SPEAKOUT

Barn going to Frohna

I WAS so happy to read in your paper about the historical building going to Frohna. My great-grandfather was the one who built that barn in the 1830s. I appreciate Mr. Strom getting it to be restored some place.

Out of the mouth ...

THE LETTER written by Matthew Younghouse makes more sense than anything I've heard or read over the past month from Republican or Democrat. As the old saying goes, out of the mouth of babes. The scripture in Philippians 4:8 should be what we all live by. Maybe this world would be a better place to live. I only have one more comment to make. Why would anyone put his daughter through those humiliating tapes? He should have resigned before they were made public. I feel very sorry for his daughter.

Wag-the-dog attack

I WANT to say something about this wag-the-dog attack in Iraq. This is not going to work. If you missiles don't work -- they've used a $1 million missile to blow up a privy of the Republican Guard, and they showed it on TV -- what do you then? What is your exit strategy? It's just like Scott Ritter, the U.N. inspector. He quit because he said this is all a wag-the-dog war and this is all being mishandled. The secretary of state told him to go into places where she knew there was no weapons. So what happens if these missiles don't work? Remember, in the last six years, our military has been gutted. Anybody remember the Somalia betrayal? That's where Clinton put the Marines into Somalia but didn't give them weapons to fight with and got those boys wiped out. Clinton is not a military leader. The American public chose him to lead our military. It's just mighty funny to me that we've torn the military down for six years, and now we've got all these fronts in Kosovo, on the Korean peninsula and in Iraq. No doubt the Iraqis will resort to terrorism.

Oozing out of Washington

TYPICAL MISSOURIAN approach. Now Bob Livingston, the future speaker of the House and a Republican, is an adulterer too. Why was it on page 3 instead of front page? Is it because you're Republican and not a Democrat? I really want to thank the Republicans for letting all of this stuff ooze out of Washington, D.C. You gave us Gingrich. You gave us Henry Hyde. You gave us Dan Burton. And now you're giving us Bob Livingston. All adulterers. And you want to yell about Clinton's adultery. Oh, they didn't lie about it under oath. No, the Democrats didn't have Linda Tripp out taping people. And they didn't have a Ken Starr divulging all these details. Congratulations, Republicans, you're looking better every day.

Sympathy for Chelsea

I DON'T hate Bill Clinton. I don't hate anyone, but I have sympathy for his daughter. I object to his behavior. I don't blame anyone for lying to protect his child, but his conduct is disgusting. And there's no excuse for his actions. I think his wife hasn't helped either. The spotlight of the media is on him and his family. The pressure on his daughter must be unbearable. He should resign for her sake and not continue this circus. I hope this tragedy doesn't damage her in years to come. God bless her.

Adam and Eve were booted

I AM tired of reading "don't impeach Clinton." You never read the book your ancestors brought over. God the Great Spirit made this world. He put Adam and Eve in it and told them not to sin. They sinned. He threw both of them out.

Why now?

I WONDER why Mr. Livingston didn't step down years ago when the adulterous behavior occurred. Could it be because the news media was going to break it to the public now?

What a joke

MR. CLINTON gave his speech on the White House lawn with the Democrats of the House, and I was shocked by his use of words like dignity, honor and character. It's a shame he didn't use any of this in the past. What a joke.

No choice in shootings

THIS IS in reference to the letter Mr. Hodge wrote on handguns and how many children were killed. I was astonished at the number. I just don't get it. Why not hold the NRA and the people who sell guns responsible like we do the tobacco companies and sue them when a family member is shot? By the way, how many children do you know have died from smoking a cigarette under the age of 21? After that, you can either quit smoking or die. You have choice. When you are shot, you have no choice.

Big men take bold action

I WOULD have to commend Gingrich and Livingston for being big enough men to step down for the good of their country and our people. That is more than I can say for that scum Bill Clinton. Why the heck doesn't he resign and go back to Arkansas?

A former pagan responds

I WISH to respond to the comment about "Pagan practices." I am a pagan saved by the grace and blood of Jesus Christ, my Savior. Why? Because Jesus was born to Mary, a virgin Jewish girl, fathered by the Spirit of God. He came into his own and was rejected by most of them, opening the door to people of other than Jewish birth. Pagan? You still are unless you have accepted Jesus, the son of God, as your Savior. Red. The color of the blood that Jesus shed for us. Evergreen. The color of everlasting life. White. The purity of the son of God, the only sinless man who ever walked on this earth. Yes, God and Jesus gave the greatest gift ever given. Do you give in love? They certainly did. The beautiful lights on the day we celebrate his birth. He was the light of the world and still is. No, Christmas day may not be the day he was born, but it is a day set aside to celebrate that wonderful birth. I am no longer pagan, but I would be if it were not for his redeeming grace. Do you have a right relationship with him? Do you believe he rose from the dead and was seen by many witnesses? I know he did.

More food for cats

I READ with interest the comment from the person who wants us to keep our cats away from their birds and if we don't keep our cats in the house or contained in the yard away, they would disappear. Is this a threat? I prefer to feed my cats, and if you don't keep your birds away from my cats, they'll have even more to eat.

What's Saddam been drinking?

SADDAM HUSSEIN declares victory in this four-day bombing spree that we on. If he had victory, that's just proof that he's been drinking too much Iraqi saki.

Better things to do

COMMENT TO the men's coffee club. It's not that women don't like coffee clubs. It's the simple fact that women don't have time on their hands. They're busy making your bed, cleaning up after you, washing your socks and shorts, shopping and preparing your meals. This time of year, they're doing your Christmas shopping, writing Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, baking, cleaning house, decorating the tree, running to the cleaners for your suit, among other things, and often they do this while holding down a job with one hand tied behind their backs. Probably they live longer than you do because they're busy and not sitting around gossiping and messing up the world's problems worse than they already are. Hooray for women.

His ace was trumped

CLINTON HELD off bombing Iraq in order to use that as his political ace in the hole card. Then when he thought he was going to be impeached, he used that ace to try to divert attention from impeachment. Well, Congress trumped his ace, and he got impeached anyhow. So then when he saw his bombing didn't hold off the impeachment, he called off the bombing after four days. This man is dangerous to our country. Senate, force him out.

Other bridge names

I WANT to say this about Mr. Sullivan. I really enjoy his column. I also like to hear about Bailey and Becca and D.C. and all the things they've viewed. There's one thing I wanted to say. I think the people around here should have had a say in naming this bridge they're building across the river at Cape, not just a few Republicans who named it. I think it could have been named the Harry S. Truman Bridge, the Linda Godwin Bridge, the Abraham Lincoln bridge or the Paul Simon Bridge, all great names. I hope they think this over.

An honest Democrat

YOU Republicans say you are looking for an honest Democrat. Well, here I am. No, Clinton should not resign. He's the best we've had since Truman. You tried to get him ever since he started running for president. You couldn't get him, so you get a Clinton hater, Kenneth Starr, to check his personal life. See you next election.

No takers for bet

I'M ASKING the older citizens: Did you ever dream in America that a president would have oral sex with an employee and would not be removed from office or would have such acceptance with the public? I bet if you're honest, you would all have bet against it. It seems decent people with any intelligence or values are drowned out by the voice of deception, greed, ignorance and Godless character.

Hog prices at 8 cents

I'M TIRED of hearing about how good the economy is when hog farmers have to sell their hogs for 8 cents a pound. How much are you paying for pork in the grocery store?