SPEAK OUT

Judge was Bond appointee

THE EDITORIAL by the Southeast Missourian concerning the extended voting hours in St. Louis did not give all the facts. The judge who approved the extended voting hours in St. Louis was Circuit Judge Evelyn Baker, who incidentally was appointed by none other than U.S. Sen. Christopher Bond when he was governor. From all the ranting and raving by Bond, one would think Republicans were prohibited from voting during the extended polling hours.

Worth a good laugh

I WAS thinking about canceling my subscription to the Southeast Missourian, but I thought what the heck, when there's no comedy on TV to watch, when I need a laugh I can get the papers out and read them. Sure enough, something so hilarious will be in there that I can laugh my backside off. What I really like is when I have guests from Wisconsin or Ohio or somewhere. They've never read anything as stupid as what you put in the paper here. It makes their day. They're almost rolling on the floor. Your paper is basically not even good enough for toilet paper. Keep up the work. I know no one up there is going to really get enough education to get some journalists who know how to write a newspaper. Keep up what you're doing because, if nothing else, you make a lot of people laugh.

But they play bingo

MY FATHER heard something on talk radio I think bears repeating. It's a good argument. Those senior citizens in Florida are saying how confused they are, but these are the same senior citizens who can play 20 cards of bingo and not be confused at all. If Floridians and the senior citizens want a recount, then I think the whole country should have a recount.

Keep Electoral College

I'M CALLING in response to a letter to the editor regarding the popular vote in our elections. For years this has been studied. If electing presidents by popular vote were allowed, the big cities could elect the president best suited to them. The votes from rural areas and the smaller towns and smaller businesses wouldn't be worth 2 cents. This method doesn't work. Our forefathers set up our voting system as it should be. I don't think it should be changed. There's always a reason for everything that's done. Los Angeles or New York could elect a president suitable to them, but that person might not satisfy people in other parts of the county. Everybody should have a chance. I say stay with the Electoral College.

Need new members

TO THE Jackson voters: Keep in mind that in April there will be an election for two new school board members or re-election of the ones we have. We need new voices on our school board. Please get out in force to vote in April and make a difference. Let's get two new members onto the board.

This is the real world

ON THE day of the election I happened to listen to Rush -- or, as I prefer to call him, "Flapjaw" -- Limbaugh until my gag reflex kicked in. He said he didn't expect the election for the presidency to be close. He expected Bush to win by at least 5 to 7 percent. Well, Rush, you've been listening to too many of your Dittoheads. The real world is not as you ultra right-wingers see it.

We can restore dignity

I AM a Democrat who believes Gore should concede to Bush and accept his defeat graciously so he can have a chance to aspire to the presidency in the future. I pray Dubya is smart enough to surround himself with strong people in leadership roles to make up for what he lacks in experience and intelligence. Furthermore, I cannot stand to see one more comment from the den of vipers who call into Speak Out about how Bush will restore dignity and morality in America. Bush will not do this. People taking responsibility for their lives and teaching their children respect, compassion, responsibility, forgiveness, forbearance and peaceful resolution to conflicts will go a long way in restoring the dignity and morality we all so woefully lack.