A letter in the Banner by Victor Callirgos, "When voting, keep your eye on what matters," in which he spends a paragraph stating how foolish we all are on the right side of the political spectrum, implying, I suppose, that only people's opinions on the left like himself are worthy of consideration.

Yet, methinks Mr. Callirgos smears with a mighty wide brush. He mentions me by name, citing a letter I wrote, "The communist under the president's bed." So let me start setting him straight by informing him that I didn't create that title, anymore than he created his. That right is reserved by the editor, although I feel that he was a little more kind to him than he was to me.

Actually, I am more interested in communists like Van Jones in Mr. Obama's entourage, who I might add, Mr. Callirgos fails to mention.

Mr. Callirgos seems reluctant to use communists names. It is Frank Marshall Davis, Mr. Callirgos, and whom it is said by many, was a mentor to Mr. Obama. He was introduced to Mr. Obama, by Mr. Obama's grandfather, Mr. Dunham, from one source, in an article in The Telegraph, Frank was born before the turn of the century but he did his dirty work with Mr. Obama in the 1970s and later, it is stated.

Mr. Callirgos is not the only one to avoid using the name of Frank Marshall Davis. So did Mr. Obama, although it is stated he did refer to Davis many times, as "Frank" in his book "Dreams from my Father." I think you leftists are deliberately trying to hide the truth from the public while I am trying to expose and question the relationship of these people between Mr. Davis, Van Jones and Mr. Obama, the man who wants to be our commander in chief during these very dangerous times. Therein lies the difference between you and I, Mr. Callirgos.

But you liberals have a much bigger problem than the communist influence on the White House. He is a sweet broth of an Irish lad named Paul Ryan, and if he makes chopped liver out of my president, like he did the last time they locked horns over health care, you will think that you have been to Bondville Fair and left your necktie God knows where.

LAWRENCE E. HARRINGTON

Bennington So, where is that FEMA money?

I am struck by the lack of fiscal responsibility in the governor's office. One area that is critical in economic recovery, the reconstruction of the state employee offices and the Vermont State Hospital, has been hurt by miscommunication from Governor Shumlin.

Last year, he told Vermonters that FEMA would pitch in for 90 percent of the cost to rebuild the area, promising us that everything was taken care of and that Vermonters wouldn't have to throw millions into a rebuilding process that many have struggled with emotionally already. It wasn't "all good," though, as the administration has now told us the money was never there and that FEMA will not bear the costs they originally hinted they could bear.

This is a serious economic concern in Vermont, and it is unacceptable for a governor to mislead citizen legislators and their constituents with such a serious manner, and with so much on the line. It is another example of Governor Shumlin telling taxpayers that, "it's okay, we'll find a way to pay for it."

Regardless of whether we want to pay for certain programs, we have to have a governor who communicates honestly with the people he serves. Governor Shumlin has showed us that he is incapable of filling this role.

GORDON SPENCER

Lowell