Bill Clinton as chief justice? Don't be silly
Letters to the EditorPublished July 29, 2005
Re: Bush should look to past for chief justice, guest column by Jerry Blizin, July 26.
Memo to guest columnist Jerry Blizin: You can't be serious. Bill Clinton as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? In your dreams.
First of all, your use of "choosing," "pick" and "appoint" may have given some, like me, the impression that the president can directly replace a vacancy on the high court. It's not that easy. The nomination (a better word) for chief justice is a separate nomination, even for current members of the court, requiring Senate confirmation as well.
That said, to suggest that Bush pick Clinton because he is "someone of proven national stature" is to insult the integrity of the nomination/confirmation process. The notoriety of a candidate should never be a factor, any more than the candidate's obscurity. Neither is germane.
To note that his "proven track record as a scapegoat" is an asset "should a future court decision go awry" is to grant respect to a somewhat dubious distinction useful only in court decisions that should never even be contemplated.
However, not to recommend Bush's father because he is a "little long in the tooth" and "his background was in oil," Gerald Ford because he's "older than your dad" or Jimmy Carter because the name "Jimmy" would "challenge court tradition" is, forgive me, to reveal lack of any serious thought.
As I said, it'll never happen. Just imagine the Senate hearings. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to hear once again, "I . . . did not . . . have . . . sex with that woman."
-- Jack Bray, Dunedin
Get your facts straight before you criticize
Re: Bush should look to past for chief justice, guest column by Jerry Blizin, July 26.
Sorry about this, but I have to correct former St. Petersburg Times reporter Jerry Blizin, who found it necessary to join the ranks of those who poke fun at the mental capacity of President Bush.
At least twice, Blizin refers to the "chief justice of the Supreme Court." The correct title is chief justice of the United States. Maybe the satirist should get his appellation straight before suggesting 43 cannot think for himself.
-- Robert Vaughn, Oldsmar
Mayor misplaces blame for outburst
Re: Mayor says she's sorry for outburst, story, and Corbino apologizes for demeanor at meeting, letter, July 28.
In regards to Safety Harbor Mayor Pam Corbino's apology to City Manager Wayne Logan, I feel it to be appalling that she would use the excuse of her sick mother as a reason for such a grandstand attempt to smear someone.
I know for a fact that there are people working in Safety Harbor's City Hall who have their own personal crises that they are dealing with - some really good people who fight every day with health issues, either their own or family members' - and they would never use them as an excuse. I know these people because I worked with them for about 13 years.
Did the stress of her mother make her go and do her own (financial) investigation? No, the mayor knew what she intended to do. She was wrong, she got caught and she did what is becoming the norm for our elected officials: blame someone else.
I guess the positive side of this is that she is the mayor of Safety Harbor and not in a position to cause very much damage the next time she gets stressed out.
-- Patrick Wojdan, Clearwater
It's about time schools clamped down on attire
Re: Bellies, shoulders, thighs will be going under cover, story, July 27.
All I want to know is this: What took so long for the Pinellas County School Board members to realize that even though students were attending school, all the while they looked as though they may be headed for the beach instead?
While it is important for kids to enjoy their school days, for the most part getting a good education is a serious business. But it is difficult to be serious when girls show up for class scantily dressed - baring midriffs, flashing navels and wearing skirts that barely cover their bottoms.
School-aged children need to understand the difference between recreational and school attire. If the kids don't yet know the difference, their parents certainly should.
As the saying goes, "Better late, than never." In view of this groundbreaking decision, let us all give the Pinellas County School Board a standing ovation.
-- JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater