Partisan politics and the secretary of state
Last week, Colorado Secretary of State Gigi Dennis served as one of the chairs for a fundraising event for candidate for governor Bob Beauprez. I think it is wrong for the supposedly politically neutral secretary of state to take sides like this in the race for governor. It brings to mind the naked partisanship of then-Secretary of State Katherine Harris in Florida, in helping George W. Bush in his quest for the White House in 2000.
We need to stop the politicization of the office of secretary of state. To do this, I urge all Coloradans to cast their vote for Ken Gordon for secretary of state. State Sen. Gordon has shown that he has what it takes to serve impartially as secretary of state.
David Goossen, Louisville
4th Congressional District: Musgrave vs. Paccione
The differences between Marilyn Musgrave and Angie Paccione are distinctions of both style and substance. (This is based on both personal observation and study of their records). Musgrave is a lackluster speaker and a mediocre debater. More important is the absence of any achievements in Musgrave’s record over two terms that have been truly meaningful to the voters of the 4th Congressional District. She is essentially a one-trick pony (the pointless marriage amendment), though she has been trying to make up for wasted time in the last several months. But she has done nothing constructive about the water crisis on the Eastern Plains, even though she’s on the House Committee on Agriculture.
Angie Paccione, by contrast, is an energizing speaker who brings audiences to their feet. Also exciting is her distinguished record in the Colorado legislature on access to health care, prescription drug prices, affordable housing, and protection from identity theft. Paccione believes that government can help people, but she is a true moderate. It is Musgrave, with her link to special interests and her far-right positions, who is out of touch with the needs of the constituents of our district.
Vote for Angie Paccione in November – it really is time for a change.
Marshall S. Clough, Greeley
…
I would like to thank Rep. Marilyn Musgrave for her stance on illegal immigrants. It is refreshing to hear from someone who cares enough about the security and economic stability of this country to run political ads that are about the truth instead of political correctness concerning illegal immigrants.
I would urge every citizen of this country to ask themselves if they want open borders with unlimited access to our country by illegal aliens like the naysayers condone or if they want a process that would allow people into this country legally with accountability as to whom they are and where they are at all times. Our forefathers had to do things this way, and what was good enough for them should also be good enough for the people trying to come into our country now.
Our country’s security is at stake right now, and think of what kind of future your children and grandchildren will have if this assault on our country continues.
I would implore every citizen to vote for Marilyn Musgrave if you value your safety and national security.
Ken Arthurs, Red Feather Lakes
…
The Marilyn Musgrave campaign (or its proxies) is running an attack ad citing Angie Paccione’s experience with bankruptcy. One wonders if they would also be so critical of, say, a legendary firearms manufacturer, or airlines, or any other businesses that “reorganized” under bankruptcy protection in order to continue operating and to get out from under pension obligations, labor contracts, or the fruits of anything from profligate spending to less-than-prescient investments?
The list of famous Americans who have filed or been declared bankrupt on at least one occasion includes Henry Ford, Milton Hershey, Walt Disney, Charles Goodyear, H.J. Heinz, Ulysses S. Grant, Samuel Clemens and Donald Trump, who told the Daily News, “It doesn’t matter – it’s a modern-day thing, a legal mechanism.” Bankruptcy, like corporations, developed to protect individuals from financial catastrophe. Additionally, one who files for bankruptcy is legally required to list all creditors, even personal friends and student loans.
Perhaps we can return to the days of no second chances, but if we do, it will mean the crippling of entrepreneurship and the loss of the future contributions of many talented people in this country.
Steven Chostler, Denver
Putting Darfur on the agenda
How long will it take for President Bush to realize there are actually real problems in the world? When will he look past the reconstruction of Iraq? Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been killed in Darfur, and millions have been forced from their homes and face starvation, rape and the constant threat of violence. The United Nations has already declared the genocide in Darfur to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today.
Right now, candidates for public office are traveling the campaign trail describing their visions for the future. As Election Day approaches, stopping the genocide in Darfur must be on the agenda. Let us remember Rwanda by defending Darfur. The United States government must take every step necessary to negotiate an international peacekeeping intervention. Without immediate action, we abandon thousands, perhaps millions, to a massacre.
Richard Ellis, Colorado Springs
Iraq war and Sept. 11
Re: “Both sides of the story,” Oct. 11 Open Forum.
The Post chose to run a picture of the most visually striking part of the “Eyes Wide Open” exhibit (thousands of pairs of empty soldiers’ boots) on Oct. 10. Post reader Wes Piippo then asks, “Where is the picture of the empty shoes of the Sept. 11 victims … ?” as if anybody still believes there is a real connection between the two. There is no real connection, of course, but very soon there will be a real comparison: In about four months (at its historic pace), the toll of Americans killed in Iraq will exceed the number of Americans killed by Osama bin Laden. At that point, we Americans will really have something to talk about. Namely, who was the bigger enemy?
Brian Keeley, Littleton
…
A letter to the editor suggests The Denver Post should have told both sides of the story by comparing the 2,744 servicemen killed in Iraq to the victims of Sept. 11 and the tens of thousands of Iraqis murdered by Saddam Hussein.
Neither Saddam Hussein, Iraq, nor any Iraqi was responsible for the Sept. 11 tragedy. Period. And to date, tens of thousands (or hundreds of thousands, depending on the intelligence reports) of Iraqis have been killed since the U.S.-led invasion began. These are different issues, not “both sides of the story.”
Gloria Harnish, Wheat Ridge
Who should be blamed?
Re: “Why should the victims have to change?” Oct. 11 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Janet Williams is correct that we need to stop punishing victims of crime; however, she failed to identify the true common element: women.
According to the National Organization of Women, women are still primarily responsible for raising children and taking care of the house. Not a fan of NOW? Then consider a recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which states even working women spend more than twice the hours per day doing primary child-care activity than their spouses.
It would seem logical, then, that women are primarily responsible for raising all these angry, disenfranchised men who continue to kill, molest and blow things up. Clearly, the root cause of society’s ills is women – not men, as Williams wrote.
Sounds too simplistic – even ridiculous – doesn’t it? Indeed.
Allen Banks, Denver
TO REACH US
Phone: 303-954-1331
Fax: 303-954-1502
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, 80202
Letters guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
