Your Opinion: Response to Dirschell

Robert Haslag

Jefferson City

Dear Editor:

Mr. Dirschell, in a recent submission you noted that conservatives could count on Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Alito, Thomas and “sometimes Rehnquist.” Sir, it helps both your credibility and the perception of your interest in facts if you get the little things right. I waited for a correction from either you or anyone before I submitted this brief piece. Sir, you obviously did not care to ensure that your submission was accurate since Chief Justice Rehnquist died in 2005, more than 13 years prior to your submission. You did not correct it and, though I knew that you “probably” meant to identify Chief Justice Roberts, you did not make any attempt to correct the record at any time since which indicates that, if you are willing to ignore the little facts; perhaps you are equally less concerned about any assertions you present to be as facts. I fully expect you and/or others will make much of my focus on this but, as I said; if you don’t worry about the little things, why should we assume you are actually attentive to any fact you assert.

If I may humbly suggest as a liberal, progressive Democrat that when I submit a piece to these pages, after my first writing I proof-read, hone, review and check for errors on multiple occasions before I go to the News Tribune’s page to submit. I will give you credit for “probably” knowing the correct justice but either through a mental lapse, laziness or the passion of the moment you just finished your howl without any real effort to check the factual nature of your submission. Whatever! If you want to be believed; you really might want to be more attentive to what you write prior to submission.