"But I think it's absolutely sinful what Bush is trying to do to make everyone believe in the same God that he believes in."
Comments like these, among others, in your recent "interview" by Jane Campbell are what drive people like me absolutely crazy. Why is it that anyone who is enthusiastic about the arts, culture and urban living has to automatically be a Republican-basher spouting all the typical liberal party lines. Why can't you just rally for the arts and culture cause without having such a transparent political agenda--"Kucinich is the only one saying anything." Indeed. The point I'm trying to make is that there are a lot of Republicans--and, gasp, even conservatives, whom you and others in the alternative media paint as the devil incarnate--who actually support your ideas about arts and culture. But you're making it difficult for us to get behind you and your cause because at every turn, you're disparaging ideals or people we might believe in. I understand that in having an opinion, you risk offending some people. But by being so blatantly dismissive, you're alienating large numbers of people instead of trying to pull everyone into your "tent." And with utterances such as yours about Bush (which, by the way, is patently false), you give the impression that you think tolerance is great, as long as everyone believes what you do. I love your newsletter and the fact that you're trying to shake this dinosaur of a city out of its doldrums. It's been needed for a long time. But I read Cool Cleveland for news about arts and culture, not slurs against people or parties or more doses of liberal orthodoxy. If I wanted the latter, I'd stick with the Free Times." From Cool Cleveland reader Bernie Thiel bathiel@aol.com (:divend:)