Published in Gazette-Times Friday, Sept. 12, 2008

Bush, Lincoln both deserve ‘bashing’

“Abraham Lincoln also was ‘bashed’ for going to war” states the heading for Anita Crowe’s Sept. 11 letter.

Yes, Lincoln was “bashed” — and for very sound reasons, including the suppression of free elections in Maryland, the shutting down of 300 Northern newspapers whose editors raised objections to Lincoln’s war policies, the imprisonment without trial of hundreds of northern war dissenters and the waging of war on civilians by Lincoln’s generals.

President Abraham Lincoln’s war of aggression against the southern people and President George W. Bush’s preemptive war against the Iraqi people were both unnecessary, illegal crimes against humanity.

David R. Prichard

Corvallis

Voters should reject Senior Center plan

In addition to being unnecessary, the proposed expansion of the Corvallis Senior Center is much too expensive. Approximately $10 million of the proposed $13 million bond is allocated to the Senior Center.

What can $10 million buy? It could buy 10 or more opulently oversized mansions in the Corvallis hills, including the land. Alternatively, it could purchase a whole subdivision of 30 to 40 moderately priced houses of $250,000 to $330,000, including the land. What will the Senior Center get for its $10 million? An expansion of only 6,200 square feet and a rebuild of approximately 2,300 square feet — roughly the equivalent of about six medium-sized homes. And that is without paying anything for the land, which the city already owns.

I realize the proponents say the addition will have a very low carbon footprint. However, not building it at all will have a zero increased carbon footprint — a much more attractive number!

I am also puzzled by the proposed massive increase in the parking lot. Corvallis generally encourages citizens to take alternative transportation. Seniors, like myself, are not exempt. Seniors already get a discount on the bus. Anyone who can afford to drive to the Senior Center can easily afford to take the bus there.

If the Senior Center needs more parking for handicapped and volunteers, it should dedicate more of its existing parking lot for that purpose. Paving over another 10 percent of Chintimini Park for a parking lot is not environmentally friendly or necessary.

Voters should reject this boondoggle.

David Grappo

Corvallis

‘Pregnant at 40’ reaction sexist

A recent editorial questioned Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s judgment in allowing herself to become pregnant after reaching the age of 40. I found this reaction naive and sexist. One just has to look around Corvallis to see that many women have healthy children after the age of 40.

In recent weeks, there was a photo in the Gazette-Times of Ron Wyden (age 58!) and his two infant twins at the Democratic convention. Where was the outrage that a 58-year-old man would father two children with a 48-year-old woman?

Juli Schutfort

Corvallis

Three questions

for the Republicans

After watching Mrs. Palin’s speech on Wednesday, Sept. 3, I’d like to congratulate the Republicans on a couple of things and also ask them three questions:

• I’m happy to see the open and accepting way in which Bristol Palin’s pregnancy has been received by the Republicans — congratulations on your open-mindedness. I ask, would the treatment be the same if it had been Barack Obama’s teenage daughter?

• I’m happy to see the Republicans outraged by the sexist remarks made by many in the the press that a mother of five is probably too busy with family issues to be an effective VP — I couldn’t agree more with you that this is an incredibly sexist remark. I ask, why don’t you feel outraged by the buttons I saw many of the elderly Republican National Convention-goers wearing during Mrs. Palin’s speech which referred to her as a “Hottie?”

• Finally, I must congratulate Mr. McCain regarding his heroic history as a POW. His bravery in the face of the hopelessness that accompanies being tortured and detained indefinitely is commendable. I ask: Should we not strive to treat our own prisoners at Guantanamo better than Mr. McCain was treated? (Yes, Mrs. Palin, this means that we’ll need to “read ’em their rights,” as you so flippantly joked in your speech last Wednesday.)

Consistency is a wonderful thing ...

Amy Harding

Corvallis

To cure U.S. ills, reject McCain

Here’s a prescription: Don’t vote for McCain.

Carolyn Webb (Aug. 21, “McCain best suited for president”) wants you to vote for another illegal war, creation of more refugees, death of innocent people, a higher national debt, protection from taxation for corporations, judges who don’t follow the Constitution, torture, wiretapping, diminishing of our public schools, destruction of our coastlines and estuaries (and future food supply), and more nuclear waste we can’t store — by voting for McCain.

She lies about Obama’s loyalty (he does have a flag image on the plane he uses), and his Christianity (he parted company with his Christian pastor over statements made, not belief).

Loyalty? McCain not only didn’t vote for the GI bill, but voted for torture, putting our military in a bad position.

Foreign policy experience? McCain didn’t know the difference between Sunni and Shiite — top deal in Iraq and Iran, and he didn’t know what country bordered Pakistan! He wants to “bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” and now go after Russia. WWIII maybe!

National debt, higher than ever under Bush. Republicans are the real tax-and-spenders, and McCain was with it and would slice Carolyn’s Social Security and tax her grandchildren to pay for: his wars, the 70 percent of corporations allowed nonpayment of any taxes, and the thefts by the no-bid contracts.

Morality? McCain dated his wife while married to his former wife and went along with Bush’s illegal activities.

Prescription: Remove nose from Limbaugh and Fox News, insert in book, and read, read, read.

Marilyn Maurais

Corvallis

Attacks on Palin reflect hypocrisy

As Election Day comes closer, I am amazed at the double standards and hypocrisy displayed by the liberal Democrats who live in Benton County. It has become easy to see that their understanding and compassion applies to everyone except Republicans.

The attacks and less-than-intelligent comments made in regards to Sarah Palin and her family are sickening. I have no problem with attacking her public record, policies or beliefs on the issues. I do however find it less than intelligent and low-class to attack her as a mother, wife or person.

The same people who are doing this will stand up for women’s rights and demand equality (as long as the woman is not Republican). They will show kindness and compassion for children (as long as the child’s parent is not Republican). They will fight for the rights of families (as long as the family is not Republican).

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had Democrats tell me Palin should stay home and be a mother, she should have made her daughter have an abortion and that she is not intelligent enough to be vice president. To say the least, I have been stunned at the attitude and self-righteous statements made by the left.

In the end, I do not think these attacks will help their cause, their candidate or their party. I only hope they learn that people should be able to disagree without hating each other.

Ken Real

Adair Village