Wow - two blasts against U.S. Rep. Paul Broun this month ("Fleming unquestionably the better candidate," July 6; "Same shade of Broun," July 25).

The editors' opinion is that the congressman used up too much of his office budget to get re-elected, and that this reflects the congressman's personal budget difficulties that occurred decades ago. Hey, we already heard this whine in that June 29 article: "The Athens Republican (Broun) declared bankruptcy, didn't pay his taxes and fought with an ex-wife over alimony payments while living in Americus in the late 1970s and early 1980s, according to records unearthed by GOP opponent Barry Fleming's campaign."

It is time for The Augusta Chronicle to come clean and tell its readers, what its beef is. Read your own paper, editors: Broun won the Republican primary. We already know that favorite son Barry Fleming raised more than a half-million dollars for the primary campaign and lost big-time - failing to win in any of the 21 counties in the 10th District, including his own Columbia County. The paper reported that Broun only raised a tad over $100,000, so he used what funds he legally had access to. Where's the newspaper's beef?

I also don't understand the editors' beef about doing away with career politicians. I really supported former U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood, and so did The Augusta Chronicle. I remember what he said when he first ran in 1994 about only serving a few terms. But I, too, wanted him to stay in Congress. I never heard the editors call Charlie a career politician, and I doubt that any thinking person would call Broun - who is still in his first term and has not held any other elected post - a career politician.

So what is the real beef the editors have against U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, M.D.?

Ralph R. Angelo

Martinez