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Too much coverage of Jackson's death

The sudden death of Michael Jackson at the age of 50 is shocking and unexpected. He was and always will be a brilliantly talented performer. He was and will always be known as a tragic soul, too. He does warrant an hour of the "Today" show and to be on all the morning news shows. But for heaven's sake, all day? Please stop the madness.

I don't know if this is just lazy reporting to take a story of a famed person's death and go totally bonkers with nonstop coverage, but I think it's terrible. We have millions losing their homes, families living out of their cars, our savings and stocks in the toilet and health care too costly for most. Why on Earth did we have to hear all day Saturday on every news station that Jackson is dead?

It's not over, either. There will be this discussion until he's buried.

I think the American people are not as consumed by this as the news media think. We're not as stupid or easily distracted from our real worries, either.

Angry writer's missives are well-known

Re: Jerome Schleifer's commentary of June 29, "The politics of inspiring rage":

I had to laugh. Welcome to an exclusive club. I have met several people who have gotten, well not even post cards, but rather typed, unsigned index cards from that individual, as have I.

It seems he has a limited imagination because that was the exact same message I got from him 10 years ago. He has about four or five messages, it seems. None is ever signed except for an unreadable scrawl. One I got suggested that I be castrated before I breed.

They all belittle the recipient, and you are right. They reflect a deeply troubled soul. One has to pray for people like him. Maybe I will get a new note from him after he reads this. It's been a while.

Obama backers might have buyers' remorse

I wonder how many President Obama supporters from the campaign will admit to themselves that this president was a huge mistake. Oh, I still hear the dimming shouts for change, but change to what?

Obama sure has changed from candidate Obama to an entirely different President Obama. From tax cuts to massive tax increases; from no lobbyists working in the administration to the White House being overrun with them; from transparency to complete opaqueness in policy and legislation; from promising the most bipartisan cooperation to strong-arm, Chicago thug politics and, maybe most of all, from fiscal responsibility, starting with no earmarks, to historically high debt, deficit and spending.

Let's put Congress on a moratorium with no new spending legislation until it reconvenes after Christmas, suspend all executive orders for the same period, let the Senate Appropriations Committee approve only necessary money to keep the government running, and begin a congressional review of all the czars camping out in the West Wing.

I think we will find that we don't really have as many crises as the president suggests, and maybe things will settle down a bit.

Energy vote is reason to oust Boucher

I ask the question this morning following the passage in the House of Representatives of the cap and trade bill: Do we now have an overwhelming reason to vote Rick Boucher out of office? To believe he would vote against the very industry that this area is so dependent on, this is the very top of arrogance. The 9th District should vote him out next year.

For a very long time, Boucher has voted against the wishes of the people whom he represents. I would urge every voter in the 9th District, both Republican and Democrat, to vote Boucher out of office. He does not deserve to represent us.

What a slap in the face he has given to the coal industry and the people of Southwest Virginia. Boucher represents the coalfields. One would think he would carefully consider this decision, as the coal industry is one of the largest in this region. Additionally, this will raise energy costs significantly over time.

The world has lost a great talent

I am so saddened by the loss of Michael Jackson. What a dancer! Precise, elegant, mesmerizing. We won't see the likes of his talent again. Finis.

DELORIS McKINNEY

ROANOKE