Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 15, 2004 Dear Mr. Bush, what happened to your promises? In the hope that perhaps just this one editorial from Oregon's smallest daily could reach the hands of the nation's commander-in-chief, we offer this open letter to Mr. George W. Bush. Dear Mr. President: In the unlikely event that you have read some of our previous editorials, you know that we have found your tenure in office to be a discouraging one at best. We have been critical of several issues; the open war your administration is waging in our forests, which is eroding the gains of the Northwest Forest Plan while returning to an earlier time of terrible hostilities among those defending the forests and those seeking to profit from them; your absolute inability to admit faulty decision-making over the Iraq war; your decision to attack the sanctity of the Constitution of the United States by denying basic rights and privileges to American-held prisoners, people of Middle Eastern descent living in the United States and, most inexplicably, homosexual Americans; and finally, the fact that you have taken a wounded nation brought together and supported around the world following the tragedy of 9/11 and caused deep, bitter divisions between Americans, and even further divisions in the world community. We hold you in account for all of this. But most importantly Mr. President, we ask that you remember the promises you made when you ran for office in 2000, that you would be a moderate leader touting something called compassionate conservatism. You promised to end partisan politics and build a broad coalition of support. You promised to lead with integrity and honesty. What happened, Mr. President? We are a bitterly divided nation. You can't travel without being greeted by angry protesters seeking any opportunity to vent their rage. We are in a seemingly endless war with more Americans dying each time the morning sun arises. Partisan politics are so extreme that simply reaching across party lines may cost moderates an election. We are pondering adding into our Constitution prejudice and scorn against our own people. You have been caught in a series of deceptive statements and misinformation. You use fear, even false fear, to gain loyalty. It is possible you will be given four more years, though we are convinced that your record of accomplishments does not warrant it. Frankly, a second-term administration that has so blatantly defied the American people, the world community and the Constitution is a frightful thing to consider. But should you become elected, we can only hope that it was not truly your gut that has made these awful decisions, but perhaps those men behind you, pulling your strings as if you are a puppet they can entertain the country with. Your friends call you a man of character. Have enough character to throw aside this destructive method of leadership. Stop this spiraling climb of oppressive debt caused by fighting an unjust war. Seek to rebuild that which you have burned, Mr. President, and try, somehow, to find a common ground on which we as Americans can stand together. If you don't, the next four years of a Bush administration may be the end of virtually everything this country was built on. In Rome, Nero is still in the history books. In America, you may be too. As the President that fiddled while a great nation burned around him. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams