I am 83 years old and have lived through five wars, the Great Depression and many other national crises, but I am convinced none of these events are more significant than the pending election. Never have I seen so much at stake. This election could be a major turning point in how this nation is committed in the future.
The financial aspects of this election are fraught with many unknowns and pitfalls. The candidates speculate on the solutions. However, the answer to our problems has been around for thousands of years: "The budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign lands be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." -- Cicero, 55 BC.
Moral and security ramifications, if the Democrats prevail, are staggering to contemplate. All pro-life gains that have been made at great cost and suffering (50 million lives snuffed out) will be wiped out by the passage of the Freedom of Choice Act.
Sen. Barack Obama has promised this will be one of the first things he will sign into law (a payoff to Planned Parenthood and the like). If Obama is elected, God forbid, with a Democratic House and Senate majority, the flood gates will be opened and we will see much more horrendous legislation enacted such as, gay marriage, hate crime laws, the Fairness Doctrine, homosexual rights, etc. With the almost certain possibility of the appointment of several Supreme Court judges, the Constitution and capitalism will be flushed down the drain into the cesspool of socialism.
Obama has also stated he will cut back on our research and development of advanced weaponry. Our enemies are flushed with petro dollars due in large part to our stupid energy policies and liberal Democrats. They have the means to develop sophisticated weapons and the last thing we need to do is cut back on our R&D. This is further evidence that Mr. Obama is not fit to be Commander in Chief.
An Obama White House will be filled with those people we saw in "the Rev. Wrong's" church who were clapping and shouting when he was cursing America. Chicago's corruption gave birth to Obama's political career and he is still and will be controlled by these people.
All things considered, my choice is easy. I am voting for the McCain-Palin ticket. John McCain is eminently more qualified to be commander in chief. His record speaks for its self. Sarah has much more CEO experience than the "community organizer."
They also understand that government's greatest responsibility is to protect its citizens, unborn, young, old, white, black and all others. If the protection of life and property is not the first priority of a nation, then all other issues are irrelevant.
G.H. Gambrell
Murrayville
Don't be fooled by smooth-talking Obama
Within a week, many Americans, I hope a minority, will vote for a smooth-talking young leftist named Barack Obama. I see Obama as a man who will decimate the Armed Forces of America just as the last two liberal Democratic administrations under Carter and Clinton did.
I see Obama bringing about an explosion of government through new or expanded handout programs. The people who work and produce will be providing a living for those who don't work or produce. Guess who the latter will vote for?
I see a man who will wage war against law-abiding gun owners and appoint liberal federal judges who are soft on criminals. I see a man who will use the tax code to transfer wealth from those who earn it to those who don't earn it. I see a man eager to continue the barbaric act of late-term, partial-birth abortions and who has proven in the past will not lift a finger to provide medical care to a live baby who survives partial-birth abortion.
I see a man who will bow to the demands of radical environmentalists and not support increased domestic oil productions or nuclear power. If you like high oil prices, then vote Obama. I could continue the list of leftist causes Obama supports, but space won't permit it.
Friends, we have a choice between a smooth talking radical whose qualifications to be president are so slim as to laughable and a man, John McCain, whose life experiences and qualifications tower over Obama's. McCain is a man far more in tune with the beliefs of average Americans than the young socialist Obama. Yes, I said socialist, because that's what he is and would admit it if he was honest. I'm far more interested in how someone thinks and believes than how smooth and slick someone can talk.
A few days ago, Tim Pendlton of Gainesville complained of people -- he implied Republicans -- stealing his Kerry-Edwards signs of the last election and his current Obama-Biden signs. Tim, if it will make you feel any better, I have had several McCain-Palin signs stolen from my yard. So, there is sin on both sides.
Calvin Stewart
Clermont
Campaign mud reflects on those who sling it
Is it me or is the campaign mudslinging getting a little old. I think that if you have to sling mud to discredit another opponent, then you are no better than he or she is.
Your actions should be your best asset to offer to the people. People are so use to reading filth and looking at filth and drama that they expect it and feed off of it.
Leave the filth, drama and mudslinging to the soap operas and let your word and actions, as far as what you are going to do to help the American people, speak for you. Then, when you are elected, do what you said you will do! Mudslinging is a reflection of insecurity!
Jezzeree Lott
Gainesville
Vote ‘no' on school taxes for development
This is a plea for common sense from the registered voters in the state of Georgia.
Please vote "no" to the amendment that would allocate school tax monies for development.
Our schools struggle enough to make ends meet and provide quality educations to our children without having funds taken away from them for developments that should be funded by other sources.
Jimmy Sisk
Gainesville
Obama's agenda would increase abortions
I was shocked to hear Sen. Barack Obama say he wants to reduce abortions while at the same time he is advocating laws and policies that would increase the number of abortions.
The real Obama is firmly committed to an agenda of hard-line pro-abortion policies that, if implemented, would greatly increase the number of abortions preformed through the nine months of pregnancy. This includes partial-birth abortion. He plans to mandate our tax dollars to pay for the death of these innocent children.
Since Roe vs. Wade was signed into law in 1973, 30 million babies have been aborted. Unborn children have a right to life.
Joanne Valentine
Gainesville