Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

Once again Eric Dolson shows why he is a charter member of the WHGB (We Hate George Bush) crowd, populated by the likes of the New York Times and LA Times, CNN and most of the Democratic Party leadership.

Also like those stalwarts of the left, he is apoplectic about the how quickly we prevailed in Iraq, but is looking for any way to turn victory into defeat.

Dolson wants us to believe the BBC story about Jennifer Lynch's rescue rather than the U.S. Government, classifying the story as a part of a Republican campaign to manipulate American voters.

This is the same BBC which had the U.S. losing the war after 10 days and was so biased that some British Navy ships turned them off because of their loose reporting of the war.

Next, Dolson buttresses his WHGB editorial criticizing GWB's landing on the carrier. Most of us realize that the WHGB crowd is making an issue out of the President's carrier landing out of jealousy and the fact that they didn't think of it first, or have the guts to do it.

Whether the carrier was 100 miles out or right off the coast, GWB is the Commander-in-Chief, so he can come on board anyway he wants in my book.

Frankly, I would have liked to see him come aboard in an FA-18, instead of a S-3 Viking, but I imagine that the Secret Service vetoed that option.

This is the first time that a Commander-in-Chief took time out of his busy wartime schedule to pay a visit to thank those who served in the line of fire, in a way that was both dramatic and meaningful. No wonder the military appreciates and likes the man!

Perhaps if LBJ got off his fat (backside) to do something similar, our troops' morale in Vietnam might not have been so low.

Eat your heart out, Eric, I guess you'll just have to continue hating GWB until 2008.

Carl Yee

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To the Editor:

I refer to the letter written May 14 by Steve Coltin.

This sounds like a letter written by the Republican National Committee on Obfuscation or the Ministry of Misinformation. Doesn't anyone remember that Saddam was supposed to have all those weapons of mass destruction?

Donde estan those weapons amigos?

And if he had them, why didn't he use them? I mean the Bushies certainly telegraphed their punches. Unless...perish the thought...our guys were lying! Or more accurately desperately drumming up a reason for war -- an obsession which even caused them to use forged documents, faked intelligence information and hyperbole straight out of Madison Avenue.

This whole sordid war and its run-up was a "Wag the Dog" scenario for the purpose of keeping up Bush's poll numbers -- life imitating art or perhaps "preempting" art.

Saddam Hussien never "threatened to attack us." A bad hombre he is but insane he ain't. Saddam was a threat to the U.S. on an order of magnitude that the Sisters High girls basketball team is a threat to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers. Maybe less, I hear the Lady Outlaws have one or two good shooters.

When Bush's handlers discovered that nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population believed Saddam was behind 9/11 they were home free. Not even that collection of bullies and liars made such a claim, but if that many people believe it, why not use that to justify a preemptive strike? We haven't done that since the Mexican War.

Truth took a holiday on this one. I fear that it may have become extinct in the Bush Administration. But as long as they can terrify a gullible population, they can wage war all over the world. Why not? Wars sell flags.

R.T. Tihista

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To the Editor:

An era has come to a close. Ten senior baseball players, most of whom have played together for six years, ended another great season, on a losing note, unfortunately.

They played hard. They put in thousands and thousands of hours of blood, sweat and tears, yet falling short of their goal of a state championship.

As parents, fans, supporters and cheerleaders for these special men, we are proud of your work ethic and sportsmanship. Tears flowed and disappointment reigned, but you can hold your heads high, nonetheless. Life goes on even with that pit in the middle of their stomachs.

On June 6, these men will graduate from high school and yet another era in their lives will begin. Guys, keep your heads high, and continue to be the men that came to the battle day in and day out for all those years. Thanks from a grateful community to Ray Garretson, Joe Jones, Kenny Niles, Mike Boyle, Mary Flande, Boyd Keyser, Don Harris (Groundskeeper) and countless others that helped make over half a decade into the pure joy that we will always remember!

With great respect and admiration,

Terry Denzer and several hundred fans

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To The Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a great boss, a great leader, an inspiring mentor, a colleague, a friend --Sisters School Superintendent Steve Swisher.

I have served as Steve's administrative assistant for the past seven years and have appreciated his leadership every day of those seven years.

As everyone knows, Steve will be retiring from our school district at the end of this month. He has accepted a one-year interim superintendent position with the Brookings-Harbor School District. They will soon come to realize they have chosen an excellent leader and will appreciate Steve as much as we will miss him.

Steve has not only provided the best leadership possible for our school district, he has been a great community leader and supporter. Steve has a way of empowering the people around him and those who work directly for him. He has enriched and broadened my professional knowledge, expertise, confidence and experience more than I would have imagined possible seven years ago.

I wish Steve and Novella the very best as they move on to their next adventure. Fortunately for our community they will continue to call Sisters their "permanent home" even as they move temporarily to Brookings. However, their day-to-day contact with the school district and community will be missed.

In closing, I would like to invite everyone to the staff and community farewell retirement reception on Thursday, June 5, 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Sisters High School, for Steve and all our staff (Carol Dixon, Colleen Reiss, Connie Holly, Judy Mason, Tedi Shawver) who will be retiring this month.

Jan Martin, Administrative Assistant

Sisters School District