In summary: Richard Lugar continues to be a clear voice of Hoosier common sense in Congress.
The Herald Bulletin’s online polls are by no means scientific. They do not represent a cross section of a certain demographic or study group. Anyone can log on to www.theheraldbulletin and vote.
But the results of the daily polls often reflect, in some way, current public sentiment. That was crystal clear in the outcome of a recent THB poll that asked respondents what they thought of U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, who was at the Pendleton Community Library on March 14 for a living biography series.
A plurality of the 261 poll participants, 44 percent, said it’s time for Lugar to leave office. Thirty-one percent said he has effectively served Indiana, 19 percent said his role has mostly been concerned with national and international policy, and 6 percent said they had not followed Lugar’s career.
It’s puzzling to think that nearly half the respondents believe it’s time for Lugar to get out of the Senate. Clearly, he has been and continues to be an effective legislator and a strong influence in the formation of U.S. policy.
The dissatisfaction with Lugar is a sign of the times. People are frustrated by the overall direction of the federal government and believe it’s time to clean house.
Maybe so. But would you throw out a dependable kitchen appliance along with the trash?
Throughout his 34-year career representing Indiana in the U.S. Senate, Lugar has established himself as an intelligent, reasonable and honorable man. Though he isn’t in east central Indiana often enough to satisfy the local need for attention, he has been active in supporting local education programs, food charities and other causes.
More importantly, he has brought Hoosier commonsense to bear in dealing with some of our country’s most complex issues. Lugar’s signature contributions have been in the arena of nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Leveraging his spotless reputation and his natural ability as a diplomat, Lugar has been the driving force behind agreements that have greatly reduced nuclear arsenals, particularly in the former Soviet Union. He has also been a clear and insistent voice of action in the formation of U.S. and international policies to slow the spread of nuclear weapon capabilities to rogue nations.
Is new leadership needed in Washington to tackle problems compounded by the current establishment? Yes. But Richard Lugar has never been a part of the problem; he’s always been all about solutions.
Maybe by 2012, when Lugar’s seat is next up for election, he’ll be mulling retirement. For now, he represents Indiana with dignity and remains an important player on the national and international scene.
Opinion
Editorial: Time for Lugar to go?
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