MONDAY'S LETTERS: Praise for Bruce Springsteen, Concern for Lichtblau and the 'NY Times' Banking Records Scoop

By: E&P Staff In today's letters, readers express concern over the New York Times' expose of the government's bank records suveillance, and one reader loves Bruce Springsteen for his comments about Ann Coulter.


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Times Surveillance Publication Stirs Emotions


All these tales of the NY Times trying to report stories, then having to vet them with the Bush admin brings visions of permanent negotiations between the two of them to my head. I mean -- how often does the Times have to do this? Is there a formal procedure? Why can't they just report the news? Given the untrustworthy nature of the Bush administration, this strikes me as having to vet a story with a proven liar -- not a very productive process.

Rob Levine



What is needed is a genuine declaration of war. In WW2 both the traitor who leaked the classified info and the writer could be shot.

I only hope that if this information notifying terrorist organizations of the operation causes anyone to die it is the NYT which they target this time.

[Lichtblau] and the Times should be ashamed. (Do any of you remember what the word means?)

Dean Munson
Rockford, IL



We feel that the story is plain out TREASON! Absolutely and utterly disgusting.

His explanation is frivolous; and it is beyond the pale that he claims to know what is best for our country, and for our safety - We much prefer the President and his cabinet to make those decisions.

John & Joan Merwin
Texas



My highest commendation to the New York Times and their reporters and editors for revealing another warrantless search by the Bush Administration. Under FISA warrants are ridiculously easy to obtain, and only dictatorships work outside the laws. It is extremely important for this kind of information to be published because democracy can only survive in the open. America is not really threatened by any outside forces. Any country that tried to attack us would be subject to Unilaterally Assured Destruction. The danger I fear is that of rotting our democracy from the inside, and should be alarming to anyone who believes in our Constitution and the Rule of LAW.

Sherry Bendall


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Love for the Boss


Bruce Springsteen, could not have said it better. This is a cruel, and senseless war, that brought death to thousands of innocents, and our young troops. ...

This repulsive woman, and the people who buy her way of thinking, have terrible issues, that they can never resolve.

Bravo, Bruce. You are the boss.

Angela Nazzario
Philadelphia, Pa.


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Mitchell and the Polls


The treachery of the Times and Post news journalists (as opposed to columnists) has long been apparent, but this misreporting of the actual polls is really very sad. Clearly they are trying to influence public opinion by mis-stating public opinion, which is so important to a nation of sheep. Thanks for the facts. This is a keeper.

Robert Locke
Sacramento, Calif.