SPEAKOUT

Ridiculous argument

THE IRONY of releasing the grand jury tapes is that it is embarrassing to the president when he has already embarrassed the whole country. What a ridiculous argument.

Keep up good work, Tamara

WELL HERE we go again. I just finished reading my morning newspaper, and there's someone who doesn't have a life, meddling about somebody else who's doing a good job. In regards to Tamara's good journalism, keep up the good work, lady. I know for a fact that you're a good mother. I raised half a dozen children while working all shifts as a nurse. But I had time to spend at home. This person wondering about you spending time with your child is probably one of those worrying about the president and his affair, which has nothing to do with running this United States of America.

Congress above the law?

THE THREE branches of federal government are executive, legislative and judicial. They are supposed to be separate and equal. On the subject of public release of grand jury testimony, it is supposed to be illegal. If the president is not above the law, then why is Congress above the law? Good question.

Inconsiderate drivers

I AGREE with the Speak Out caller about inconsiderate drivers. Many people are just driving their vehicles, not looking around to see if anyone else is on the road. They come down this ramp on Business I-55. Some will stop at the bottom to look back to see if anyone's coming down the highway. If you're behind them, getting up a good speed to merge with traffic, you have to stop too.

Moral values have been replaced

THE NEWS commentators, poll watchers and clergy are all shocked at the approval rating of an adulterer, liar and sex pervert. Well, it's not hard to figure out that the moral and Christian values have been replaced by abortion, homosexual rights, sexual perversion, political corruption, greed and citizens who think they're owed something for the plight of their life. Even many Christians will close their eyes to their party loyalty. Oh yes, one nation under God is always mentioned in political rallies at election time.

President needs help

I STARTED to read an account of the president's affair, and I got sick. I could not read any further. This poor man is ill and needs help. He needs to be gotten out of the Oval Office and taken someplace where he can get help.

Disruptive beer drinkers

THE EXCELLENT Willie Nelson show was certainly disrupted in Section AA of the bleachers by a loud-mouthed young fellow who stood constantly and screamed with too much beer in his stomach and in his hand. Surely someone in authority could keep an eye on the crowd and remove that person if he refused to sit down and shut up so others could enjoy the performance. The most disgusting was his conduct during Willie Nelson's singing of "Amazing Grace." Incidentally, there were many others with too much beer, and there was a constant parade to the beer stand. Fair board, maybe you ought to take a look at the situation before next year.

Make parents accountable

IF ONLY parents are to set curfews on their children, then they should be held accountable for any laws their children violate and any expense incurred in that violation. If parents have to start paying, they'll make sure they know what their children are doing, and if they have to pay enough, they'll set curfews on their children to save their wallets. Parents are responsible for their minor children.

Spreading manure

I was talking to one of the farm implement dealers at the SEMO District Fair, and he said you just could not sell manure spreaders this year. He said that Ken Starr and the Republican party have taken over that job. They're using taxpayer money to do it, but he said they're spreading it this year. There's just no way anyone else can sell a manure spreader this year.

Now the party of hate

THE PARTY of the right has gone beyond being righteous and pious. The party of the right has become the party of hate. They profess to be Christians. They profess to be good people. They've become the party of condemnation, the party of we will not forgive. They're the party of we will forgive Henry Hyde for his adultery, and we'll forgive Dan Burton for his adultery, but Lord, we won't forgive a Democrat, whether he's sorry or not. How do we know those other guys are sorry?

Phone bills and taxes

I WISH everyone would study their phone bills. I've always just paid it. About three months ago I sat down and studied it. Look at the taxes on it, and call and ask for an explanation like I did. You still do not understand what they are for. We are being robbed.

No obscenity anywhere

I DO not want an obscene person in my home. And I certainly do not want an obscene president in our White House.

Those words come back

ISN'T IT interesting how history repeats itself, but someone "can't remember" or take his own advice? Notice the direct quote below: "Yes, the president should resign. He has lied to the American people time and time again and betrayed their trust. He is no longer an effective leader. Since he has admitted guilt, there is no reason to put the American people through an impeachment. He will serve absolutely no person in finishing out his term, the only possible solution is for the president to save some dignity and resign." The above statement is from congressional hopeful William Jefferson Clinton during the Nixon investigation.

Help out instead of criticizing

I WOULD like to respond to "Spend time with family" concerning the column by Tamara. I would like to respond to her critic. If you believe her vision for the girls of the community is worthwhile, why not help out yourself, either with her children or in cooperation with her in the community rather than criticizing her? I say we all should applaud her for her concern and her willingness to take a risk and go out on a limb for the youth of this community. We look forward to hearing more in your column, Tamara.

Trend must be stopped

Big money, drugs and gambling, corruption, low morals and the Mafia have ruined Russia, Mexico and many other countries. The same will happen to America unless we get it stopped.

Bet he take those checks

TO THE 87-year-old man who appears to have amnesia about Wall Street and the Republican party during the Depression, I wish some of the 97-year-olds could come back from the grave who voted the New Deal in and who starved to death. A lot of people worked hard during the Hoover years and still lost everything they had. By the way, I wonder if this 87-year-old man uses Medicare that a Democrat, John F. Kennedy brought in, or does he take Social Security, started by Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I bet he takes those checks in right and left. I'm surprised he takes that Democrat money, which his Republican Party fought so hard against in the 1930s.

Watching or reading

I WOULD like to comment on a poll that the TV news media keeps showing that 70 percent of the people don't want to watch Clinton's grand jury video. Is this the same 70 percent of the people who are buying the Kenneth Starr report?

Flip Wilson, speechwriter?

THE PRESIDENT has used every excuse and alibi that he can think of for his defense. I have a suggestion for him. Why doesn't he borrow Flip Wilson's line and just say, "The devil made me do it."

Reason to be skeptical

TO THE people who say his isn't an impeachable offense because it wasn't closely related to his presidential duties, my contention is if he lied, then his word will always be in doubt. He went before a grand jury of our peers and swore to tell the truth. How will we ever know again when this president looks into a camera and makes a statement if he's telling the truth or not? I will always be skeptical.

How about a bipartisan vote?

WE'RE HEARING the Democrats screaming about partisan politics. It seems to me that all they would have had to do was vote unanimously for release of the tapes, joining the Republicans, and it would have been a wonderful bipartisan effort. Can't they see?

No statute of limitations on sin

TO MY politician friends, I'd like to say, adultery is adultery is adultery. There's no statute of limitations on sin. Just because you didn't get caught and thrown out of office, you are still responsible for your actions.

Support campaign-finance bill

WE NEED to encourage our senators, Ashcroft and Bond, to support the McCain-Feingold Bill. This bill would stop the flow of tainted, unregulated, soft-money contributions to both political parties. Up till now, both parties have been able to accept soft money contributions -- hundreds of millions of dollars each election cycle. These unlimited contributions from corporations and millionaires are supposedly targeted for get-out-the-vote campaigns. In reality, soft money is indirectly used to aid the campaigns of the parties' congressional and presidential candidates, even though federal law prohibits corporations from directly contributing to candidates. If passed, it will crack down on campaign ads that masquerade as so-called issue ads which allow special-interest groups to run political ads without being subject to contribution limits and disclosure requirements. For example, the tobacco industry is running ads to help legislators who voted against tobacco control.

Practice the sermon

I'M ALWAYS amazed at how quick the good Christians who write or call in to Speak Out are to judge and don't bother turning the other cheek. Maybe they should practice what they preach.

Penalize gambling, alcohol too

I WAS thinking that the only saving grace about gambling was that gamblers would spend all their money on gambling, and there would be none left for drugs. But then I realized if there was no money left for drugs, crime would escalate. So it's a no-win situation. The government wants to penalize tobacco addiction, so where's the penalty on gambling and alcohol addiction? And now we have sexual addiction in the White House. Where will it all end? To hell in a handbasket, I guess.

Million Christian March

AFTER WATCHING the Christian Coalition conference on C-SPAN, it occurred to me that there ought to be a Christian march from all over the country to Washington to support the impeachment ouster of this decadent president. We need a Million Christian March to save our country and let the destructive forces in this country know we are not going to let them destroy our nation. The right versus the wrong. Stand up and be counted.