Split decision
I found David Shaw’s column of Nov. 21 (“Journalists Are Working in a Dark and Dangerous Era”) most interesting. I am, however, a bit more optimistic about the possible passage of a federal shield law. We managed to get a shield law enacted in Florida despite a Republican-dominated legislature and a chief executive named Bush.
True, it was enacted before 9/11 and its subsequent baggage, but we got it done. (An earlier attempt was vetoed by Gov. Lawton Chiles, a Democrat.) Here’s hoping it can be done on the national level as well.
Phil Lewis
Naples, Fla.
Lewis is the editor of the Naples Daily News
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The George W. Bush / Alberto Gonzalez threats to journalists are magnified by the discouraging simple-mindedness of the American public. When upward of 70% reject evolution and still believe that Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11, the conservative opinion-shaping colossus has little trouble demonizing any dissenting voices.
Paul H. Wangsness
Burbank
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