Time for the mid-year edition of Mancini's Mailbag, featuring comments from readers about topics opined upon by your humble scribe.

Postings have been edited for clarity, space and for words that would spoil the breakfast cloth.

On how today's television dads are portrayed:

From MrAlex: Ozzie Nelson has been replaced with Ozzy Osbourne. TV show dads used to know what was right and wrong all the time, but these days, father doesn't know squat. TV dads today are like Al Bundy, usually clueless, bumbling, fumbling idiots for the rest of the family to make fun of. It's just a sign of the times as our society spirals downward further in to being a much less educated society. You see who the president is right now. Need I say more? That's just the way America is headed.

On the Bailey fire 40 years ago rekindling memories:

From Catman57: Thank you, Jody, for a thought-provoking series of articles on an event that touched the lives of many in this area. The events of that fatal tragedy will never go away and will linger in the memories of many for years to come, and there will always be unanswered questions. Thoughts and prayers to the surviving family and friends of the victims, and may all of the victims rest in eternal peace.

On Libertarians railing against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor:

From mythravere: I have heard she has ties to LaRaza, that group of Hispanics who want part of the U.S. back to make there Atzlan or whatever. The simple fact is there are a huge amount of Mexicans and other illegal immigrants in this country. Now I have read also that Sotomayor is a supporter of the Constitution as it is. Will she help in giving the illegals amnesty? If amnesty is given then there will be only one party in this country. The more I think about it the more I see us already having just one party anyways.

On keeping the relationship between West Virginia University and West Virginia University at Parkersburg:

From WVCommissioner: Honestly, Jess, you are right, they must accept the two-year deal and work for two years in making a case to greenfield the agreement in 2011.

On stricter enforcement of no-smoking regulations in bars and other public places:

From bartender: Believe the business men. Business is down. Believe the state Lottery Commission. Machine play is down. Believe the liquor wholesalers. Liquor sales to businesses are down. Look in the mirror. Some people shouldn't be allowed in McDonalds.

From PHSElite: Smokers make the choice to smoke. They should not be allowed to pass on their nasty habit to those who enjoy the social scene as well. Why do you think the cost of healthcare for smokers in higher than non smokers? Because they are sitting ducks awaiting horrible diseases such as COPD. Watch someone die of it and you will soon wish you didn't smoke or infect others with its toxins.

On the richest people in America:

From LilyOValley: Hoooray, West Virginia isn't first, but only sixth, a scant 0.1 percent ahead of Kain-tucky.

On the governor's daughter being justified to ask officials at West Virginia University why the master's she didn't deserve was rescinded when the degrees for others in the same situation were not:

From RossNeff: I guess it can be safely said that "WVU's chickens have come home to roost" or something like that. When is it going to end?

On likening things from when Franklin Roosevelt was elected to Barrack Obama's election:

From wildbill: Why is it that these leftists swine simply refuse to recognize that Roosevelt did not get this country out of the Great Depression? They love taking credit for something they had absolutely nothing to do with.

From thatsjustme: Wild, having a bad day? Leftist swine? Could I say it's the the "rightist swine" that got us into this jam? Further, that "they" like to blame their problems on everything except their own incompetence and malfeasance? I don't mind your opinion, I've heard these comments expressed before (not that I necessarily believe them,, but for you to attack a whole group of people and call them swine is rather McCarthy-istic isn't it? What's the matter, didn't mommy pack your lollipop for school today?

Contact Jess Mancini at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com