The only thing more satisfying than voting against him would be voting against Ted Stevens – but alas – I don’t live in Alaska.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Letter to the Editor SL Tribune with preface:

Just so you know, I’m going to be sending this comment to every newspaper in the
state and I’ll do my best to post it on every bulletin board I can find with a
link to your editorial. And if I can find or enlist someone else’s help, I’ll
send it to any other outside papers that no matter how unlikely it may be, take
an interest in the mindset of the second leading paper in the state of Utah.
Yes, I’m that disgusted.

===========================================

I have to say that not only was I shocked with the content of the Tribune’s
editorial endorsment of Senator Hatch, I was disgusted. I don’t need to endorse
either candidate to express my disgust with your editorial. I would not argue
that Senator Hatch has done nothing for this state and this country. But for
the tribune to come right out and use and endorse the concept of quote,
“head-of-the-trough position’s” in congress and “bringing home federal pork to
fund Utah projects” demonstrates everything that is wrong with this country
today. Since when did this attitude of “give me my piece of the pie” take over this
country to the extent it has today? On one hand, this state embraces and fights
for the words, “One nation, under God” to remain in the pledge of alliegance, on
the other hand the Tribune and many in this state have degraded the national
spirit and national goals into something akin to pigs feeding at a trough. The
Tribune has literally stepped all over the words of
JFK when he said, “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can
do for your country.” My brother died in Iraq for the ideals of this country,
the ENTIRE country and it’s welfare. I think he would be as disgusted as I am
over the Tribune’s perception of the way this nation should be run. I don’t see
how any patriotic thinking citizen in this state could read your endorsment and
take it seriously. You’ve not only dishonored Pete Ashdown, whatever his
intentions may be, you’ve also painted Senator Hatch in a light that may or may
not be true, depending on his intentions. National representatives are bound to consider the welfare of
this nation first. If you’re voting based on the pork you may get at the end of
the day, do everyone a favor…don’t vote.

Mike Cawley
Proud brother of Marine SSGT and SLCPD Officer/SWAT, James W. Cawley, KIA, Iraq,
March 29, 2003

Just wanted to say I voted early, on 10/31, and of course that I voted for you. Whatever the results, thank you so much for running this campaign.

If anyone is interested, you can read about my experience voting early, and voting for Ashdown, here:

http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/dawn_corrigan/2006/11/index.html

An Open Letter to Senator Hatch

Mr. Hatch,

Even before the founding of our great nation, those that would become our “Founding Fathers” believed in “unalienable rights” – rights that could not be given away. These rights are believed to be given by God – to all nations – to all peoples. Among these rights were Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. But these God-given rights are not solely inclusive to this abstract list. Our inspired Fathers, expounded on this list.

Our Fathers found additional rights to be “self-evident”, that is, evident without proof. They felt so strongly about these rights that they would offer their blood as a ransom, in defense of these rights. They offered this, not only to their contemporaries, but also to their descendants. We, as their descendants, enjoy these rights as the fruit of their sacrifice.

It is however, imperative that we, as a nation, recognize that their beliefs were not subject to them having “American citizenship”, because in fact, they were not American citizens, but citizens of the British Crown.

During the years leading up to the American Revolution, the British Monarchy carried out injustice on our Fathers. Among these injustices, the King’s government could accuse colonists of crimes, put them aboard ship, take them to England, put them on trial before a unrighteous court, entertain no witnesses or evidence on their behalf and sentence them to prison or execution for treason. Violations of these rights by the Crown were instrumental in our Father’s producing the Declaration of Independence and later codified in the Bill of Rights of our Constitution.

Due partially to this injustice, and wholly to Godly inspiration, our Fathers conceived additional “self-evident” rights that they found central to justice. Among these are;

Right to a speedy trial.
Right to trial of a jury of peers, in the location of the alleged offense.
Right to know the charges and evidence against them.

Our Fathers would eventually offer their own blood to secure these rights.

Clearly now, we, as a nation, deny these rights to others, to those accused of crimes against our great nation. It is convient to pretend that only “American Citizens” should enjoy these rights. But our Fathers were not American citizens when the inspiration of these rights first inhabited their minds. Inspired by God, they found these rights to be central to justice, preexisting, and precluding their American citizenship.

Do we not also believe that these rights are “self-evident”, “unalienable”, given to all men, by God, for the righteous execution of justice?

Senator Hatch, as a student of history, religion, and law, do you not believe this?

Now, our American government has declared war on a nation that has denied rights such as these to its people, the people of Iraq. Again, some among us have offered, as a security, as a ransom, their own blood. This time, for “Iraqi Freedom”.

But our government, in its zealousness to defeat evil, is now practicing the same evil which our “Fore-fathers” offered their blood to defeat. We deny these same rights to accused men for which our Fathers first offered their blood.

Our Father’s blood will cry out in witness against those of us who would carry out injustice against other men on the basis that they are not American citizens. This is an offense of American arrogance, and the World is justified in decrying it.

Further, do we, as a nation, consider the blood of our soldiers so much less valuable than that of our Fathers (engaged in the same struggle), that we would deny the very justice they offer their blood for?

It is time for those of us that remember our great nation’s history, to cry out against injustice in behalf of those who have no voice. Senator Hatch, you may reduce these people to the term “Terrorist”, and somehow deny them justice, but in our great nation, people are considered innocent until proved guilty in a court of Law, for we are a nation governed by Law, not by emotion driven by the threat of terrorism.

Remember, mankind’s unalienable rights are unalienable due to their Divine origin.

Senator Hatch, your mindless allegiance to the party line could cost you more than you know. It could cost you an election, it may cost you, your very soul.

Respectfully,
Chad Pangborn
Follower of Christ
Citizen of Utah, United States of America

On a different note, the Tribune has yet to publish my letter to the editor in response to its endorsement of Hatch. So, like Pete, I’ll post it here:

Dear Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board,

I was shocked to hear that the Tribune endorses Senator Orrin Hatch over Pete Ashdown this election season only because of Hatch’s seniority. While the editorial rightfully points out that he could lead the powerful Senate Finance Committee in a few years, it misses the point of the dangers of the seniority system.

The Congressional seniority system rewards mere political survival, not innovation. When junior legislators are unable to accomplish what they promise, this system gives them an excuse. We need politicians who can quickly adapt to the complex federal government and get things done instead of awaiting multiple terms to accumulate political capital.

Pete Ashdown is truly committed to fight and eradicate this useless system that protects legislative staleness that costs the country dearly. He has fresh ideas to problems — including: energy policy, environmental concerns, instability in the Middle East, and needless government opacity — that Congress has failed to stifle over the 30 years that Hatch has held his seat.

Instead of promoting a badly needed change, the Tribune is no better than the many nincompoops that infest our patrician class. It unabashedly likes pork so much that it is afraid to taste something new.

Sincerely,
Steve Petersen

kneu, kifx, KLO,ksl,kxrv,Karb, kvnu, ksub, kony

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