Speak Out 9/5/09

Attracting homeless

CAPE Girardeau does not have a homeless problem. Therefore funding the Magnolia Project would simply serve as a magnet to bring more homeless to town. That is the last thing this town needs.

New Right

THANKS to Noam Cohen of the New York Times for pointing out that, in truth, it is the radical right-wing Republicans who are using tactics elaborated on by Saul Alinsky in "Rules for Radicals," published in 1971. I refer to these folks as the New Right and consider them the mirror image of the 1960s New Left. They are disruptive. They use ridicule. They target individuals. They portray themselves as anti-establishment via the absurd arguments questioning the president's legitimacy. All they're lacking is, God forbid, a Bill Ayers and a bomb.

Student drivers

I wish the police would monitor South Kingshighway on weekday mornings and catch some of the reckless students driving to school. They stay in the left lane until they get over the hill and then move over so they can turn right at the light, cutting off other cars. This morning two cars did this and another motorist had to hit his brakes to avoid them. I almost hit that car.

Kitty found

A great big thank you to the Reisenbichler family on Oak Ridge Court for taking such good care of our cat that was lost for 2 1/2 months. They fed and loved our cat and placed an ad in the Southeast Missourian uniting me with my family. May God bless you all.

Spread the word

THANK you for reprinting so many excerpts from Saul Alinsky's classic, "Rules for Radicals." It has been my bible for politics, and I have practiced its principles religiously for over three decades. I hope your effort will help spread the word and teach others how to organize in order to fight the power.

Playing politics

I'M disgusted that the president and his attorney general have decided to play politics and investigate the CIA agents who kept us safe after 9/11, especially after the president said he would not investigate this. These agents are heroes who deserve our thanks and shouldn't be used as pawns to prop up the president's approval numbers.

Texas secessionists

I can't believe it has come to this. A panel of political pundits recently agreed that the balance of power in next year's Texas Republican gubernatorial primary rests with (believe it or not) a secessionist bloc of Texas voters. God help us.