Readers Write for Saturday, June 27

The things U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., will say in defense of her frequent misguided statements are truly amazing.

In the June 26 Star Tribune, she said, "and I think it's time as a lawmaker that we come together and start looking out for the American individual and their privacy rights, as well."

The hypocrisy of the congresswoman is amazing in light of the fact that she did not defend American citizens from illegal wiretapping.

Americans, start listening to these kinds of people and you will learn of these inconsistencies and their serious character flaws.

BILL HABEDANK, RED WING, MINN.

Shame on the Star Tribune for continuing to spew the propaganda of the left about the global warming hoax. The June 25 commentary ("Climate change is real; a new report paints it by numbers") didn't make any revelations.

The climate has always changed, and always will change. What liberals would have us believe is that the weather of today is going to be the exact same as it was 100 years ago, 50 years ago or even 10 years ago. The fear-mongering used by the left to gain power is despicable.

In regard to the June 25 Star Tribune article "Gabby's fights City Hall and wins": I live about two blocks from Gabby's Saloon and Eatery in northeast Minneapolis. The real problem is that it doesn't have sufficient parking for its full capacity of about 700 patrons. As a result, patrons park on residential streets throughout a four- to six-block radius.

From 2 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, I'm awakened by drunken patrons stumbling out of Gabby's, swarming through the streets on foot, yelling, fighting, cat-calling, urinating and vomiting all the way to their cars. Once in their cars, they gun their motors and play bass music as loud as they can while driving round and round the neighborhood, still yelling at each other.

Gabby's ruins the quality of life in this neighborhood. The city of Minneapolis can't or won't help, despite my skyrocketing property taxes. I want to leave this area but I can't sell my house -- I'm held hostage to Gabby's. This situation would never be allowed to continue in southwest Minneapolis or the Lowry-Kenwood area of Minneapolis.

LORI BRAVO, MINNEAPOLIS

•••

I see the City Council's attempt to put such an ordinance in place as an abuse power and an attempt to strike back at Gabby's bar for the lawsuit they lost.

Shame on those on the Minneapolis City Council, which sees this attempt as a viable option to deal with the issue at hand.

CHRIS LUND, HAMBURG

While we're disappointed that the filmmakers of "Food, Inc." took artistic license with the facts involving Monsanto, we expect more from real journalists. That's why I was disappointed to read Colin Covert's review of the film (Star Tribune, June 23).

Contrary to Covert's statement, the farmers featured in "Food, Inc." were not sued for "saving their own heirloom seed." They were sued for violating their grower agreement, in which they gave their word that they would not save patented seed for further planting, breeding or cultivation. Monsanto is one of many seed companies that patents its innovations.

JOHN COMBEST, ST. LOUIS;

MONSANTO CO. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

It is interesting to note that we can provide a new playground for the Minnesota Twins but cannot provide lifeguards for our children's beaches.