Did Morris really conduct a poll?
"From May 5-11, 2012, I conducted a survey of 6,000 likely voters," says Dick Morris (commentary reprinted by the Free Press, May 21). I don't believe him. I call fraud!
Where are the details? What was the methodology? How was the random sampling performed? Why can't I find answers to these questions at the Dick Morris website?
I suspect that what Dick Morris actually did was purchase an automated telephone robo-poll from Pulse Opinion Research, aka Scott Rasmussen, the Republican Party pollster. (Rasmussen's polls are widely recognized as the least accurate and most biased of all the major pollsters.) These polls are surprisingly cheap, and the purchase price includes the right to say "I conducted a survey ... "
Come clean, Morris. We know you're peddling your latest trash book, whose name isn't worth mentioning, just as Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich used this year's election to promote their own financial interests. You haven't been right about anything this century. Last election you forecast a 100-plus seat gain for Republicans in the House, and 13-15 seats in the Senate. Oops!
The economy was shrinking 9 percent annually at the end of the Bush administration, the worst performance in our lifetimes. Voters won't forget that.
ROBERT L. FAST
Mayfield coverage sets derisive tone
I have followed the Chattanooga Times Free Press coverage of the 3rd Congressional District race with stunned amazement. I see the condemning of everything about Scottie Mayfield from the colors of his logo, milk prices, his wardrobe choices, lack of desire to participate in a meaningless debate, to his genuine trusting nature.
I appreciate knowing Scottie personally, so I do not have to depend upon inexperienced staff reporters to tell me about his credentials. The Times Free Press has set a derisive tone that attacks a good man because he is successful and has not played the political game long enough to be slick or savvy with creative lies.
I have known Scottie since moving to East Tennessee 30 years ago. I know him to be honest, intelligent and engaging. He has worked his entire life for this region, not only at Mayfield Dairy creating jobs for our district, but in all aspects of our community, our church, Boy Scout troops, and our schools. He is the kind of person most knowledgeable folks would appreciate having in Washington.
My question for your paper: "Why are you dogging the man who could be the biggest asset for our area in Washington?"
GINGER R. ROBINSON, Athens, Tenn.
Contract bidding benefits the public
When government bypasses the advertising of bids, they harm and cheat the public, create an exclusive club of businesses and increase the operational costs for we the people.
Bid laws are best described as laws and rules that govern the spending processes or purchases made with public tax dollars and resources. The primary purpose of bid law is to ensure purchases made by government with public tax dollars are the best quality and most competitive price possible.
Mr. Ellis Smith of the Times Free Press illustrated a case in the Sunday edition about the adverse impact of failing to advertise government contract opportunities. He did an amazing job of investigative reporting.
Bypassing the advertisement of bids for offices to house federal employees at Warehouse Row were $14 per square foot for 14,780 rentable square feet, or $206,915 per year. Then, the Federal General Services Agency (GSA) bypassed competitive bidding, and the new rental space is $29.32 per square foot for 22,311, or $654,263 per year.
Property owners and real estate companies were not afforded the opportunity to compete for the 10-year contract because the contract opportunity was not advertised.
Deals in the dark never benefit the public.
APRIL EIDSON
Cyclists should think about this
I understand the cyclists' point of view, but they should consider a few things.
Don't ride during rush hour where cars get backed up because they can't safely go around you; move over if possible so a car can safely go around you; and don't ride on narrow roads that don't have room for a car to safely pass. Cyclists riding in large groups should space themselves out so that a car can go around them a few at a time. I do believe that cars have the most right to city and county roads. That is what the streets and roads were created for. We all need to be considerate of each other.
MARY CRABTREE, Hixson
Look to Canada for rockslide help
TDOT needs to not take on too much, particularly in a time of recession. Regarding the Ocoee Gorge, it should concentrate on fixing and maintaining what it already has. If TDOT would just open its mind and look at how other regions have handled similar avalanche-prone areas, such as along the Trans-Canadian Highway from Alberta, Canada, to British Columbia, they would see that a few strategically placed avalanche ramps would take care of the threat of intermittent rockslides in the Ocoee Gorge.
The Trans-Canadian Highway passes through much more rugged country than is the Ocoee, yet it successfully remains as the solitary transportation lifeline between these two Canadian provinces, serving hundreds of thousands of people. If that highway works as a transportation corridor to a major city such as Vancouver, British Columbia, then the rebuilding of the already existing Highway 64 along similar dimensions will easily serve the people of Ducktown and Appalachia.
WILL LANCE
Billionaire shows his disloyalty
The Free Press editorial "Enemy of the economy" (May 17) states that billionaire Edward Saverin has found it practical to renounce his U.S. citizenship to avoid paying taxes on the billions he will earn from Facebook. You seem to suggest he is having to do this because of our tax policies. The poor fellow will have to pay 15 percent.
By this reasoning, anyone who wins the lottery should automatically renounce his citizenship. Most of the people who win the lottery are patriotic working-class people who would never renounce their citizenship.
Many of the leaders of today's corporations have demonstrated Mr. Saverin's disloyalty in the way they have abandoned the American worker to exploit the lowest wage countries they can find. If our economic leaders have no more loyalty for the U.S. than this, what does it portend for our country? With leaders like these, it's no wonder our economy is a wreck. We used to have policies and laws against economic treason but I guess it is now simply practical.
RALPH JONES, Soddy-Daisy
Back government, military members
I honor the bravery and courage of the men and women who served our country during WWII. Many served two to four years overseas before coming home. They fought and died bravely. Hundreds of thousands died and hundreds of thousands were wounded, and multitudes of our veterans have lived with their wounds of combat ever since. They completed their mission with honor.
They returned to our beloved America, worked hard and were responsible in raising their children. They were the "Greatest Generation." Later, their children fought in Korea, Vietnam and now in the Middle East. They are brave and courageous military women and men.
They fought another mission for America to depose other evil governments led by heartless terrorists who want to see all Americans dead, just as the Nazi-driven ideology of another terrorist organization did in World War II. We honor those who are with us and those who have left us.
We must have the courage to support our government and the military men and women. Or will we succumb to the thousand-year night of the terrorists?
GERALD C. WILSON, Red Bank