the first time we went there, but we didn’t and that’s what we are facing now. We were there two times before and didn’t complete it, and it just got worse.

So don’t blame Mr. Bush, it was there before he went into office. In fact, he can’t blame Clinton or Bush Sr. either. I do have one thing to say that we don’t have to worry about WMDs there. That itself is worth the war. I have been in the military and went through the Nam era. We don’t need another war like that again. It made America weak, and that’s why we are having problems with China, too.

Jackson did Goodwin a favor, Goodwin's record shows more tax increases

Robert R. Russell

No Rep. Melanie Goodwin didn’t “vote” to raise the gas tax, democrats already had an automatic gas tax adjustment in place that would “recalibrate” the gas tax twice a year based on the price of gasoline. In January, the tax rate increased 2.8 cents per gallon, the largest increase in 16 years.

As the second increase was nearing, Goodwin and her democrat buddies ignored republican calls for not only a “cap” on the gas tax, but also a reduction in the rate from 29.9 cents (double all neighboring states’ taxes and fifth highest in the United States!) to the 2004 level of 26.6 cents.

Only after Republicans kept the heat on “tax hike loving” Democrats by creating Web sites; running radio, television and newspapers ads; and finally held a huge “Stop the Gas Hike” rally in Raleigh, did the democrats call a special “short” session? Did democrats “vote” to cap the gas tax? Of course, they didn’t bother to reduce the tax rate.

Representative Goodwin wants facts?

Here’s some facts: Goodwin and her Democrat buddies in Raleigh who control the House, Senate and governor’s position voted to raise taxes on almost everything working families in the state purchase, including televisions, candy, electricity, etc.

They passed the largest budget in the history of North Carolina, increasing spending 10 percent over last year and paid for it with a one time $2 million surplus, tax increase and by raiding the Highway Trust Fund!

Are you a smoker? Since Goodwin has taken office, she helped increase taxes on cigarettes from 30 to 35 cents per pack. Tax Hike Mike wants the rate to increase to 75 cents. Will Rep. Goodwin support that tax increase, too?

Seems Mrs. Jackson was doing Goodwin a favor, since her actual voting record proves she’s raised taxes way more than 16 cents!

Wake up, America; support our president

Wayne Simmons

It amazes me that we still have American people who think we should just leave Iraq.

I think we owe the almost 3,000 soldiers who have given their lives for us, and I would hope the majority of Americans feel the same.

What have we seen in the last few weeks?

Well, first we saw that the United Nations allow the president of Iran to speak and make a joke out of the so-called world government. Then it allowed Hugo Chavez to speak and call our president the devil, and also make a joke out of the UN.

Then we saw the pope tell the truth about Islamic terrorists and be made to apologize. Then we saw the leader of Hezbollah say the two Israeli soldiers would not be released and Hezbollah would not lay down its weapons.

My question is this: What more do the American people need to see to realize what we are up against here? We are up against a group of people who claim Islam is a peaceful religion, but they want to wipe Israel off the map. And they want to kill Americans!

By the way, for all the people who keep saying we should not have went to war with Iraq, I guess we should have just let Saddam’s sons keep raping and murdering little girls and killing innocent Iraqi citizens.

Robert Russell

We are seeing election year politics happening right here in the state of North Carolina where our state legislators are passing legislation in the hopes of turning it into campaign commercials for re-election.

Case in point, raising the minimum wage.

Democrats constantly beat the ‘raise the minimum wage’ drum because it’s ‘the right thing to do’ and anybody who doesn’t think so is just a cold-hearted hater of the poor and lover of the rich. They use this false scenario as a way to paint themselves as defenders of the poor while constantly browbeating the voting public with that self-fulfilling image.

The press helps them by providing free promotional coverage through biased news stories championing the liberal Democrat agenda while producing attack pieces covering issues supported by conservative Republicans.

The press reports that families can’t live on the money earned while making only minimum wage and how that yearly income is below the poverty level. One Democrat politician even announced that it wasn’t even enough money to pay her daycare bill!

It’s no wonder poll’s show a majority favoring the increase, wouldn’t you want a state mandated pay raise?

The reality is that only 3 percent of businesses still pay minimum wage rates and of the millions of people employed in the state the rate increase will only affect 140,000 of which most are teenagers. People who would try to raise a family on minimum wage have bigger problems going on.

Raising the minimum raise sounds good on paper, but is really just window dressing for politicians.

Why are Republicans attacked in the press for trying to protect the American flag which has majority support across the country as a campaign tactic, yet Democrats are lauded for an almost non-existent benefit that will probably do more harm economically than good just to get votes?

President Bush Resign? That would be nuts!

First we had an admitted Democrat who was willing to say she was proud to have voted for a party that openly promotes the unrestricted destruction of innocent unborn babies.

She supports a party that fights for organizations such as the ACLU whose main agenda is the removal of anything religious; especially Christianity, from the public sector.

She is happy to advance a party that has never seen a tax increase they didn’t like and incessantly argues in favor of rights for terrorists.

How dare we monitor terrorists’ phone calls!

Then another obvious liberal decides it’s time for the President to resign because he thinks the government is in shambles?

Since when has there been an epidemic of children dying from malnutrition in this country?

Our children are not the least educated in the world, but do you somehow think they were more educated during the Nineties?

Here’s a nice little secret for you, when President Bush took office our economy didn’t have an ‘actual’ surplus. It had a ‘projected’ surplus. Like you have an ’actual’ surplus when you buy the scratch-off lottery ticket, and just like the ‘stock market bubble’ economy of the Nineties, after you scratch the surface off the ticket, the ‘projected’ reality hits home.

The statement that the current government is ‘for the few and by the few’ is a shared sentiment by liberal Democrats across the land and isn’t based anything substantive. It’s just how they feel.

The economy is great. The stock market is reaching an all-time high, the GDP is through the roof, manufacturing is at record levels, consumer confidence is solid, tax revenue collections are higher than they’ve ever been, home sales are up, unemployment is solidly low.

Are there problems? Sure, but nothing the President should resign over. That would be nuts!

Bob Russell

He’s Offended; She’s Offended; Don’t You Want To Be Offended Too! (Full un-cut version)

Barbara Leviner Jackson

I'm not one to normally take up for Mr. Bacon. In fact, I'm usually gnawing on him for making me ill. But it never ceases to amaze me how quickly folks can jump on that "Woe is me; I'm black and I'm offended" bandwagon.

Bacon only asked if June Bug was a real name. Why would someone be offended over that? Hell I had cousins named Couter Bug and Bootie Gal.

Cute Huh?

How quickly the black community in Durham jumped on the racial thing; the Coach forced to leave, his career damaged; all the soccer teams games canceled; the team members threaten with death by local gang members, demonized and call all manner of racist. Now me know that there was absolutely no DNA of any team member on the lady, in the lady or on any of her property.

However we do know that the lady has been working an escort service for some time, that she was found guilty a few years ago of Larceny, DWI and assault on a Police officer. Many of the black leadership in Durham seemed absolutely crestfallen when the DNA report came back, they seem to want to play that race card no matter what.

And what of Congresswoman, Cynthia Mckinney of Georgia, who was stopped by Capitol Police when going into the Congressional Building because she did not have her ID on. The officer called for her to stop three times before he put his hand on her arm to stop her, only to be slapped by the congresswoman. And right away, the first thing out of her mouth was that the officer was a racist and she felt that the officer should have recognized her.

What arrogance!

Would that Mr. McCrae and others within the black community could show the same offense to a 75 percent illegitimacy rate, many children of whom will have little or no contact with their fathers; the 6 out of 10 young black men who drop out of school and become involved in criminality, more young men in prisons than in colleges across this country; low academic achievement scores, directly attributed to the illegitimacy, not to mention twice the abortions as whites.

I entreat Mr. McCrae to get his feelings off his shirt sleeves and roll them up instead and use his offense where it really counts most. When I was coming along, if I'd gotten offended every time someone said to me, "what are you!", then I'd still be offended!

Using the Race Card Instead of the Facts Is Shameful! (Full un-cut version)

Editor,

Quite obviously, Cassandra Smith did not see the same memorial services for Coretta Scott King as Ms. Wheeler and I.

As a Native American and a carrier of the sickle cell anemia trait (my great-grandmother was black), I was appalled by the disrespect shown to our president by many of the speakers who took advantage of King’s services to promote their own agendas.

The way many in attendance stood and cheered at that disrespect as if they were at a political rally was disgusting!

For Smith to say, “I believe the very fact President Bush was there speaks volumes for African Americans in this country” was indeed an unfortunate choice of words; the only thing it said was African Americans can behave just as inappropriately as any other culture.

However, it does say a lot about the president.

He knew he would be criticized and disrespected, but he was man enough to go anyway because he’s a good man and wanted to show his respect for King. Had he not been there, some in the African-American community would have berated him and called him a racist.

Smith keeps going back to Katrina and “the treatment of many African Americans” as if there was some sort of conspiracy perpetrated against them by white folks. If this were true, why do you suppose so many white people went down there to save them and help them?

He--, they even went back into those areas and saved their dogs! It’s a fact most of the volunteers are white; that the majority of those contributing money and supplies were white; and that the majority of tax money spent was paid by whites, not just because they make up the largest population but because they care.

After all, it was good, white people who formed the Republican Party for the express purpose of ending slavery, and they did that on the backs of thousands of white men! To even imply the Bush administration would purposely delay help is shameful!

President Bush has more blacks and other minorities in his Cabinet and in executive positions in his administration than any president before him; more blacks are home owners than ever before, because of tax cuts, thousands more, many of whom are black folks, now enjoy a tax exempt status and it's a fact that African American couples make the same money as white couples.

Why does she refer to the President as "emperor"? Does she, like so many others, have a problem with another race of people being free?  Not only does Ms. Smith demonstrate more of an interest in confrontation rather than fact neither does she give white americans enough credit.

Barbara Leviner Jackson

Copy of letter Vice Chairman Butler sent to the local paper in response to their editorial: Why aren’t we taking care of Iran?

“And we’ll be the first to applaud him for ridding the world of a true menace.”

Coming from the Journal editorial board, there‘s only two words for that statement!

It’s not surprising to anyone how liberals will hold their own pedantic sanctimony to such high standards while dismissing the relevancy of all the basic facts that constitute the totality of an issue.

Iraq had a proven track record of hating America and any free country, especially those friendly to the United States (remember the Iraq invasion of Kuwait?)

What’s so ‘gung-ho’ about waiting years to finally take action against one of the world’s most historically lethal destroyers of human life with chemical and biological weapons while he consistently violated multiple useless United Nations resolutions (17 to be exact)?

All of them were direct violations of the cease-fire agreement he signed that liberals used to force the end of the Gulf War.

Now they charge President Bush with being a ‘cowboy’ and a ‘terrorist’ because he didn’t follow the Chief of the IAEA El-Baradei’s ‘suggestion’ that we should wait longer to invade Iraq to give the U.N. inspectors even ‘more time’ after years of dragging their feet through 17 meaningless resolutions.

Yet, now they say they'll applaud the ‘terrorist cowboy’ if he dismisses El-Baradei, Russia, and China's reluctance so far to even support the ‘suggestion’ that Iran’s nuclear ambitions should be referred to the U.N. Security Council and just “wipe Iran off the face of the earth with true ‘shock and awe’"?

Right.

Ignoring the years long obfuscation of world leaders, then chastising the President for finally removing Saddam from power, is just as fallacious as liberals saying they’d be just ‘hunky-dory’ with an actual unilateral American invasion of Iran without the stamp of approval from their beloved United Nations.

Talk about ‘false prophets‘.

Lee P Butler

Vote for person, party who believe what you believe 

Editor,

Cassandra Smith’s letter misunderstands what Theresa Beavers and others have against Wayne Goodwin and the Democratic Party of today.

It is not that one party is more pure and Christian than another for neither party, as secular human organizations, have a corner on morality. The issue is the difference in political philosophies. Does one party’s political philosophy square more closely with our Judeo-Christian values? Before President Franklin Roosevelt it was the Democratic Party.

But after President Roosevelt, the Democratic Party took a decidedly secular and humanistic approach to government that accelerated in the 1960s and through the 1970s so today you have a party that is antithetical toward any Christian morality that is absolute.

Let me give you a litmus test of two issues that divide the two parties.

Christians have for 2,000 years believed in the sanctity of human life and that life begins at conception. Which party has worked to limit the evil practice of abortion? The unborn are the most defenseless of all God’s creatures.

On the economic side of the political spectrum, the Democratic party has practiced the Kensayian policies of the redistribution of wealth. The Democrats began the practice of using tax policy to carry out a social agenda. The more social programs you have the more successful your government is.

I watched Gov. Michael Easley’s interview on PBS the other night and he was euphoric about his accomplishments in creating more government programs. He did not mention that early last year North Carolina was $1 billion in debt and that all the fees and taxes that were raised last year were going to pay for these programs ad infinitum.

Is that really a Christian ethic to create dependency?

To be fair, I must say there are some liberal Republicans who are more closely aligned with Democrats. But as a Christian, and Mrs. Beavers made this clear, one should vote for the person and party most closely in agreement with their Christian values.

Rev. David Frierson

Democrats should Match Religious Belief To Political

Editor,

I guess once again the local Democrats from Richmond County want us to believe they somehow are different then those baby-killing liberals in Hollywood — not like their friends, Martin Sheen, who they had visit them at their campaign rally here.

How can they not be like them when you support their same agenda?

People I talk to seemed shocked that gay organizations supported them in the last election. You can find it on the Internet.

Being a Sunday school teacher doesn’t make you a Christian; neither does sitting in the garage make you a car. When I was growing up, my Sunday school teachers didn’t support abortion on demand, support gay rights and other liberal views that our beloved local Democrats apparently do since they are proud to be called a Democrat whose party’s platform includes these un-Sunday-school-like behaviors. That is, unless you go to one of those churches that are now allowing ministers to be homosexual and still keep their pulpit.

Let’s open our eyes. If you vote Democrat in all the elections, find out what your party stands for. Don’t just assume you are one thing and the liberals are another.

Times have changed. Platforms have changed.

Find out what you believe and see if you vote for people who believe like you. Name recognition is nothing if you don’t have a good value system.

Teressa Beavers

Local paper is mouthpiece of the Democratic Party 

What in the devil is the politically correct way when it comes to protecting our citizens and tracking our enemies?

You say “protection methods under the guise of national security.” Well, what else can it be if not national security?

So, the president used his authority 30 times to listen to overseas phone calls — all relating to known terrorist. I don’t see a problem!

The problem is, who leaked this highly classified information to The New York Times in the first place — information that The Times has had for more than a year.

The Times was asked by the White House at that time not to disclose the information. Well, who told the newspaper? While the Democrats screamed and cried for an investigation over who leaked Valerie Plame’s name to the press and while they’ve called for an investigation into the whether the president used his powers overzealously, they get that deer-in-the-headlight look when there is talk of investigating this leak.

And there will be an investigation. Why did The Times decide to print that story now? It’s simple.

When the Iraqi elections went off successfully, the Democrats realized they couldn’t say things that were perceived as negative. But they had to have something to beat the president with, and since The New York Times is the mouthpiece (as is the Daily Journal) of the Democratic Party, now was the perfect time to reveal this secret program, crying our civil liberties have been compromised.

Now Democrats want to cripple our intelligence-gathering methods again as they did during the Clinton years by not renewing the Patriot Act. Fifty million people are free from oppression and torture; democracy is spreading through the Middle East.

Why can’t Democrats revel in

their part in this? Again it’s simple — because of their hatred for George Bush!

Barbara L. Jackson

Don’t let political meddling end progress in Iraq 

Bill Clinton announced that Operation Iraqi Freedom was “a big mistake.”

Democratic Congressman Jack Murtha said our military “cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq.”

Sen. Ted Kennedy calls Iraq “Vietnam.”

Sen. John Kerry said our troops’ presence on the ground in Iraq just “feeds the insurgency.”

On CNN, Soledad O’Brien was obviously incensed about Sen. Joe Lieberman’s positive outlook on Iraq when she asked, “You’ve made four visits to Iraq over the last 18 months. You sound encouraged upon your return. Why?”

Lieberman responded plainly saying, “I saw progress economically, militarily, and politically. I mean, some of the kind of practical common interest stuff that I saw was just more cars on the streets in Baghdad and the other cities I was in, almost every roof seems to have a satellite dish.

“The economy is beginning to move. Politically there’s a full-fledged campaign going on in Iraq now for the national assembly elections in December, and there’s an independent — a large number of independent televisions and newspapers covering it.

“Militarily, the Iraqis are beginning to show much more self-sufficiency. They’re a long way from being able to take it on their own and that’s why we have to be careful not to withdraw too soon, but progress really is being made.”

Why point to the words of Lieberman?

He is only one of a few Democrat leaders who doesn’t think our troops are causing the problem or are losing the war in a modern-day Vietnam. He is in a Democrat minority that sees progress towards democracy for the Iraqi people.

There are courageous military and civilian personnel from Richmond County in Iraq fighting, training, building and striving for a democratic Iraq. Political meddling as it was in Vietnam shouldn’t allow their hard work to end in vain.

Lee P. Butler

Unwed teen mothers know better, but do it any way 

By Barbara Leviner Jackson/Letter to the Editor

Of the 139 new mothers between the ages of 15 and 19, how many were under the age of consent, and of those, how many of the fathers were over the age of consent, and of those cases, how many were referred to the Sheriff’s Office for investigation of criminality?

The article in the paper did not mention pregnancy in children below the age of 15. Were there any? The fact that 59 percent of the babies born in Richmond County are illegitimate is shameful!

The harm being done to many of these babies will be irreversible — the poverty, the lack of consistent contact with the father, low achievement scores, higher criminality.

And the worst part is that most of these ladies who allow themselves to become pregnant when there is so much birth control available to them know right from wrong.

Many know they can’t afford a child and that they may not have the education they need, but they go right on and allow themselves to get pregnant — quite obviously caught up in the moment and not strong enough to say “NO I’m not prepared.”

And what of the taxpayer? How much longer will we continue to be overtaxed to pay for others’ irresponsibility?

Barbara Leviner Jackson

Hamlet

I think Mr. Shutt has made a good point in his letter concerning prayerin school. I was born in 1963, so I guess everything wasn’t toobad for the country.

We can’t go back and undo history, but we canchange what is happening today. We can support legislation that willreinstate those freedoms that we have lost. Every time I say the Pledgeof Allegiance at the schools where I work, I thank God in my heart thatwe still have that freedom.

What is happening — starting with thatparent in California who doesn’t want his child to say the pledge — is amove to take the “God” out of the Pledge and probably the pledge alltogether. Are we going to just sit back as a silent majority and letthat happen?

Where were the conservative Christians when Ms. O’Hare began her quest to get prayer taken out of school?

We as voters,Christians, conservatives, or whatever you consider yourself to be,should not let this freedom go without a fight. If we don’t speak up,that’s what will happen.

We need to be more active and not allow furtherdamage to be done to the family values and morals of this country. Weshould all get behind and support our president’s choices for conservative judges who will uphold the values we hold in our heartswhether we voted for him or not.

Whether you consider yourself aconservative elephant, a conservative donkey, or a liberal donkey, weneed to fight for our children’s futures.

Believe me the liberaldonkeys are the one’s fighting for an “open mind” and acceptance of allreligions.

What has our country come to?

Let’s preserve what freedom we still have in America.

Teressa Beavers

Stray law needs to be changed

So I guess all the stray dogs, cats and other animals the citizens of Richmond County have taken in before we even had an animal shelter make us all criminals.

I think the right thing to do when one finds a lost animal is to call the shelter and ask if someone has called looking for it. If not and you are willing to keep it and give it a good home, what kind of crime is that?

I don't understand the logic behind that, being an animal lover. What about the kid's story/movie, "Because of Winn Dixie?" Did that little girl break the law because she gave a homeless dog a home?

When I called the animal control officer this summer to report an abuse case, Mr. Wayne told me most of the dogs he takes to the pound will be put to sleep. Many dogs don't get adopted. Wouldn't it be better to keep a lost animal that wasn't claimed, give it a good home and spare its life?

I am sure most pets adopted are cute little puppies; older dogs are harder to adopt. I think the shelter is a beautiful facility, and I commend all who work there -- but giving a lost animal a good home should not be a crime.

Finding strays and giving them homes is part of human goodness and compassion. Why should that be a crime?

I tell you what a crime is: when certain citizens of Richmond County tie animals on a chain/rope and refuse to feed and take care of them.

The pound is doing good work, but this law should be changed.

Teressa Beavers

Democrats would filibuster Christ as high court nominee

I commend Jack Martin for his suggestion to open our southern border only to Hispanics who are qualified and willing to enlist in U.S. military service.

It's a great idea; however, the ACLU would never allow it.

As a Bible-thumper, I found Martin's remarks on this subject very interesting. His fear of a faith-based government is unfounded.In 1963, Madalyn O'Hair enlightened America to the fact God has no place in government, and that the history of our founding fathers should be deleted because they had it all wrong.

John Jay, our first Supreme Court justice, had no clue just how politically incorrect he was when he said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

Thomas Jefferson never realized that he mistaken when he said, "The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty. A student's perusal of the sacred volume will make him a better citizen, a better father, a better husband."

Martin can lay aside his fears. Even if Jesus Christ were to make himself available, President Bush could not appoint him.

He would be filibustered by Democrats because of his politically incorrect beliefs - you know, all that nonsense about not committing adultery, lying, cheating and loving your neighbor enough to defend him against injustices.

Bonnie Wheeler

Andrews, S.C.

Fletcher just doing what's right

By Teressa Beavers/Letter to the Editor

In response to Tuesday's editorial concerning the state superintendent's race, I totally disagree with the comparison to John Kerry and the president's situation in November.

I am an educator and a Republican and do believe we are in need of a state superintendent of schools; however, Tricia Willoby has done a great job filling in for this office this past year. I receive regular e-mails on her list serve. She has kept teachers abreast of what is new in the state.

She has overspent her term - that I agree with.

If out-of-district provisional ballots are not allowed in our wonderful state, then they should not be counted. If Bill Fletcher was a Democrat, I am sure the Democrats would be fighting it to the last minute, too.

What about the Steve Troxler race and President Bush in Florida? John Kerry knew it wasn't worth fighting for in Ohio.

We must follow the law. The legislators in power can't create new laws to follow their agenda, which is what has happened. The "new" legislature being predominantly Democrat created new laws to favor June Atkinson.

Bill Fletcher is doing the right thing. After all, when was the last time we had a Republican superintendent? We need some reform in this state.

He stands to lose more than just a political race if he just gives up. It's not that Bill Fletcher needs to learn any lessons; he is just trying to stand up for what the law says, and possibly gain the seat that could be his.

Flag-burning amendment to Constitution is 'sorely needed'

Editor,

I disagree with Tom MacCallum about the flag, it should NOT be up to individual states to decide. It should be a federal decision.

An amendment to the Constitution is sorely needed. The last vote by the Senate was 63 for an amendment, and since that time Republicans have gained enough seats that the amendment would probably pass, especially since 9/11.

President Bush will immediately sign it and the process of ratification can then begin.

Desecration is pretty spelled out in the House version. You cannot exactly forbid burning of the flag, because that is how old and damaged flags are done away with. I urge all you interested voters to contact your Senators and demand a yes vote on the upcoming Senate version.

Charles K. Williams

Imperial Beach, Calif.

Bush should use recess appointment

By Charles K. Williams/Letter to the Editor

As President Reagan used to say, "There you go again."

You are right on the money. This is not a dictatorship, but a system in which one political party is voted into office and steers the direction of the country because that is what its constituents want.

What this nation needs at this time IS an iron-fisted ambassador to the United Nations whose firm actions would boost the esteem and prestige of our United States and maybe help straighten out a corrupt organization.

I encourage President Bush to use a recess appointment as this would allow those 38 lackeys of the Democratic Party to see just how wrong their thinking (and yours) is.

Imperial Beach, Calif.

Gitmo isn't going anywhere

By Barbara L. Jackson/Letter to the Editor

By the by, Kellogg, Brown and Root just received a new multi-million dollar contract to build a new prison at Gitmo! So, it's not going anywhere! Get over it.

Additionally, polls show the American people do not want to close Gitmo; they do not believe the prisoners are being tortured and basically could care less about them.

Finally, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin's comments are being played over and over on Arab TV, much to our detriment, and certainly to his as he will surely lose his Senate seat upon the next election!

And that makes Mrs. Jackson very happy!

Reader on Wal-Mart: 'Build it and they will come'

By Jerry L. Moss/Letter to the Editor

It's good to see the new Wal-Mart Supercenter nearing completion along with the rest of the shopping center complex.

Unfortunately, I hear some talk about the woes of what's going to happen to the rest of the county's shopping and eating avenues; things like, "Well, Wal-Mart is going to put some of the grocery stores out of business" or "Richmond County won't support all the new restaurants coming."

I like shopping at supercenters for retail items and will buy some grocery items from them, but I (like many I talk to) prefer a designated grocery store (and its location) for that type of shopping. Some say Wal-Marts hurt towns, but for me they've drawn me to places I'd have never gone to otherwise like Biscoe.

I've found other things of interest in surrounding areas because of the magnetic Wal-Mart draw. As far as the restaurant issues, we must realize people from neighboring towns and travelers are in Richmond County every day.

They, along with locals, cause the restaurant economy to thrive.

I'm delighted about Fire Mountain Grill, Andy's, Fatz Cafe' (try the one in Florence, S.C.; been there 3 times with the wife - and we love it) and the other unannounced eateries coming.

The new road infrastructures, airport expansion, and migrating industries to our area are encouraging. To borrow from Kevin Costner, "Build it and they will come" is the optimism we as community should dwell upon.

It will be interesting to see what the future brings. Remember the pessimism of its people brings stagnation to a community, but optimism in turn brings new hope and prosperity to that which would've withered away.

Jerry L. Moss

Bacon should tour Morrison to see how inmates behave

So, once again our liberal Daily Journal could not resist raking our fine military through the muck! You, with the bully pulpit that could say something to honor our troops at Gitmo; instead, Mr. Bacon again chose to dip his liberal pin into the debasement of our military and government.

Never once did he mention we treat prisoners better than any country! It was our troops who lovingly laid those Qurans in our enemies hands when they arrived at Gitmo! The prisoners are well fed; they're given excellent medical care; and of course, allowed to pray five times a day.

Mr. Bacon said not a word of what our troops have endured in dealing with these prisoners. Our troops have been spit on; they've had urine thrown on them; they've been verbally and physically assaulted - all, not for money, but to protect citizens such as Mr. Bacon so he can demonstrate his empathy for the enemy while slinging his insulting slurs at our troops.

Apparently, Mr. Bacon really doesn't understand. When the president said Amnesty International (an anti-American group at best) had based its decisions on the word of people who had been in detention, that was true! They did not talk to the military staff at Gitmo; they only talked to former prisoners! Perhaps a tour of Morrison Institution in Hoffman would give Mr. Bacon a little more insight on just how inmates are!

I find it quite daunting Mr. Bacon would believe a bunch of murderers who regal in our slaughter over the fine young men and women who volunteer to protect America and certainly most of the world!

I personally am all for closing Gitmo and sending all the prisoners to Russia, where certainly they would be given the respect they warrant.

Barbara Jackson

Don't just rely on the media; check out the facts for yourself

By Jane Moss/Letter to the Editor Thursday, June 2, 2005 12:10 AM EDT

I read with great interest your editorial about embryonic stem cell research - such interest I decided to do some research on my own. My findings were very informative - things our media generally won't report. Griffith University has found adult stem cells isolated from the the nose have the ability to develop into many different cell types in the right environment. This breakthrough from Australia was largely ignored by the U.S. media. Scientists have grown nerve cells, glial cells (multi-branched nerve cells), liver cells, heart cells and muscle cells all from the human nose. Also, unlike embryonic stem cells, which reportedly can trigger tumors at the point of injection, adult stem cells grow in a controlled fashion and don't revert to their original tissue form. Another significant benefit is because the cells come from the patient himself there is no risk of his body rejecting them. Placenta research at the Children's Hospital Boston and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is finding some very interesting results. Cells from the afterbirth appear to generate more blood stem cells and can give rise to a complete blood system when transplanted into an adult. This could lead to breakthrough cures for leukemia and other blood diseases. I also found where cord blood was used in the treatment of both sickle cell disease and leukemia. All I ask is that people dig deeper than what the media reports. Always find out for yourselves. There are many other positive things going on regarding medical breakthroughs without using embryonic research. Science can be good, but science also can be sinister and dark. Remember Hitler's labs in the 1940s. I stand with President Bush on his potential veto. I know those cures are out there. Tremendous progress is being made with adult stem cells, placenta and cord blood. I don't think Mr.Hayes is worried. Jane Moss

Democratic planks go against what Christians stand for

By Billy Cipriani/Letter to the Editor Friday, May 20, 2005

Lee Butler couldn't have said it better. I propose the new name, "Richmond County Democratic Journal." I get tired of hearing this war dubbed "unjustified" by some group of left-wing liberals who know no more about what is going on in Iraq than I do about cold fusion. I challenge you to get your boots dirty and then come back and report, and quit taking CNN as gospel. As far as the issue with the preacher in the mountains, let's talk. I am sure that, at best, it is close to accurate, but it does raise a good topic. There is a major contradiction in the beliefs of a professed Christian and a good part of the beliefs of the Democratic platform. Things such as abortion, homosexuality, and gambling are not only wrong in my opinion, but an abomination in the eyes of God. How can you vote against your beliefs? Understand who and what you represent. When you sit down in front of your television this evening and say to yourself, "what is this world coming to," think of how you spent your vote and how they are representing you. You cannot legislate morality, but you can legislate against immorality. And the lottery, hah! Why piddle in small change? As long as values and morals are compromised, aim for the sky. I think legalized prostitution would yield far better than the lottery. As long as it benefits the children, right? I know it seems petty, but small chips at the foundation of values lead to a collapse in everything we as Christians stand for. As cliché as it sounds, look at the path of the world in the last 10-15 years. I challenge all Republicans and Democrats to re-evaluate your political affiliation and the way you vote. Know what your party represents and be active. Oh yeah, the days of the Dixiecrats are long gone. Billy Cipriani Rockingham

Opinionated editorials should be fair and balanced

By Bonnie Wheeler/Letter to the Editor Friday, May 20, 2005

I read with interest your commentary, "The pot calling the kettle black." I would like to offer a suggestion: Give both sides of the issue when writing an opinionated editorial. Otherwise it isn't fair and balanced. President Bush went to war with Iraq because he believed there were WMDs. Along with the president there were the Democrats from the former administration who believed this, including Bill Clinton who tried to go after Saddam and failed. Howard Dean (although he seems to have forgotten) wrote a letter to Clinton July 19, 1995, urging him to take action. Democratic Sens. Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry and others, sent this letter to Clinton Oct. 9, 1998: "We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." Were they all lying? I don't think so. I believe they could have been mistaken (or maybe not). No weapons were found but that does not mean they were not there. You, also, forgot to mention other reasons the president gave for going to war: On Oct. 7, 2002, the president said, "Saddam has tried to dominate the Middle East, has invaded and brutally occupied a small neighbor, has struck other nations without warning, and holds an unrelenting hostility toward the United States." The president also said some al-Qaeda leaders who fled Afghanistan went to Iraq and received medical treatment including Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was in command of the suicide bombers. This alone was a valid reason for going to war. Newsweek, like CBS, is so angry about the election they are grasping at anything to discredit the president. I am appalled they would risk the lives of those who are fighting to defend freedom. Bonnie Wheeler Andrews, S.C.

Stereotype the media is asserting doesn't exist

 5-20-2005

Four front page stories, one editorial and at least another article published by the Journal about a minister who has nothing to do with Richmond County other than a perceived opportunity by the editorial staff to attack Republicans over an issue of uncorroborated hearsay.

During this time, Vice President Cheney’s exoneration over the legally protected right of his office’s position to retain the confidentiality of his energy task force meetings and news that the economy had added 100,000 more jobs last month than economists predicted were both relegated to small articles several pages into the paper.

Plus, the Journal obviously rejected an editorial submitted by the Richmond County GOP about the lottery issue that didn’t mesh with the stated position of the paper. In that article the RCGOP wondered if legislators would cut school construction revenue from the budget replacing, it with lottery funds if it is ever ratified.

We now know that Senate Republican debate was shut down by Democrats who eliminated school construction funding from the proposed budget while those same Democrats promised to allocate more school construction funding in the future using non-existent lottery funds!

Sounds like a hard hitting front page expose‘? Nah, it makes state Democrats look bad, but that preacher, now he’s a bad dude!

Almost every week since the election, our locally elected state representative has gotten free political publicity as she reports on legislation state lawmakers are considering that she wrote, signed on to, or supports without any opposition response. But mostly, she’s just reporting news the Journal should be providing themselves.

At least Republican voices are allowed in the ‘letters to the editor’ section occasionally, to help balance out that whole ‘liberal bias’ stereotype the media keeps asserting doesn’t exist and doesn’t understand from where it originates.

God bless America.

Lee P Butler

Don't cast aspersions against Wilson, Prayer Day supporters

Letter to the Editor from Mr. Bunn T. Phillips:

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Editor, Jack Martin's May 6 letter, ("Rockingham resident takes exception with Prayer Day site") states, "It ain't easy going against the flow, but somebody has to do it. Besides, these purveyors of the faith didn't even bother to say please or excuse me. ... No one has the right to use my property without permission." Perhaps Mr. Martin should review the First Amendment, which assures all citizens of the right to peaceably assemble. As law-abiding citizens, what more likely site could be chosen than the premises of the people's house of justice? If memory serves me correctly, one of the notables he singled out, Cathy Wilson (our distinguished clerk of court) was in the forefront of the Prayer Day, but has been involved in a number of community humanitarian efforts for years. To cast aspersions against this good lady and her followers for breaking no law, while ignoring the spiraling crime and single mother birthrate, in our society is abominable. When I appear before the bar of justice in that Court House in the Sky, I hope I have the likes of those who supported the Prayer Day as my witnesses. Bunn T. Phillips Jr.