Article lacks balance

Andrew Clevenger’s piece in the Dec. 1 edition of The Bulletin under the headline, “Fewer judicial posts vacant,” lacks a balanced perspective. The point of the story is that since the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate changed the rules for confirming federal judges, the rate of confirmations has increased. Clevenger provides Sen. Jeff Merkley with the opportunity to tout the rule change as a victory over Republican obstructionism.

Merkley and left-leaning legal pundits are quoted extensively in the piece praising the change and citing “obstruction by Republicans” as justification for it. However, the reasons for Republican opposition to some of the judicial nominations offered by President Obama are completely ignored.

Many of the nominees are viewed by Republicans as activist judges who have a record of handing down decisions consistent with Obama’s vision of a transformed America rather than adherence to the Constitution.

Opposition to these nominees serves to moderate extremism and force compromise, which is consistent with our founding principles. It is not obstruction.

Clevenger also fails to point out that the rule change, often referred to by both parties as “the nuclear option,” was considered and rejected by a Republican-controlled Senate when faced with similar “obstruction” by Democrats during the George W. Bush administration.

The Bulletin should ensure that staff reporters present the news fully and fairly so that readers get the complete story.

Greg Johnson

Terrebonne

Roats should resign

Casey Roats is not eligible to serve on our Bend City Council. Regardless of what his “intent” may have been, the plain fact is that he did not reside inside the city during the 12 months immediately before being elected.

Even Roats (acknowledged) that he resided outside the city from October 2013 to October 2014 (The Bulletin, Dec. 2). Thanks to Jim Clinton and Doug Knight for being able to read English. And shame on Roats’ cronies who ignored the facts and the law to help their buddy worm his way onto our City Council before their own terms expire.

Roats’ failure to understand that he violated the conditions of election is a bad omen for how he will govern. If he won’t follow the law himself, how can we expect him to be fair and impartial in making and applying the law to others? Roats should do the right thing and resign.

John Cushing

Bend

Complaint seeks to damage bishop and parish

Regarding The Bulletin article on Oct. 16 about the Bureau of Labor and Industries complaint that James Radloff has filed against Bishop Liam Cary, the Diocese of Baker and also the St. Francis of Assisi Parish, I’d like to offer my view.

In reading the complaint, I see that the bishop’s character has been cast into doubt in the most harmful of ways. What I didn’t know before I read the complaint is that the parish of St. Francis of Assisi is named as a respondent in the complaint as well.

It is stated that after Radloff’s dismissal, the bishop provided to the parish false and misleading information, thereby creating the misconception within the parish that Radloff was a “pedophile priest.”

The truth is that the general assumption within the parish was that Radloff had lost his position due to his disobedience to the authority of the bishop. Anyone who says anything different doesn’t know the true nature of the people of our parish.

Cary made it very clear in writing that Radloff’s dismissal was not due to anything illegal, and I believe pedophilia is considered “illegal.”

Whatever else went before, it would seem now that this labor complaint is an attempt to sully the reputation of Cary and damage the financial future of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish as well. I cannot see into another’s heart and soul, I can only judge by a person’s actions. This has all the earmarks of an attempt to bring down Cary and the St. Francis of Assisi Parish. I pray that neither will happen.

Christine Simone

Bend

Troy Field a good site for OSU-Cascades

Hooray for Robin Vora’s My Nickel’s Worth concerning Troy Field in the Dec. 3 Bulletin. I agree with her, but I would like to further suggest that OSU-Cascades build their 5,000-student university on that spot. It’s about the same size as the proposed site on Chandler Drive, isn’t it? Besides, OSU Cascade students will have the added advantage of being closer to nightlife facilities of downtown Bend.

Bill Logan

Bend