Craig’s lists

Re “Craig may not be resigning,” Sept. 5

It scares me that Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was hounded out of office because of a few gestures he made in a restroom stall. He did not harm, threaten or coerce anyone, nor did he misuse taxpayers’ money. It sounds as if the witch hunts are back, only this time suspected homosexuals are being demonized. The Republican outrage over this issue dumbfounds me. There are much more serious issues to address, such as the killings in our inner cities and Iraq. How about law enforcement getting out of the restroom stalls and into the gang-infested neighborhoods?

Judy Melton

Pasadena

--

Re “Craig’s fall may upstage his career,” Sept. 2

This article tried to balance Craig’s career with nods to his efforts (according to fellow Idaho Republican Sen. Michael D. Crapo) to strengthen rural communities.

Craig’s recent personal embarrassments are inconsequential compared to his legislative record, which consists of relentless opposition to any wilderness or species protection in the West. If Craig had his way, we would clear-cut what little remains of our national forest old-growth timber and drill and graze on public lands to our hearts’ content. The League of Conservation Voters awarded him a zero rating for 2006, a rare accomplishment.

These land policies have little to do with strengthening rural economies, which are left dangling by extractive industries when booms inevitably turn to busts. The real story has been Craig’s duties as a toady to corporate logging and petroleum interests. This horror is what he should be remembered for, and our descendants will be paying the price for a long time.

Mike Roddy

Yucca Valley, Calif.