LETTERS: Soon, we’ll see the real party of ‘no’

To the editor:

For years the Democrats have referred to Republicans as the party of “no,” when in reality they should have been referring to themselves. More than 300 bills were passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate, where they languished on Sen. Harry Reid’s desk, because he would not allow them on the floor for a vote.

The people of this country are so tired of a do-nothing government. I believe we have all had enough of the petty bickering and finger-pointing, and we want to see action taken that will benefit this country and its citizens.

Now that Republicans are in the majority of both houses of Congress, we can expect a flurry of legislation to be passed and sent to the White House. Now that Sen. Reid can’t completely block the bills for President Barack Obama by holding them up in the Senate, let’s see if the president gets out the pen and signs the bills into law, or just stamps “veto” on them. We will soon see who the party of “no” really is.

TIM HICKS

LAS VEGAS

Declarations of war

To the editor:

Michael O. Kreps stated in his letter, “It seems a bit ironic that a person would consider it legal to use drones in countries such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia … when Congress has never declared war on these countries, which is required under Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.” (“Drones vs. interrogation,” Sunday Review-Journal). Since the last time Congress declared war on any country was after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, apparently Mr. Kreps would agree that Presidents Eisenhower (Korea), Johnson (Vietnam), Reagan (Grenada), Bush I (Panama), Clinton (Bosnia) and Bush II (Iraq and Afghanistan) were all in violation of the U.S. Constitution, as Congress never declared war on any of those countries.

It’s remarkable that so many presidents violated the Constitution. It’s also bovine excrement. The use of drones to attack and destroy the enemies of our country is an intelligent way to use our armed forces and their technology to protect America, while at the same time limiting the exposure of American military personnel. That is the type of decision that is required of the commander in chief of the American military forces.

Using the enhanced interrogation techniques employed by the Japanese during World War II is wrong on several levels. Those techniques violate the Geneva Conventions, and we executed Japanese officers after the war for use of those techniques, which were deemed war crimes. If they were war crimes then, what makes them not war crimes now? Or do we owe the Japanese an apology? Drones are good. Enhanced interrogation techniques are bad.

DAVID ADAMS

LAS VEGAS

Respect the office

To the editor:

Regarding Marlene Drozd’s letter (“Play down Reid,” Friday Review-Journal), apparently she has never heard the phrase, “Respect the office.” Sen. Harry Reid is one of Nevada’s two U.S. senators. He was elected by a state majority. I don’t care what your politics are, we should give the president and all members of Congress the respect their offices deserve.

Since the article that offended Ms. Drozd was about a serious health issue, it certainly should have been on the front page of the newspaper. I am also glad the Review-Journal did the right thing by publishing a follow-up article about Sen. Reid’s progress on the front page of Saturday’s paper. Ms. Drozd needs to know when it is the right time to play politics and when it is not.

WILLIAM H. ISAAC II

HENDERSON

Cat sanctuary

To the editor:

Reading Doug Elfman’s column opened my eyes to a wonderful place I never knew existed, a no-kill cat sanctuary where they care for sick and injured cats for the rest of their lives (“VegasLand,” Thursday Review-Journal). The sanctuary’s website, PoppyFoundation.org, tells the whole story. It might bring tears to your eyes. It did to mine. I called and donated $500. I wish it could have been $1 million.

JERRY GORDON

HENDERSON