Civil discourse all but impossible

Fence Post writer Steve Toye's Aug. 26 rant is long on attack but short on facts. He blames (of course) President Clinton's fiscal policy for the massive intelligence failures leading up to 9/11. Really? How about the President's Daily Brief handed to George Bush on August 6, 2001 that clearly stated, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in the U.S."?

Mr. Bush received this memo during his monthlong vacation in Crawford, Texas. Did he race back to the White House to convene an emergency meeting in the Situation Room to thwart any such attack? Of course not.

Mr. Toye goes on to laud the tenacity of a Republican-led Congress finally overcoming the president's veto to pass welfare reform. Oh, that was a good thing? In my opinion, welfare reform was a cruel, punitive initiative that has caused incalculable suffering to mostly poor women and children.

Other than maintaining the Bush tax cuts for the top 2 percent, or advocating additional tax cuts in tandem with draconian budget cuts, I have yet to hear any Republican articulate any coherent plan for improving the economy. Mr. Toye likes to personally attack liberals, Democrats, and anyone who disagrees with him. Why not take a pass on the personal attacks and offer some carefully thought out ideas and suggestions?

I was no fan of Ronald Reagan, but he and former House Speaker "Tip" O'Neil were able to work together on some legislation despite their stark political differences, and actually developed a mutual respect and lifelong friendship. It is too bad that in today's caustic political environment, where many Republicans are cheering for the president's failure, that type of civil discourse seems all but impossible.

Greg Newlin

Naperville