In response to Ronald Johnson's statement in his April 18 letter to the editor: "I have read too many false statements made by left-wing letter writers …" Well, Mr. Johnson, here are the facts regarding Prescott Bush (George W.'s grandfather):

Under the Trading with the Enemy Act, the United States government took over the Union Banking Corporation, in which Bush was a director. The U.S. Alien Property Custodian seized Union Banking Corp.'s stock shares, all of which were owned by Prescott Bush, E. Roland "Bunny" Harriman, three Nazi executives, and two other associates of Bush.

Office of Alien Property Custodian, Vesting Order No. 248: The order was signed by Leo T. Crowley, President Franklin Roosevelt's Alien Property Custodian, executed Oct. 20, 1942; F.R. Doc. 42-11568; Filed, Nov. 6, 1942, 11:31 A.M.; 7 Fed. Reg. 9097 (Nov. 7, 1942). See also the New York City Directory of Directors (available at the Library of Congress). The volumes for the 1930s and 1940s list Prescott Bush as a director of Union Banking Corporation for the years 1934 through 1943. For an on-line copy of vesting order No. 248, cut and paste: cmbpolitics.com/bush2000/Vesting.htm

Alien Property Custodian Vesting Order No. 259 (Oct. 28, 1942) seized Seamless Steel Equipment Corporation; Vesting Order No. 261, (Oct 28, 1942) seized Holland-American Trading Corp; and Order No. 370 (Nov. 17, 1942) seized Silesian-American Corp. - all companies under the control of Prescott Bush.

Mr. Johnson, like most neo-conservatives these days, is willing to run his bellicose rhetoric without checking his facts. American elitists' involvement with the German Nazis has been documented for a long time, but denial among many republicans has allowed these despicable human beings to continue to direct politics in this county and among the Republican Party. What do you think President Eisenhower was referring to in his "Military-Industrial Complex Speech" before leaving office in January of 1961?

Steve Hoop

Corvallis

Critics right to deplore Bush's flight-suited stunt

How can the editor of a United States. newspaper find fault with the public's exercise of free-speech rights? ("Raspberries to … critics of President Bush's Top Gun landing," May 9 Gazette-Times).

Let's get this straight: a president who dodged combat when the opportunity presented itself in Vietnam makes a costly, risky and unnecessary tail-hook landing on an aircraft carrier only 30 miles from San Diego so that he can be photographed in a flight suit? He wasn't even the pilot. What is wrong with attempting to expose this as a set-up for election campaigning? Is it now unacceptable (treasonable?) to make political statements if you disagree with those who presently hold power?

Yes, we left-of-center types are a grousing lot at the moment: We live in a country that is being increasingly run for the benefit of specific constituents and corporations, where the main post-war debate is whether to give very rich Americans a generous or an obscene tax break at the expense of the less affluent and their children and grandchildren.

Fortunately for Republicans, debates on wealth distribution make for poor TV compared with guided missiles and carrier landings, and the Left has to live with the likelihood that the Flight-Suit President will be with us for many years. But allow us our constitutional right to offer alternative views of these events. Perhaps a better item for your column would have been "Roses to those of all political persuasions for exercising their free-speech rights in the Gazette-Times opinion page."

Laurence Padman

Corvallis

Between safety and freedom, choose freedom

James Madison: "He who trades freedom for security shall have neither."

Benjamin Franklin: "People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short term security, deserve neither freedom nor security."

Abraham Lincoln: "Those who are ready to sacrifice freedom for security ultimately will lose both."

Duncan Thomas: "Those who trade freedom for homeland security will get what's coming to them."

Duncan Thomas

Philomath

Lewinsky, Hahn victims of bad judgment, not crimes

In response to the May 9 letter, "Sex crime victims deserve no blame," I have a few issues. Yes, Bill Clinton was "more wrong" than Monica Lewinsky for the reasons that Corinna Burt listed. However, just because someone else was more wrong does not absolve (Lewinsky) of her guilt. Monica Lewinsky's behavior was wrong, plain and simple, and since the article was about her and her ilk, Bill Clinton's morality (or lack thereof) is inconsequential.

What the heck are you talking about, Jessica Hahn, raped? How'd you make up that load of horse dung? She had a consensual affair (by her own admission) with a rich, famous, and married man for her own personal reasons, which ended up leading to jeans commercials and a "Playboy" spread.

And finally, "Playboy" magazine is a great magazine, although I often find much of the political commentary a little too left for my taste. Here you are questioning a man on exercising his basic freedoms by reading a perfectly acceptable and tasteful magazine, and yet you try to exonerate amoral gold diggers of their trashy behavior, simply because he's a man, and they're women? Typical.

It seems to me that feminists, as is true with so much of the fringe, want to have their cake and eat it too. "Women are as powerful as men and can do whatever they want." Unless, of course, their actions reflect badly on them, then they suddenly become powerless and without willpower in the face of those big, bad, bully men.

L. R. Bryngelson

Corvallis

A dangerous, lane-shifting driver nearly killed new dad

To whoever was driving the pickup truck that almost killed me recently, and to all the other inattentive, sloppy drivers in Oregon:

Those yellow lines down the middle of Fern Road - and indeed all roads in the United States - are not just a suggestion of where to drive, but an actual separation of the lanes of traffic. I'm a new father, and you almost killed me in a head-on collision, which would leave my widow destitute and my son without a father.

Consider refreshing your driving skills, put down your cell phone and cup of coffee, and don't ever do that again.

Nicholas Carter

Philomath

Why shouldn't Oregonians have a choice at the pump?

The Gazette Times' May 7 editorial, "Pump-your-own plan just ran out of gas," recently applauded Rep. Randy Miller for abandoning his stance on allowing self-service gas. I applaud Rep. Miller for continuing the debate.

There are numerous myths about self-service gas. Some people compare prices in surrounding states that allow motorists a choice. Their conclusion: self-serve gas costs more. The price of gasoline is determined mostly by regional markets and gas taxes. Having an attendant does not lower the price in any way.

I am really surprised that, in nearly every instance, consumers want a choice. But when it comes to gasoline, Oregonians think a choice is the work of the devil.

Self-serve gas would save me time and money. I don't want the government to take away your ability to be waited on. But how about letting the government allow me to have more freedom in my purchasing decisions?

M. Conens

Medford

Oregon taxpayer could be shut out in baseball deal

I cannot believe the apparent temerity of the 33 state legislators who passed the House bill allotting $150 million of state obligation bond funds to build a baseball stadium in Portland! Do they really think that the populace is stupid enough to swallow the propaganda that it will not cost the state anything, nor obligate the voters to future repayment?

If Oregon initiates the $150 million dollar bond - regardless of the so-called protective terms attached - the final obligation for repayment of that funding rests directly on the state and its taxpayers.

The sponsors propose that payment to retire the bond will come from baseball income tax revenues. Pro baseball clubs are private businesses that can move away; that can go broke, just like any other business. Then, who pays for those bonds?

Guess who: Oregon's taxpayers.

They say there will be a "private guarantor." Private sources can also go broke or otherwise escape their obligations. Again, where does the obligation for repayment rest? You guessed it: on us, the taxpayers of Oregon.

With public education short-changed millions of dollars today, how can we agree to obligate the state for a private enterprise providing little benefit to the general public? Ask the people of Montreal how permanent and stable a pro baseball club is to their community.

If the legislature authorizes state bond funding of this private business, the voters of Oregon should stand up and remand such legislation. Frivolous bills such as this one must be aborted until education and other essential services are properly funded.

Robert Reiman

Corvallis

Retain Corvallis' effective, experienced school board

Five experienced citizens - Nell O'Malley, Sara Gelser, Bob Johnson, Robert Baldwin and Ron Miller - running for re-election to the Corvallis School Board deserve your vote. These are difficult times for our schools in Corvallis and these board members have been thoughtful, compassionate, reasoned and intelligent in their participation on the board. Each brings a wide range of experience and practical knowledge to the decision-making of the board. Each is committed to providing the best education possible for our

K-12 students. Each is proud of our past accomplishments in the Corvallis school district and wants to continue this fine tradition. Each has shown they can work with parents, teachers, administrators, and can make hard - but necessary - decisions.

Most of all, each believes in public education as the foundation of our democratic society. Each brings commitment and willingness to work hard to bring the best education to our students. Your ballot is due by May 20. Retain O'Malley, Gelser, Johnson, Baldwin and Miller on the school board.

Jo Anne Trow

Corvallis

Ron Miller offers us quality service on the school board

I am constantly amazed by the quality of people who volunteer to serve their community by filling positions on boards, committees, and councils. Sometimes these people have a single agenda or a cause that brings them to the table. But most often, they are people who care and work hard to contribute. Rarely, though, do you get someone who offers the community as much as Ron Miller.

Ron's credentials as an educator, economist, arbitrator, and community leader are well established. His commitment to public education and the well being of all children has been demonstrated during his many years of service. The community would be wise to accept his offer to serve another term by reelecting him to the Corvallis School Board.

F.I. Goldhaber

Corvallis

Arm-amputating climber didn't deserve a praise

A big, fat raspberry to the Gazette-Times editors for awarding a rose to Aron Ralston, the climber who got pinned by a rock and eventually cut off his hand to get free. Anyone who goes into the backcountry alone without telling anyone where he is going or when he will return is a stupid fool. I don't care if people who want to prove their manhood, or who have a death wish, do this sort of thing. What I resent is that other people are expected to spend time and money, and sometimes even risk their own lives, to find and rescue these idiots. According to "Time" magazine, Ralston has done this before, and intends to do more in the future, until - no doubt - there will be a last time.

Irving Dayton

Corvallis