Senate filibuster fight
The Republicans are whining about how mean the Democrats are because only 95 percent of his judicial nominations have been approved – the most of any recent president. And so they are willing to overturn tradition and the historic checks and balances that have served us so well. But consider this: These are lifetime appointments – beyond the power of any future president or any future Congress to remove from office. Shouldn’t such a lifetime appointee have broad appeal across the entire political spectrum? Shouldn’t such a judge have sufficient support that 60 votes out of 100 in the Senate are easily obtainable? If not, get another candidate. The president knows that he can easily get the up-or-down votes he wants simply by submitting names that are in the political mainstream, not narrow-minded extremists.
James J. Amato, Woodland Park
Denver ban on pit bulls
Re: “Denver begins rounding up pit bulls,” May 10 news story.
As an owner of an American pit bull terrier and a Denver resident, I cannot sufficiently express my dismay at the recent reinstatement of Denver County’s ban on pit bulls. Irresponsible owners combined with biased media attention have contributed to an epidemic of ignorance and hysteria with regard to pit bulls.
The public, wrapped in its blanket of pseudo-security, believes that the ban will make the sidewalks safe and the parks free of these “monsters.” However, what the public needs to understand is that any dog can bite, any dog can attack, and that as owners, people should take total responsibility for the actions of their dogs. As recent attacks elsewhere in Colorado show, if it isn’t one dog attacking someone, it will be another.
Stephanie K. Scott, Denver
Stem-cell research
Re: “House appears ready to nix stem-cell limits,” May 11 news story.
Focus on the Family may want to consider a new bioethics analyst after Carrie Gordon Earll’s response about future stem-cell research. She was quoted in The Post as saying stem-cell research is “not even proven science,” and that Focus on the Family will “continue to educate folks … .” Here’s a little education for Earll: That’s why it’s called “stem-cell research” and not “stem-cell practice.” If we support only proven science, we should scratch all current medical research. No new medical research is “proven science”; that’s why it is being researched and tested. Furthermore, preliminary studies and experiments regarding stem-cell research have been very promising.
Andrew Southard, Denver
German stereotype
Re: “Topical ‘Newsical’ creates polar atmosphere,” May 12 theater review.
In his review of “Newsical the Musical,” John Moore writes: “But you have to hand it to (playwright Rick) Crom’s work ethic. In just the past week, he has added a hysterical sendup of the new German pope (‘In order to get your confession, we have ways of making you talk!’) … .”
How is this exemplary work ethic? Every hack American comic writer falls back on this stereotype based on the Germany of 60 years ago. It’s all they know of Germany and all they believe their audience can relate to.
When German comics want to tell a killer joke about Americans, do they pull out topical references to the Jim Crow South?
Scott C. Nelson, Denver
