News media has a hard time grasping simple concepts

News media has a hard timegrasping simple concepts
EDITOR:
Have you ever tried to argue with a stupid person? I mean a really stupid person? It can be incredibly frustrating. First you discover that the person lacks the intellect to rationally process information. Then you are left in stunned amazement at his shallowness of thought.
That's the dilemma facing President Bush daily when he must deal with the news media. Let's face it, members of the news media aren't very bright. No matter what Bush tells them, they cannot comprehend it. Unfortunately, they then turn around and report as "news" their misconceptions of what he said.
A good example of this is the media hype over a statement in the State of the Union Address about Saddam Hussein and African uranium. The exact quote from the speech is this: "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." The British are standing by their intelligence report. So despite what the news media are saying, the statement made by the president in his speech was true then and is true now. So what's so hard to understand?
Why do the news media have problems understanding simple concepts? Perhaps it's because they've always lacked such understanding. I remember these people from my school days. They were the ones who couldn't grasp what was being taught, the ones who couldn't master long division. To hide their failures and inadequacies, they set about disrupting the classroom -- that is until we chased them off the schoolyard. Now they've returned as adults and journalists. To hide their current intellectual failings, they've set about disrupting the nation much as they did the classroom.
In days past, we simply would have chased them off the schoolyard and been rid of them. If only it were that easy now.
JOSEPH K. WALTENBAUGH
Youngstown
Community disservicein Trumbull County
EDITOR:
At election time, Trumbull County Commissioner James Tsagaris was sweeping union members off their feet. Now, he is simply blowing us away. Will the real Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde please stand up?
To Jim Tsagaris: You have backstabbed and double-crossed the people who supported you when you needed it. Union members and their families will not forget the mockery you have made of the AFSCME Local 2493 laid-off workers and their families. We see your true colors are bleeding through on this and other important issues.
To AFSCME President Tom Elder: We are in your corner! United we stand! When the bell sounds ending the final round, Tsagaris will have knocked himself out!
To the Hall of Shame Sweepers: Is it just union work that you good ole boys volunteer to do? If not, here is a suggestion: Lay off Tsagaris (the county saves money due to his lack of a paycheck and benefits), then you three wise men can volunteer to do his job -- as a community service, of course.
CINDY MICHAEL
Warren
President, AFSCME Local 1992
County staff earns kudosfor professionalism
EDITOR:
On a recent visit to Youngstown, I did some family history research at the main public library, the Mahoning County Courthouse and the birth/death certificate division of the city health department.
In each case I found the personnel to be knowledgeable, informative and helpful in explaining how I could use the records. It was a pleasant and productive experience.
By this letter I would like to thank them publicly. I appreciated their professionalism.
DON MORRISON
Claremont, Calif.