5TH DISTRICT RACE
Lamborn should pay attention to voters, not tax-funded trips

Next week, our congressman, Doug Lamborn, will depart on a taxpayer-funded trip with 10 other Republican Congressmen - and not one Democrat Congressman - on the "American Energy Tour," visiting the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, then off for several days in Alaska to visit the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Why are no Democrats going? We already know Lamborn wants to open ANWR to drilling, as do all the Republican Congressmen going with Lamborn, as does 5th District Republican candidate Jeff Crank, but shouldn't Lamborn be taking Democratic congressmen with him who are opposed to drilling in ANWR to try to convince them to open ANWR? Isn't that what an effective Republican congressman would do?

Instead of touring Golden, Lamborn should take a detour to the district he supposedly represents and debate the only serious contender he has in the Republican primary, Jeff Crank.

Lamborn already dodged one debate held this week in Colorado Springs. In fact, Lamborn plans to dodge every debate in the Republican primary campaign. As Dale Carnegie, author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People", once said, "Fear not those who argue but those who dodge." And therein is the whole failure of Lamborn's representation. He can't persuade. He can only dodge.

Don Howard Littleton, Colorado Springs

Rayburn's military management experience not useful in Capitol

Bentley Rayburn made some statements during the Crank/Rayburn debate Wednesday night regarding his experience managing a budget. I was once told, and believe it to be true, "Our great leaders in the military do not manage a budget, they spend it."

Rayburn went on to say that he managed small cities (I believe he was referring to military bases). Again, he is comparing apples to oranges. On a military installation, he enjoyed a captive audience. Military personnel are not allowed show dissent and otherwise express their views without repercussions.

I laud Rayburn's military service, his military experiences, and his desire to commit his life to public service. However, military life is significantly different from civilian life and does not automatically make him the best candidate for the 5th Congressional District.

Joseph Craig, Colorado Springs

Lamborn a true conservative who supports military, veterans

I am a Marine Corps veteran of two tours in Iraq, and I have put my full support behind Congressman Doug Lamborn.

I have known Lamborn for many years and have been consistently impressed with his dedication to conservative principles, as well as his support of veterans in the 5th Congressional District. I know he has made it a priority to work on behalf of both veterans and active military personnel, and I am proud of the way he has represented us so far.

Lamborn has been a strong voice of leadership and is the best man for the job. Let's keep him in Washington.

Kyle Bevers, Woodland Park

HELPING HAND
Injured shopper seeking help after incident last month

On June 21, about 12:50 p.m. a woman driving an electric cart ran into the back of me in the cereal aisle of the Wal-Mart at Palmer Park and Powers. Being in shock and pain, I failed to get her name or contact information. She did say that she was a nurse.

If you are that person, would you be so kind as to contact me? The Gazette's letters editor has my phone number.

Jan Rodger, Colorado Springs

BUILDING ON A BASE
Our laws should be rooted in rock-solid morals, principles

The criteria for electing candidates to public office should be based on high morals and good character. As a Catholic Christian, I will vote for the candidate that reflects my faith. As for being a two-issue voter, I plead guilty. One of my favorite Bible quotes is Matthew 7: 24-27 that speaks of a house built on rock versus a house built on sand. This house can be compared to our country.

My patience wears thin when I hear people say that we must put abortion and same-sex marriage on the back burner and concentrate on the important issues. I say let's build our house on rock and then we can discuss other issues (education, environment, etc.).

A person who calls him/herself a Christian and believes in abortion and samesex marriage is a puzzle to me. If abortion and homosexuality are not sins, what are?

Mary Spradlin, Security

NOT SO BAD
Economic pessimist needs to see the bigger picture

In Michael Maddox's letter in the July 9 Gazette he complained about the economy ("Recession or not, people have less money to throw around"). I agree that at this moment it is not very hot. That is what a stock markets does. It goes up and down. It seems people only complain when the market hits rough times.

Maddox needs to get off his street. The Rockies games are still packed, movies that have just been released have generated millions of dollars of revenue. I'll bet the Broncos games will still be packed.

The traffic on Interstate 70 over the Fourth of July weekend was just as bad as it always is. There were 75,000 people at Memorial Park over the Fourth, eating and spending money.

Maybe people need to take some personal responsibility for their actions; don't buy a house unless you can afford it and all that comes with owning a house. Don't go on vacation it you don't have the cash, not credit. Save money for a rainy day.

Jeanine Fark, Colorado Springs.

GIVE US A BREAK, TOO
Feds should spend tax money to give SUV owners a hand

Dear Senator Salazar:

I applaud your support of the $300 billion mortgage bailout plan. Those poor people who bought houses they could not afford are victims of the careless banks, greedy mortgage brokers and predatory real estate agents; they deserve government help.

Many of your constituents own SUVs which have also declined precipitously in value. We cannot afford to sell our gas hogs and we cannot afford to drive them.

Please get us government relief; we need and deserve a bailout plan. We, too, were victimized by stupid banks, the auto companies, predatory car salesmen, and the belief that the value of an SUV could never fall. We need government help so that we can keep our SUVs and won't have to buy little econocars.

Steve Fleischer, Colorado Springs

BROILING BOYLES
Editorial off base in depiction of radio talk show host

I take exception to The Gazette's emotional condemnation of Peter Boyles and his motivation concerning the handling of the JonBenet Ramsey case ("Boulder DA frees the Ramseys," Our View, June 10). He has done nothing different from what Gazette reporters attempt to do, only perhaps more fact-oriented. The Ramsey case has been consistently botched from the beginning. Boyles has done nothing more than to point out the enormous inconsistencies in logic and procedures that have permeated the whole conduct of the investigation.

This latest DNA evidence proves nothing and the action by the DA is more self serving than anything. Boyles may be offensive to some, but he's more right than wrong in the majority of his crusades.

Frank Van Zant, Colorado Springs