READERS WRITE: Buzz about elections

Responses to “Chambliss defeat would be justified,” @issue, Oct. 26.

Chambliss imperfect, but best candidate

Cynthia Tucker is completely off base by suggesting that Saxby Chambliss deserves to go down in flaming defeat because of his support of the majority of George W. Bush’s policies. Chambliss has bucked the president and the Republican Party.

It was Chambliss who recently extended his hand across the aisle to work with Democrats in finding a solution to our energy problems and ending our dependence on foreign oil through support of alternative fuels, conservation and environmentally friendly drilling.

Tucker mentions Chambliss’ opposition to stem cell research and his vote against expanding low-cost health insurance to children. As a pro-life voter, I do not agree with destroying human embryos to create stem cells. Chambliss voted against expanding low-cost health insurance to children as this bill would have covered families earning over $80,000 per year, making this an entitlement program similar to welfare.

I do not agree with Chambliss’ negative attack ads on Sen. Max Cleland in 2002; however, he has not been negative toward Jim Martin. Martin has chosen that route. Chambliss is the better candidate, has more experience than Martin and has shown he will work with Democrats and put partisanship aside to help our country move forward.

BRIAN DiNAPOLI

Decatur

Country in crisis needs alert leader

Cynthia Tucker did an excellent job recapping Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ failures. He has personified the worst traits of the Republican Party under President Bush. For example, when Bush was exposed for operating secret prisons, Chambliss never denounced it. When Bush was caught illegally spying on U.S. citizens, Chambliss branded Bush’s critics traitors.

Also, Chambliss keeps getting caught off-guard on important issues. Last year when local mortgage giant HomeBanc went bankrupt and the credit market meltdown was looming, Chambliss’ focus was on illegal immigration.

During this past summer, while the credit crisis came to a boil, his attention was on a plan to increase the world’s oil supply by about 1 percent. We need an alert leader who will focus and respond to the issues as they arise. Jim Martin is the best choice for U.S. Senate.

DON McADAM

Sandy Springs

Swipe at DeKalb CEO unnecessary

The editorial “DeKalb, don’t overpay for land” (@issue, Oct. 22) neglected to point out that it was the Board of Commissioners who “set the terms of the option to purchase.” These are the facts: CEO Vernon Jones had no vote in this real estate transaction.

The board of commissioners can, and in this case did, establish a “not-to-exceed amount” for a real estate acquisition, which was set at $6 million —- as suggested by Commissioner Jeff Rader. The board of commissioners then directed the parks and greenspace office to negotiate within these parameters, which later brought the proposed purchase before the commissioners.

The bottom line is CEO Jones has demonstrated fiscal responsibility and constraint, which is why DeKalb is one of the few metro-Atlanta counties that has a balanced budget and has had no layoffs. The AJC’s swipe at the administration was unfair and unnecessary. The facts reflected in the piece should have been clear and future questions should be directed to the body that makes the decisions.

KRISTIE N. SWINK

Swink is communications director for DeKalb County.

Will taxpayers fund care for unhealthy?

With all the buzz about health care and how the government needs to help, what is the government going to ask or willing to demand of the recipients in regard to their own personal health? Should taxpayers be expected to blindly subsidize the healthcare cost of those who smoke, overeat, under-exercise and or live risky lifestyles? It is a question that needs to be asked of both candidates.

MARCY EISENBERG

Fayetteville