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Hernando Today

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

Who's Worse, Seriously?

Before Newt Gingrich took over as Speaker of the House in 1994, he lectured Republicans around the country the need to push forward a conservative agenda.

The result was the passing of the "Contract with America."

With reiterating, I think I've said enough about McCain Kennedy Immigration Reform. But my comments on the subject follow the Gingrich model of specifying goals conservatives want to achieve on each issue and fight for precise legislation compromising where required in some cases.

Current Republican congressional leaders have failed us in this regard.

Gingrich is now devising a new movement to make our party leaders more accountable to us regular Americans much like the "Contract with America."

At the same time he is saying this movement is not a new party. He warns that leaving the Republican Party for a third party would be foolhardy. I agree with Gingrich.

As for Republican failures, I've argued this with the pro-life issue. A Republican failure is far preferable to a Democrat success.

Though Republicans may not have reduced the loss of life, Sen. Barack Obama supports the murdering of babies born alive after a botched abortion as Doug Patton has pointed out. It's hideous!

The same problem could be said for each issue Peter Stathis mentioned in his letter.

As for Sen. John McCain's Naval Academy record, it looks a lot like President U.S. Grant's West Point record. Would we be happier if McCain's record resembled that of President Carter? Would we be better off?

As for McCain's military record itself, people are going to decide based on our experiences as much as his. Other than during intelligence school and ROTC summer camp, I continuously fought with my superiors, respectfully of course.

The only thing I can tell for sure from the criticism of McCain is that he was no "yes" man. In the military, that's a good thing.

His decisions are a different matter. I wasn't there; I can't say. But unfortunately, those who are speaking also have political agendas, so debating it will only confirm biases on both sides.

What I do know is that McCain will support our military and their families. I am equally sure that Obama and/or Clinton will not.

As for McCain's implication with the savings and loan scandal, we all know what that was. He got campaign contributions from a corrupt and/or inept business executive as is common in politics. Look at the Clintons. Which is worse, seriously?

McCain wasn't active in the scandal, he was from Arizona where it took place. He over-reacted to this embarrassment causing him to support his campaign finance reform bill.

Republicans don't like this reform. I agree. But why haven't we gotten rid of corrupt business practices, corporate welfare and Congressional earmarks?

We are against all these things. What we demand is a fair playing field!

In fact, where were those complaining about McCain before he won Florida?

I suggest that Stathis and Serena Seifried join the Hernando County Republican Executive Committee. I'd be glad to sponsor them despite our little disagreement.

John T. Boyle

Hernando Beach

Bravo!

Re: The letter "The blind leading the blind."

Bravo! Encore! Author! Author!

Well said, Mr. Adams.

Vilmar Tavares

Spring Hill

Brown-Waite

Owed Apology

This letter is regard to all the hoopla made about U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's remarks about those from the territories being called "foreign citizens." To that who are got all hot under the collar and started calling her a racist, they better get mad at the IRS for they also us refer to those who live in Puerto Rico, Guam, America Samoa and the Virgin Islands as "foreign citizens."

I know this because I worked for the IRS for more than a decade, and returns from the territories are treated as being foreign returns.

Now the reason for this is very simple. The income tax from these territories do not go to Washington, they go directly to the territories for the territories to use. Therefore Rep. Brown-Waite's objections to rebate checks going to the territory the way the stimulus package is now are valid.

The problem we have in this country is we have people who look to create problem where is there aren't any. In particular, it's various people in the Democratic Party and in the media who purposefully inflamed this non-story in order to attack Republicans. If there is anyone who is owed an apology, it's the congresswoman, but I doubt very much she will get one.

Peter Stathis

Spring Hill

Get Off Your TUSSH

To Enjoy Spring Hill

Florida was never on our list of places to retire.

Over a period of five years my wife and I traveled the globe with a list of ten places we thought would be great for retirement. Two every year got quickly scratched off the list and retirement was looming ever closer. The last place on the list we never visited as it was "discovered" and priced out of retirement reality by well to do missionaries.

So there we were within two years of wanting to retire and no place "warm" to do it. Then my brother told me about this place called Florida where he knew of a modular furnished home for $14,000 plus a monthly fee to an association. So off we went and rented a car for two weeks at a time and scoured the whole of Florida - logging thousands of miles and video taping all the housing inside and out we were interested in. Saved writing down the phone numbers at least.

Then we visited Spring Hill on a tip from a home builder in the state. We decided that to pay $450/month fee to a glorified trailer park with a wall around it (jail) represented a house payment for a bricks and mortar house. So we modified our search once again.

Spring Hill fit our bill. Proper climate. Not too hot and not too cold. Like Cold-ie-locks. And found that there was just enough of shopping, civilization and proximity to an international airport to make it just right for our needs. So we ordered a modest cottage/house built the year before we intended to retire in an established neighborhood outside the evacuation zone. Brand new with a warrantee for $1000 deposit (I lost more than that on one bad stock once so wasn't too concerned if we lost it). Hurricane proof and well insulated for cheap electric and city water too. Worst case we figured 3 years and if we didn't like it we'd leave. Well, 3 years is up and we're still here without an end in sight. We like it better now than ever. And the taxes are even going down some.

So for those of you who don't like it here? Well there are thousands of other places to be. Next time do more research. If I had to raise a family I couldn't afford to live here on the prevailing wages (unless I was a Commissioner or County Officer) but we've been there and done that where the jobs were. So now it's all about what you want out of life? A livable family wage or an elbow or other joint that doesn't hurt when the temperature drops below 30F for months on end.

Welcome to (TUSSH) The Unincorporated Subdivision of Spring Hill, Florida. Sometimes you have to get off your TUSSH to enjoy it.

Doug Adams

Spring Hill

New Administrator

Should Consider Renting

Re: Hamilton Contract Approved, Feb. 6.

The Hernando County Board of Commissioners is desperate to keep an administrator. Consequently, it has approved excessive salary and benefits totaling $175,000 for Hamilton, its latest administrator.

His $135,000 salary should be sufficient for survival. If not, commissioners could hold an occasional car wash to buy him a bag of groceries. Further, a department to administer elimination of unnecessary departments could be established to employ his family.

He will be reimbursed $3,000 annually to complete his education. Balancing county budget should be his priority. Apparently, he commenced doctoral studies without sufficient money to complete them.

No allowance for home insurance is approved. Maybe, he will rent whilst in Hernando to complete his education for a job in academia.

James A. Willan

Brooksville

Democracy A Mirage

Today, democracy in America is very similar to a hologram. We can see it clearly, but it really isn't there.

David Robinson

Brooksville

Selling Out County

On Wednesday, the Hernando County Board of Incompetents again approved an unneeded massive development. This group made this move even though there are 58,000 lots already approved and available.

Since this group is selling out our county at such a fast rate, it is time for another elected official to step up and save the county. The best way would be for Hernando County Appraiser Alvin Mazourek to adjust the taxable value of these just-sitting-on-the-books developments to reflect the values stated by the developers when selling the development plan.

This would prevent Hernando County residents from suffering increased millage rates because of recent tax changes. The school system would get taxes that would allow it to be ready before these developments are real. The other effect this will have is that a real developer will build out and sell as quickly as possible and a speculator will relinquish the DRI and Comprehensive Plan Change to get the taxes lowered.

Richard Ross

Brooksville

Deputies Deserve Kudos

There was an article written about some deputies in Hernando County being too pro-active against the criminals in our area. As a leader of the Crime Watch in our area, I would like to go on record as commending two deputies who have served our area to the point that we feel much more at ease in our everyday life.

Officers Deso and Jenkins are what we feel are the backbone of the sheriff's department. They are here to serve and protect the laws of this county, and do an excellent job of that.

I would not want my son to be a deputy today, for fear of what they always have to put up with in the criminal element. I think that the only ones who complain about what they do, are the ones who have something to hide. The Garden Grove Crime Watch members want to go on record as supporting these deputies to the full extent of the law.

Larry Johnson

President

Garden Grove Crime Watch

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