To the editor:

In the July 28 Journal-World, it was reported that, according to an audit by the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, almost $9 billion cannot be accounted for from the Iraq War during the Bush and conservative era.

Hmmm, conservatives recently had kittens over the $1 million or $2 million they considered wasted on ACORN (charges that were found to be false, by the way). I never was a math whiz but I know that it takes a BUNCH of millions to make a billion, let alone nine.

We’ve seen how lack of oversight has taken us to the edge of a Great Depression on Wall Street. We’ve seen how lack of oversight has taken us to an unprecedented environmental disaster in the Gulf. Now we see a lack of oversight has tinkled away $9 billion of our money, for what?

I was, repeat, was, a big Obama supporter. He has disappointed me in a number of ways. But in fairness, he inherited a big ol’ pile of doo-doo from the previous era of conservative rule.

The fact that he’s done anything is rather impressive. In the 18 months of the Obama administration the Republicans have made unprecedented use of filibusters to halt legislation. Republicans are now campaigning that nothing gets done in Washington. I hate hypocrisy. The polls and talking heads say that we’re heading back to Republican rule. My cynical side thinks we’re just stupid enough to do so.

Daniel Patrick Schamle,

Lawrence