SPEAKOUT

Are Republicans scared?

SOME WHINY conservative Republican said the whiny Democrats keep calling Speak Out. Well, I keep calling in, but I noticed you stopped printing Democrats' comments. The only thing I can think of is your newspaper, which certainly leans towards the Republican, is maybe running scared. Maybe we're coming up in the polls. I think maybe we're getting through to the people. All I know is when I call in, I don't get negative replies like I did before. The Republicans are certainly kind of losing their stuff.

REPLY: Democrat. Republican. Bull Moose. Speak Out loves them all. Keep calling.

No warning at railroad

REGARDING the comment about a lady in a cream-colored van that had a close incident with a train in Jackson: That was me. There were no flashing lights. I heard no whistle, and my windows were down. There were no arms coming down in the lane I was in. And there was no traffic turning up into Jackson, so I had no reason to stop. I just wanted to tell my side of the story.

Lots of little taxes

YOU'RE MISSOURIAN editorial was probably right. That little half-cent sales tax probably wouldn't even be noticed by most folks. The problem with that logic is that we have had so many of those little taxes passed into law that now we must work for the first four months of the year to pay for it all. And so what if the growth in Cape Girardeau is stifled by not improving the streets. We have too many big city problems already such as gang activity. I'm voting no Aug. 8.

What's front-page news?

I JUST finished reading the Missourian on Wednesday in regards to the three boys telling of the abduction try. I really feel that story should have been on the front page, not buried in the back on page 6A. The story about the Twin Lakes sewer problem was not nearly as important as the try to abduct these small children. If we had more such as that on the front page to educate our young people, maybe we would have less problems instead of who's going to have to pay what at Twin Lakes. Come on, people, let's get with it, OK?

Good show bites dust

ONCE AGAIN, it's happened. For the past few years we have been really entertained by a show that not only was decent but had very high ratings. So, of course, they are going off the air. I suppose we will be subject to yet another violent or sexual type of viewing the general public seem to crave. I'm going to really miss this show. A fond farewell to "Northern Exposure."

Investigations are needed

I'VE BEEN watching C-Span, and I think the Republicans are doing the country an enormous favor by calling for new Waco and Whitewater investigations. Both investigations are very important. The Waco investigations are on C-Span every night now, and it's just amazing about the government cover-up and what those FBI and ATF agents did to those people. I would urge everybody to watch C-Span.

Outstanding photos

I'M CALLING to say it is just wonderful to pick up the Southeast Missourian and look at the pictures. The photographers at the Southeast Missourian are outstanding. Tuesday's paper was exceptionally great, and the pictures of the children swimming were fantastic. I just hope the photographers keep up that good job.

REPLY: Thanks for the compliment. The photographers work hard to provide interesting and meaningful photos.

`Anybody But Carnahan'

I WANT to comment about Pete Kinder's column relative to Gov. Carnahan. I do believe that Mr. Kinder hit it right on the head. Gov. Carnahan is absolutely the worst in my memory, and I go back to Gov. Phil Donnelly. I do believe our slogan for the next gubernatorial election should be "ABC: Anybody But Carnahan."