Clark ridiculous in McCain attack

According to Gen. Wesley Clark, Sen. McCain isn’t qualified to be president because he had a plane shot out from under him and served six years in a filthy enemy prison. Using this criteria, there are other presidents who must have been unqualified.
George H.W. Bush had a plane shot out from under him. John Kennedy had a PT boat destroyed. John Kerry might have been unqualified since he was wounded in Vietnam.
On the other hand, think of all the presidents who haven’t had anything shot out from under them: George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, Franklin Roosevelt and others.
I’m not sure about Teddy Roosevelt, though didn’t he have a horse shot out from under him at San Juan Hill?
Sen. Barack Obama must be well-qualified, since he hasn’t had anything shot out from under him.
How ridiculous can we get?
BOB STRONG
Montrose

The Colorado River is
a community treasure
I write in opposition to granting Brady Trucking total access to the Colorado River. I commend the three City Council members —Gregg Palmer, Teresa Coons and Jim Doody — who voted to oppose zoning the land owned by Brady as industrial.
I was a member of the original Riverfront Commission. Its objective then, as now, was to enable the citizens of Mesa County and visitors to have access to the Colorado River and to enjoy its beauty. Let us not now halt the enjoyment of the river by putting buildings along the banks.
Twenty years ago, we were cleaning up the river’s edges so that hikers, boaters and bikers could enjoy its beauty and tranquility. We don’t want to look back in another 20 years and wish we had protected that precious resource.
Let us never forget that the Colorado River is one of the major rivers of the West, as are the Missouri, the Rio Grande and the Columbia. We should treasure the Colorado’s journey through our valley and keep it the beautiful river that it is.
HELEN E. TRAYLOR
Grand Junction

Influence peddling
wrong for elected official
I received a call June 25 from Daily Sentinel reporter Mike Saccone and was asked to comment on Commissioner Janet Rowland’s plans to create a public relations firm. Mike’s call was my first confirmation of this.
Although no names for the source of this story were mentioned, some people may have the impression that I somehow started this debate. I would like to set the record straight. Perhaps Janet raised the issue herself at this time, to inoculate herself from future criticism. Whereas she has let it be known before the election what she is planning, the voters can’t complain later. The Sentinel pointed out Commissioner Meis did the same thing before he was first elected.
The law is quite specific about what constitutes an actionable conflict of interest. In essence, an official would have to trade a specific favor for proven compensation to break the law.
Dennis Herzog’s June 27 “From the Newsroom” blog entry is correct in stating there is nothing wrong on the surface in opening a PR firm. The question is: Would this be ethical conduct?
The fact that Janet would be an influential public office holder would not be lost on potential clients to her PR firm. It would cause me to wonder whose interests she is putting first.
Special interests find many clever and legal ways to buy favor. I find this influence-peddling to be offensive.
In Rowland’s case, Republican voters can decide for themselves on Aug.12 what they think is right. Mr. Herzog is correct — it is my job as the Republican candidate to point out this choice. It’s why I’m running against her.
DAVID A. KEARSLEY
Mesa

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