Their way or the highway

On June 27, two most instructive letters appeared on the DRC Opinion Page. In the first, David Johnson pooh-poohs any criticism of Obama and concludes: “And guess what? Shhhhh! Don’t tell anybody, but Obama’s black.”

In the other, Debbie McPherson sees the recent reduction of violence in Iraq, which may lead to increased oil production there, as justification for Bush bashing. She concludes, “Welcome to the new country — United States of Exxon-Mobil. The new U.S.E. dollar bill will read, ‘God bless Bush,’ and ‘In Bush we trusted.’”

Typical left! Its members claim they will bring us together, but their true message is quite different: Our guy, the representative of all on the left, is perfect. Any criticism of him can only be because of your racism. Your guy is not just totally wrong; he conspires for “his oil buddies” against our national interest. He, and by implication, anyone who agrees with him, is evil.

We already have this extreme, divisive, simplistic mindset in control of the House and Senate. Do we really want to give it control of the administration — and, after an appointment or two, of the Supreme Court as well?

Lee Nahrgang,

Denton

That Pilot Point board

On June 16, I attended my first Pilot Point school board meeting to present my concerns about documented deviations from school board policies regarding Robert’s Rules of Order and Texas Local Government Code §180.05 during actions to fill a board vacancy on May 19. Immediately, the trustees met in a 90-minute closed session under Texas Open Meeting Act §551.071 that allows a public body to meet privately under attorney-client privilege.

Rather than provide legal advice, I understand the district’s attorney actually mediated amendments to the May 19 board minutes to essentially appoint Milton Duesman to Place 4. In essence, the board met in secret deliberations to fill a board vacancy, a clear violation of Texas state law.

I’m also very disappointed by the first actions of newly elected trustee Melinda Street. I wonder how many public officials actually take their oath of office seriously, you know, the part to uphold Texas laws. Surely, the November 2008 and May 2009 school board elections will bring real change that will assure good government practices.

Mike Frazier,