Those of us who live in quiet comfort bear the pain of what Bush has wrought upon us. We should weep for our dead soldiers and their loving families.

My 81 year old dad was a death camp liberator. He saw the ravages of war, good soldier he is, he stands by our leader.

We are miles apart on those issues as we were on VietNam when I was a youth. We can be certain that our soldiers, fighting both good and bad wars are the reason we can speak so freely on matters such as these.

The losses were always beyond understanding...these days the losses are senseless as we weigh in on a very bad war. Nonetheless, our war dead deserve and require our deepest thanks and respect. We need to love them all as if we have lost our own sons and daughters.

We have

I don't agree that the republic is dead, as one reader wrote...at least not yet. I do believe that we, as citizens are complicit in how we are viewed in the world.

Yes, most of the nation supported the war, but it was under false pretenses, under the great duress of a country that was attacked in the heart of our greatest city. This was a sleeping nation shaken awake from a deep sleep. The animals in the White House knew only too well how to use this against the people of America and Iraq.

There is a solution. It is, us, the people. We have to rid ourselves of the thugs in the White House. Bush and Cheney must be led out of the building by the will of the American people. The trick is how to get our cowardly and now complicit politicians to stand up and do the job.

We recognize the fatal error. We must fix it if we are ever to gain respect in the world again. Without our input are we much different than Hitler's Germany?

..and in the spirit of John Wayne's words, but from my unfortunate point of view: "I voted for him. He's my President, and I hope he does a good job." He didn't.

Well Mr. Bush and Cheney. You have become very large figures in the world of politics and history. I can only hope nothing like either of you ever darkens America's light again.

You are not only a disgrace to our country, you are each a disgrace to your families...not that that matters...after all as long as you get what you want...what else matters.

Do us all a favor. Both of you resign and go into seclusion. Too bad America has not the courage to displace you both for the sake of all the good lives lost in Iraq and all the unseen blasphemies to justice and situational ethics on which you thrive. I feel the fool having voted for you. You've bloodied my nose which pales in comparison to all else you've managed to do.

You've served not the masses but self-interest and that of those who profit from your actions. Feel a sense of shame. You've earned it.

I would say, "only in America," but it scares me too much. The level of idiocy heaped upon Americans by hard-right Christians is part of what has turned faith and religion in general into a freak show that has thinking people running like a thief as the ground gives way beneath our feet.

So much for the Christian value of tolerance. kind of like the Crusades, another fine example of the abominations of self-absorption.

Save us from ourselves.