Today's Letters: GOP offer to Dems: Switch parties, make your vote count

Party gives pep talk Sept. 24, story about state Democrats

Ready to go Green

What the Democratic Party is doing in Florida is so appalling I can hardly stand it. These people want to be the leaders of the free world when they can't even successfully negotiate with themselves.

The Democratic National Committee without much hesitation has summarily denied Florida Democrats the right to have their votes count. State legislators celebrate their right to vote on whatever day they choose regardless of the fact that our votes won't be allowed to affect the outcome of the primaries. Then to top it off, the only thing the major candidates can think of to do is promise not to come here.

This isn't leadership! I have been a Democrat my entire voting life, but the Green Party is looking pretty good to me right about now.

Loren Buckner, Tampa

Party gives pep talk Sept. 24, story about state Democrats

It's like a GOP plan

Kudos to the Republicans for their ingenious plan to have one of their own, Karen Thurman, secure a job in such a crucial position as chairwoman for the Democratic Party in the state of Florida!

Only a sly, sophisticated Republican would keep the Democratic primary on Jan. 29 in order to keep it as a no-win presidential primary.

Why bother voting? The icing on this piece of Republican cake is that the Democratic National Committee intends to strip Florida of all its 210 delegates at the convention. Way to go, Republican Party!

Marianne Wilson, Clearwater

Get out and vote

I will not be voting at my precinct on Election Day. But I will hand-deliver my absentee ballot and receive a receipt for it.

I will not be bullied into not voting for my choice for the next president of the United States.

It's not a popularity contest. But it is the chance to elect the best possible person to take our country out of the muck of war, to restore our passion for liberty and freedom for everyone and to push for health insurance for all citizens, as well as jobs and education.

Don't cower; come out and vote. Your future and your family's future are on the block. Only a devoted Democratic candidate can remove the fantasy and delusion of the "Bush war" and bring us back together as one nation of people who can again be proud to say, "I'm an American."

Marie F. Hoke-Singer, Largo

Party has lost its way Sept. 25, letter

Presidents matter

The most important result of a presidential election is the lifetime appointments a president can make to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The addition of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the court has resulted in an eviscerated right to sue for women's equal pay for equal work. As a result of the court's ruling in Ledbetter vs. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. Inc. earlier this year, a woman must now bring her suit within 180 days of the discrimination, thereby depriving her of the means of gaining equal pay at her job.

Let every Democrat who loves liberty and freedom of choice think seriously about our hurt egos in the fracas between Florida Democrats and the Democratic National Committee or the party's inability to halt George Bush's war.

Rosalyn Estrin, New Port Richey

Crist on a global mission in NYCSept. 26, story

We need a leader here

On hearing the news that our governor will be attending the Clinton Global Initiative, I couldn't help but wonder why. I know it is a big event, and it has to do with an important issue concerning the planet, but the governor is supposed to be looking out for the best interests of the state, and I don't see how global warming will drastically effect Florida in the next decade.

What happened to the tax cuts that Floridians were promised, cuts that would have our tax bills "drop like a rock"? I don't think any Floridian has been helped with any legislation out of Tallahassee to lower our soaring insurance premiums. Instead, the state has now opened itself up to a huge fiscal mess if we have an active hurricane season the way we did two years ago.

As a Republican, I find it hard to fathom that the person who really understands the fiscal problems of the state happens to be a Democrat, CFO Alex Sink. Also, why isn't the governor coming out against Hometown Democracy, which could have horrible consequences for the future of our state?

Governor, we need your leadership for these important issues. Strike while the iron is hot to really make a difference with this impending crisis. Floridians want a governor who will work hard to solve these pressing issues. Come back to Florida, governor, we need you down here. Just make sure to leave the Hollywood liberals in New York.

Sean Jacobus, St. Pete Beach

It's good that he's gone

It is certainly reassuring that Gov. Charlie Crist has resolved all the issues facing Florida and is now able to focus his energies on solving climate change.

Hmm, there is of course the state budget and insurance and taxes. Heck, he can't even get the state House and Senate to agree to on how to deal with the so-called super homestead exemption.

Given all that, maybe we are better off when he is out of the state.

Ray Eydmann, Valrico

Harmful help

The governor fixed our property tax problem; my taxes dropped like a helium balloon. He fixed the homeowners insurance problem; mine just went up 400 percent. Please, governor, don't fix anything else. I don't know how much more of your kind of help I can afford.

Gerald Barnes, Zephyrhills

Rescue in the swamp Sept. 16, Floridian story

Crash memories

I love the slices of Florida life that Jeff Klinkenberg presents. This one was especially gratifying: I was a kid camping in a tent in my Miami Beach backyard when Flight 401 went down. I was listening to Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog on my little battery radio, until it was interrupted by news of a catastrophic crash in the Everglades, where my dad frequently took me for horseback riding and catching skeeter fish.

I will never forget it. I didn't know the story of Bud Marquis - how wonderful to know it now. Many thanks.

Sandy Beaumont, St. Petersburg

For many years I was registered as "NP" - no party. With the excitement of Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton, I decided to change my party registration to Democrat so I could vote in the primaries.

Now, since my vote will be meaningless, the GOP is leaping on what can only be described as a tragic injustice and inviting me to join them? What the heck is up with these crazy parties??

I think I'll pass and go back to being NP, thank you very much.

Cyndi Schmitt, Dunedin

Alternative needed

Are you kidding me: Come over to the GOP? The last eight years have been a joke in this country. We have a president with a pea brain, jobs are leaving this country, the middle class is disappearing, wages going nowhere. Look at Florida: The wages are like we are living in 1955.

I have voted Republican, Democrat and independent, for the candidate with the most promise. Both parties are a joke. We need a third party that is for the people. I'm very disgusted with the entire government.

Jerry Ellman, Seminole

Think about the voters

Neither the Democratic National Committee nor the Florida Democratic leadership is addressing how the Florida Democratic voters feel about the upcoming primary on Jan. 29.

Voting when you know it won't count deserves an additional question on the ballot: "Should the Florida Democratic votes be counted at the Democratic Convention? (Yes or No)"

When the Democratic leadership sees how many Democratic voters want their votes to count, perhaps they will work together to satisfy us, the voters!

Donald Silverberg, St. Petersburg

[Last modified September 27, 2007, 22:10:12]