Koenninger made lasting impression
We lost a dear friend. “After 57 years of news writing, this is my final column for The Columbian due to declining health,” was just in our Sept. 29 issue. “I hope these words convey the values and high standards that this beautiful place can embrace.” Yes, Tom Koenninger, your words did convey the values and high standards that this beautiful place can embrace.
I am saddened by his death Thursday and will always cherish the memories. Forever in our hearts as we journey through life, so many people touch our lives and our hearts. The connection they make and the impressions they leave are not forgotten.
I would like to say a forever “Thank you” to Tom Koenninger who did marvelous work in Vancouver, Wash., and Clark County and the state of Washington.
Lois Elaine Smith-Zoll
Vancouver
Council failing in leadership
Orderly meetings provide a greater opportunity for the differences of opinions and public input. Being courteous and willing to work together to solve problems in a nonpartisan and objective manner are skills that all Vancouver City Council members should exhibit in order to develop and maintain productive long-term policies for Vancouver. The public should not accept less.
As a former Vancouver City Council member I believe leadership responsibilities begin with a mayor who is supported by other council members and the public. The outburst by council member Jeanne Harris is an overt example of the ongoing rudeness that all council members have exhibited, on multiple occasions, between council members and the public.
It is a growing cancer that creates long-term difficulties in developing relationships to build consensus within the council. Mayor Tim Leavitt’s appointment to the ethics committee of the same council members requesting the review, and their willingness to serve, fails the tests of leadership, fairness, and ethics.
Historically, with the exception of recent councils, public communications without restrictions being placed on the public has been the norm. The council needs to review its conduct, policies, and time management of public meetings. The public needs to question the council’s ability to act in the public interest.
Ross Hollister
Vancouver
Vote for the pursuit of liberty
Lately the Republican Party has declared itself protector of the Constitution. In rereading it, I was struck by the fact those guaranteed freedoms, when listed together, are in the same order — life, liberty, property. It is obvious our freedoms are listed in the order of importance held by our founding fathers.
Current party leadership claims to be the party to protect those freedoms, unless you have a terminal illness, then the party knows how your life should end; unless you are a woman, then the party knows what you should do with your body; unless you fall in love with someone of the same sex, then the party knows who you should not marry — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Party leadership seems to read the Constitution just as they read their Bible — pick what you agree with, ignore the rest. They will protect my right to hunt squirrels with an assault rifle and to pay fewer taxes, but believe they have the right to make my most personal decisions.
My fellow Republicans, let me be perfectly clear. If forced to choose between protecting my personal liberties or keeping more of my money, I will always vote for liberty.
N. Stratton Platt
Vancouver
Beware the influence of extremists
As a “liberal” I respect true fiscally conservative Republicans. Our country is built off of checks and balances. And once upon a time Democrats and Republicans represented this for each other.
Lately I hear folks from the right wing complaining about accusations of racism. I don’t believe everyone on the right is racist, but I believe that Republicans in general are scared to correct the squeaky wheels in their party. I often hear someone say at least one of these things about our president:
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He wasn’t born in the U.S.
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He’s involved with his radical (Christian) preacher.
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He is a Muslim.
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He supports terrorism.
I do believe all these examples have racist undertones.
Then I read John Cannon’s Oct. 1 letter, “Permissiveness threatens our nation,” and it scared me. Cannon jumps from dropout rates, illegitimacy and imprisonment rates for African-Americans to legalizing marijuana to our education scores. One could interpret this as meaning Cannon believes that African-Americans are one-parented school dropout inmates who all smoke marijuana.
Where he gets really scary is when he starts talking about civil war to correct “social anarchy.”
If the right wing doesn’t like the accusations of racism, they should distance themselves from extremists like Cannon.
Jacy LaPlante
Vancouver
Similarities emerging
President Obama has recently been lashing out against Fox News. Apparently he finds it unacceptable that only 95 percent of the media choose to operate as public relations mouthpieces for the Democratic Party. (I assume he would be happier if that were 100 percent.) But Obama should count his blessings. A truly independent media would be tougher on him than Fox News is. The reason for that is that Fox, being a self-appointed mouthpiece for the Republican Party, chooses not to expose the striking similarities between President Obama and former President George W. Bush.
Like Bush, Obama surrounds himself with “yes” men, and is annoyed by alternative points of view. Like Bush, Obama doesn’t care what ordinary Americans think of his policies. And on the most crucial issue of our times, the economy, Obama’s policies have been virtually identical to those of George W. Bush.
These are inconvenient truths for the folks at Fox News, because they are George W. Bush fans. A truly independent media, however, would not hesitate to point out the embarrassingly close similarities between President Obama and his highly unpopular predecessor.
Lance B. Sjogren
Vancouver
Undertones of cartoon troublesome
Of all the editorial cartoons available why would The Columbian pick one that can be construed as racial in nature and lower the already all-time low political debate? (R.J. Matson’s Sept. 30 cartoon depicted Newt Gingrich as a “professor” using a blackboard with comments about President Obama and conservatives, saying “The difference is black and white.”)
This amazes me.
John L. Ecret
Vancouver
