Linda Haughee recently sent in a letter admonishing fellow readers. I believe she is correct. Those readers have resorted to name calling without realizing that this diminishes their credibility. An informative and civil debate is what this nation needs. Name calling and questioning the patriotism of fellow citizens is not. If you believe in your stance then the name calling is not necessary and the facts will win out.
And Ms. Haughee is correct. Both political parties have had their share of mistakes. Although William Jefferson Clinton had an affair and led America through years of economic prosperity, George W. Bush started two wars and drove the economy into the ditch. Bush also had 9/11, the biggest terrorist attack on America, even though some people from his administration would have you believe that the attack occurred before Bush was president.
And, yes, Clinton was impeached, but he was impeached by the same people who allowed the Bush administration to weaken our civil liberties, allowed Cheney's office to violate the law by revealing the name of a CIA operative, and allowed the use of torture.
As for President Obama, compared to Bush's first year, he is doing a great job. And that debt that she spoke of was created by a Republican congress and signed, sealed and delivered by President Bush.
Ms. Hauhgee, you stated, "It is unconstitutional for a congress and senate to impose something on the American people that they are not willing themselves to participate in. By this I mean the Republicans brought it to the congress, that if this health care was so good, then they would go on the same plan as what they want the American people to have. Republicans voted unanimously 'Yes' that they would and the Democrats voted unanimously 'No' and that's a fact."
A fact? Now I'm not sure what amendment you were referring to but I'm assuming its amendment 2789 which was brought up by Republican Senators Coburn, Vitter and Hatch on Nov. 21, 2009. This amendment was to force members of congress to have to use the public option. The problem was that Democratic Senators loved it and they rushed to co-sponsor the amendment. And on Dec. 4, 2009, Democratic Senators Franken, Dodd and Brown among others attempted to add their names to the amendment. Soon there were more Democrats than Republicans willing to sponsor the amendment. The political gamesmanship used by the Republicans to show that the Democrats were hypocrites had backfired. The amendment went no further. No vote was held.
Now many readers and contributors of the Times-Union speak of the constitution. But some need to read the constitution. Watching Fox News is not enough. Just because you believe something is or should be unconstitutional doesn't make so. And finally I will paraphrase Democrat Al Franken, although we are all entitled to our own point of views and opinions we are not entitled to our own facts.
