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Show The Salt Lake Tribune AA2 OPINION Sunday November10, 2002 Tribune Out of Order on Judicial Appointment decrease by three Overall. during Presi dent Clinton's eight years in office ne Senate con firmed 37 judges, essen tially the same (only five s it confirmed for BY ORRING. HATCH Editorial board titled to their own opin r own set of but not to th facts The Salt Lake Tr bune’s editorial against President Bush's planto F formthe judicial selectior process ("Federal BenchFi asco.” Nov. 5) puts The Tri bune in the extremely rare President Reagan, who, by the way. had more judges confirmed than any other president in history. Note MR OH company of those who ar gue against speeding up a proce that virtually every think 18 tan one vo six years of a Senate con trolled by his own party. while Presi sensible ohserver slow an honestly defend the current empty seats in the federal judiciary. which means that 9 percent of the judicial This is one of rates in modern The Senate's that President Reagan had ATCH branch sits vacant the highest vacancy times. goal regardless of dent Clinton had only two Finally. although the Republicans xet a lot of blame for the 41 Clinton nominees who did not receive hear ings. that numberis 13 fewer than the WA nominees who suffered the same fate at the handsof Democrats during the first Bush administration. By the way, nine of the Clinton 41 were who is president and which party nominatedso late in Clinton's eighth controls the Senate should be to evaluate and confirm judicial nomi beenprocessed by the Senate. ners in a timely way in order to en sure a fully functioningfederal judi ciary. That is difficult to achieve duc to the amount of work invelved in re searching, the personal and profes sional backgrounds of nominees. It is also complicated by too much parti san politics. President Bush's plan to start the process earlier, and to es tablish a time frame for hearings and votes, is an honorable and practical way to streamlinethe review process year that they could not possibly have Although neither party has a per fect record in the Senate ident Bush came to the judicial selection process with clean hands, having had no involvement in any of the prior controversies. And he began his term withanastonishing olive branch: The firstever renomination of a circuit court nomination first submittedby a president of the other party It is even more ludicrous to accuse President Bush of failing to nominate and minimizedivisive partisanship It is difficult to understand The fast enough President Bush has re spondedto the vacancy crisis in the Tribune's opposition to appellate courts by nominating atotal of 32 top-notch men and women, The the idea of judges announcingtheir retirements in advance. Most other high level public. officials are selected. before their offices are vacated: we elect presidents, senators, representatives and governors to name just afew while their predecessors remain in office, This method ensures continuity Moreover, it is entirely possible for the Senate to hold a hearing within three months, and a vote within six months, of the president nominations. A rule forcing such a timetable would yo a long way toward removing the partisan power to slow the process. Selective statistics from narrow timeperiods in the past, such as those included in youreditorial, only con fuse the issues. My record as chair man of the Senate Judiciary Com mittee demonstrates that, contrary 10 your assertion, the Republicans who. controlled the Senate during the past six years of the Clinton administra tion did not start the current contro versy. In fact, those six years saw the number of judicial vacancies Senate Democrats have simply stalled them, confirming only 14 and leaving 17 more pending in commit tee This disregards precedent. At the end of President Clinton's first year in office, there were only twocircuit court nominees left pending in com mittee without hearings or votes; after President Bush's first year, there wer There is great wisdom behind President Bush's call for the Senateto, hold timely hearings andvotesfor all judicial nominees, regardless of who is president and who controls the Senate. By streamlining the process ind limiting the power of partisan politicians on bothsides of the politi cal aisle, such a rule wouldservethe longterm interests of the judiciary and the American people. I simply don't understand The Salt Lake Tri hune’s concern here. Orrin G. Hatchis Utah’s senior U.S, senator and the once andfuture Re. publican chairmanof the Senate Ju diciary Committee. Passing Blame Political Duties It's good to know the problems with Utah Democrats are thevoters! Democratic Party Chairwoman Meghan Holbrook informs us we have voted for those who have “delivered budget shortfalls and inadequate education funding.” I'm sure the Democrats could have easily spent us out of our problems. She continues that we have “hurt the state.” By voting our conscience we haveput ourselves on a bus that may needto be drivenoff acliff before we voters know that balance mustbe re stored. Come on, voters, next year don't vote for who you think best repre. sents you, vote for balance. Remem. ber, we voters are the problem, not the Democrats. Holbrook also ac cused us of being asleep when we voted. Its tough to be a Democrat and win with so many voter problems. Sorry Holbrook, I'll get more sleep next year. | would like to congratulate the winners of Tuesday's elections. I would alsolike to remindall these newly elected and incumbentpoliticians that they have a duty and a responsibilityto all of their constitu- ents,not just the ones whovotedfor them. There arestill plenty of us out here who don't agree with the warrior stance t the White House. (Shall wejust keep throwing bigger and big ger stones at each other?It sure hasn't workedin the centuriesofconflict re those whodon't agree thatall of our governin the Mide: t!) The ment’s de ions sh uld be made in the interest of big business (yes, someof us find happiness in other ways than the ridiculous, unending chase for more wealth), who don’t agree that the search for more petroleum is worth trading the future health of the planet, who don’t agree that the government should act as a parent (you know, wear your seatbelt/helmet, eat only this, drink only that, smokeonlythis). ‘There are those of us who are sick of paying for, say, insurance for other people that we can’t take part in (Medicaid), yet can't afford insurance for ourselves. Not all of us want to see a firearm in every car, pocket, purse, classroom, church or home. Manyof us even havea dif- ferent “moralfiber” than others and do not want to see someoneelse's morals enactedas legislation. This land of ours was built upon the diversityof the citizenship, on allowing everyonetolivelife as they see fit. Weall havedifferent ideas about what is right, about what is wrong, weall have different motivatorsin life. Please respectall of our rights, please stop telling us how we “should”live. Please rememberthat arrogancebreeds contempt,locally MARVIN L. OSNESS West Jordan Cultural Blindness and globally and, for crying out loud, keep in mind that we separated from Britain because of ridiculously high taxes anda lack ofa voice over those taxes Courtney Blackham of Holladay Again, congratulations are in order. May you act honorably and honestly, in the inte: st of what is right, what is best for everyone, not just contributors with too much money. local mentality of those who think that the rest of the world is inst MICHAEL CORONELLA Salt Lake City (Forum, Nov. 5) displays theclassic anything LDS. Perhaps she should e readtheletter from former mis: sionary Tom Clark (Forum, Nov. 3). Please Show America’s Veterans You Care commitments of America’s military BY DOUGLAS WADSWORTH This Veterans Day, we honor the Jong line of men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. More than half of the 48 million Americans who have served since the Revolutionary War are with ustoday. They range from a few hundred World War| veterans, all more than 100 years old, to recent high school graduates serving on military duty have brought names like Persian Gulf, Grenada, Pa 1 to serve us in not only protecting the ideals and freedoms we enjoy, but to honor id perpetuate the cause of freedomandtheinterests of America worldwide. Too often we relegate the notion of veterans to those aged sol diers, sailors and airmen who mi around the world in our nation’s war on terrorism This is a proud line of service, as strong us our belief The citizen s who have in freedom and as enduring as ourhis andcontinue to wear in parades and wear caps ofthe Vé tory as a free people: the uniforms of our military... have made at is what Veterans iy our country the envy of Thanks to our veter ans, it is also a broken line. T is un about in thank ing our veter: s the world. Our nation endures because they en dured, We remain free because they gave up their free dom when duty called. We call it service to our country That service goes well beyond the andto useas d » paid for I know of Foreign Wai Disabled American Veterans, American legion and other veterans organiza tions. The citizens who have and con tinue to wear the uniforms of our mil itary services are our neighbors, our friends andthe com: mon men and women who have made our country the envyof the world. Nov. 11, Vete limitations of employment in the sense of a job to be Yes, her church has done much to ans Day, was origi our citizens in the form of law en forcement andfire protection All of these activities are for the common good, and we as a society would be ill-prepared to meet the challenges of daily living without the efforts of the menand womenwho are in our service. We have observed since Sept. 11, 2001, that this service to country has a cost Thecontributions that we recog nize annually on Veterans Day are a special type of service, envisioned by the framers of the Constitution, that would empower the citizens of our nation to become organized and effective protectors of the freedoms and privileges we all enjoy. It has been 64 years sincethe end of the “war to end all wars": 67 years from theend of World War Il; Korea War ended in 1983; and we disengaged from Viet nam in 1975, Events sincethese major 4 whothink thatthethe rest of thosein this world whoare not LDS do not belonginit If she doesn't like those of us in Utah who are culturally well rounded, fair-minded and haveactu ally travelled beyond state and na: tional boundaries, and see things as they really are, why doesn't shej leave? Sandy Lower Grizz Prices 1 strongly disagree with Utah Grizzlies’ President David Gasaway is contention that he has pro- nd prices that are competitive with movietheatres and otheractivi ties. I don't have to pay for parking at a movietheater. I can still attend a matinee for less than $5. Although refreshments are overpriced at movie theaters,its still cheaper then theto- lay, we oftenlosesight of a Jazz game, a Utefootball gameor a contributions of our citizen sol Weforget that in looking at ourneighbors, who in their youth defended us, protected ourLib erties and came home to build a stronger nation. They used the skills of service to others to build schools and communities, families and busi nesses. They built America to where it is today, Wein the Department of Veterans Affairs enjoy what | believe is the no- blest mission in government, serving and caring for our veterans, Public interest and public support makethat possible, and each citizen can do his and her part on Veterans Day, Show veterans you care. Fly the flag. Attend a Veterans Day ceremony, Honor the veterans where you work, go to school or worship. And maybe most importantof all, just say thanks, Thank youfor my nation and my liberty! Douglas Wadsworth is director of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Salt Lake City. Holbrook, Utah Democratic Party chairwoman, has proventhat she is not qualified for her position and must step down. Holbrook presides. over a party incapable of getting any oneexcept Matheson elected to a ma: jor office. Holbrook must share some of the blamefor her party's incom; tence and not blame Utah voters for not understanding. Additionally, her post-election complaints reveal a contempt for Utah voters and sour grapes over electionresults. Her comments imply that Utah voters are small-minded simpletonsblindly voting for Repub: lican candidates. Could it be that Holbrook has a fundamental misunDoes she not understand that Utah voters see her “wannabe Republican” candidates and ask themselves, why notvote for a real Republican? While tal price gouging that goes on for food diers, our vete Democrats Need Values By therecent election results and her post-election comments, Meghan derstanding of Utah voters’ values? MICHAEL PARR lay to commemo: id WarI. In focus: lookingat those agedcitizens, weare employees to bear arms in the pro: tection of others, The closest parallel is another service performed daily for beautify Salt Lake City. But their strong-armtactics to divide and conquer,andto weld church andstate as firmly together as possible, do not go unnoticedby the rest of us. Maybe her church awards points of some kind to its members who get published when writing weak and mealy letter in defense of it. Theseletters appear often and display the closed and narrow-minded mentality of those and drinkat the E Center, [ can attend symphony for less than a ticket to a Grizz hockey game. ‘Thebottomlineis the Grizzlies are Holbrook sees Utah voters as mind. lessly voting straight party, what they really see are Democratic candi dates that just don’t reflect their values. So stop complaining, Holbrook, andgive us some candidates that are worth voting for. Get out of bed with the Utah Education Association and stoptelling us we need to throw more money at education. Give us candidates who will overhaul our education system and makeit work, lower our taxes, protect us from criminals and preserve our constitutional less then a couple OUSAN asia in attendance. It had minor loser writtenall over it. Wantto get some positive buzz going and get people to attend again? Lowerprices to the $5 to $10 range with no ticket over $15. Have some family specials like the Jazz do. Reduce the cost of food and refresh: ments to at least movie theaterlevels Do some promoting. Finally, quit being so arrogant in thinking you have a product people aredying to see, The attendance drop-off speaksforitself. RON SNYDER Sandy and did not see my mother or his family during that time. He returned home skinny from lack of proper nourishment and not very healthy, but he came home a proud man. He joined the military to protect andserve the United States. He did notjoin to “gain job skills and education benefits.” He wanted to keep this country free and safe, like all the other veteransof all the wars fought, so that we can be the “homeof the brave, land of the free.” Many of his friends died for this country. Myhusband and my brotheralso were in the military; they did notjoin for the benefits either. It amazes mé how Wes Sudbury can say that heis not unpatriotic or a pacifist when our country has been attacked and innocent people have been killed. He just wantsto get “benefits” and continue to live well and enjoylife here. It's a good thing for Sudbury that our brave men and women whorespected and continue to respect what the military stands for are not just out to cash in on generous military benefits or he might not have the freedom to voice his opinion and becomea consciertious objector. SUSAN MANNWEILER Cedar For Where to Write rights. Do this or step down and let someonetake over whowill. DAN ENGLAND trying to charge professional league rices fo minor league product. ‘Thirty-six dollars to attend a minor league hockey game? Get real!I'll pay $50 to see the Chicago Blackhawks: play the Boston Bruins, but not Grizz play the Whatevers, | attended a game last year and, although the gamewasexciting,ticket prices were ay a of line. eget Ee Military Honor My father fought in World WarIl. He did not come homefor two years Midvale Dangerous Route your full name, signature, address and daytime telephone 4 numbers, Information other than your nameand the city in which The article “Changed Air Routes Could Threaten Outdoor Solitude” (Oct. 20) says planes would fly “as low as 1,500 feet overhead.” Routing air: craft that close to our mountains is a serious safety issue. A maladjusted or malfunctioning altimeter or tran: sponder, a change of weather (which can makealtimeters inaccurate until reset), or pilot/controller error could cause a pl than planned. And what about turbulent mountain winds, downdrafts and general aircraft flying in the same space? Aircraft full of innocent passen gers flying at 1,500 feet over our mountains at night or in clouds is a recipefor disaster. D, JEFF BURTON Y 7 ® When submitting letters to the Public Forum,please include youlive are kept confidential. ® Keep it short. Concise let ters developing a single theme are more likely to be published, ® Please type and double space. ® Latters are condensed and edited, ® Because of the volume of mail received, not all submis: sions are published, ® Mail to Public Forum, The Salt Lake Tribune, P.O, Box 867, Salt LakeCity, Utah 84110 ® Ou fax number is (601) 257-8960. ® Our email address is let ters@ sitrib.com. |