* everything the President (or VP) says is true
* if you disagree with the President (or VP) you are unpatriotic
* it is OK to invade a country (and occupy indefinitely) based on false information
* it is OK to continue killing and maiming so earlier deaths won't be in vain
* it is OK to torture anyone we capture, and hold them for years without basic rights or charges
* it is OK to listen in on everyone's phone calls and emails
* it is OK to disregard US laws if you claim it helps the "war on terrorism" (or work for the VP)
* the "war on terrorism" can be solved by a military solution
* it is OK to drastically increase the US debt (& mortgage the US to foreign investors)
* it is OK to ignore global warming and other environmental problems if it hurts short term profits

My question is: Why aren't more Collinsville (& US) citizens calling for the impeachment of Bush & Cheney?

-- Ted Wright (June 17, 2008 2:45pm)

(I don't believe the list in case you are confused.) & I can accept your email comments now but keep them brief and concise and provide your name. Note: I will withhold your name online if you request, but it will make it easier for Bush/Cheney's guys to tell who is on what side if you include it in the emails they monitor.

Additional Ted Wright Comments (6/20/2008):
I am more interested in what is right and wrong for American than who is Republican or Democrat. I listen to all types of media and government provided information (& court decisions) and form my own opinions based on my experiences. I also understand that some information is withheld from the public (& in some cases falsified). I understand that each person can reach totally different conclusions from hearing the same 'facts' provided.

It is the job of the US military to follow their commanders. It is the job of every US citizen to ensure that those commanders (starting at the President) provide the correct objectives in the best interest of the United States of America and do it in accordance to the US Constitution and laws.

I firmly believe an old railroad saying that if you are on the wrong track, it doesn't matter how hard you work or how good your intentions ... you will end up in the wrong place.

Question# 1-You can never believe everything a politician says, they almost always have an agenda!

Question# 2- no, but when you are so public with information wether its factual or not that the troops in harms way are hearing it every day and it effects their moral, then you're doing this country a dis-service. Do you think your patriotic because you believe everything the media says? The media is bias no matter who you listen to.

Question# 3- Its funny how the Dems harp on this, Iraq disregarded UN inspectors how many times and for how long, they were trying to pull us into a war and they did. They were warned over and over. As for the weapons of mass destruction they had intelligents, everyone in the world knows they were pursuing them and everyone knows how easily they could have been moved to other countries.So unless you have security clearance, You have no clue!

Question# 4- We're not fighting in Iraq because of 9-11 for one, we're fighting to liberate a country for a regime that has murdered 100's of thousands of people, not soldiers, women and children, sons and daughters! We're not doing it for oil either, we're doing it now because its the right thing to do for innocent Iraqy people.

Question# 5- When you volunteer to be a soldier you know you could be killed, captured, or torchured. We're talking about war I can gaurantee you our enemies are fighting with no rules! When you step on a battlefield, and kill, or conspire to kill, you better check your "basics rights" at the door!

Question# 6- If done through the proper channels for national security reasons, they can read all my email and listen to all my calls!

Question# 7- Never ok to disregard the law, but 90% of politicians have their own agendas, get money wherever they can get it, do things that help them or their friends financially, so stop singling out the ones you don't like!

Question# 8- The war on terror will never end people, and we've always been in a war on terror we've just never proclaimed it. Why do you think we have CIA and other agenties, we've always went after terrorists, its just not usually on the ten o'clock news.Now the media shows everything they can get their hands on to push their agendas.

Question# 9-No, I beleive the Iraqy people owe us a great deal and they will have if they don't already the means to pay part of the bill on this.There are also several countries in the region that are benefitting from us being there that are not contributing enough. As usual we're doing the dirty work and paying the bill too.

Question# 10- I think these days everyone is aware of the environment.You have to face some facts though. Electric and hydrogen as a source of fuel for cars and trucks is not viable yet.We need to push as hard as we can to make them viable as soon as possible, but right now, today oil is everything, we won't drill off the coast in the rockies or in Alaska and have to do it. We have to be smart about it but we have to do it until these other forms of fuel are viable. As for generating electricity,Nuclear is the most viable and most efficient.Wind and solar will become more effiecient in the future but right now it has to be nuclear.

Question# 11- Not worth answering! Bush is a hero one minute and worthless the next,depending on how the media reports it.

Final thought, the economy and housing have been slowing and oil prices have been rising for about a year and a half now. We're already paying too much tax on fuel plus Obama s talking about a windfall profits tax. Think of what your getting ready to pay for gas! 6.5 years of Bush and a republican congress, steady economy, steady oil prices, people are spending money, investing, consumer confidence is good. 1.5 Years of Bush with democratic congress,consumer confidence gone! Oil prices,exploding! Housing, declining every day! Taxes, rising! Inflation, rising!

My question is why aren't more Collinsville citizens calling for the impeachment of the democratic congress!

(Name withheld by request) -- (6/19/2008 )-- Email#3

First of all, I would love to leave my name, but people I work with, live with, call relatives and go to church with would have a heart attack because of my words. I don't want that on my conscious!

Anyone who believes that list, voted for Bush either the 1st or 2nd time, or both! The ones who believe the list don't want to be wrong, and they mostly are those who believe Bush is a "good Christian man". He may be a Christian by word, but good is quite debatable. Politicians always, I repeat, always have an agenda, even at the state and municipal levels. Remember, Bush and Cheney both have ties to the oil business! Need I say more?

I am tired of hearing the people who believe the list dwelling on President Clinton and his lies! His lies and behavior were immoral, but Bush's lies have killed and maimed thousands of soldiers.

(Name withheld by request) -- (6/21/2008) -- Email#4

Your editorial was very well put. I would like to respond to the letter that begins "Question #1- You can never believe...", because I cannot fathom how someone to this day will defend Bush's actions. I think my point will be best illustrated by using the same format as the original editorial. I believe this sums up this reader's thought process:

1. Since you can never believe everything a political says, we shouldn't expect our president to be honest with us.

2. Because certain news may effect our soldier's moral, the media should just choose not to report those stories to the public. It's not the media's job to present all the facts and let Americans make up their own mind. Only one side should be presented, the government's side.

3. Since the public does not have access to what the government has deemed classified information, we cannot possibly know the whole story. We should just trust the government is doing what's best for us.

4. Even though most of Bush's administration were involved with the Project for the New American Century (who believed it was crucial for the U.S. to gain a military presence in the middle-East), they had never even thought of invading Iraq before 9/11. It is our job to liberate all countries around the world and Iraq just happened to be first. Next we are off to the Sudan, Myanmar, and the dozens of other countries who are governed by dictators. Also, no U.S. oil companies benefit financially by our presence in Iraq.

5. It's okay for us to torture people we capture, some from a battlefield and others rounded up in house to house sweeps. We can disregard the Geneva Convention and still expect our word is good with other countries. We can treat our captives differently than we would want our POW's to be treated. What other countries think of us just isn't that important.

6. I have nothing to hide, so feel free to listen to my phone calls and read my e-mails. Surely the government would never spy and gather data on its citizens for any other purpose than the "war on terror". I have no concern that a government with such power can systematically shut-down any attempt of people with opposing views to organize. Also, I appreciate that our founding fathers and generations of soldiers since have fought for our rights, but our rights really don't matter that much to me as long as it's done in the name of keeping me safe.

7. All politicians are corrupt, so we should naturally expect our president to be corrupt too.

8. We have always went after terrorist, but today if the administration declares someone a terrorist they can be held indefinitely without a trial, and I am totally fine with this.

9. The Iraqis, many of whom have lost their entire family due to this war, should be grateful that we liberated them. Now they are free to go between check-point to check-point. They want us there. They are happy we have 14 permanent military bases there. And they should pay us back for what it cost to destroy their country.

10. Nuclear energy is safe. Plus, since everyone in the world loves the U.S., we would never have to worry about terrorist attacks on these facilities which could possibly set off a nuclear reaction. Also, we are moving just as fast as we can on alternate fuels, it has nothing to do with how much influence oil company lobbyist have over politicians.

11. We should not be calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney because they are members of my political party.

12 (Final thought) It's the responsible thing to do to spend billions for war and at the same time cut taxes for the rich. Our children and grand children should foot the bill for this war. It's not a big deal that we went from a $236 billion surplus when Clinton left office to a $413 billion deficit. I don't mind that we now have to pay billions of dollars on interest, because I got my tax break. I like to repeat the latest Republican sound-bytes who blame our current economic state on the Democrats. After all, the results of fiscal policy are felt over-night and this down turn in the economy has nothing to do with the fiscal policies of the last seven years.

Now, let's impeach all those democrats in Congress because it's more important for me to stand up for my party than to stand up for America.

(Name withheld by request) -- (6/21/2008) -- Email#5