Letter to the editor

Say what you will about the President, no one can ever say he wasn't loyal to the people he employed or put into office. At the same time, no one can dispute the fact that his loyalty could often be described as hard headed stubbornness and a reluctance to fold a bad hand when it adversely affected his presidency and his credibility. It was pretty much a 'slam dunk' that Alberto Gonzales had to go, but the President couldn't bring himself to fire him and only after the man tendered his resignation, did he finally turn him loose. While loyalty is often the mark of a good and decent man, it can lead to serious consequences when such loyalty is misplaced. Mr. Bush has exhibited this tendency to place trust in questionable players on the world stage, not the least of whom was President Putin of Russia. "I can look into his eyes and see his soul", said Mr. Bush who concluded that Putin "was a good man he could trust". Well, lots of luck on that one, because former KGB leader Putin's soul has dwelt in some pretty dark places. President George Bush has been assailed from all sides regarding his failed policies and inept managing of the Iraq war and he doesn't need me to add to his misery. I can only wish him well in trying to extricate us from the nightmare that engulfs us. Maybe he should adopt the slogan I recently saw on the door of a local convenience store, "In God we trust. Everybody else pays cash".

George Morin
Auburn. Ga.