Conyers' cowardice?
Jack Lessenberry calls U.S. Rep.John Conyers a "wise old bull" with "all the right reasons" for not moving to begin impeachment proceedings against Bush ("Tales from two fronts," Metro Times, Jan. 31).
There are too many other issues to focus on? Health care and the economy are voter-friendly, safe issues that are talked about in every election by every politician. As for ending the war, Bush has made clear that he will not change course. He has openly defied the Iraq Study Group and Congress regarding troop escalation, stating on 60 Minutes: "[Congress] could try to stop me from doing it. But I made my decision, and we're going forward."
Ending this illegal, immoral war is inextricably tied with impeaching Bush.
Spiro Agnew, Nixon's VP, resigned while under investigation for accepting bribes and for tax evasion. The Cheney-Halliburton relationship — involving no-bid contract awards, misuse of funds, and top-secret Energy Task Force meetings — could feasibly yield a similar outcome.
If Bush and Cheney are allowed to finish out their term, and Republicans are simply voted out of office, then everything this regime has done will not be repudiated, but legitimized and effectively allowed to continue. What kind of logic allows two more years of sanctioned torture, secret detentions, war waged preemptively on the basis of lies, and illegal NSA spying? If these aren't reasons enough to impeach, what are? —Chris Breight, Detroit
Rallying cry
What a great article about rally car racing ("Road warriors," Metro Times, Feb. 7). Music editor Johnny Loftus did an excellent job of exploring the pure passion that fuels the sport. A racer myself — at the back of the pack, where I can't even see the dust from superstar drivers like Travis Pastrana or Andrew Comrie-Picard — it was refreshing to see coverage that included the little guys too. Has Johnny Loftus ever considered that his true calling might be auto journalism? If he ever decides to ditch the rock stars, I know the car racers would welcome him with open arms. —Jen Horsey, Toronto, Ontario
Poll positions
Re: Jack Lessenberry's "The drug addicts who control Lansing" (Metro Times, Feb. 21), as a retort to Mr. Lessenberry's rhetorical question "Need I say more?" I would like to say one thing: Tell the folks how to vote!
Seriously, how about a joint effort by media outlets in Michigan to put out an article or two about how to obtain a legal Michigan ID card and register to vote. Better yet, publish the rules to signing up to be a volunteer at a polling place.
Bellyaching to the local politico is nice and all. But the real way to get attention is a groundswell of voters, the likes that neither party has seen. —Matthew A. Sawtell, La Grange Park, Ill.
Criticism that refreshes
I just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed Christina Hill's article "Lowering the barre" (Metro Times, Jan. 10). I often question my sanity or perspective, and it was refreshing to find someone who also didn't agree with lowering the cultural or social bars. After seeing many of the Detroit Institute of Arts' adolescent promotional ads ("You goin'?"), I decided not to. Art museums should not be uncontrolled interactive centers. The "awe" comes from the work. It's sad that the powers that be, in many institutions, always seem to cater to the lower standard.
I have also had a skeptical eye on focus groups and marketing research. Speaking as one with a minor in marketing, for some things, such as detergent, demographic research is useful and, to some degree, valid. But after reading The Hidden Persuaders by Vance Packard, long ago, research showed that people really didn't express their real opinions in most surveys.
I think the DIA would be better off focusing more of their promotional budget on accessible parking locations, informative maps to the museum and spin-off dinners, lunches or speakers to accompany exhibits like Annie Leibovitz: American Music or A Night with Van Gogh. I'll go again too. —Bill Bradley, Grosse Pointe Park
Striking a chord
Re: Constance C. Bodurow's piece critiquing the Shrinking Cities exhibit at MOCAD and Cranbrook, "We are (or aren't) alone" (Metro Times, Feb. 14), even though I haven't seen it yet myself (I plan to), your critique struck a particularly relevant chord with me when you wrote, "There is a vast middle ground of day-to-day life where most citizens of a shrinking city live — not in survival mode in the midst of a bleak landscape, as is the romanticized, extreme urbanism presented here. This middle ground isn't very sexy, but it's the fertile ground that has yet to be addressed." Kudos on a well-written piece. I look forward to viewing the exhibition with your opinions in mind. —Dan Carr, Detroit
Erratum: In our Home Universe supplement, in an article about Sarah Vidosh's Spy shop (Spy's eye, Metro Times, Feb. 21), we misspelled a decoupage artist's name. The correct name is Francis Simms.
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