Editor, Times-Union: While watching last night's vice presidential debate, I was very shocked to hear Cheney slam S-corporations as some sort of obscene tax loophole. As a CPA, I advised many of my clients to use S-corps. This is not some shady loophole for the rich, but rather a legitimate form of business that is used by a large portion of middle-class small business owners, and has been for many years. If Cheney has a problem with S-corps, this should be a major concern for small-business owners, and I would like to know more about his position on this issue.
Roxanne Coffelt Warsaw via e-mail
Presidential Debate
Editor, Times-Union: Kerry won the debate? Ha, not in this city or county! The only way Gary Gerard's applied title to your letter would be true would be if Kerry were on the Republican ticket and "W" was on the Democratic ticket. Howard, have you not learned that in this city and county our political garden has not had a good weeding for a long, long time? I wonder what Their Man Mitch would have to say about that? The true and bottom line "in my opinion" is that there are so many brain-dead diehard Repulicans in this area, that the best candidate for any office can only win if they run on the GOP ticket. It is sad to know this and that there is nothing that can change this travesty. Oh, I wonder if the sheriff has made his choice as to who he will sit in his seat for him in the next election, until he can legally and openly resume his office again in his 2008 repeat, for another eight years, heck he's young enough to do it again in 2016. It seemed to do wonders for Robinson's career after Big Al allowed him to sit in his seat for a term.
Just a few more facts. I was born in Warsaw, Indiana! I am over 50 years old and keep myself well informed about politics, candidates and the issues. I am and always have been a loyal registered Republican that always votes for the person I feel to be best for the job, no matter what their political party! Thanks for reading, keep it up.
Jonathan R. Mauk Warsaw via e-mail
Wawasee Teacher
Editor, Times-Union: Kudos to Sue Ganshorn and her staff who teach swimming to children at Wawasee High School. She has a professional program and she is so encouraging and dedicated to her kids. The wonderful experience I shared with my children both swimming and watching them learn to swim will be something I will never forget. She has a special talent that should be recognized. Thank you so much for such a memorable experience.
Steven, Cara, Nathan and Levi Hite
Syracuse via e-mail
Just The Facts
Editor, Times-Union: In response to Carol May's letter pointing out that George W. was under investigation for possible insider stock trading, she fails to point out that the SEC concluded: "In light of the facts uncovered, it would be difficult to establish that, even assuming Bush possessed material nonpublic information, he acted with scienter or intent to defraud." (SEC Memo, as quoted in National Review Online).
Bush's sale of stock (for the purpose of purchasing a stake in the Texas Rangers) occurred on June 22, 1990, at a sale price of $4 per share. While the stock price did in fact move down for most of 1990, it achieved a price of $8 in 1991. Thus, Ms. May's statement that "stockholders lost all" while W. bailed is overheated.
There are, of course, the usual questions from liberal journalists as to whether the SEC investigation was short-circuited as a result of George W.'s father occupying the White House. There are a couple of different versions of this story, and readers should check out both, at the Web sites for The Center for Public Integrity and National Review Online. Readers can decide for themselves whether the investigation passes the smell test.
Personally, I'm not surprised that liberals cry foul when an investigation doesn't deliver the desired outcome.
Regarding Bush using taxpayer money to pave his driveway, and this being the reason for the Crawford Iconoclast's endorsement of Kerry: The Iconoclast endorsed Bush in 2000, when "asphalt-gate" would have been fresh in the minds of Texans, and made no mention of the driveway scandal in its 2004 endorsement editorial. A search for any combination of "George W. Bush, driveway, taxpayer, pave" (and for good measure, I threw in "scandal") turned up nothing relevant. I would enjoy reading Ms. May's source for this. Maybe I missed something.
Regarding Bush leaving a deficit in Texas, I couldn't find historical data on the Texas budget, but I did find this:
"That surplus, previously estimated at $1.1 billion, is actually about $1.4 billion, (Texas) state Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander said at a news conference Thursday." (USA Today, 7/20/00). The state comptroller predicted a growing surplus in July of 2000.
Ms. May states that perhaps Bush isn't suing Michael Moore, et al., because they speak the truth. Extrapolating that logic, perhaps John Kerry should sue John O'Neill. Perhaps Bill Clinton should sue Dick Morris, R. Emmett Tyrell, James Stewart, George Stephanopoulos and the dozens of others who have written scathing books about him. This may surprise some liberals, but not everybody scampers to lawyers when disparaged. The absence of a lawsuit is not, of itself, vindication.
