LETTERS

Dear Las Vegas Weekly,

As a political tourist, the cover of the Weekly caught my eye. The flag on a suitcase sent the message: "inside is something about politics," which led me to Greg Miller's interesting viewpoint of Harry Reid the Democrat ("Harry and the Great Wide World," March 31). Phrases like "Democracy in Action" and "fact-finding missions really do find facts" can also be used to describe Madam Secretary Condoleezza Rice with over 15 nations visited since she was sworn in January 26th.

When it comes to international relations, it is nice to read that Miller thinks Reid has information now which can help your state as well as the nation. But my money is on Madam Rice since that is her job—dealing with foreign leaders and international relations.

You may have guessed by now that I am a Republican, and it might be of interest to tell you about our 527 FEC authorized group, "Americans for Dr. Rice." We have a theme song, "Condoleezza Will Lead Us," which can be listened to for free at americansforrice.com along with up-to-date newspaper articles.

Miller also mentions Reid and his role on the world stage. Excuse me, but when did a senator have major impact on foreign policy or [make] major news with a Russian or French leader? Your readers might like to know that Madam Rice speaks fluent Russian and French, and the Czech language. She is on the world stage and might follow in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren and James Buchanan. Why? Each of these men held the post of secretary of state before being elected president of the United States. And based on the feedback gathered during some informational forums held in Las Vegas this past week, your readers might ponder a woman in the White House in 2008.

But they may be shocked to find out it will be a Republican woman from a minority to represent our nation.

Dear Editor,

A recent article written by Richard Abowitz, "Caviar Dreams Deferred" (April 7) had it all. Intrigue, wounded egos, a kaleidoscope of emotional turmoil.

The individuals that poured out their hearts to Abowitz were closely associated with KVTE-TV Channel 35. To offset some of their negative statements I would like to share with Weekly readers my favorable experience with Channel 35, a UHF station.

On December 23, 2004 a friend of mine, Vickie Pieper, and myself appeared as guests on Matisun (TV with heart) to discuss independent filmmaking careers. We were in agreement that the host, Matisun, was gracious, articulate, her demeanor professional, and she was in tune with the spirituality of life.

I requested and was given a VHS copy of the one-hour program. The quality of the technical aspects was very good—clear images, sound and a cozy, home-like background.

The only disappointment was, unless our friends had a television they plugged into the wall with an antenna, they could not watch the show.

The stations format appears to be geared to local citizens and organizations, a platform to share their lives and what is really going on in our community beyond the Strip.

The ideal solution to reach a wider audience is to hope that Cox Cable executives will ignore the present problems facing Channel 35 and see in the future a service they can offer their subscribers.

My personal opinion is Nathan Drage, the principal owner of Channel 35, potentially held a great poker hand—three aces with the team of Robin Leach, Mary Ann Butcher and Nick La Penna. Whatever Drage's decisions were, it was HIS hand and he played it his WAY.

I hope for the good of the community Channel 35 survives.

To the Editor,

Millions of Americans who regularly use vitamins, minerals and other food supplements should become aware of serious UN meddling in this arena. A UN commission, Codex Alimentarius, has mandated strict regulation of access to dietary supplements. Because of the European Union's subservience to the United Nations, later this year the countries of Europe will harmonize their food supplement laws to conform. The people of Britain, for example, will find it far more difficult to acquire these items.

Should Congress entangle our nation in the Free Trade Area of the Americas, labeled by supporters as a duplicate for the Western Hemisphere of what the European Union is doing to its member states, a crackdown on the availability of nutrition products stares us in the face.

Shouldn't protecting the freedom to take vitamins be one more reason why members of Congress should vote NO when asked to approve U.S. membership in the FTAA?

Dear Editor,

I hope you don't decide to ditch Astromat ... Love your paper.

Dear Editor,

Where are the horoscopes? We love the ones in LV Weekly!

Dear Editor,

Hope this doesn't mean you're ditching the 'Scopes?!

Cheers,

Editor's Note:
It was only a production glitch—brought on, as one reader was astute enough to point out, by Mercury moving into retrograde. Astromat is back!