Letters to the Editor

Volume VI Number 50
December 17-23, 1998

Burton Flies High

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

On a recent peanut-free flight from Denver to Baltimore, I noticed a fellow flyer with computer problems. At first I thought the chap was just learning the luxury of laptop computing for he kept reading the same web page over and over. Later, I realized this guy was genuinely interested in the article on his screen - by Bill Burton.

Peering between the aisles, I learned the title: "You'll never know what you can catch at Deep Creek Lake, but it can be big." Burton went on the trumpet Johnny's Bait House, a Deep Creek Lake concessionaire. It must have been a fascinating read, for the guy devoured the piece like an airline meal of days gone by.

Now I've uttered a harsh word of two about the Sultan of Catching (some people call it fishing; with Burton it's always catching). But seeing a fan of Bill Burton's dreaming of fishing at 30,000 feet gave me new respect for the New Bay Times columnist.

Pushing my seat in the recline mode, I could only say, 'this Bud's for you, Bill.' Next time, I'll bring my laptop.

-D.C. Bourne, Churchton

Reporter's Best Friend

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

Thanks to Darcey Dodd and Kim Cammarata for their article ["It's a Hard, Cruel World Out There, But Some Animals Find Warmth," Dec. 7-16] on the critters who need a loving home life.

-Elizabeth Weir, Lake Bloomington, Illinois

History Lesson

Dear New Bay Times~Weekly:

In 1660, Charles II was restored to the English throne. He pardoned all but the 'regicides' - the Puritans who signed his death warrant. The regicides were hunted down, tried, hanged, drawn and quartered.

So it will be for the "presidentcides" - the Republican members of the House of Representatives who vote for impeachment. The people will hold them responsible for the appalling spectacle of a government shut down so we can all watch on television the Chief Justice of the United States preside over a Senate debating Zippergate.

The Republicans don't care if anything gets done on Social Security, health care, transportation, the environment or anything else that matters to middle class and poor people.

If the Republicans were statesmen, they would compromise on censure. But they would rather make Zippergate pay for Watergate. Vengeance, however, is a game that others can play and that history will play. The presidentcides may find military bases in their districts topping the phase-out lists. They may find their own sexual infidelities and other sins exposed.

The presidentcides will do nothing in their whole lives more notable than casting this one vote. They will have tainted themselves, as did the regicides. They will have an ignominious place in history. And Election 2000 will be another spectacle of vengeance: this time Republicans will be hanged, drawn and quartered. George Bush Junior won't have a chance.

-J. A. Hoage, Severna Park

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