Mid-Day Update: More Israel E-Mail

Here's an excerpt from a good e-mail defending the merits of Gov. Charlie Crist's trip to Israel and politely disagreeing with the tone of my column this morning:

i have to respectfully disagree with the degree of sarcasm in todays article... we could use israel's agricultural, electronic, security, medical, desalination (witness our own > $300 million dollar debacle down @ big bend/teco that still isn't working properly) etc.technology today to improve the lives of american citizens - warren buffet's recent multibillion dollar investments in israel certainly concur

one of gov  crist's primary responsibilities is to protect the citizens of the state of florida - not just against hurricanes, taxes, and insurance companies, but against terrorism as well - let's face it, no one wrote the book on counterterrorism better than the israelis

yes, i concur that gov crist just might try and milk this visit for some national exposure, as well as some brownie points with the jewish vote

but at the same time let's not forget that florida has, amongst it's many areas of vulnerability, the longest coastline of any state in the lower 48 - and that certainly requires the kind of suggestions that gov crist just might be getting on this recent foray -- David Mahler

Thank you for the e-mail, Mr. Mahler. I certain agree there can be value in it, and ended up in the column admitting it was not a "junket'' per se -- just making the point that there is an awful lot going on in Florida and four months into the job seems a little early.

Now, for an e-mail on the other hand...

As a taxpayer, I would like to know how critical things must become before our elected officials (can't say I would call them leaders) focus on the very real, very pressing problems that we the citizens of Florida are faced with NOW!  Even though you were generous in not calling Charlie's trip a junket, that's precisely what it is.  I am so disgusted that it's politics as usual in Florida.  -- Linda P.

Comments

[Arthur Hebert]

Howard, I just sent my comments directly to you as I just noticed that this is where I should have written it.
Another Senior Moment I must endure. "C'est la vie" and it's not a "dolce vita" one either.
My topic was on Gov. Crist's visit to Israel.