I'm really striking out on LTEs this fall.  Here's another about the debates that went nowhere at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  I share it hoping someone will fix it up and have more luck with it somewhere else. 

Who do you have to bailout to get a LTE printed in this town nowadays?

Mark

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Dear Editor:

Expecting presidential debates to reveal if McCain or Obama can meet the challenges ahead (“Let the debates begin”, David Shribman, 9/21/2008) is like expecting a book to change when you reread it. 

The Commission on Presidential Debates, a corporation funded by the Democratic and Republican parties, contractually sets the terms of the presidential debates. It excludes third party and independent candidates (www.opendebates.org).

Exclusion makes the debates just highly scripted infomercials.  Considering their track records, you’ll see why major parties want no other voices: 

** Out-of-control spending, borrowing and taxation.  Currency destruction by the Federal Reserve.  An inevitable depression from endless interventions in the free market.  $50+ trillion in entitlements never to be fully paid.

** The Iraq War and other nation-building welfare schemes.  Reduced mortgage standards and other vote-buying welfare schemes. Nationalized banks, investment houses, insurers and other corporate-bailout welfare schemes.

** The PATRIOT Act.  The surveillance state.  National (REAL ID) biometric identity cards.  Fourth and Fifth Amendment suspensions every April 15th. 

** Wars on drugs, guns, privacy, private property, carbon dioxide and incandescent light bulbs. 

If they can’t meet the challenges of other candidates, then how can they meet the challenges of the office? 

Mark Crowley
Plum