Hopkins would restore honor
I sat here and chuckled to myself this morning thanks to Mr. Zimmerman, the mayor of Waynesburg, concerning his comments in this paper about state Rep. Bill DeWeese. Mr. Zimmerman was able to tell us that DeWeese has missed only nine days of work in Harrisburg in the last 33 years. He knows that the structure of the office is the reason DeWeese did not know about the events that brought us Bonusgate. His knowledge that over 200 people were interviewed in the course of the investigation and nobody linked Mr. DeWeese to it amazes me. Even his knowledge of, as he said, “Mr. DeWeese’s quiet campaign of reform” really impresses me!
My question is this, “Without the help of Bill DeWeese, how would Mr. Zimmerman know all these facts?” Maybe Mr. DeWeese just helped Mr. Zimmerman write the letter? Come on people, wake up!
I have heard Mr. DeWeese claim to be the captain of the ship, the general in charge, and let’s not forget “that is how a Marine gets things done.” In my opinion, the “ship” is sinking, the general got busted back to private and is heading for the brig – and please do not disgrace the USMC by even remotely connecting them to such a scam.
We have had 33 years of DeWeese and we are the second- and third-poorest counties in the state of Pennsylvania.
Under Mr. DeWeese, we have a legislature that is out of control. Bonuses to state office employees for work they should not be doing, pay raises at midnight, young college girls that get a paycheck for sex and it is all at our expense.
There was a time I had respect for Mr. DeWeese and what he told us he wanted to do for us. But I feel he has been lured into the sewers of Harrisburg and into politics that are in his own best interest.
I feel the phrase “for the people” has become a forgotten term for him. As for the part about what his seniority can do to benefit us and how we need his 33 years of experience so that we can continue to grow in Greene and Fayette, my reply to that statement is simple: Take a look at state Reps. Deb Kula or Tim Mahoney, they both shoot holes in that theory.
Greg Hopkins offers us a fresh face and a new and respectable approach in Harrisburg, given the chance he would restore honor to the 50th District and contribute greatly to the betterment to us all.
Ron Metros
Uniontown
Bush, cohorts profit from war
Does the Congress or anybody notice that while the president is circling the globe enjoying an eight-year vacation, our troops are still fighting a war? A war the president and company instigated on lies and greed. How many troops and Iraqi civilian’s lives are lost due to this war? Our troops are not permitted to show disdain for this war, and the many discomforts they endure.
The president seems dissatisfied with his outdoor running track at the White House. He needs a much longer track for running. He could hire Halliburton to extend the track.
Conversely, he could do his running in Iraq and become one of the troops. Is this all the president has to do?
When does Mr. Bush work? How can Mr. Bush be so jovial in the photo-ops and not be aware of the problems facing our troops and the economy of our nation? Just look at July alone, 50,000 workers laid off due to the economy.
On the other hand, Mr. Bush, you will enjoy your retirement most comfortably. What about the working men and women? Perhaps with all the money made on this war, you and your cohorts would be kind enough to share with the less fortunate.
Do you after all these years have a plan to end this war? I guess not after eight years of lies, oil, and greed. Will Bush’s arrogant disregard of ethics and the law of the land set a precedent for the next president to follow? I hope not.
God bless our troops and America.
Carmella Hardy
Dunbar
Pausch showed us how to live
I’m saddened to hear about the recent death of college professor Randy Pausch, even though it was very clear that his time left on Earth was going to be brief.
Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer, and before any symptoms appear the disease has already spread like a wild fire burning out of control.
Randy showed great courage knowing death was so near. I think he knew he had to because he had a loving wife and three wonderful children to prepare for this.
I know we’ll probably never know why things like this have to happen; it just seems so unfair, but eventually we’re all going to experience this.
Death is something none of us can escape, so it’s best that we all live each day as if it were our last. The thing that tears at my heart is when Randy made the comment, “I know my wife and children will soon be falling off a cliff and I won’t be here to catch them.”
That comment remained in my mind during his short battle with this deadly disease, and I think it always will. I think we all could learn a lesson from Randy, which is that we should cherish every moment because when we leave this world there’s no coming back.
I just hope that his wife and children will be taken well care of and that they all reunite one day in heaven. Even though I never had the chance to meet him before his death, his last lecture sure made an impact on me. I truly hope that it did the same to the millions of other people who had the chance to read his book.
If only I could show the courage and strength that Randy did during his final journey on this Earth, then I know my final journey on this Earth will be just as rewarding as his. Rest in peace, Randy, and believe me, your legacy will definitely live on.
Michael Allen Greer
Uniontown