SPEAKOUT

Lies from the past

WELL, MRS. McDougall goes to jail for refusing to testify against President Clinton and Hillary. That's what the Republicans tell you. Remember when Jimmy Carter was president and our men were held hostage in Iran. Well, Reagan was running for president against Jimmy Carter with Ollie North's help and Bush. You see, they set up their own bargaining procedure with Iran to sell them guns and ammunition for the release and also to hold them until Reagan could defeat Jimmy Carter. And he did. But in two years, Reagan's turn was up, and then Bush was running when they all lied they didn't know anything about that deal. Now we know they all lied. It finally came out from the special prosecutor. No one went to jail. Don't let them pull this on Bill Clinton. They were traitors, and they should have been tried for this.

It all depends

A CALLER wanted to know Bob Dole's stand on abortion. I think probably the most honest answer is his stand on abortion depends on who asked the question but even more importantly on who he thinks just might hear the answer.

I AM calling in regard to the psychic pros and cons. I'm surprised, and I realize that the newspaper has to report good and bad. Well, on Sept. 18 I challenge the Southeast Missourian to report some good, because that day there's going to be kids around a flag pole praying about their country, their schools and the government. People from the newspaper, they need to be reporting some good too.

REPLY: As in past years, the Southeast Missourian will be covering the flag-pole prayer rally.

Show the other side

I HAVE a question. On page 3 of your newspaper, they showed a striker from McDonnell Douglas sitting down, striking. Why don't they ever put in the paper about how much these guys make, in the $20-30 an hour range? Then also on page 5, that big headline said, "Tobacco lobby spends $15 million in six months." Why doesn't the paper say how much the unions have spent in the last six months? Probably more like $20-25 million.

Beer at the fair

I JUST wanted to say that I just left the fair and I think we should stop having any alcohol at all at the fair. We just witnessed a guy who was going to start a fight. I went and got the police myself so they could break it up. They had to arrest the guy right out in public. I think it's horrible. I think we shouldn't have the beer stands on the fairgrounds. We need more of a family-oriented place rather than to have drunks running all over the fairgrounds.

Clinton gets lots of press

CLINTON AND Gore and all the Democrats have received a lot of free campaigning from the news media. The week before Clinton came to Cape Girardeau on his campaign tour, every newscast talked about Clinton and the Democrats to be in Cape. In his speech in Capaha Park, Clinton mentioned the word "I" 34 times. Every special report on Iraq was free campaigning. Dole was hardly mentioned. When Clinton gives a campaign speech, the news media comes along with their campaign speech.

Clean it up yourself

I HAVE the perfect solution to the person who's complaining about the litter near Lakewood Estates and Woodland Hill Estates. Here's the idea. Clean it up yourself if you're so concerned. Where I live, there's litter all the time, and we clean it up.

Brain scan might help

I JUST heard a report about strokes and preventing them. Young children who may have difficulties in reading or a comprehension problem, and the parents of these children, might consider very strongly a brain scan. I had those similar problems when I was younger, but my parents took me to an eye doctor who said it was my eyes. I am 33 years old, and I have suffered a major stroke. I'm partly paralyzed on one side of my body because of this. I cannot function very well. I'm no longer able to work, drive a car or do anything on my feet very much. Parents, take care of your children. Watch out for the drugs, and if they have other problems with reading comprehension or with basic performance skills, have a brain scan done on them.