Letters to the Editor

+ Going down by the bow
Dear Editor:
In the business world, when a CEO is not performing, he can be replaced. In politics, an elected official is performing if he is giving away the store to those who vote for more entitlements in addition to doing whatever it takes to be elected/re-elected.

Barack Obama is leading in the direction his handlers require, and the Manchurian President is doing as he is told.

He has always been unqualified to be president and fully qualified to do the bidding of those who wanted him in the White House (I am not referring here to the electorate, although they too want him in the Oval Office).

Leadership is an inbred quality. You cannot push a chain, and you cannot deal with a crisis when you are untrained or have no experience in dealing with one.

The Congress, and most presidents, with a few notable exceptions, have failed for a long time to do the job as outlined in the Constitution. And it is hard to lead an army that has not been trained to fight.

With all due respect to Tom Brokaw and his nomination for the Greatest Generation (the one that fought WWII), he has never absorbed any history about the founding of this country. Those men and women were The Greatest Generation.

The USA Titanic hit the iceberg on Nov 6, 1932, and is going down by the bow.

Katharine Lee Bates in her ode to “America the Beautiful” wrote:

“O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life.”

Until we find leaders who have that as a guiding principle, we will continue the march to third-rate nationhood.

Thanks for the column.
John W. Minton Jr.
Bradenton

+ Dogs don’t belong at park
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter to the editor regarding the Rotary Club calling for support of a dog park at Bayfront Park.

Bayfront Park consists of two play areas for children, two tennis courts, a basketball court, a large building for meetings and a ball field. The ballfield is pristine with flowers and grass. Small children run and play in this field when the field is not in use.

Allowing dogs to run free and leave urine and feces, both of which cannot be completely cleaned up on the field could possibly reduce the use by others.

The park now prohibits dogs that are on the leash or free. I hope the town would not change the ordinance now in effect.
William Tow
Longboat Key

+ Thanks for the Hilton memories
Dear Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the wonderful people I have met during my years at the Hilton. If it were possible, I would thank each and every one of you personally. The memories and friendships I will cherish for a lifetime. Thank you all again. 
Billy “Hilton” Brugger
Bradenton
Former Longboat Key Beachfront Resort bartender