SPEAKOUT

This will tear us apart

I'VE BEEN able to stay pretty well away from this topic when I've called Speak Out, although it has been tempting. I've gotten completely fed up watching "Nightline" and seeing the umpteenth bozo saying, "Oh, yeah, we can get this impeachment trial over within a matter of a couple of weeks." Yeah. OK. Let me tell you something. We all know from years of experience of watching our Congress that they can't decide whether to tie their shoes one way or the other, what pants leg to put on first without endless, mind-numbing, droning along with months and months of putting off votes and shelving things in committees and sub-committees and sub-sub-committees. There's no way. These people can't get the simplest things done for the good of the country. An impeachment trial will tear us apart.

Won't believe the polls

I'VE READ many comments by Republicans questioning the accuracy of polls showing support for President Clinton. I would like to remind those skeptics of the polls taken last November that showed the Republicans were going to lose seats in the House of Representatives. The problem with the Republican Party is that it is so self-righteous it can't believe that anyone doesn't think the way it does. That, in the end, is going to be the party's downfall.

It's just allegations for now

THERE ARE a lot of people saying the president perjured himself, lied to the grand jury and obstructed justice. None of these has been proven true. He may have, but it's an allegation. As far as Mr. Starr being named the No. 1 person in America, how many people would poke into someone's private business? I do not approve of what the president did, but I don't think Starr had any business making it public whenever he ran across it.

More bombs for Iraq?

IS CLINTON going to try to blackmail the Senate by escalating again the war with Iraq like he did with the House of Representatives before the impeachment? This desperate man is dangerous. Senators, get him out of office as soon as possible.

Others rate highly too

TO THOSE people who claim that we should retain President Clinton because he has a high performance rating. The same could be said for Hitler. If the governments that knew better had removed Hitler, the horrors of World War II would have been eliminated. The same goes for Mussolini. The same goes for Tojo in Japan. They had high performance ratings. The truth today is that Idi Amin, Yasser Arafat, Castro, Ben Ladin and Saddam Hussein also have high performance ratings from their people. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Investigate drug companies

I WISH Congress would get off of investigating the president and start investigating the drug companies. Prices on prescription drugs just keep going up. People can hardly afford medicines that they really need. It's a disgrace.

Women, vote for Elizabeth Dole

ABOUT TIME that men realized that they're not the only ones capable of being president of the United States. Ever since George Washington, man have either screwed things up, botched things up or gotten this country into wars and troubles too numerous to mention. Men are natural warriors. They are more prone to cheat on their spouses and disgrace the whole world. Women have always been the peacemakers, moral leaders and teachers. In this day and time, men talk of peace, but they don't know how to bring it about. We've all heard that behind every successful man there's a good woman. It's time now to see what a woman leader such as Elizabeth Dole can do for us and for this country. Women elected Bill Clinton. Now, women, let's elect a woman, Elizabeth Dole, one we can trust.

Sour-grapes editorial?

IN AN editorial, you recently told us that the state auditor's office was "legally toothless in enforcing its recommendations" and implied that Democrat Claire McCaskill would likely fail in her effort to give the office a higher profile and more clout. I'm sure that was not a sour-grapes editorial, yet I can't help but think it would have had a radically different tone if the office of Missouri state auditor had been sought and won by state Sen. Peter Kinder.

You've made your bed

TO THE prisoner who wrote about the deprivations of being in prison: I think you just listed better than I can imagine the reasons to obey the law and be a responsible citizen and stay out of that place. You've made your bed. Now you're going to have to lie in it.

Well-paid for her work

MRS. DOLE has reported she's been a public servant all her life. We've also got to consider that she's been well-paid for all this.

Thanks to firefighters

I'D JUST like to recognize the Gordonville firefighters who helped fight the fire in Burfordville Tuesday. They were mentioned in the article, and they were really good assistance to our department. We appreciate all of them coming out and all the other people who helped us with that fire.

Stupid question, stupid answer

THEY ASKED the president how it felt to be impeached. The president remarked, "Not bad." Sen. Byrd felt it was a flip attitude. When a man falls from a two-story building and makes it and I ask him how he feels, more time than one he's going to say, "Oh, I feel great." You ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer. I'm glad the president answered that way, because he didn't say "I feel miserable, I feel like crying." He didn't grovel to all the extreme Christian Coalition right wing. Hooray for the president. I'm glad he had that attitude, and I'm glad he answered. You know how the president feels without asking. It was a heckling question to ask.

Is it worth all this?

I NOTICE that the Clinton worshipers don't mention his honor, character or decency when they point out the president's leadership. No matter what excuses and blame on others is given to lessen the truth of the president's scandals, it must be very hard for his supporters to keep from choking on their morals, if they have any at all. Not only are they trashing their values, but also their children's values. And for what? For just one man's lust and ego and deception. Is his career and legacy worth giving up your own decency?

Thanks for all the help

I WOULD like to thank God for the many helpful neighbors and others who helped us. My wife fell on the ice and was taken to the hospital by our neighbor, Dr. Higgins. Then a Stephen minister came by to take my daughter. The Stephen minister, Pam Kluesner, was from St. Andrew Lutheran Church. She took my daughter to the doctor. She had an extremely bad cold and virus. My daughter fell and couldn't get up. I called 911, and within 10 minutes help arrived. The fire department arrived and helped her up and back into the house. It was very cold and slick out there. My sincere thanks for the help to all those who assisted including John Higgins, a junior high school student and Mr. Nabors, who is my neighbor and who assisted the firemen in getting my daughter back up off the ice. Special thanks to the firemen who answered my call so promptly. Again, let me thank you all and wish you our God's blessings. From now on we will always be thankful for our good neighbors and friends. God bless all of you.

Three cheers for Jackson

I HOPE the people in power at the Southeast Missourian realize how fortunate they are in having Jeffrey Jackson on their staff. In contrast to the ultra-conservative bias so typical of the writings found on the Missourian's editorial page, Jackson's writings, characterized by humor and intelligence, offer reason, significance and telling insights into what it means to be a human being in a complex world. Three cheers then for Jeffrey Jackson.

Stop being Republican phonies

NOW THAT the Republican adulterers are being outed every few days, we are made imminently aware of the integrity and moral honesty of the editorial department of the Southeast Missourian. You were practically mute about the actions of your adulterers. When Larry Flynt ousts at least a dozen more Republican adulterers, you will probably be very quiet like the rest of the right-wing, holier-than-thou people like Jerry Falwell. Stand up like real journalists and print all of the news that is fit to print. And push your adulterers back to where they belong. You are a sanctimonious phonies if you don't. Henry Hyde is a home-wrecking adulterer who had a five-year affair, and it irritates anybody of integrity. You are making a terrible mistake if you don't clean your own house before you attack horny Bill. Are you honest journalists or just a bunch of right-wing hicks, which I think you are? Just come on down and be something other than a bunch of Republican phonies.

Hancock was a Republican

I MUST respond to the Speak Out caller praising Mel Carnahan for the tax rebates in Missouri. Apparently this person does not remember that Carnahan passed the biggest tax increase in Missouri's history without a vote of the people. I would also like to inform this caller that a Republican is the reason for these tax rebates that we're getting in Missouri because of the Hancock Amendment. I would suggest that you study your history before making comments such as this. And another caller stated that Bill Clinton was proved not guilty. I would like to know where this caller read this at or what source they received this information from. The man stood on television and told the American people a bald-faced lie, and there's no getting around it. But now he's trying to change the dictionaries.

Be careful with street names

I HAVE learned through the news media that they anticipate naming a major roadway after Mark McGwire. We're reminded how Cincinnati named a major roadway after Pete Rose. Perhaps that's not a wise or profitable idea for Missouri.

Thanks to newspaper carriers

THANK YOU for the privilege of expressing my thoughts. This is not a political issue. I wish to use this opportunity to thank the carriers of this newspaper for their contribution. I'm no longer involved but am acquainted with their efforts. You may not appreciate what I have to say, but come to the distribution center on William Street during the kind of weather we're having and watch these carriers preparing their papers for delivery. You may need to set your alarm for shortly after midnight so you'll be there on time. Perhaps you'll appreciate your delivery more than you do now. Thank you, carriers, for your contribution.

Some things don't change

NOT LONG ago, a person who used drugs was called a dope addict. Now he's a substance abuser. A person who practiced homosexuality was a queer or fag. Now it's the gay lifestyle. A person who cheated on his wife was an adulterer. Now Mr. Clinton supporters say it's just a consensual sexual affair. To me, the only thing that's not changed: a pervert is still a pervert.

Spinning in their graves

I WAS reading the letters column. Someone put Clinton's name in with Harry Truman and President Roosevelt. This was absolutely ridiculous. These two men would turn over in their graves if they felt they were being compared to someone as immoral as Bill Clinton.

Their real concern

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR is an impeachable offense. If you don't believe me, just read your Constitution. It says so. Also, any thinker with any common sense at all knows that the Democrats and Bill Clinton and his cohorts are not in the least concerned about what they are putting this country through. They are concerned only about what this country is now putting them through.

Churches will overflow

THIS IS to the caller about how hard it was to find a religious Christmas card. I also had a hard time. I've noticed this for several years, and it gets worse each year. It is the same way with birthday cards. Only God determines how many birthdays we have. I think the snowstorm and cold weather we had for Christmas and New Year's was punishment for the way some observe the season. I predict for the coming year that churches will begin to overflow as people look forward to the Y2K problem and the terrible problems that are coming upon the land.