Writer's latest is full of distortions

In his most recent letter to the editor, William U. Parrot exhorts us to "Get the facts. Truth will set you free." Indeed.

"Bush lied, people died." "Worst president since Hoover." "Approval rating at 28 percent."

So far, so good.

Then there's the referral to Bush as a "gentleman who kept this nation incident free for seven years after the worst attack on our soil since the War of 1812."

First, Clinton did the same thing, as no further terrorist attacks occurred on our soil after the first WTC attack during the balance of his presidency. Unlike Bush, however, he brought those responsible to justice.

Second, the main reason we have been incident free is because al-Qaida hasn't attempted another one. Yet. If Bush had actually thwarted one, we'd have heard about it, as we did when he thwarted an attack by a group that couldn't even afford to buy boots for themselves.

As to the trembling citizens of Madrid and London, both threw out leaders of their respective countries friendly to Bush. Neither have been attacked since doing so.

As to Congressional approval at 9 percent, that is also true. The reason for that is because we, the people, are tired of watching Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid practice the Neville Chamberlain policy of appeasement with Bush, instead of standing up to him, and getting nothing for it.

Also, when have the Democrats undermined Bush's military mission worldwide? Another reason for Congress' low approval ratings is the fact that the Democrats have routinely caved in to Bush's funding requests for his various military adventures, thus surrendering the one weapon they do have to force an end to this unnecessary war.

As to blocking "decades long efforts to drill responsibly on the continental shelf," how was your party not able to get this done, Mr. Parrot, when, during the first six years of the Bush presidency, the nation was in the iron grip of the Right Wing, which had control of the presidency, Congress and the courts?

Big Oil already has leases to millions of acres upon which they have refused to drill for oil. Nor have they built any more refineries in the last 35 years that could increase the supply of gasoline.

The bottom line is, the oil companies do not want to increase the supply of gasoline because they are happy with the price where it is now.

Lastly, came the usual distortions about the Democratic positions on Iraq and Afghanistan. As to Iraq, surprise, surprise, Iraq's government likes Obama's position over those of McCain and Bush. As to Afghanistan, there has never really been any serious debate from the left about the need for our troops to be there. Right Wing World can't seem to ever acknowledge that. These, Mr. Parrot, are the actual facts and the truth.

Charles E. Crouse

Elgin