No leaders

Dear Republic:

I have just read “Puffed Wheat or Porridge” [issue 112] and it resonated.

Just this morning, I attended the whirlwind Prince George visit by NDP leader Carole James in her last-minute attempt to get out the vote. I stood in the crowd, holding the required little sign for the cameras, and wondered: “Why am I here?”

I was there because the NDP has the only chance to unseat so-called “Liberal” parasites. My hatred of that scumbag Campbell is such that I would vote for almost anyone else. But there was no spark, no fire, in that rally.

The last time I saw a trace of that was with Dave Barrett, who had ideas of how to make life better. Some were good, some were not. But he had ideas that did not involve following someone else’s ruts.

Since that election in 1975 we have had a parade of faceless politicians of all parties who advocated tinkering around the edges of society but without any grand ideas as to how we could harness the wealth and skills of BC to achieve a great society. Tomorrow I will trundle down and vote for one of the uninspiring NDP candidates, hoping she can unseat the schmuck who currently professes to represent us while running two Wendy’s franchises.

And I can look forward in a month or two to voting again for someone I find uninspiring but who has the best chance of unseating the useless bastard who now professes to represent us while sitting by the side of Stephen Harper.

As for me, I was an American for 38 years and I don’t care to revisit that experience. Jesus, what has Canada done with the promise of our fair land?

- Jim Loughery, Prince George, BC

No Gordo hunt

Dear Republic:

I couldn't have been more pleased when I read your article on how the establishment media is unwilling to write about rumours pertaining to Gordon Campbell and his MLA's. They sure as heck were willing to take on anything else relating to political issues, and the personal life of any politician, and of any party, in the past. What? Is Gordo made of teflon? Does everything just slide right off of him? I've being trying to understand this lack of interest from the mainstream media about serious issues going on with Gordon Campbell and the Campbell government for quite some time. If any of the issues you detailed were happening within another political party I think they'd be on the front page of the mainstream papers and the issues would be serious news. It's about time someone seriously asked this question.

- Christine Camley, Vancouver

It’s called “libel”

Dear Republic:

I don't know you nor do I know Mr Campbell or his Chief of Staff Lara Dauphinee but I do know that you did not provide one shred of evidence to support your Inquirer type story hinting that there may be a relationship other than business between the two of them. I would suggest that one of the reasons the mainstream media does not pursue this slanderous allegation is because it is nothing more than that.

I suggest you print an immediate retraction. If you do not I will see that Campbell and Dauphinee get copies of your story. There may be a New Word Alert for you . . . litigation. Is that carefully caveated enough for you?

- Bill Bush

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