Ellington

The words that fall out of our government representatives' mouths are sometimes just too incredible to be made up.

In the midst of President Bush and Vice President Chaney trying to create a unified executive branch of government veiled in secrecy, stacking the courts and stomping on the rights of citizens, all the while neutering Congress to a non-entity, signing statements and engaging in filibusters, we are treated to the report below.

On a recent visit to Moscow, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this in regard to Vladimir Putin and the government of Russia: "In any country, if you don't have countervailing institutions, the power of any one president is problematic for democratic development," she went on to say: "I think there is too much concentration of power in the Kremlin. I have told the Russians that. Everybody has doubts about the full independence of the judiciary. There are clearly questions about the independence of the electronic media and there are, I think, questions about the strength of the Duma," Rice said, referring to the Russian parliament.

As far as reports go, no one was arrested for screaming things like "pots calling kettles" or "glass houses and stones." But you have to wonder how these people who consider themselves leaders of the free world can stand up straight-faced and utter such words without a huge bolt of irony striking them down.
—Brian Essex, Jackson

Remember Our Progress
Mississippi has great natural resources. I went on a picnic at Mayes Lake this spring. It was wonderful. We should encourage tourists to come for camping, fishing and good clean family fun.

The city is now building a park next to our apartment complex. The West Jackson area is getting better. There are a lot of children here at The Village that can benefit from it. I used to go to Battlefield Park regularly. I hope the people of Jackson appreciate the work our city workers do.

In the midst of being called dangerous and crime-ridden, we need to see that the city continues to progress in spite of the negative folk in Rankin and Madison Counties who write most of the letters in the Clarion-Ledger. Many of us live here by choice. If I had more money, I would still choose Jackson and the wonderful friendly people here over the 'burbs. Tell Ronni Mott to keep us on the ball, and Kamikaze, too.
—Patricia Wynn, Jackson

It Ain't Over Yet
Ms. Ladd, in your editorial "Ex-con Oversees City's Ex-Cons," (Sept. 6-12, No. 51, Vol. 5), don't you think that you are a little hard on the mayor's decisions? I know that you are bringing a little insight to what is going on today, but wait for the end results to criticize him. Most famous people become famous after they do the deeds and get out of office, and not while they are in office or, should I say, living.

The mayor is going to come out smelling like a rose—all people like you and I will just always have our opinions. Like Joyce Myers says, "We speak it."

Regarding "Better Late than Never?" (in the same issue): By playing politics, Faye Peterson undid herself. I like Ms. Peterson, but I hated it when she came after the mayor.

"Melton Introduces New DA, Aug. 7 2007:" What was wrong with this? They are building relationships and partnerships that promote good business.
—James Coleman, Jackson