Today's Letters: Impatient trucks cause road woes

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published November 2, 2007

There are way too many trucks on the road. I have heard of many accidents caused my semitrailer trucks. Also, I have noticed a lot of pickup trucks. Many times these types of trucks are tailgaters.

I was at a red light in an intersection and one of these big semitrailer trucks was blowing his horn wanting me to go while traffic was oncoming, which is why some of these problems are occurring. I had my left blinker on.

Have some people lost their brains and forgot what blinkers are used for?

If these drivers are in a super hurry, try setting an alarm and leaving earlier to get on the road, including the big pickups. Tailgating is brainless.

D.L. Rowland, Brooksville

What's important is what you can't see Oct. 26, column

Coach has been wrongly accused

In regard to Skerritt's story about coach Shawn Bingham, I am really confused. First, that they are accusing this fine, upstanding teacher and defensive football coach is ridiculous. I know this man. He is a great person and the football team knows that the man being accused is not the man they know. Coach Bingham is a really good guy. Not for one minute do I believe he would steal money from anyone, much less a student he teaches.

The second thing is that the deputy would suggest that he pay the money back is crazy. Do we not teach our children what is right and wrong? Why would you want him to pay back something he did not take? That is lying, really, when you think about it. How do they know there really was $75 in the wallet? I know the boy who owned the wallet had recently had a birthday, but who's to say he had all the money in there? And why no ID?

No criminal charges have been filed, and now we are finding there was another student sitting on the wallet before Bingham even touched the wallet. What is that all about?

I don't know about others, but I don't think I would put my wallet with $75 in it down on the bleachers to go off and play basketball. Would you?

Coach Bingham is not a bad teacher and I don't believe for one minute he should be fired, or even on leave without pay.

Not only is this affecting his teaching career, but his family, too. He is unable to attend his daughter's games and school events. He is the positive in this very negative situation and I believe the superintendent is making a huge mistake trying to get rid of this fine teacher and coach.

The football team really likes him and trusts him. They have had a rough year this year and this issue has made it worse for them. He was a great asset to the team, and his loss has been felt by not just the students and players, but the coaches, parents and friends who know the real Shawn Bingham.

Sometimes mistakes are made and I strongly believe this is a huge mistake being made by the school and superintendent.

Missy Bland, Brooksville

Kerfuffle earns man Disney ban Oct. 30, story

Remove leader of state Democrats

This story is not really about John Russell, but is about our constitutional right to freedom of speech and freedom of dissent. For too long, under the current administration, citizens have been prevented from asking questions and having asked those questions, have been denied any answers.

Has Russell sometimes asked those questions in a brash manner? Yes, but millions of us are also very angry watching our democracy and our rights erode. Do I know of any occasion where Russell has interrupted a speaker at any event or physically threatened any person at an event? No. In fact, at the Democratic convention in Orlando, he is the person who allegedly was pushed by Mitch Kates, a former pro wrestler who towers over him.

Why is this happening? Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, had been questioned and taped at a previous event (not during her speech, but as the crowd milled around conversing afterward) by Russell as to why she is receiving a monthly lobbying check through the auspices of a Republican lobbying firm. She insists she is only working for the benefit of citizens of Miami-Dade and that those citizens requested Democratic assistance with their problems. If that is true, why was she not contacted by those officials/citizens and directly paid for her lobbying by them?

As Florida's Democratic leader, Thurman consistently praises Charlie Crist, referring to him as a "Democrat governor." Which party is she supporting? Her inaction to "get out the vote" in the previous election has provided our state with a Republican governor and Legislature. She has refused any financial aid to many of our candidates, yet gave approximately $11,000 to her son for his campaign, with a very unlikely win for him in place. As an elected precinct committeewoman in Hernando County (member of the HCDEC), I know that if I support any one candidate over another at any official event, preprimary, I am open to dismissal from my post.

Still, at the convention U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz made a remark to those present that just about proclaimed Hillary Clinton our next president, bringing groans from supporters of John Edwards and Barack Obama. This is the same Wasserman-Schultz who, in the 2006 election, openly praised Republican Ginny Brown-Waite twice in the press instead of supporting Democratic nominee Russell. I have not seen nor heard of any rebuke for her by our party chair. In fact, she has violated our by-laws again with her speech at the convention.

In reference to the Pasco County fundraiser where Russell was barred: Alice Delgardo, a longtime party official and chairwoman of the Pasco County Democratic Club, was quoted when interviewed about this and said, "Regardless of any craziness that any one of us may have by virtue of the fact that we are passionate, I've never heard anyone say, 'You're not allowed.'"

I firmly believe Thurman is guilty of malfeasance of her office, using her power to censor and silence any questions about her actions.

I have been accused of being linked to Russell. Yes, he is a friend whom I have openly fought with in the past about his apparent brashness when asking certain questions. But, as stated earlier, this is not about Russell. It is about the promise of true Democrats to restore the right of freedom of speech, to restore the right of all citizens to dissent and question. All true Democrats should be asking why that appears to be happening under our current Florida leadership.

Thurman should be removed from office.

Frances Earl, Precinct 20 committeewoman, Hernando County Democratic Party, Spring Hill

Reality, not pledges, will help promote abstinenceOct. 26, guest column

Article on teen sexhuge dose of reality

This is the most realistic article on teenage sexuality I have ever read.

Every parent of teenage children should be required to read this.

W. E. Knause, New Port Richey

[Last modified November 1, 2007, 20:41:02]