Group provides candidate views on the Internet

The League of Women Voters already has a response to David Anderson's challenge that candidate and campaign information should be put on-line in Maryland ("Download democracy for a better Maryland," Opinion

Commentary, May 28).

The league's Democracy Network (DNet) is the nation's premier method of getting and sharing information about candidates on the Internet.

DNet works like this: The league asks candidates for various offices (from governor to state legislator to school board) their stands on various issues. Then we put that on the Internet, along with their opponents' views.

We ask minor-party candidates as well as Democrats and Republicans to take part.

The result: You can easily compare candidates' stands on issues. Moreover, candidates can continue to add issues and post responses throughout the campaign. Voters can even ask questions of the candidates via the DNet Web site (www.dnet.org).

Since 1920, our mission has been to encourage the active and informed participation of citizens in government and politics. We are excited to be working to achieve that goal with 21st-century technology.

Judy Morenoff

Annapolis

The writer is president of the League of Women Voters of Maryland.

Court strikes blow against arrogance

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeals struck a victory for the little guy ("Court of Appeals rejects state redistricting map," June 12).

And the two most powerful political leaders in the state received a wake-up call. The arrogant duo of Gov. Parris N. Glendening and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller had their blatant attempt to gerrymander the legislative districts thrown back at them with the same contempt with which they tried to force this map on us.

The citizens of Maryland are fortunate that the governor is term-limited. We couldn't afford another four years of his brand of politics. Maybe the time has come to also term-limit Mr. Miller.

The citizens of Maryland deserve better politicians.

John Berger

Severn

Don't burden Ehrlich with Gingrich's sins

Michael Olesker's column "Will standoffish mayor stand firmly behind Townsend?" (June 9) is more of the same-old, same-old.

He apparently thinks that if he links Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, who has been out of office for a while now, voters will vent their hatred for Mr. Gingrich on Mr. Ehrlich. Mr. Olesker should try another tactic.

Ray Merryman

Baltimore

Townsend solved the problems at hand

The letter "Townsend's record raises questions" (June 10) was an unsubstantiated attack on a fine public servant.

Management may be defined as dealing with problems once they are discovered. And once the "guard-on-inmate violence" problem in the juvenile justice system was discovered, Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend immediately and effectively took steps to deal with it. That is management.

The writer also expressed concern that some offenders were "repatriated back to violent neighborhoods without proper supervision."

But what does that mean? Is the state to hire a supervisor for each inmate released?

James M. Kehl

Baltimore

Iraq doesn't pose a clear threat

In "Declare war on Iraq" (Opinion * Commentary June 10), Mona Charen writes: "A pre-emptive attack on Iraq would certainly be self-defense on our part." Yet she makes no attempt to justify this highly debatable statement, as if it were self-evident.

But has Iraq in fact threatened the United States in any sense that would justify our attacking it? It seems more that President Bush has been threatening Iraq. Does this give Iraq the right to launch a pre-emptive attack against us?

The double standard some Americans apply to the rest of the world is highly arrogant.

Henry Cohen

Baltimore

Loss of liberties may keep us alive

While I am not a great admirer of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, and was deeply affected by the events of Sept. 11, I feel it is unfair to keep blaming President Bush and Mr. Ashcroft ("Blame John Ashcroft for bungled security," letters, June 10).

Anyone can tell from reading the papers that information was not put together properly. But even if it had all been put together, it would never have pointed to the events of Sept. 11.

As to the attacks on our civil liberties, just what do people expect? How are we supposed to stop more Sept. 11s if we don't do the necessary investigations into the backgrounds of people we know believe that destroying the United States is the highest goal? I wonder how the protectors of civil liberties would feel if they had to literally fear for their lives to go out shopping or go to a movie?

Rather than worry about civil liberties, these people should be grateful something is being done to stop this kind of fear -- in our country and in all other countries.

Kathy Riley

Baltimore

Arafat's reforms make no difference

The announcement that Yasser Arafat has restructured his Cabinet and relinquished control of some of his security forces constitutes a cruel joke ("Arafat unveils Cabinet changes," June 10).

Does the world really believe this will end the violence between Israel and the Palestinians? The major obstacle to peace is Mr. Arafat himself. He has never been able to control the militant forces surrounding him and has personally been implicated in financing the purchase of bombs that murder innocent Israeli men, women and children.

I do not believe the so-called reforms will make any substantial difference. As long as Mr. Arafat has final say over security issues, we can expect the suicide bombings to continue.

Peace will not have a chance until he is swept out of power.

Albert E. Denny

Pikesville

A poignant tale of the Portneys

I must say how much I enjoyed Michael Olesker's poignant story about Baltimore boxing great Jack Portney and his brother, Sam Portney ("Samuel Portney keeps alive his brother's boxing legacy," May 28).

I would like to add that in 1936 Jack Portney won the Southern States Welterweight Championship and was ranked No. 3 by Ring magazine. And Mr. Portney didn't defeat Barney Ross and Tony Canzoneri. He couldn't get either of these champions in the ring, and his repeated challenges were ignored.

Thanks for a fine story about two great guys.

Buddy Ey

Baltimore

The writer is a historian of boxing in Maryland.