Spring Break
Letter to the Editor
Facts absent in story
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Forum
Is there any adult supervision at the Daily Barometer? I mean real adult supervision as opposed to adults who think and act like children?
Recently I was on a business trip to Corvallis and picked up a Barometer in a local sandwich shop. An Evan Connet article was particularly annoying. The lad does seem to have a command of the language - which is refreshing these days - but his knowledge of fact is less than fundamental. Connet writes about the "Presidents Who Dropped the Ball," meaning certain select past-presidents who failed in their duties. But Connet provides few facts to support his thesis and relies on character assassination to support his thinking. Of course if this is what your readership is capable of understanding, then I guess you are on the right track.
Case in point: Richard Nixon certainly did a lot to sanction his own demise. However, he did not "authorize" the break-in at the Watergate. He did, however, attempt to cover up - after the fact - the actions of his subordinates. This was enough to cause him to resign as president, as it should be. But compare and contrast the conduct of President William Jefferson Clinton against the actions of President Richard M. Nixon. Clinton lied about his conduct while under oath while Nixon lied about his conduct but was not under oath. Clinton was impeached and avoided being removed from office by one vote. Nixon resigned the presidency because it was best for the country.
So which President - Nixon or Clinton - committed the greater crime? The one who attempted to cover up the conduct of others or the one who lied about his willful and direct actions while under oath?
Try to think rationally.
Stephen E. Brown
Roseburg, Ore.
Recently I was on a business trip to Corvallis and picked up a Barometer in a local sandwich shop. An Evan Connet article was particularly annoying. The lad does seem to have a command of the language - which is refreshing these days - but his knowledge of fact is less than fundamental. Connet writes about the "Presidents Who Dropped the Ball," meaning certain select past-presidents who failed in their duties. But Connet provides few facts to support his thesis and relies on character assassination to support his thinking. Of course if this is what your readership is capable of understanding, then I guess you are on the right track.
Case in point: Richard Nixon certainly did a lot to sanction his own demise. However, he did not "authorize" the break-in at the Watergate. He did, however, attempt to cover up - after the fact - the actions of his subordinates. This was enough to cause him to resign as president, as it should be. But compare and contrast the conduct of President William Jefferson Clinton against the actions of President Richard M. Nixon. Clinton lied about his conduct while under oath while Nixon lied about his conduct but was not under oath. Clinton was impeached and avoided being removed from office by one vote. Nixon resigned the presidency because it was best for the country.
So which President - Nixon or Clinton - committed the greater crime? The one who attempted to cover up the conduct of others or the one who lied about his willful and direct actions while under oath?
Try to think rationally.
Stephen E. Brown
Roseburg, Ore.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.