Letters to the Editor 11.12.15

Let Us Pray

I am attorney from New Jersey who was biking through Monterey and picked up your paper (“The case of Edward Fitz-Henry and the Diocese of Monterey,” Oct. 28-Nov. 4). Not sure if you are a serious newspaper or another entertainment rag sheet: The cover of the headless priest with the distorted headline suggests the latter. In that case, no need to read this email – you are accomplishing your goal.

In the unlikely event that you are attempting serious journalism, I am compelled to write to you [about] the irresponsible article featured as your “special report.” For brevity, I will simply highlight some of most egregious aspects of the article without expounding upon all of them as I am inflamed to do.

Your own timeline belies the entire premise of your article. An honest reading of the facts you presented would not lead to the outrageously biased conclusions which are your headlines. For starters, is it fair, honest reporting to lead the readers to each page of your multi-paged article with super-sized, bold-lettered “EVIL?”

As you conclude with the suggestion that the diocese threw the accused priest under the bus – wouldn’t it have been more intellectually honest to frame this “exposé” in terms of: The diocese was put in an untenable position of supporting a person who may have been falsely accused of heinous acts and desperately wanted his day in court versus possibly exposing a person to behavior abhorrent to the Catholic Church and its teachings. Instead, you repeatedly cited quotes from people not representative of the church for your foregone conclusion that the church is “EVIL.”

As promised, I will not expound. I do hope and pray that you will be more just to future targets of your exposés. Margaret Ann Gilligan | via Web

Where There’s Smoke…

Still going with that beach fire thing, huh? (“Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea seek to clear the air via banning,” posted Nov. 3.) I wonder how many of those folks living in Carmel used to have bonfires on the beaches when they were younger. Joseph Borawski | via Facebook

Micromanage much? Debbie Ramos | via Facebook

Ever step on some smoldering wood a dumbass didn’t fully put out? How about breathe the air of 20 fires going at same time? Esther Malkin | via Facebook

On Benghazi

John Nichols’ article on the Clinton/Benghazi hearings is itself more akin to McCarthyesque red-baiting than his weak attempt to reassign that gainsaying imputation to Trey Gowdy (“Most members of Congress’ Benghazi committee were an embarrassment,” Oct. 29-Nov. 4). In this smear, Nichols is ideologically hand in hand with the pathetic Bill Clinton who has tried to resuscitate his “vast right-wing conspiracy” claim to obfuscate the lies and malfeasance of his back-up White House fellatio resource.

Leon Panetta admits (too belatedly to secure him any stature as a statesman) that the top level of government knew the Benghazi attack was a terrorist action as it played out. Yet Obama and the distaff Clinton held to the lies of the video being the culprit for weeks afterward. Even more evil is the fact that this 1-percenter ($48 million in the Clinton coffers from Wee Willy’s speeches alone) callously dismisses the four Benghazi deaths she facilitated as, “At this point, what difference does it make?”

All you readers who are seething as you read these illuminations of the failings of your elitist icons merely substantiate the rare leftist candor spoken by Johnathan Gruber, one of these elite, when he stated, “We depend on the stupidity of the American voter… .” All too often this is you, dear gullible Weekly reader, but please stay dully (and duly) loyal because the Clintons and Obamas need your money to support their royal lifestyle. Richard Hellam | Seaside

Light ‘Em Up

I found it amusing that Sara Rubin chose to lead your story on the Oct. 18 power outage by saying that “when the power goes out, PG&E’s public relations team lights up.” (“PG&E investigates an all-day Monterey Peninsula outage, and grid vulnerability,” Oct. 29-Nov. 3.)

When I realized that the power was out, around 7:15am, I called PG&E’s information number to find out what was going on and got a recorded message saying that, yes, PG&E was aware of a problem in my area, but their personnel were working on it and power was expected to be restored by 9am. When nothing happened I called again shortly after 9am and heard that power was expected to be restored by noon. Early in the afternoon power was expected to be restored by 5pm. The next message said 9pm. But the lights didn’t go back on until 11pm.

I think I know what Sara meant when she said that the public relations team “lit up.” But what were they smoking? David Book | via Web

Food Fight

As often as I disagree with the Squid’s point of view, it looks like you got this one right (“Squid is excited by the political future of burritos – and development – in Marina,” posted Oct. 26). Mayor [Bruce] Delgado and Council Members [Gail] Morton and [Frank] O’Connell voted against bringing long-desired and badly needed food service business to the Dunes Shopping Center in Marina. They turned their back on significant revenues, jobs which would help our high school and CSUMB students and benefit both Marina and the region.

Once again, they discard the good to seek their view of more perfect. That philosophy has never worked. Just look at Cypress Knolls. Perhaps we need to change some bumper stickers. Instead of “shop, dine and play in Marina” they should say “shop, play and go eat somewhere else.” Dan Amadeo | Marina

(Editor’s note: Dan Amadeo is husband of Marina City Councilwoman Nancy Amadeo.)