I need enlightenment. I am an independent who consistently votes for the person for whom I think is best for the job – regardless of their political affiliation. Yet, it seems there are many people in this country and in Congress who vote only the party line.

Can someone explain that?

We have a president who has vetoed stem cell research, “because it is murder,” yet he feels it is not murder if individual states wish to pay for it.

We have an administration that is charging American citizens to get them out of a war zone.

We have a president who refuses to go to Dover Air Force Base to honor the dead coming back into our country, nor will he attend any soldier funeral. Yet he, and many of his Republican cohorts, flocked to pay tribute to Ken Lay – the man who was responsible for thousands of workers losing their retirement benefits and jobs.

In addition, he is supporting Lay’s family in their pending lawsuit to have Lay’s criminal record expunged, based on the fact that even though he was convicted of a felony, he died before he spent one day in jail; therefore, in their twisted logic, he is innocent. Our compassionate leader finds nothing wrong with that.

Please, someone tell me where I went wrong. Why is it I think there is an inept, evil man in the White House? Why do so many people follow willingly? Why?

I really need to know.

Dick Rosenberg, Lewiston