On Bob Dole's Fall And Other Events

Here's some of the latest e-mail from AllPolitics readers, on Bob Dole's fall, Ross Perot's debate hopes and Bill Clinton's new national monument in Utah. If you have a comment on the day's news, a suggestion for us or a complaint, we'd like to hear from you. You can reach us at editor@AllPolitics.com

"No News Value Whatsoever"

I am an Iranian/American citizen and a war veteran from the Iran-Iraq war. Eleven years of living in this country has taught me that Americans have little respect for war veterans or elderly people. People pay lip service to the problems and issues affecting both groups, but that's about it.

I was absolutely horrified that you chose to feature Senator Bob Dole's embarrassing fall...on CNN News last night. What on earth is newsworthy about that? That this is an elderly man with disabilities who lost his balance? Perhaps your assumption was that his fall indicates that he is too old, too frail, too incompetent to lead this country as president?

Let me suggest to you that it is the mental health and vigor of a person that should determine their ability to govern, not their physical stamina - after all, FDR spent his presidency in a wheelchair.

Bob Dole was shot -- almost died -- and became paralyzed in his right arm to save his men, to save my parents who at that time were living in Iran, to save your parents from a fascist Germany. Where were you when he was dying for a last glimpse of his mother, as every soldier I have ever known desires? Believing that he may never feel the comforts and warmth of his home, family and community again? War-mongers, you call people like him in this age of "civilized" wars with high-tech weapons that don't show you the destruction and carnage they wreak. This is a brave and dignified man. Instead, you chose to highlight an undignified split-second in his life which, again, has NO NEWS VALUE WHATSOEVER. Where is the respect for his service to country, community and family? I state this in a nonpartisan manner -- albeit a very subjective one -- although I cannot believe that the decision to publish this photo was not committed in partisan spirit.

I appreciate your consideration of my complaint...

-- Elias Shams, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19

"A Hypocritical Egomaniac"

I strongly agree with the decision of the debate commission to exclude Ross Perot from the 1996 debates. I did vote for Mr. Perot in 1992, because, at the time, he was a breath of fresh air and emphasized critically important problems with the government (i.e. debt, deficit, Social Security/Medicare, etc). What he said then, I still agree with. However, where was Mr. Perot in the fall of 1995 when the Republican Congress attempted to follow his lead and produce a balanced budget, and amend the constitution to do the same? He was AWOL... not a peep was heard. Why, I ask? I think he was more concerned about himself personally than about the issues he discussed. This lack of intervention by Mr. Perot only confirmed, in my opinion, the assertions of some that he was a hypocritical egomaniac. Because of this, Mr. Perot lost ALL credibility with me, and I will NEVER vote for him again.

Also, in the same vein, why does Mr. Perot insist he MUST be included in the debates? Why wouldn't he debate Gov. Lamm in his primaries? Again, he is being hypocritical. He has NO chance of winning, but does have a chance of splitting votes and playing off one candidate or the other... basically obscuring the REAL debate that needs to be held, one-on-one, between the only candidates that have a realistic chance of winning. It strikes me that the president, who now leads by 16 points in the polls and has been governing for four years, is afraid of a one-on-one debate and is trying to hide behind Mr. Perot.

Mr. Perot... give it up! Let the American people (who you say you care about) have a real debate between the only two people that can win, Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. Go back to Texas and disappear, you are NOT a king or kingmaker... you are a wealthy egomaniac who gets his kicks out of stirring up trouble.

-- Larry Kurek, Bolingbrook, Ill., Sept. 20

"A Monument To Himself"

Bill Clinton has created a monument to himself in Southern Utah by setting aside a chunk of Utah land larger than the state of Delaware. The 1.7 million acres of wilderness is certainly worthy of protection but National Monument status does little to change its current usage or even guarantee that coal mining will be stopped in the area.

By circumventing the democratic process and allowing no public input, President Clinton has galvanized the opposition and angered some who may have otherwise been sympathetic to his cause. This action has little to do with preserving our natural resources and everything to do with Bill Clinton preserving his job.

As a nation we take great pride in our natural resources as well as our democratic process. Bill Clinton is willing to sacrifice one in a weak attempt to save the other for his own political gain.

-- Nolan Larsen, Orem, Utah, Sept. 20

Voter's Voice Archives

The Exclusion Of Ross Perot From The Debates (9/17)
Democracy In America (9/16)
Campaign Coverage (9/11)
Election Season Heats Up (9/4)
"Smoke-Screen Controversy" (8/29)
Write Bill Clinton's Acceptance Speech (8/28)
Robert Dole's Acceptance Speech And Final Impressions (8/20)
Robert Dole's Tax Plan (8/5)
"Even The Slightest Scrutiny" (7/2)
"It Is High Time" (6/17)
"Why Punish The Good Kids?" (6/6)
"Clinton's True Nature" (5/31)
"A Great President" (5/24)
"He's History" (5/16)
GOP Congress Not Omniscient (5/15)
Strategy For Dole (5/3)
New Hampshire Voters (3/20)

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