Dayton Daily News

Gop Would Need Dems for Awhile

NEXT WEEK OHIO LAWMAKERS WILL DECIDE whether voters will hear much more about the Third Frontier. That's the state's program aimed at helping fund research at Ohio universities, typically in partnership with private companies. The goal is to attract cutting-edge scientists to the state, who, in turn, can lure companies hoping to commercialize new products and processes.

Police Need Voters' Support

Riverside residents should take a long, hard look at the Aug. 2 election and vote for the police levy. I speak from experience. I am a retired police officer from Kettering, which went through the same problems that Riverside's police force is going through. I joined the Kettering Police Department in 1955 and retired in 1983.

Hackett Tests 2nd's Republicanism ; If the Prophecies Are Right, It Won't Be Because They're Self- Fulfilling

Overwhelming election landslides are typically self-fulfilling prophecies. Take the 2nd Congressional District of Ohio. The district -- which includes Lebanon and goes south and southeast from there, outside Cincinnati -- elects a representative Tuesday.

New Map Rules Not a Threat to Blacks

SOME REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THAT IF OHIO changes its system for designing legislative districts, fewer blacks might be elected. And some black Democrats are asking whether the Republicans are right. In fact, real reform would help minority communities.

Fresh Fruits, Familiar Faces ; Trip to Farmers' Market a Savory, Summertime Pleasure

Farmers' markets are such a blessing. I love the grounded, healthy, economical feeling of buying, preparing and eating things that were growing in a local field the day before, or even that morning. Since we do mostly scratch cooking, our household goes through a lot of produce. But only after moving to Ohio did I begin to check out some of the local markets, and I was delighted with the variety of fruits and vegetables, baked goods, flowers, plants, jams and jellies. Several years ago, I fre...

Rove Hysteria Unwarranted

THE HYSTERIA DISPLAYED IN RECENT SPEAK UP comments about Karl Rove's supposedly sinister actions regarding a one-time CIA agent reflect two things:

9/11 Used for Political Gain

Karl Rove has used the Sept. 11 attacks for his party's own political gain. He has twisted it around to make it look like Republicans are tough on terrorism and Democrats are soft on terrorism. He said that Republicans took action and Democrats offered therapy.

Column a Fair Look at Situation

Re Jeff Bruce's column, "When leaks and laws collide," July 17: Congratulations are in order for a fair and decent look at the complex issues surrounding the Valerie Plame case, instead of Bruce's usual partisan, liberal talking points. It is my understanding that Plame was "brought in from the cold" sometime around 1994, during a major espionage case uncovered then, inasmuch as her life was endangered.

Moral Values Undermined

Shouldn't we ask our president: If you have such high moral values, don't you think you need to demonstrate your allegiance to integrity and honesty, and fire Karl Rove, who undermines such values? I thought the Republicans were done doing dirty tricks after the Watergate mess and the impeachment of Richard Nixon. I guess I was wrong.

Has Turner Taken Stand?

Has U.S. Rep. Mike Turner acknowledged the Valerie Plame scandal? As his constituents, we deserve his opinion on the subject. We need to know if our representative chooses to be loyal to his party or to his district and his country's security. That's how democracy works -- if he takes a stand that most people in his district despise, they vote against him.

Speak Up: Brief Comments

- Re "Pit Bulls: Peril or pet?," July 23: Gary Hendel, director of the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, should take an overall view of the breed. The dogs that end up at the center have been aggressive, but that is certainly not an attribute of a well- bred and wellraised dog. We should punish the owners. The animal is only doing what it has been trained to do. - The new skate park in Kettering is an attractive nuisance.