Stumbled on ‘Bush Doctrine’

I watched with great interest the first part of Charles Gibson’s interview with Sarah Palin tonight on the ABC evening news. The focus of the interview was national security and Palin’s readiness to lead. Gibson asked Palin her opinion of the “Bush Doctrine,” and it was obvious that she had no idea what he was talking about. Palin’s response was a self-serving and vague answer praising the Bush administration’s foreign policy.

I was even embarrassed for her when Gibson tactfully explained the doctrine to her. Even Gibson misinterpreted the doctrine by stating that it legitimizes pre-emptive strikes against enemies that pose an imminent threat to this country. In fact, the doctrine authorizes preventive strikes against any enemy that may at some time in the future pose a threat, and the threat need not be imminent.

Is Sarah Palin ready to serve? I think not. I would hope that the person aspiring to serve as the vice president of this nation would at least be conversant in the current dogma of national security.

Kenneth R. England, Sweet Home

Lead us to important facts

In my opinion, the editor of the Democrat-Herald uses the power of his position way too much for the charge that his position is given. An editor of the town’s paper should educate folks with facts, and use the opportunities available to direct the local conversations to important pertinent matters.

An issue that is currently happening is the Republican Party has been able to draw the national attention away from the economy (the socialization of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and the specifics of how this crisis happened), the health-care crisis, and the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

We are not hearing from McCain how he will change America’s foreign policy and the failing war in Afghanistan, how the working class will be able to educate our children for the future economy, immigration policy and the general future of this nation.

All we are hearing in the media is who is Palin? Why did McCain choose her over many other highly qualified female candidates?

I would like to see a link to sites like factchecker.org, so if folks are really interested in if Palin told Congress “thanks, but no thanks,” we can click on a link and get the truth, and then move on to more import discussions. None of which the editor of the Democrat-Herald seems to eager to put on the front of the website.

Roberta Denny, Albany

Our country has problems

Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re not sure if you should laugh or cry? I had one on Sept. 12 after reading the letter from Lou Copes in the D-H.

Lou asked what changes Americans are demanding. I assumed that he was referring to Obama’s call for change. He goes on to sarcastically list some of the best things that we enjoy in our lives and asks if these are the things that we are unhappy about. Some of those things he listed were our full grocery store shelves, our political and religious freedoms, and our excellent emergency services.

Now I’m not very political and I don’t watch the news very often, but unlike Lou, I’m not so out of it that I don’t know that there are some problems in our country.

In his list Lou failed to mention things like the homeless in our country and the food banks that are low on donations and federal funding. He doesn’t mention the poverty in our country. He doesn’t mention the young adults who have no insurance because many retailers only hire part time workers so they don’t have to offer insurance and the price of buying insurance on their own is prohibitive. My two children have both run into this situation as have many of their friends.

I wonder if Lou knows that his candidate, John McCain, has also jumped on the change bandwagon. Was Lou actually belittling McCain or Obama? It’s time some of us got our heads out of the sand. I, for one, do not want four more years like the last eight!

Kevin Burton, Albany

Commandments: A reply

I am writing to reply to the letter to the editor from Steve Anderson or, in general, anyone else who shares his views.

When he states that I don’t get it, I wonder just what he is talking about. Point one: The spirit of God is around us all 24/7 regardless of where we are.

Point two: I firmly believe that the Ten Commandments should be more visible rather then less visible as the ACLU wants them. With the current removal of the Ten Commandments from the courtroom in Alabama and elsewhere, the morality in this country has plummeted to its lowest level in the history of the United States.

Point three: I would be more than happy to discuss with anyone the fact that I don’t get it. You know where to find me.

Darrel Morgan, Albany

Let’s hear it for unity

Unity. This is a small word but one of great power. The word means being of one accord, agreement or harmony. We also use the word unite, meaning to join or come together for a common cause.

We all united over the 9/11 tragedy. We call ourselves the United States, but are we really? We all label ourselves Democrats, Republicans or independents. We call ourselves Christians and yet we label ourselves through different scriptures. So we are a very divided nation.

We see biased media and the negative campaigning that goes on with the politics from all parties. We see ministries using the pulpit to bring vindictive sermons to the congregations, which in turn keeps the house divided.

It’s not amazing that some people view the Christian church with skepticism as we show the world we are not always united.

Each of us will not agree with others’ opinions, but we can respect their views and the right of free speech as long as people are not hurt by it. No one should have the right of censorship or try to take that free-speech right away. In this we should or do stand united.

Clyde Buckner, Lebanon

Makes Bill Clinton look good

So here we are in a mess with our financial banks and the market going south, and according to these right-wing neocons it’s the Democrats’ fault.

I’m so at a loss for words. This is what I know: Republicans have had the White House eight years and they had most of Congress from 1994 to 2006. You don’t have to be a genius to figure it out.

I don’t know what’s going to happen Nov. 5. I’m hoping for Barack, but I lived through what happened in 2004. I don’t worry about Oregon. It’s the rest of America — they are so hung up they will fall for anything some talking head on TV or radio tells them.

The Republicans can’t run away from Bush fast enough, can they? And I can’t blame them. Kind of makes Bill Clinton’s sins not so bad now, doesn’t it.

Marty Clayton, Albany