Stay in touch

The party’s over. Obama won and, although Romney lost, he isn’t a loser. The loser always evokes empathy from me whether I voted for the candidate or not. These men and women are hard working, confident, successful and unaccustomed to coming in second. I can only imagine what a bitter pill defeat is to swallow. We are fortunate to have capable individuals vying for support to lead our country. If you exercised your right to vote, and voted for the winning candidate, congratulations. If you supported Mitt Romney; Barack Obama is president. Get over it. Vindictive venom is wasted energy and usually says more about the person spewing it than their target. Let’s cooperate to make our government work efficiently.

A democracy demands a well-informed electorate that not only votes but stays in contact with its representatives. We should seek out commentators, and writers, who (as boring as that may be) focus on fact rather than opinion. There is nothing wrong with listening to your favorite red meat commentator, but don’t confuse his or her opinion with fact. Stay in touch with your representative. When we don’t you can bet the special interest groups are taking your place and staying in touch.

First problem on the agenda, the federal budget debacle. Respectfully contact some of the people listed below. The web has their contact information. I will write to each of these individuals, to encourage compromise (I will ask them to consider budget cuts and increased taxes for the top 2 percent) in their budget balancing attempts. Please join me.

Doc Hastings, Dave Reichert, or Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority House Whip Steny Hoyer, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

Connie Fliegel

Quincy

The long and short of it

Donors of $2 billion in the presidential campaign could save money based on my memorable images from morning TV programs on CNN, PBS, ABC, and reviews in newspapers and the Internet.

I didn’t watch anachronistic conventions, but memorable images of them are Clint Eastwood’s stumbling monologue to an empty chair and reports President Clinton energized Democratic faithful. I don’t remember images of Romney’s or Obama’s messages.

After the conventions Romney gave me memorable statements about “47 percent of the people” recorded on a small camera or cell phone. That inexpensive recorder damaged Romney’s image of empathy honed by $1 billion in donations.

I didn’t watch the practiced rhetoric in the debates. Before dawn after the first debate the Internet reported Romney triumphed. I watched him confidently criticizing Obama, who took notes. He looked like he needed to take notes.

Soon media broadcast images on Facebook and Saturday Night Live of Obama and Big Bird mocking Romney for saying he’d balance the budget by cutting PBS support.

After the vice-presidential debate liberal media praised Biden’s smiling fact-laden dismissals of Ryan’s “malarkey” and conservative media applauded Ryan’s composed, respectful tolerance of a “smirking,” “cranky old man.”

My ballot arrived. I voted and shut out campaign rhetoric.

Then superstorm Sandy hit and both candidates dedicated themselves to helping victims. Romney turned campaign events into fundraisers, but coverage I saw reported New Jersey Gov. Christie praising Obama’s support.

Perhaps Christie and the media were surprised to see Obama doing his job instead of campaigning.

I offer this message to donors of $2 billion, which includes my several small amounts to win a drawing to dine with Obama. I dreamed of lecturing him. I digress.

Donors, lobby to shorten the campaign. You’ll save money, reduce random damage to your candidate and give me some relief.

Jim Russell

East Wenatchee

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