Letters to the Editor

The paper is charged

Times fails to give impeachment bill the coverage it deserves

Editor, The Times:

On June 9, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich presented 35 articles of impeachment against President George Bush, summarizing all of the charges that American citizens have been bringing against the president since he assumed office in 2001, from his lies to invade Iraq, to his criminal negligence in his handling of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks ["Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution," Times, News, June 10].

Surely your coverage of the almost five-hour speech by Kucinich would have deserved more than the short shrift you gave it?

You could, for example, have quoted the words that Kucinich ended each article with:

"In all of this, President George W. Bush has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as president, and subversive of constitutional government, to the prejudice of the cause of law and justice and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States."

My response to these words: Amen!

Oh, and Mr. President: How are you enjoying your trip to Europe?

— Zoltan Abraham, Renton

Telling lies

Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio recently introduced a resolution of 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush to the House of Representatives.

If Former President Clinton was impeached for lying about his relationship with an intern — sleazy, yes, but a personal matter between Clinton and his family — shouldn't Congress at least consider impeaching Bush for lying us into an illegal, immoral war that has killed and maimed thousands?

Presenting false information to the American people in order to lead us into a war that has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 of our soldiers, killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, maimed and traumatized scores of others and funneled billions of our tax money to Halliburton is certainly a breach of this country's trust.

If lying about one's sex life warrants impeachment, how in the world doesn't lying us into an unnecessary war demand the same treatment?

— Linsay Reece-Evans, Everett

King County budget

Sims digs too deep; cuts will affect lives

King County Executive Ron Sims' proposed budget cuts will do more than erode public safety: They drastically reduce the level of services that make us a strong and vibrant community ["King County's $70M budget crisis: Cuts in courts, law enforcement warned," Local News, June 6].

From help for victims of sexual assault, to senior services and community clinics, these services are an integral part of what makes King County great.

This crisis must give us the determination to provide long-term, dedicated funding for community health, after-school programs, violence prevention and safe neighborhoods, help for crime victims, mental-health treatment, domestic-violence victims, sexual-assault services and prevention and senior centers.

All of us depend on these services, and now is the time to make the funding dependable as well.

— Mary Ellen Stone, director, King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Renton

County exec's office should be investigated

Once more our King County executive has demonstrated his incompetence as a public manager. The latest crisis now is the 2009 budget cuts, preceded by the animal control issue, the disgraceful and dysfunctional county voting and computerization system.

The media, along with the County Council, should begin an investigation of Executive Ron Sims' office budget, they should expose the funds allocated for the operation of his office, including funds allocated for public-relations staff, staff assistants, office space, transportation, etc. They also should monitor his daily work schedule.

Since he can certainly find time to promote himself on TV, how much time does he devote to managing the county resources? Why should the public remain hostage to a government employee who puts public safety at risk because of his failure to properly manage the resources allocated to the criminal-justice agencies and other county agencies? There is always some crisis in King County government that exists because Sims is asleep at the switch.

Let's hope that he moves to the federal government, where he'll be surrounded and monitored by an administration that won't tolerate his behavior or incompetence. He certainly wouldn't survive in the private sector.

— Jon Counts, Seattle

Gender insensitivity

Tipton reference out of touch

I read with interest the article in The Seattle Times ["Fight looms over estate of Tipton widow," Local News, June 9] about the disputed estate of the spouse of famed Spokane musician Billy Tipton. I am appalled that the article referred to Tipton as "she."

While born female, Tipton lived his adult life as a man. He married a woman in 1960. Their marriage lasted nearly 20 years, and they legally adopted three children.

The Seattle Times needs to get with the times! Gender is not determined by physiology. I call upon the newspaper to train its staff in LGBT cultural competency.

— Sarah Luthens, Seattle

Crane crackdown

Disquieting comment from equipment company

A Times story last week ["Months after warning, state shuts down 3 cranes," page one, June 6] about the red-tagging of three tower cranes included a quote from Lewis Equipment, stating that the cranes "have experienced no structural failures or significant electrical issues."

Uh, considering that a structural failure appears to result in the sudden collapse of the crane with disastrous effects to people and structures in the area, the Lewis Equipment assertion is a tad short of comforting.

— John Weller, Seattle