Letters, Faxes, E-mails

To the Editor:
After reading Steven Parker’s letter, I must respond.
First, the age and medical history of Sen. McCain was mentioned. I must have missed the age limit list. Please tell me, Steve, what is the maximum allowable age for a person to be competent? What about driving a car, making your own decisions or practicing law? Surely those things can be accomplished by folks that are over the age of 72. I know plenty of people in McCain’s age range that have twice the knowledge, common sense, courage, work ethic and plain old gumption than their younger counterparts.
McCain is a cancer survivor? Obviously, that doesn’t mean much to you. Anyone who battles and defeats a disease like cancer, should be admired and I say God bless them all, Democrat or Republican. You mentioned President Franklin Roosevelt in your letter. I believe he was the greatest president our country has ever had. Fortunately, your views weren’t applied in the 1932 election — and a man with polio was elected. Do you truly believe that an athletic-looking person that could have played basketball is automatically the superior candidate or has anything whatsoever to do with running a country? I have never heard such nonsense.
Next are foreign policy qualifications. I agree that five years in a prisoner-of-war encampment does not make one an expert on foreign policy. Of course, in your opinion, being a community organizer from Chicago must.
I didn’t realize being an eloquent speaker was one of yours and Letterman’s top priorities for choosing an elected official. I agree being a good public speaker (without the teleprompter), is good — and a nice attribute. I am not one, although I certainly wish I were. I’m reminded of eloquent speakers throughout history. One that comes to mind rallied a down-trodden country into a world power. The people were unhappy with the inability of their democratic government to control runaway inflation in the 1920s, and this speechmaker had a plan. His name was Adolf Hitler.
Before any of your liberals jump off a bridge, I’m not comparing Obama to Hitler. I’m trying to make the point that a great speechmaker can use the talent for evil, as well as good.
You were right about one thing, Mr. Parker, there’s no question to which candidate should get this job — Sen. John McCain.
Mike Littrell
Tecumseh