No honor, no character remains

Gerry Marchese (Fence Post, Oct. 5) conveniently ignored the fact that Sen. Barack Obama in no way referenced his "lipstick on a pig" comment at Gov. Sarah Palin.

He also ignored the fact that Sen. John McCain, and his buddy Vice President Dick Cheney have used the same phrase countless times in their speeches, so don't feign indignation, look in a mirror.

While the Republicans controlled Congress during President Bush's first six years in office, Bush seemed not to know he had veto power because he never used it.

There wasn't a spending bill he didn't like and McCain went along nearly every time. Since the Democrats gained control in 2006, he amazingly found out about that power and has consistently threatened to use it, and has.

Also, since the Senate has the arcane filibuster rule, nothing at all can be done there with less than 60 votes.

It is no wonder Congress accomplished very little the past two years. Every time the Democrats tried to reform anything, they were stopped dead by either Senate Republicans or Bush.

Also, since the Executive branch controls the actual functioning of the agencies of government, Congress can do very little except to call for tighter controls and regulations, which obviously were ignored by Bush, and fully supported by "I'm basically a deregulator" and "the economy is not my strong point" McCain.

Finally. I am a veteran of the Vietnam era and at one point had great respect for John McCain's honor and character.

That respect is totally gone as his "America First" slogan is a sham with the choice of Palin, which the McCain camp admits was political, and the lies he continually spews.

There is no honor nor character left. It's pathetic to see what a once great man has become.

Mike Krueger

Carol Stream