Letters - Sunday

5TH DISTRICT RACE
Lamborn's record proves ability to be effective in Congress

   I see from James DeLoughry's letter, that Jeff Crank has "years of working and learning the legislative system" ("Crank has legislative background needed in nation's capital," July 3). Exactly how much legislative experience does Crank have? Absolutely none. Crank has never held elective office, but he's got a huge ego. He was the bottom aide in Joel Hefley's office for a short time before being sent home.

   The only candidate with true legislative experience is our congressman, Doug Lamborn, who has served us extremely well for nearly 14 years now with a perfect voting record on our behalf. The votes are what really counts. Neither of the other candidates has any voting record.

   And, in his freshman year, with the other party in power, Lamborn got two bills passed. One of those bills had a Democrat co-sponsor, as did a bill he has already gotten passed this session. So much for the claim he can't work with Democrats.

   Lamborn is a leader, recognized by the state Senate, when it elected him president pro tem. He can work with the other party on our behalf and his voting record is perfect. What more could we want to represent us in Congress?

Ken Bull, Colorado Springs

Crank is the candidate to lead the fight against liberal left

   Teresa Hillhouse wrote that Jeff Crank said, "It's not good enough to go to Washington and vote right" ("Representative follows values of conservative supporters," Letters, June 22). She went on to state that Doug Lamborn did vote right and received great marks from the American Conservative Union.

   What Crank meant by his statement is that we need someone to vote right and be a leader. I believe Crank will restore the 5th Congressional District to respectability. I believe he will vote right and be a leader against Nancy Pelosi and her ultraleft-wing agenda. I believe Crank will be a true fiscal conservative who will listen to voters. He will cut needless government spending and will be a representative the 5th District can be proud of. I encourage you to vote for Jeff Crank on Aug. 12, if you want to see real conservative ideas taken to Washington.

Brandon O'Dell, Colorado Springs

GOLD STAR MOMS
Despite loss, families proud of sons' service to nation

   This is in response to Gazette columnist Barry Noreen's July 3 piece, "Soldier's parents know all about the call to service."

   We, too, are Gold Star Families that know all about the call to service, having lost our sons, Army Maj. William F. Hecker III and Col. Brian Allgood in Operation Iraqi Freedom in January of 2006 and 2007 respectively. In fact, we are members of Carla Sizer's newly formed Gold Star Mother's group. She is an impressive woman who has been proactive in turning her grief into a positive outlet to help others. We admire her very much for that.

   After losing our sons, we found another organization that has been particularly comforting to us. "Families United" is a grassroots coalition of hundreds of Gold Star families from all across our country, as well as many Blue Star families with loved ones serving in harm's way. We know well why the brave individuals in our armed forces choose to serve, and we are like-minded in the pride and admiration we feel for them.

   In spite of our own losses, we share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform. We understand the seriousness of the long-term ideological struggle our nation is engaged in, and we support our troops in their efforts to make America safer. We feel it is imperative they be allowed to complete their mission and come home with honor, so our children and grandchildren do not have to face even more threatening challenges to our freedoms in the years to come.

   Noreen seemed to imply that our sons' sacrifices might have been in vain. We respectfully disagree.

Nancy Hecker Cleo Allgood, Gold Star Mothers Colorado Springs

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Carter warned nation of crisis but we didn't listen or act

   For quite some time I have heard and read the bickering from both sides about the rising costs of oil and gasoline. Both clamor that they have the true solution, and oftentimes they insist that they use "facts" to justify their claim or reminisce about past experiences that will add weight to their cause. Steve Bremner and Steven Sinn seem to be the latest in the running feud ("Blame obstructionist Republicans for lack of energy solutions," Letters, June 27; "We must learn from mistakes made on finding energy supplies," Letters, July 2).

   Bremner claimed Republicans are to blame for roadblocks; Sinn countered with the idea that Democrats are to blame. I believe both parties are. Unpopular as he may be, President Jimmy Carter forewarned us of this looming crisis in an April 1977 speech. Carter outlined the need for the U.S. to look ahead to the future and prioritize the need for independence from fossil fuels. He created incentives to produce oil from shale in the Rocky Mountain region, a mandatory 27 mpg on American-made cars, and created the Department of Energy. He said it would not be easy, "but with the exception of preventing war, this is our greatest challenge our nation faces in our lifetime. The energy crisis has not overwhelmed us, but it will if we do not act quickly."

   Unfortunately, as we all now know, this crisis has consumed us. And throwing rocks at each other in a glass house will not help. Sinn claimed that Bremner and liberals asked for $4-a-gallon gas and they should be happy we have it. I consider myself a liberal, and if anyone wanted $4 and $5 gas, it certainly was not me.

Steven Stockton Jr., Colorado Springs

SHIFTING LEFT?
Voters dumped Republicans when they abandoned principles

   Linda Seger seems to be happy that the Republican "right" is losing power ("Republicans losing power due to disastrous policies," Letters, July 3). She thinks it is because of their issues and policies. The real reason Congress went to the Democrats was not because the country turned left, but because the Republicans did. They tried Democrat-lite and the country rejected them.

   Let's see, what was so bad about Republican control? Did anyone think that after 9/11 we would not be attacked again? Name one person who had his civil rights violated by our surveillance of overseas calls from or to terror suspects. Do you think treating 9/11 as an attack rather than a criminal act is a mistake? Are the Republicans keeping us from generating more domestic energy? Aren't the Republicans responsible for helping you to keep more of your hard-earned money?

   Is this country shifting left? No; Our country is center right. Even Barack Obama knows this and he is moving right.

   The Republicans will return to control when they remember what brought them to power in the first place. They lost their way and lost control of government. It was not because conservative policies were rejected, far from it.

Don Drakulich, Colorado Springs

FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE
Charity should come from heart, not be coerced by government

   So much liberal talk and ideas are as old as Robin Hood, and just as fanciful; rob from the rich and give to the poor. Barack Obama's ideas of assisting charities with millions of other people's dollars goes against the liberal's cherished separation of church and state. When did Americans decide government was better than the churches and individual Christian charity at helping the poor? Forcing tax-payers to assist others is robbery.

   All charity should be charity; a voluntary act. Conservatives give far more to others than liberals do. The needy would be better offi looking to the churches, and America would be better off, giving generously and voluntarily. So many voters depend on government for paychecks and handouts that we've created a critical mass, a voting block of socialists. Atlas is getting tired of it. Soon, he will shrug.

David Herron, Colorado Springs