Get out now

The recent election proved, without a doubt, that our illegal foreign policy in Iraq was a nightmare. Staying the course because it might result in civil war is a no-brainer. A civil war, thanks to the U.S. invasion, is already taking place in Iraq. Bush's war is not worth one more American life. The United States is in violation of International Law and the tenets of the United Nations. This has made U.S. citizens less safe than anytime in history. Get out now. I believe that our forefathers would be turning over in their graves because of our illegal wars and clandestine operations. Those are the reasons why our beloved country is hated and feared by many countries from Asia to South America and the Middle East. Many of our misguided foreign adventures have resulted in disasters: Some examples and results: The overthrow of Iran's democratically elected president in the 1950s. Result: A theocracy type of government now in power. The illegal 10-year war in Vietnam to eliminate communism. Result: 58,000 American soldiers dead, hundreds of thousands mentally and physically wounded. Vietnam is still communist. Bay of Pigs fiasco. Result: A more secure Fidel Castro, U.S. humiliation. Iran-Contra. Rogue American military tries to overthrow Nicaraguan government. Result: It doesn't work. Illegal invasion of Iraq. Result: Total chaos. Many more examples could be listed. We need a major change in the way America looks and acts in reference to the people in our world. Robert Draper, Mickleton - Courier Post, November 30, 2006

Elections better than impeaching

Eight years ago, a Republican House of Representatives returned a bill of impeachment against President Clinton for lying under oath when he denied having an illicit affair with a White House intern. He barely escaped being convicted by the Senate for shamefully covering up a private indiscretion, not for committing “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Today, a sitting president who has literally declared war on essential constitutional protections and who should legitimately be held responsible for intentionally violating constitutional protections will not face impeachment by a Democrat-controlled Congress. President Bush has illegally wiretapped domestic telephone conversations. He has illegally detained and denied habeas corpus to United States citizens. He has approved the creation of detention camps abroad where suspects are tortured in violation of the Geneva Conventions. Exploiting the cloak of national security, he has ordered telephone and Internet companies to divulge customer records. But a Democratic Congress will not seek to impeach Bush. The ludicrous grounds to impeach used eight years ago should not lower the bar for impeachment. Only through a vigilant electorate educated about these abuses and asserting its wisdom at the ballot box can our precious constitutional protections be truly guaranteed. The recent election was a good start. There is a long way to go. Talia Cohen, Linwood - Atlantic City Press, November 30, 2006

Needless

am dismayed with the Bush administration for the needless killing of nearly 3,000 American servicemen and servicewomen and the maiming of thousands more. Since Bush's statement, "Bring 'em on," these men and women are being killed in a war we should have never been in and will never win. Many Iraqi men, women and children have been slain by our troops and all they received was an apology. Some Iraqis are faced with a lack of food and medical care. Do we call that helping them? We are spending billions of dollars a day on the war while we are faced with poverty here. The elderly cannot afford much-need medications and college is not affordable for many of the young. Bush and his cronies are making millions of dollars from the war. No one in the Bush family or the families of most of his staff are going to go to war. He calls himself caring, but his actions speak differently. I have no intention of leaving this country as some of his supporters have suggested with the statement, "Love it or leave it." My forefathers put too much free and cheap labor into it. They faced discrimination and many today face beatings and lynchings. This is a country I love, but I abhor some of its practices. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap," Galatians, 6:7. George Willis, Collingswood - Courier Post, November 29, 2006

Remembering a different time, conflict

In part because of all of the daily coverage of the military action in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am often brought back to the late '60s and thoughts of America and myself and another conflict in another time. I spent a Thanksgiving and a Christmas at Long Binh, in South Vietnam, along with 500,000 of my fellow young Americans. Being young and in a theater of war makes a lasting impression on the mind and body, even if you were as lucky as I was not to be in actual combat. visited Vineland on Black Friday with my wife of 38 years (she was the young wife of an Army private off to war). The reason I stopped in Vineland was to go to Landis Park and see if there was a memorial to my brothers in arms. I was pleasantly surprised to see a beautiful monument to the young men (the oldest was just 31) who gave up their lives in pursuit of the political goals of the day. My wife and I walked Veterans Circle and saw the memorials to all the fallen from Vineland and paid brief, private homage to names carved in Crosses, Stars of David and monuments -- fitting remembrances of people we should never forget. Soon there will have to be space for names from Iraq and Afghanistan or some other far off place where young Americans may be found eating turkey or military meals ready to eat. It doesn't matter that I don't believe in the war in Iraq, it only matters that we honor our fallen and are there to welcome our troops home, as they should be welcomed. My family and I have been to Washington, D.C., a number of times and walked along and read the names on "The Wall." Fifty-seven thousand baby boomers paid the ultimate price, but I was lucky enough to come home. I honor them as we should honor our current military men and women. I would like nothing more than to see our troops home from Iraq by the end of the year, but that is not a reality. I can only hope to see no more names carved in stone in pursuit of the policies of our president. Capture Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan or Pakistan, and bring our troops home. Michael D. Sehl, Former Spec 4, U.S. Army 1967-1969, VHS Class of 1964, Phoenixville, PA - Daily Journal, November 28, 2006

Clearly voters rejected Bush

The writer of the Nov. 21 letter, “GOP election loss not Bush's fault,” still doesn't get it. The people voted against President Bush, not for the Democrats. All Bush Republicans lost big. People voted for the lesser of two evils — and Bush is evil. He lied; he is incompetent, and he should be impeached. But then we would have Dick Cheney. Willeam Van Sciver, Somers Point - Atlantic City Press, November 28, 2006

How sad to die to benefit big oil

The death of Eric Palacios Rivera, the soldier from Atlantic City killed in Iraq, was certainly a devastating event for his family. And for what? For rich corporations too chicken to send their sons to war, too chicken to possibly put themselves through what the Rivera family is going through. His death was only for the love of oil, for the ones who get others to do their dirty work for them. It was for the eventual opportunity of being nothing but a pawn in the battle over whatever was so important as to lose his life over. Also, for a vicious man in the White House who calls himself the president. The innocent ideals of a young boy were twisted from “fighting for his country, making a difference in life, helping his buddies” to “helping the rich” on the battlefield to the point of losing his life. The brainwashing was complete, and now Eric has obeyed his last order. And a life is wasted. And I'm so angry at the utter thought of this. May Huddleston, Atlantic City - Atlantic City Press, November 28, 2006

War in Iraq was a mistake from the start

I hated those who perpetrated such a gross inhuman act on innocent people. An "eye for an eye" was my first thought. Even now when I reflect on that fateful day, these emotions return, along with a feeling of helplessness, because I know that we are only safe as long as people respect each other and obey the laws. Our only security is in a civilized society. But when President Bush began talking about invading Iraq, I began to have second thoughts. I was against it. Reason had taken over and a "cooler head prevailed." I was and am against this war, and I so stated in a letter published in The Daily Journal. It's crazy to invade a country with a history of hundreds of years of violence, internal religious struggle and expect them to embrace a democratic government. We cannot impose a democratic government on people who are incapable of even conceptualizing what it is. They have to want it bad enough help themselves. They have to want to rise up and overcome the tyranny that oppresses them and to establish their own government based on reason and tolerance. But what do I know? I am just an ordinary citizen, limited in knowledge of international affairs and not privy to the sophisticated intelligence available to our government and elected officials. My faith has been shattered. Now, when I think of our elected representatives from the president on down, I no longer trust them and I fear for our country. John Adams had it right when he said, "There is a danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger public liberty." I close with a quote from Will Durant. It is something to think about: "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within. The essential causes of Rome's decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggle, her failing trade, her consuming wars." Is our country doomed to repeat history? Joseph L Ready, Vineland - Daily Journal, November 27, 2006

Get out of Iraq

There is a civil war in Iraq right now. It is the fault of the U.S. government that illegally attacked Iraq against the advice of the governments of the world. There would not have been an Iraqi civil war if the government had followed the advice of the world. Saddam Hussein was the acknowledged leader of Iraq by all world governments and there would have been no civil war if he had remained so. The world's governments, working together, could have dealt with any problems the people of Iraq or anyone else had with Saddam. America not only committed the sin of attacking Iraq without good reason, it is now committing the sin of occupying Iraq. Instead of compounding its crimes, the best the government can do now is to cease its crime of occupying Iraq right now. George Hunt, Maple Shade - Courier Post, November 27, 2006

Wars for oil are no answer

The Nov. 17 letter, “Corporations hold the real power,” defines what many of us strongly suspect but cannot find time to confront. Most of us must spend all of our time working for a living, housing, feeding, raising a family, enjoying sports, etc., with little time to be aware of how powerful oil corporations run government and our foreign policy. Corporate-sponsored think tanks and lobbyists falsely claim there will be plenty of oil to keep consumer growth rising forever. But that think-tank propaganda is put to the lie by events after Sept. 11, 2001. The proper response by our government to the attack on the United States by religious fanatics was wasted by taking the opportunity to launch the invasion of Iraq to protect our (cheap oil) interests. Citizens should urge their leaders to legislate oil conservation and create a national program to research and develop new jobs in alternative-energy technologies. Oil wars waste more oil, will not cure the problem of religious fanaticism and make the United States less secure. Charles A. Andrade, Galloway Township - Atlantic City Press, November 26, 2006

End Bush's rule

President Bush's unilateral war in Iraq, along with Vice President Dick Cheney's greedy plan to enrich Republican donors, have resulted in the deaths of nearly nearly 3,000 Americans and the wounding of 20,000. Power and greed are the hallmarks of the Bush-Cheney administration. Public relations gimmicks, arrogance and stupidity have not won the war in Iraq. Americans should not have been there to begin with. The adage is that if you break it, you own it. So it is in Iraq. With the election, it is apparent that the American people have awaken after following Republicans for six years. It's important that Bush not be allowed to set the agenda. It is important that he not be allowed to snatch victory from his defeat. Instead Bush and Cheney should be impeached. Walter Gollub, Voorhees - Courier Post, November, 25, 2006

Follow the money in House races

Does anyone see something wrong with the following quote from the Oct. 20 issue of the Kiplinger Newsletter: “The GOP has a great deal to lose: congressional chairmanships, control over pork (barrel) perks, and donations that go with power.” Not one word about appropriations based upon what is in the best interest of the country. It seems the attitude is that loss of power means loss of money and that the lobbyists will now be real busy redirecting their payoffs — oops, contributions. The Nov. 9 Press article, “Money helps LoBiondo maintain his unbeaten streak,” noted that Rep. Frank LoBiondo's war chest was $1.4 million for the 2006 election. His democratic challenger in the 2nd District, Viola Thomas-Hughes, apparently was able to raise only $20,000. You guessed it — follow the money. Commendations to Viola; she tried her best without much backing. I was hoping that articles would bring our attention back to the vitally important issue of congressional reform. Without it, we will experience the “Never again all over again” adage. John McIntyre, Cape May - Atlantic City Press - November 24, 2006

Different values

Re: "Real values, (letters, Nov. 3). This is a reply to the writer who states he is in agreement with the "real values" advocated by President Bush. I favor a president whose moral values include lifting people out of poverty. His refusal to raise the minimum wage shows callous disregard for the poor. I favor a president who does not choose pre-emptive wars that have caused the death of 150,000 people, (the latest estimate from Iraqi news), plus 2,800 Americans. I favor a president who would act to lower the skyrocketing cost of medical care. About 500,000 Americans have sought medical care abroad. By bargaining with the drug companies, Bush should make sure we pay, at most, the same prices for prescription drugs paid by Canadians. With a 50 percent price reduction for medicine, we would not need the inept Medicare Part D drug plan with its dreaded doughnut hole. The president I favor would not cut funds for student loans. Our future as a nation depends on the success of our young people. Finally, I favor a president who would be viewed as a conciliator, fostering peace and prosperity around the world, not as a spoiler who has broken many international treaties. Thanks to Bush's policies and his saber-rattling, most nations view the United States as a threat to world peace. Obviously, the writer's "real values" do not coincide with mine. Anthony Seminara, Cherry Hill - Courier Post, November 24, 2006

Road to recovery

The Nov. 7 election was a national repudiation of the ill-gotten Bush presidency and his stealth-like attempt to establish a quasi-theocratic rule at the expense of a weakened Constitution and a puppet Congress. Fortunately for America, even the White House's version of Joseph Goebbels, Karl Rove, could not create enough falsehoods and scare tactics to allow our unilaterally proclaimed "decider" two more years of uncontrolled power. While Bush may not be the most stupid president in U.S. history, as quoted by the criminal leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, he has to be one of the most dangerous ever to occupy the White House. Hopefully, the victorious Democrats will prove worthy of the public trust or they also will be thumped in the 2008 elections. For now, America's democracy is on the road to recovery and the people have shown they will not remain fooled or manipulated forever. Gene Muccolini, Eastampton - Courier Post, November 18, 2006

Corporations hold the real power

Despite the results of the recent elections, most Americans are truly unaware of what is going on. Many of us are foolish enough to believe that we live in a “Christian” country with concern for “family values” in a “free market” that is committed to “spreading democracy” worldwide. America has sadly become a corporate state, and as a result, corporations have consumed everything about life, including the reporting of world events (the news) and spirituality. Like coal-mining firms and asbestos manufacturers in the past, corporations with overwhelmingly strong financial and technical communications resources mislead the public for profit. Pharmaceutical and tobacco-industry firms even create lobbying organizations to misinform the public, suppress debate and discourage any investigative dissent. These third parties are literally Trojan horses with consumer-friendly names that suggest they are concerned with the environment or health. These third parties spread misinformation regarding product safety, global warming, deforestation and other issues that affect everyone from seniors to the handicapped to the everyday citizen. The corporations and elected officials steal from us in the name of truth, God and country. This coalition creates and repeats buzzwords such as “liberal,” “anti-business,” “junk science,” “tree huggers” and “free market” in order to “defeat the competition” and to “brand” their “product” in the minds of “consumers” (us). You may recognize some of these as words used by court jesters Rush Limbaugh, Anne Coulter and Michelle Malkin, but there are much more powerful people behind the scenes. But none of this would happen without the apathy and even cooperation of the American public, which is self-absorbed and largely ignorant of its own government and history. Jeffrey Lehman, Northfield - Courier Post, November 17, 2006

Too high a cost

President Bush is happy with Saddam Hussein's verdict. He says that it was worth the cost to this country. Was it? The cost was more than 2,800 dead heroes, thousands maimed for life and a $400 billion deficit. I don't know of any of this administration's children who were on the front line dying for their country. When will the president admit he was wrong? He is always right, no matter what it costs the people. His leadership of this country is a failure. When will this country learn to mind its own business? We aren't even wanted in Iraq. Let's get out. The cost is too great. We are losing. Angelo La Fera, Little Egg Harbor Twp - Atlantic City Press, November 15, 2006

End the war

Oh, yeah, let's keep the Iraq war going. Officials snowed the ignorant American people during the Vietnam War. They can and are doing it again. We have to keep feeding the military industrial complex that supplies all the weapons and ammunition and we have to keep companies such as Halliburton and others in business rebuilding what we are destroying in Iraq. Isn't it nice that we are helping the Iraqi people practice democracy. So, what's a few thousand of our soldiers killed and thousands more losing limbs. It's worth it, isn't it? So what if America can't take care of its senior citizens, veterans and the poor because it needs every penny to support all of this. The Iraqi people will get it in the next 100 years or so. Don't you feel so much safer now that our brave troops are fighting the war over there, so we don't have to fight the war here. Of course, if we were to secure our borders and not let every Tom, Dick and Harry into the country, we would be safe. But that costs too much money and doesn't make some people enough money. Joseph T Ciervo, Medford Lakes - Courier Post, November 15, 2006

Waste of money

Seven hundred miles of additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexican border is ludicrous and a fleecing of taxpayers. It is an act of racism and would be an ecological disaster. It will make crossing the border more difficult, not impossible: "Where there is a will, there is a way." What gives President Bush the right to waste our money on such a ricidulous endeavor? Those millions could be better spent on Katrina victims, the millions of hungry and homeless, the millions without health care, the millions who cannot afford necessary medications, to raise the minimum wage, for crime prevention, education, etc. The fence is for the purpose of keeping out people of color. If Bush is truly concerned about illegal immigration into the United States, then, in all fairness, he should have a fence erected along the U.S.-Canadian border, also. As far as a fence to keep out terrorists; some are already here and others come by plane. Some were born here and live among us. Remember Columbine, Ruby Ridge, Timothy McVeigh, Jeffrey Dahmer, Al Capone and the man who killed the Amish students? The history and foundation of the United States is wrought with terrorists and terrorism. Build a fence? Give me a break. Yvonne R Harris, Glassboro - Courier Post, November 15, 2006

Look what we got for 3,000 dead

What a triumph! Our new Iraqi puppets are going to execute three of their former crazy leaders who were such a “clear and growing threat” to us peace-loving Americans. And it only cost us 3,000 dead soldiers, 20,000 permanently maimed and about $400 billion so far. That's 1,000 dead, 7,000 hideously wounded and a $130 billion each. Well done, President Bush. History will surely record how proud you made us. Only one problem: At that price we will run out of soldiers and dollars long before the Middle East runs out of of real, not to mention fake, threatening crazies. The better news is that we will run out of the George Bushes and the Dick Cheneys first. Donald Connolly, Linwood - Atlantic City Press, November 13, 2006

Had enough?

Thank God the majority of people in our country have had enough of this mindless administration. Hopefully, now that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is gone and the Republicans no longer control the House and the Senate, we can start moving our country back to where it belongs, out of the grip of egoistical, lying, controlling leaders who tried to keep the American people in fear so they could get the votes to keep them in power no matter what the cost of American lives. The people finally saw through the deceit. Louis Marano, Woodbury Heights - Courier Post, November 12, 2006

America rejected Bush's agenda

I am very proud of all the American people nationwide who sent a message, loud and clear, to our emperor-in-chief George Bush. The votes are counted, and the people have spoken — we want a change in his flawed policies, not only in Iraq, but pretty much his entire agenda. History will show that he is one of the worst presidents in our nation's history. I am just thankful that the nation realized this on Election Day and voted for change. Stay the course, George. The course for a Democrat as our next president just got straighter. Michael Dash, Somers Point - Atlantic City Press, November 12, 2006

Impeach Bush

I reminiscence about the old days when America was a place for people from different countries to look up to and someday hope to be a part of. I now look with complete disdain at what has happened under the reign of a dictator running loose as our president. At one time, the United States was the most revered and admired country in the world. Now, it is the most hated nation. President Bush has turned the nation into the most arrogant and bullying country in the world. Bush has run roughshod over Iraq and caused the death of nearly 3,000 U.S. servicemen and women. Russia, China and most of the Middle East countries are against us. Yet, Bush is threatening Iran to force it to dispose of atomic material, while the United States has full access to its nuclear weapons. I used to be so proud to be called an American. I wish to someday in the near future to be proud again. Impeach this egotistic maniac before we are at war with every foreign power in the world. Joe Lee, Bellmawr - Courier Post, November 11, 2006

Fuzzy math

Wednesday, November 8, 2006 President Bush claimed the budget deficit for this fiscal year was $247.7 billion. The deficit is the difference between money that the government takes in and the money it spends. The number Bush stated does not take into account the amount of money the government borrows. For instance, Bush doesn't count the approximately $177 billion taken from our Social Security trust fund and an additional $121 billion from other government accounts. On top of this, there are the additional billions of dollars that the government owes in accrued interest. Add these numbers together and the actual budget deficit for this fiscal year is more than $550 billion. Add these dollars to our already exploding deficit and we have a national debt of $8.5 trillion. Once again, Bush can't bring himself to tell the truth. You always know when he is telling a lie; his lips are moving. Charles Scarano, Turnersville - Courier Post, November 8, 2006

"Marie Anoinette": interesting timing

As you know, the new movie “Marie Antoinette” shows the unrealistic paranoia and extravagant spending on the part of royalty while the already poor subjects of France had to foot the bill. It was amazing to me that this movie was released during election time. It was as if I were in some parallel universe with President Bush's policies taking the place of Louis XVI's policies in my mind. Is this coincidence or what? May Huddleston, Atlantic City - Atlantic City Press, November 5, 2006

McCain right, Press wrong

When Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. came to New Jersey recently to support the candidacy of Tom KeanJr.,, he said that the outcome of this campaign might also determine which party will have a majority in the new Senate. If so, and your endorsement of Kean contributes to this result, you will have voted for more of the same. That is, more politics of fear and division, more casualties in an unwanted occupation in Iraq, more deficits that our children and grandchildren will have to pay off, more economic inequality and more political corruption. Please don't print any editorials in the future expressing concern with regard to any of these developments because you will have helped to bring them about. Harold Clark, Egg Harbor Township - Atlantic City Press, November 5, 2006

Serve in active duty before judging Kerry

During the past few days, I've stood by watching Sen. Kerry being criticized about his statement made of the education of service members. I am currently finishing my enlistment with the Marine Corps after serving honorably for four years of active duty, and can tell you first-hand that the senator's comments were not to far off from the truth. I've watched National Guard members get upset over the comments for no reason. Of course, most of them have college degrees or are currently enrolled. If they aren't called to active duty, then they serve their one weekend a month and the rest of the time they live a "normal" life. During my four years, I've deployed twice to Iraq and can tell you that between deployments and training, it is hard for someone to start a semester in college and finish. Granted there are members serving full time after they receive their degrees because they choose to do so. I chose to join the military because my family didn't have the money to put me through college. I was sold on the educational benefits that the military sells. Things didn't happen the way I had planned, but I'm not complaining. I'm proud that I was able to serve my country and have no regrets. There are others who joined because, yes, they didn't do well in school and didn't have much of anything going for them. Everyone has his or her own story. Before people start judging the senator, I think they should live the active duty life first. Sgt. Walter Pizarro Jr., United States Marine Corps, Vineland - Daily Journal, November 4, 2006

Menendez is independent voice for New Jersey

When George Bush won the presidency in 2000 without a plurality of the popular vote, many hoped he would see his razor-thin electoral victory as an opportunity to reach out to those with opposing views and, thereby, unite the country. He was, after all, "a uniter, not a divider." Instead, he and his key advisers, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Carl Rove, determined to govern as if he had a mandate. For six years, Mr. Bush has consistently ignored -- and often disparaged -- dissenting views, even within his own party. This has led to a disastrous and worsening war in Iraq with no end in sight, a huge federal deficit, and an unrelenting attack on environmental safeguards. As a former CEO of a major nonprofit agency that fights for the environment, I particularly see these attacks on the environment as a significant threat to public health and conservation of our natural resources. For example, under this administration, we have seen (1) higher allowable maximums for arsenic in water, (2) eased restrictions on air pollution from coal-burning electric power plants -- including mercury, one of the most toxic substances on earth, and (3) dramatically increased logging in our national forests. At least four high-ranking EPA officials have resigned in protest over the agency's increasingly lax enforcement of its own regulations. How and why has this kind of behavior gone unchecked for so long? Because the Republican-controlled Senate has made no attempt to stop it. This nation does not need a New Jersey senator marching lock step with Mr. Bush. We need to keep New Jersey's independent voice in the Senate. We need to elect Bob Menendez. John Garrison, Hopewell Township - Daily Journal, November 4, 2006

Terrorists must like Republicans best

Regarding the Oct. 28 letter, “How would terrorists vote?”: Let's see who would best serve terrorists' goals. How about a Republican-controlled government that did nothing to prevent Sept. 11, 2001, has not stabilized the real target (Afghanistan), has not captured enemy No. 1 and did a “cut and run” to invade Iraq where there was no terrorist activity? This gang also has done little to secure our borders and ports. Terrorists can set off bombs in Baghdad's “Green Zone” anytime they want in what has to be the most armed and fortified place on the planet. If that is not a loud and clear message to get our act together at home, I don't know what is. Since any political-party change must offer better homeland security, stronger counterterrorism measures and far better partnerships with allied nations, without which we will never succeed against terrorism, who would want what we have now to continue ... except the terrorists? Gary Schumacher, Linwood - Atlantic City Press, November 3, 2006

LoBiondo hurt southern New Jersey

U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, tells us that it is his job as our representative in Congress to vote for the people of southern New Jersey. At a meeting that I attended in Cape May Court House concerning the new prescription drug program, LoBiondo said with emphasis he would make sure that Medicare would always be available. Two days later he joined a party-line vote for a measure that cut $39 billion from student loans, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs. Later in the day, his was the deciding vote as it passed again 216 to 214. This vote stopped social programs that benefit the people of southern New Jersey. Vote for someone who will put the people first. Vote to elect Viola Thomas-Hughes as our representative in Congress. Ed Powick, Cape May - Atlantic City Press

LoBiondo lost his integrity

In 1994, the Republican Party swept to control of both houses of Congress due, in large part, to their endless touting of a so-called “Contract with America.” Primary among this “contract's” provisions were a demand for a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution and a plan for term limits for members of Congress. The idea was that the budget amendment was needed because politicians couldn't be trusted to live within the country's means, and term limits were needed because career politicians inevitably became corrupted by the political culture and pressures of Washington. Newly elected Rep. Frank LoBiondo vowed to fight for the responsible fiscal policies a balanced budget would require. He also promised to limit himself to a maximum of six terms in office. As a national debt soars past $8.5 trillion, no one talks about a balanced budget anymore, least of all LoBiondo, who has voted in unquestioning lockstep with the profligate current administration. And now LoBiondo is running for his seventh term. Apparently the notion of noncareer, citizen politicians who serve and return to the community is as quaint as the idea of fiscal responsibility. Circumstances do change. Principles, when a person actually holds them, change perhaps less easily. LoBiondo, by all accounts a personally good and decent man, has done well for himself. He has gained power, influence and the friendship of presidents. All that he has lost is his integrity. John Orifici, Ventnor Atlantic City Press, November 2, 2006

Press shows GOP bias

The Press endorsed incumbent Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo over his challenger, Viola Thomas-Hughes. The Press' reasoning came down to the fact that she is not articulate enough to bloviate at length over political issues and that she parrots her party's basic positions. The fact that she would certainly be a sure vote for changing the disastrous course our nation is on — and that LoBiondo would not be — apparently means nothing to The Press. The case for Thomas-Hughes is that every vote in the House of Representatives is crucial to the liberal and progressive cause, as you well know. The Press has also endorsed the Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr. over incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. The justification is about as picky as you can get: Menendez's going to bat for a charitable nonprofit agency that was his tenant, and his opposition on philosophical grounds to consolidation of control of the broadcast media while holding stock in a company in that field. It's sort of like accusing a patriotic American of an unethical conflict of interest because he holds a U.S. savings bond. Again, in this instance, the fact that control of the U.S. Senate by Democrats may well be the only way to stop the hemorrhaging of young American blood and the living standards of non-affluent Americans is overlooked by The Press. Henry Marcus, Smithville - Atlantic City Press, November 2, 2006

Rep LoBiondo broke promise

Even though I am 11 years old and too young to vote, if I could vote, I would vote for the person who had the highest morals and the smartest brain. I definitely wouldn't vote for Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, because he promised to be in Congress only for a certain number of terms, and he broke that promise, so all his morals went down the drain. David Handler, Linwood - Atlantic City Press, November 2, 2006

War on terror only breeds distrust, hate

It is a shocking and ironic revelation that in addition to being a Center for Holocaust Studies, Stockton State College "is poised to become a national center for homeland security education and training." All the noble lessons being taught regarding genocide and the brutal effects of dehumanizing people in the Holocaust Studies will be rendered meaningless with the college legitimizing the insanity of the Bush "war on terrorism." Noam Chomsky said, "The best way to control people is to create fear." The public money being squandered in creating this homeland security bogeyman serves to fuel fear and paranoia. If our "leaders" are truly concerned with national security, they would stop wasting the billions of dollars on weapons and killing. This money could easily provide every American with health care similar to what politicians enjoy. There also would be enough to fully fund all levels of public education and health care for all this is real homeland security! On Oct. 12, Stockton hosted a national teach-in simulcast from Seton Hall University. The recurring theme for me was that homeland security would only happen when Mr. Bush and his regime are held accountable for their actions. When lies are told to justify war that results in the deaths and maiming of thousands of American service people, and most possibly hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens, it's time to take stock of our leadership. To accept money to further this maniacal homeland security business only perpetuates the lies and deceit. Meanwhile, Mr. Bush pushes ahead with military commission tribunals that will have the power of sentencing people to death on hearsay evidence alone. I expect more from a place of learning other than allowing this homeland security center. My comfort comes in knowing that sooner or later, before man or God, Mr. Bush will have to answer for his actions. In the meantime, Stockton College will lose something important by its complicity in this homeland security sham. Academic integrity and credibility are in the balance. Money is not everything. Steven Fenichel, M.D. , Ocean City - Daily Journal, November 1, 2006