Redefining success
Ruth Conniff clearly cannot find her way around a balance sheet ("Wisconsin Loves Obama After All," 10/5/2012). Otherwise, she would not write manifestly asinine sentences such as "The auto industry rescue was a major success." She's kidding, right? At best, the bailout is a major work in progress.
The readers of Isthmus deserve to know the facts: Uncle Sam currently owns 500 million shares of GM (26% of the company), for which it paid $53 per share. GM's shares are currently trading at $25.21 (10/5/2012, noon EST). Thus, what Ms. Conniff describes as a "major success" is actually an unrealized loss of $13.89 billion. In light of GM's declining market share and stiff competition from both domestic and foreign automakers, it is unlikely Uncle Sam will ever recoup its investment in GM.
If this is a "major success" for Mr. Obama, I cringe to think how Ms. Conniff will characterize his failures.
Joseph T. Leone, Brooklyn, Wis.
For the birds
As an avid birder, I appreciated John Motoviloff's article on some of the top birdwatching spots in southern Wisconsin ("Look Up to the Skies and See," 10/12/2012). Another good resource is Madison Audubon Society's website, madisonaudubon.org/audubon/html/tips.htm. MAS has an incredible number of field trips available.
Jim Shurts
Bring back Spitzer-Resnick
I am appalled at Disability Rights Wisconsin executive director Tom Masseau for firing Jeff Spitzer-Resnick on the spot without any warning, his only reasons being his claim that they don't get along and the tone of his emails ("A Shakeup at Disability Rights Wisconsin," 10/12/2012). Jeff Spitzer-Resnick should be reinstated.
Russell Novkov
