Today's Letters: Enhanced players would give us better games

By Letters to the Editror
Published December 16, 2007

Major league baseball steroid use

I don't see the big issue here. So what if sports figures want to improve their physical condition? This is the 21st century, for goodness' sake. Who knows what the ballplayers of yesteryear did for an advantage? Spitballs, corked bats, cocaine? We idolize Babe Ruth and his hard-drinking lifestyle. What's the difference?

I say legalize all the performance enhancing drugs and maybe we will see some good baseball again. I use the term "legalize," but I know I can go to any legitimate urologist and legally get a prescription for several forms of testosterone and steroids legally. One of the first things any doctor gives anyone for a hurt elbow or bad shoulder is steroids. Get off your high horse, people! I prefer a good performance. Let 'em have at it.

Bruce E. Johnson, New Port Richey

Priced to sell Dec. 9, story

It's all about price

We just had a house sell at full price. We have also had multiple offers in this market on well-priced properties. I advised some sellers that they needed to be in a certain price bracket, and with much hesitation the sellers agreed. They were quite upset and said, "That's it, not a penny less." With lots of prayer the house sold within a week of getting into the proper price range and at full price.

Two things are happening. There are those sellers who are in denial and will end up taking less for their home in the end. And there are those who price the home competitively and have it in its best possible showing condition, and will net more. This isn't slashing of prices. It's the simple reality of the many facets that are involved with real estate.

Sandy Hartmann, Seminole

Priced to sell Dec. 9, story

Making a difference

Thank you so much for printing a positive article in your paper. We really need more reporting on solutions to the housing problems. There are so many people out here who are really hurting due to the lack of sales in so many different ways. Please do whatever you can to help turn this around.

Valerie Patterson, Kenneth City

Getting to the bottom of latest CIA outrageDec. 11, editorial

Answers are needed

This editorial is correct that the Justice Department and Congress must get to the bottom of the CIA "tapegate." We must know who ordered the destruction of these tapes and who denied their existence to the 9/11 commission, terrorist trial judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers as well as others.

The Times is incorrect to claim that "the issue here is not torture." Some of the enhanced interrogation methods, including waterboarding, that were used by the CIA are clearly in violation of U.S. and international law.

Since Attorney General Michael Mukasey refused during his confirmation hearings to identify waterboarding as torture and his failure, as of yet, to order an immediate stop to the destruction of related information, only a special counsel and intensive public congressional hearings can begin to answer legal questions about whether the CIA and other government officials engaged in, ordered or permitted obstruction of justice and torture.

James Borchert, St. Petersburg

Getting to the bottom of latest CIA outrage Dec. 11, editorial

It's more Bush bashing

Once again, the Times allows its Bush Derangement Syndrome to muddy the waters attempting to "get to the bottom" of this latest "outrage." Noting that the Bush administration "serves up one outrage after another," the Times conveniently ignored the fact that the Bush administration counseled the CIA not to destroy the tapes as was documented by the Washington Post. Destroying the tapes appears to be the work of one person who ignored the Bush administration. Nevertheless, the loony left will never allow facts to get in the way of bashing Bush.

While the Times may opine that protecting our covert operatives is only a "flimsy" excuse, such was not the case when Valerie Plame was allegedly outed by the Bush administration.

Finally, the Times might take a moment to note the now well publicized meeting in 2002 by four members of Congress, including current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with the CIA that documented the exact techniques reportedly filmed by the CIA. Not one of those four questioned the techniques used. One even inquired if they went far enough.

The only outrage here is the extent the Times continues to bash Bush with outright fabrications and distortions, apparently a result of delusional outrage brought on by incurable Bush Derangement Syndrome.

Robert Patton Jr., M.D. J.D., Clearwater

For America's sake, let's all learn LatinDec. 9, Perspective story

Look to the East

In this column, Harry Mount he makes a good point that knowing Latin will illuminate the path we have plod to reach our current position in the world. But if today's American teens and younger students are interested in deciding the path that America is to take in the future, Latin will not be of help. The language that would likely be most useful is Chinese.

Look to the past, look to the present, look to the future.

Mortimer Brown, Lutz

Heed the Bible

I found it very sad that after reading the article A church toll booth on way to salvation (Dec. 9) that I came away with the idea that tithing is optional. It does not matter what anyone else does or says, the Bible speaks for itself. Whether it be Old or New Testament (the complete word of God) we are counseled by God to give 10 percent of our gain back to him. There is no debate about it.

Do we as a human race really believe that we have the right to keep all the money we acquire for ourselves? Who gives us the ability to acquire it? The article was very in-depth, but it failed to include one important point of Scripture. Malachi 3:8-10: A promise is given that if we return to God what is his, he will pour out a blessing so great that we will not be able to contain it (paraphrased).

Tithing is a faith issue, not a monetary issue!

Linda F. Taylor, Brooksville

[Last modified December 15, 2007, 21:30:56]