Here's hoping these Republicans have the last laugh

The PG editorial board has made its recommendations for governor and for congressional offices, and it is no surprise that only Democrats have garnered the nods. That is what happens when three or more Bush-haters -- Dan Simpson, Tony Norman and Reg Henry -- sit on the board. I count editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers as an ex-officio member.

Abe Lincoln could be running for office in Pennsylvania and if he supported President Bush, he wouldn't get your endorsement. But the good news is that with readership down another 8.1 percent, there aren't that many people out there waiting with bated breath for the PG endorsements to help them decide whom to vote for. It is just a shame that incumbents like Melissa Hart, Tim Murphy and Rick Santorum, who have done many good things for their districts and for this state, have to be put down by the PG.

Incidentally, as to young Jason Altmire, if he looks like a lobbyist and smells like a lobbyist and serves the function of a lobbyist, even for only part of his duties, then he is a lobbyist. So knock off the hypocrisy of acting like only Republicans deal with and cater to lobbyists.

I hope Melissa Hart and Tim Murphy and Rick Santorum will have the last laugh on the PG.

JAMES MORGAN
Bethel Park

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GOP needs a rebuke

I applaud the PG's recent endorsements of numerous Democratic candidates, including Bob Casey for Senate and Jason Altmire for House of Representatives, in the forthcoming election. Having both the executive and legislative branches of the government controlled by Republicans has been disastrous for our country.

From fear-mongering and the use of misinformation, if not outright lies, as means of influencing foreign policy to the passage of laws of dubious constitutionality and the strangling of effective congressional oversight as a means of aggregating a dangerous amount of power in the executive branch, our country has been set on a course that to many seems on the verge of being perilously out of control.

The only way to re-establish balance at this point is to return one or both parts of the legislative branch to the control of Democrats. This administration must be rebuked in no uncertain terms and the checks and balances that are at the heart of our political system must be restored.

The likes of Rick Santorum and Melissa Hart, who have supported the gross abuses of Republican rule, must go.

MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
McCandless

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Sad for our country

I'm an 81-year-old wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has lived through a few wars. Then I always felt secure that the country I loved would always be there for its people. It was a country loved and respected by the world. There were Democratic and Republican leaders who had disagreements, but as a nation were able to pull together. We lived in a democracy. When countries needed aid we were there to help. There was comfort and compassion for rich and poor alike. We even had a healthy middle class.

I feel a great sadness when I see what is happening in our country today. With our current White House resident and his administration I see chaos and our democracy slipping away. I see a president who has broken laws, ignored the Constitution and is trying to change the Geneva Conventions to suit his desires. Our young men and women are being killed and thousands seriously wounded for life, not to forget thousands of innocent people being killed who haven't asked for this war anymore than most of us have.

Our country is being given away bit by bit while our citizens are suffering because of it.

Isn't it time to stand up and take our country back? The land we hold dear! Remember, we all are "our country."

FRANCES STEVE
Penn Hills

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We don't need 'nice'

Letter writer Jeani Pierce ("Why I Don't Like Santorum," Oct. 26 Web) stated Sen. Rick Santorum is not a nice man and should not be our senator.

It's not that Sen. Santorum isn't nice, it's that he is a fighter for what he believes and doesn't back down. So what if he doesn't always come across as "nice"? We don't need a "nice" senator. We need a senator who will fight for southwestern Pennsylvania.

If you want nice, go buy a fuzzy wuzzy Tickle Me Elmo.

AMY MONTGOMERY
Overbrook

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He's undistinguished

It's sad to see a well-respected, independent newspaper (the Post-Gazette) become a propaganda sheet for the Democratic machine. That said, it would be a grievous error of monumental proportions to elect Bob Casey to the U.S. Senate. Bob Casey has only one claim to fame, that he was elected to public office on Daddy's good name. He has done nothing to distinguish himself but to be a toady (yes man) to the Democratic machine.

One need only look to the Oct. 31 column by David Brooks ("The Real Rick Santorum: A Lightning Rod, He Gets Things Done and Helps the Poor") to realize that re-electing the incumbent Rick Santorum to the U.S. Senate is the only alternative the voters have.

G. MILLER
Esplen

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Shaking my head

David Brooks' laudatory characterization and interpretation of Rick Santorum's active concern for the poor causes me to shake my head in wonder at Mr. Brooks' one-sided view ("The Real Rick Santorum," Oct. 31).

For example, last year Sen. Santorum was a leader and successful in championing severe cuts in Medicaid, claiming they eliminated waste and fraud. No one was buying it. Not the National Governors Association, not the National Conference of State Legislatures, not 140 national medical, religious and social service organizations that signed letters to Congress asking its members not to cut Medicaid.

But cut they did, and many disabled and low-income folks went without necessary care and services.

A few years ago, Mr. Santorum was quoted as saying, "I believe that our charities should begin at the humblest level; our charitable duty should be to those closest to us, which allows us to achieve a solidarity with the poor. This suffering with the poor is a critical and effective component of charity. And it is this ennobling part of charity that can be tragically lost when nonprofit activity becomes too sterilized by bureaucracy."

Magnanimous words, perhaps noble in intent. But they are high-handed in today's world when health-care systems are required and government programs and dollars have a critical role in basic care. Our web of caring begins at home and is strengthened by the safety net we all provide through enlightened public policy.

LUCY HIXON
Oakland

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Accountability now

How long can one realistically expect the anticipated post-Nov. 7 euphoria to last should the Democrats win one or both houses of Congress? I'd venture to guess no longer than the next morning's first cup of coffee. By then, the party's leadership will have made the network rounds earnestly renouncing any rumors of possible investigative hearings on Republican policies that have brought shame and disaster to America.

Pittsburgh was treated to an early warning of this strategy by PG editorial writer and columnist Dan Simpson ("If They Win, Democrats Must Help Govern," Nov. 1) when he advised "they mustn't imagine that the country will have elected them to hold endless investigations into how the Republicans got the country into the mess that it is in." This blanket amnesty in the bipartisan service of maintaining Empire will be couched in pledges of "responsible leadership" and "putting the past behind us." Likely House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has ruled out even considering impeaching President Bush.

What then happens to the hopes of millions of Americans in search of accountability for the war crime that is Iraq, the shredding of our Constitution and the unspeakable torture conducted in our name? In lieu of any appropriate and necessary reckoning, the Democrats will attempt to mollify us with promises to introduce some measly minimum wage hike or sweeten a child tax credit.

Is this what a Democratic Party resurgence means? Is this the robust democracy some mother's son left his life in Fallujah for?

ALBERT PETRARCA
Highland Park

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Many are fed up

As Election Day draws near I would like to thank the Post-Gazette for its Oct. 3 editorial "Political Variety" on the need for campaign reform. Many of us feel denied a voice on the war, nuclear proliferation and the need for renewable energy systems. The low voter turnout and failure of young people to register reflects a real disaffection for the present system and is a threat to democracy.

Public funding of campaigns and fair ballot access should be demanded of our state legislatures. In the meantime, for those who wish to support Green Party issues, we have a candidate, Titus North, running in the 14th Congressional District. You can check his Web site for details: www.VoteNorth.org.

LIZ HUGHES
Vice Chair
Allegheny County Greens
Squirrel Hill

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We receive more letters than we can fit into the limited space on the editorial page, so we'd like to share some additional letters with our Post-Gazette Web site readers.

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Which candidate reflects your values?

Campaigns should be about the issues and votes should be cast based on the candidates' position on issues.

On Oct. 25, the Supreme Court of New Jersey ruled on a key issue by stating "that under the equal protection guarantee of the New Jersey Constitution, committed same-sex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes." Furthermore, the court directed the state legislature to decide what to call this "statutory scheme," either "marriage" or something else.

The 30-year experiment of no-fault divorce, which treats marriage as expendable, has been a disaster for the family and society. We have enough evidence for legislators at the state and federal levels to quit abusing marriage and subjecting children to another social experiment simply to make individuals personally fulfilled. We need to do everything possible to strengthen and protect traditional marriage.

"I support same-sex unions that would give gay couples all the rights, privileges and protections of marriage," stated Bob Casey Jr. (October 2005, The Philadelphia Jewish Voice).

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who has supported a federal and state amendment to protect marriage, believes in the sanctity of marriage and the sacred vows between one man and one woman.

Which candidate's values will you vote for?

NANCY STAIBLE
Zelienople

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Lucky to have Santorum

So many times when discussing politics, people talk about the qualities of what they want in a politician vs. what they don't want. As regular citizens, we want someone intelligent, who speaks his or her mind, regardless of the outcome. We call that courage and backbone, or strength. We don't want a politician who is afraid to say anything, because he/she wants everyone to like him/her. We call that weakness. We want someone who has the same roots as most of us, working or middle class, and understands the average person's values and struggles because they've lived it. We don't want the "silver spoon" politician.

We also want the guy who is going to bring home the bacon and has the influence to help our communities, not some person who is there for the personal recognition and who doesn't understand the issues.

We are lucky in Pennsylvania because we already have that guy in Sen. Rick Santorum. When people talk about politics with their friends, they want what's been mentioned above. But the polls show us that people may vote for what most agree is wrong with politics, someone who doesn't say anything, who shows no real grasp of the issues and who seems to want the job because, well, that's the family business. I simply can't understand how anyone could vote for Bob Casey Jr.

I agree that with someone as outspoken as Sen. Santorum, you may find things with which you disagree. But if you are looking for the man in this race who will have the most ability to help our communities, vote for Sen. Santorum. Most political experts believe that even if Republicans lose Mr. Santorum, the Republicans will still hold the Senate majority. If Mr. Santorum wins, he will be the No. 2 person in the Senate. That amounts to a lot of clout and influence and dollars for Pennsylvania, and most especially for Western Pennsylvania. We must make sure that Mr. Santorum remains our senator.

JIM HAAS
Natrona Heights

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Desperate GOP

The Republicans are terminally desperate at every level. Nationally, George W. Bush has claimed he never said "stay the course" (another lie). In Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum is accusing Bob Casey Jr. of aiding terrorists (preposterous) ("Santorum Charges Casey With Abetting Terrorism," Oct. 30). And in Mt. Lebanon, letter writer Margaret Watson ("Stop, Thief," Oct. 30) tries to make the case that only Democrats are vandalizing lawn signs (although my Democratic lawn signs and those of many of my friends have been vandalized since early in the campaign).

The Republicans have bungled everything from the war to the economy to lawn sign management, but they continue to react with the same delusional paranoia that got us into trouble in the first place. It is time for a change that will set this country on the right track.

My advice to the fence-sitters to whom Margaret Watson refers is "vote straight Democratic."

RICHARD O. PRICE
Mt. Lebanon

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These problems developed during his terms

I just don't get it. Rick Santorum was elected to the Congress in 1990 and subsequently the Senate in 1995. While I admire his dedication to public service, I cannot for the life of me grasp his contention that we will be better off with him in the Senate rather than Bob Casey.

Mr. Santorum repeatedly dwells on the notion that Mr. Casey is not up to the job of stewarding the interest of Pennsylvania citizens in these times of war, terrorism, staggering deficit, public corruption and illegal immigration. In an effort to dwell on the obvious, I must ask Mr. Santorum: Where have you been while all these huge problems have been developing?

Mr. Santorum has been in a position of power for 16 years. These are not new issues. Mr. Santorum and Sen. Arlen Specter have been at the helm of Pennsylvanian politics during all these developments. As far as I can tell, all Mr. Santorum has done is constantly re-position himself for re-election or posture for an eventual run at the presidency.

To speak now as the voice of experience is not only ludicrous but also ridiculous. He has not done the job. He should step aside and let someone new take a shot at dealing with these issues.

Maybe Mr. Santorum is right and it shouldn't be Bob Casey, but the one thing I'm sure of is that it shouldn't be Mr. Santorum.

JOE MANSFIELD
North Side

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Votes that vets should object to

Last week, a Vietnam veteran cited all the things he felt Sen. Rick Santorum helped Pennsylvania with ("Santorum Has the Power to Get the Job Done for Us," Oct. 29). That's his job, isn't it? But that's not all the senator voted on.

He voted against a measure (amendment to Senate Bill 1042) requiring the American Forces Network, which broadcasts to service personnel/dependents worldwide, to be balanced in its political commentary. The network airs no commentators on the left to balance its lineup of conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh. While our military is over there fighting for the Iraqis' freedom, this senator chose to let them hear just one side. Didn't the Iraqis have that kind of freedom under Saddam's rule? As a veteran that should bother you.

Additionally, he voted to deny up to $3,000 a month in extra pay to National Guard and Reserve personnel mobilized for at least six months to help offset the pay gap between their civilian and military salaries. That should bother anyone.

And, while expecting our troops to fight terrorism (now that WMDs weren't really there), this same senator has made it easier for the terrorists to actually obtain them. The big WMD, the nuclear one. He voted against an amendment to transfer $50 million in S. 1042 from the National Missile Defense to the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, which secures loose nuclear weapons and materials against terrorists, mainly in the former Soviet Union and maybe in the form of a "suitcase nuke." That affects us all.

Gee, thanks, Rick.

G. BUTLER
Penn Hills

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Americans' real will

I must respond to another one of Ken Ruzich's shameful right-wing rants ("Weakening the Will," Oct. 26 letters). His comments are an embarrassingly pathetic real-life example of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" TV parody: don't let the facts get in the way of your perceived "truth."

We all benefit when the PG prints the resultant avalanche of better-reasoned opposition viewpoints that actually do make sense.

Unfortunately, the shrinking number of diehard Bush apologists have a fanatical, almost religious fervor that denies reality. Instead of mindlessly parroting what he hears from Rush and Fox News, I'd suggest that Mr. Ruzich read from some of the ever-increasing number of current works examining this administration's lies, failures and incompetence in Iraq -- books like "Fiasco," "Imperial Life in the Emerald City," "Cobra II" and "State of Denial."

I am really looking forward to Nov. 7. Then we will see all about the "will of the American people."

DON FINCH
Harrison

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Murphy has been unresponsive to my concerns

Thank you so much for endorsing Chad Kluko (Oct. 29) for U.S. representative in the 18th Congressional District. I agree with everything you said, but the phrase that had the most impact on me was "the unresponsiveness in Congress to the nation's needs."

I belong to two organizations -- the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare and the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network -- that have repeatedly invited Rep. Tim Murphy to address our concerns on health care. Mr. Murphy has not attended, nor has he sent a staff person to any of these events. Mr. Kluko and Gov. Ed Rendell have found the time and interest to attend several of these meetings.

I personally have stopped in Rep. Murphy's office once a week for the past five weeks. In the beginning it was to get his opinion on single-payer health care and to see a schedule of his public appearances before the election so I could hear his views. The staff took my name, address and phone number each time and promised information. There was no response.

Since Oct. 16, I have been more concerned with the fact that Mr. Murphy, a licensed psychologist, voted to permit the torture of human beings. Again no answer was provided. I read in the Post-Gazette that Mr. Murphy had agreed to one debate. There was no notice of his appearance from his office.

After the "debate," I asked my representative to explain his vote on the interrogation law. His angry reply was, "They cut off heads!" End of discussion. I do not think this is an adequate response to my concern.

I know he is not interested in my opinions on Iraq.

ROSEMARY PROSTKO
Bethel Park

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Responsible for the debt crisis

This past week, David M. Walker, comptroller general of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, warned a packed hall at the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, that the nation is on the path to financial ruin. His main concern is the growing national debt.

In the late 1990s when the national debt was $5.7 trillion, President Clinton set in motion a fiscal plan that would have paid off the national debt by the year 2010. If Al Gore had won the presidential election of 2000, the debt would have been paid off four years from now.

Instead, George W. Bush won the election. With the help of the Republican House and Senate, Mr. Bush cut taxes causing the federal budget to balloon and national debt to reach $8.5 trillion (and growing). According to Mr. Walker, we are now at a crisis situation and may experience an economic collapse of the U.S. economy in the near future.

An economic collapse will adversely affect everything: jobs, health care, traditional pension plans, 401K plans, savings plans, the military, Social Security and our everyday way of living.

In 1994, the Republicans introduced their infamous "Contract with America," which included a balanced budget amendment. They wanted a balanced budget even in the event of a national emergency and/or war.

Rick Santorum signed that Contract with America. By voting along party lines, Rick Santorum, Melissa Hart and other Republicans voted for the budget increases. Now we must hold the Republicans accountable. Santorum, Hart and the others need to be voted out of office.

NIKOLA (NICK) DROBAC
Aliquippa

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Not nearly enough

I received a letter from Albina Hart and understand her pride in her daughter, Melissa, as I have two daughters myself.

But when I read her comments about the Medicare Part D plan giving tens of thousands of people an average of $1,000 in medicines, which helps them to maintain their health and quality of life, I was shocked that she felt that was adequate coverage for most people.

My husband and I are thankful that we have wonderful coverage through the International Steel Group Volunteer Employee Benefit Assistance plan negotiated by the United Steelworkers for retirees who lost their health care coverage due to bankruptcy. Each of us is covered for $4,000 a year for brand-name drugs and unlimited generic drugs for a premium of $10 a month. We are both taking maintenance drugs that are costly. We are thankful that we don't have to make the choices that others are facing with all the Part D plans to choose from and don't have to pay the $2,850 for each of us to get through the doughnut hole.

We talk to many people who are having problems affording their medication. Some take multiple medications, which cost thousands of dollars a year. We feel sad for people suffering from conditions that require them to take expensive medications. When they have reached their limit and fall into the doughnut hole, they are still required to pay their monthly premiums and 100 percent of the cost of their medications. How do they manage to pay for these drugs and life's necessities?

These costs will continue to rise each year for people on fixed incomes, making it more difficult for seniors to obtain their medications.

PATRICIA PUDIK
Aliquippa

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About morals and values

Why do some voters continue to mouth the tired slogans of 2004 about Republicans being the party of morals and values? "We know who has the morals, the family values, that we want," claims one of Melissa Hart's supporters ("Big Guns Aimed at Hart-Altmire Race," Oct. 31).

I think by now it's clear to most Americans that our Republican president twisted the facts and hid the truth to pursue his vanity war in Iraq; that's called lying and it's not moral.

Compassionate Americans are appalled at the immorality of 46 million of our fellow citizens not having health insurance. Hard-working Americans still haven't gotten over the attempt by "family values" Republicans, notably Sen. Santorum and Rep. Hart, to "fix" Social Security by privatizing it and throwing their future benefits into jeopardy.

And fair-minded Americans do not think it's moral that the richest among us get hefty tax cuts, while the Republican Congress has not voted to raise the outrageously low minimum wage.

Rep. Hart has been a virtually uncritical follower of Mr. Bush and his whims since they both came to office in 2001. If she really feels she holds the moral high ground over her Democratic opponent, Jason Altmire, she would have debated him early on and demonstrated the ethical superiority of her views. Her silence said volumes.

Jason Altmire, who has expertise and fresh ideas, especially regarding the soaring cost and injustice of the U.S. health-care system, represents constructive change, and those in the 4th District who have had enough of the so-called morals and family values of the Republican Party will be voting for him on Nov. 7.

DONNA W. BRETT
Ross

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