Unfettered Letters

Redistricting case

Based on the apparent support from Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and John Roberts for Rep. Tom DeLay’s underhanded tactic of redrawing congressional boundaries to favor Republicans (3/2, A-7), it’s clear that partisan politics is alive and well, even in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Silly me. I should have known that these judges, loyal to the Republican constituency that put them there, are not about to just hand over seats to the Democrats, even though they may have been taken away illegally and unethically.

Eddie L. Clay
Grandview

DeLay indictment

I find it interesting how Tom DeLay refers to the “politics of political destruction” being carried out by the Democrats. My perception has been just the opposite. It has been the Republican Party that has sought political gain through aggressive defamation techniques.
The current administration and the Republicans during the Clinton years often undermined the character of their opposition and identified themselves as the war heroes (not draft dodgers), the morally right Christians, etc.
As a concerned citizen, I question their successes and their concerns about being similarly scrutinized.
Pamela Gray
Kansas City, Kan.

DeLay, grand juries

In her letter of Oct. 4, Ashley Mersman — citing Tom DeLay’s complaint of partisan politics as the basis for his recent indictments — writes that “DeLay and his staff need a little education into the judicial system.” Perhaps it is Ms. Mersman who needs the education.

Nationally, the number of true bills issued by grand juries runs at more than 99 percent of those requested. Prosecutors know that almost none of the rights of the accused, otherwise guaranteed by the Constitution, are available in grand jury hearings. The rules are such that a prosecutor can get a turnip indicted if he wants to badly enough.

As a protection against being brought to trial on trumped-up charges, grand juries offer about as much protection as a Star Chamber (a special Royal Court in 14th century England), which, by the way, is the idea on which they are based.

James W. Henry
Attorney at law
Blue Springs

Tom DeLay is only the latest in a long line of those who got too big for their britches and proved that “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” The much-maligned Clinton administration was kept in check by a vigilant Republican Congress and was relatively free of corruption. It was, by any objective measure, a conservative administration that did not break new ground and controlled government spending from agriculture to welfare.

A system of checks and balances is essential for a democracy to operate effectively. When one party controls all branches of government, failure is a certainty.

Kenneth Lee
Raytown