LEADERSHIP
Chambliss put country
ahead of partisanship
As that increasingly rarefied animal, a Republican moderate, I cannot say that I was always in agreement with Sen. Chambliss, a conservative. But as time went on, I saw the senator in a different light as he attempted to come up with a realistic, bipartisan balanced budget and deficit reduction package. He became more pragmatic as my party become more dogmatic and out of touch with voters.
Sen. Chambliss put the country before doctrine — the mark of a true patriot.
We are now faced with the crucial decision as to who replaces him. Will the GOP nominate someone who wants to get things done working with the other party, or will we put forth a right-wing radical?
JACK BERNARD, MONTICELLO
Senator flees climate
his campaign fostered
I recently read that Sen. Chambliss is not running for re-election because of the ugly climate in Washington. This, coming from a man who ran one of the ugliest campaigns in recent history, when his campaign viciously characterized war hero Max Cleland as unpatriotic.
Chambliss, and others like him, helped create the atmosphere that now pollutes Washington.
GEORGE GOULD, DAHLONEGA
INFRASTRUCTURE
Apply hotel-motel tax
to streets, not stadium
My wife was injured recently at a local theater and taken by ambulance to Grady Memorial Hospital. The care extended by the theater staff, ambulance crew and the Grady trauma unit was excellent. The only problem was the streets of Atlanta.
My wife had a head injury, and there was concern about possible cervical spine trauma. The driver was frequently forced to slow to a crawl and change lanes because of the state of the streets and their ruts and irregular surfaces. The concern was that her injuries would be made worse.
I suggest that a portion of the proposed motel-hotel tax — rather than being used to replace an excellent stadium — would be better applied to the repair of the streets.
MARTIN MORAN, SANDY SPRINGS
POLITICS
Cartoonist picks sides
when both are at fault
Mike Luckovich’s political cartoon from the Feb. 1 edition (Opinion) stood out as one of the worst examples ever of politics in Washington, D.C.
I do not believe that anyone would argue that politics in D.C. are what they should be. Politicians are not doing what the citizens of this country sent them there to do: Talk to each other, and get things done.
Luckovich’s focus in this cartoon is inaccurate, misleading and insulting. Both sides are at fault. This cartoon reflects, once again, the liberal, far-left leaning of the mainstream media.
As an American, I am embarrassed by this cartoon and the message it attempts to send. Luckovich can do better. Shame on him.
NEIL LANG, TYRONE
