EDITOR'S NOTE: Below is a selection of responses shared by readers of MDJOnline.com in reaction to recent MDJ stories ...

No rush to get Conference Center deeper in debt ...

Common sense says wrote - This deal really stinks. Obviously the fix with Mayor Bill Dunaway, (Councilman Philip) Goldstein, (City Attorney Doug) Haynie and (City Manager) Bill Bruton is on. Dunaway will leave office in disgrace in less than four months. Now we need to get rid of Bruton and (bond underwriter Gordon) Mortin.

Rcandrews - Marietta should never have gotten into the hotel business. It is a tough, fickle business that should be left to lodging/convention professionals. (The proposed $35 million bond) has been knocking around since November 2008, so surely Doug Haynie could have and should have advised the city council, several months ago, that proper public notice for a November 2009 bond vote must be given 60 days before the idea was offered to taxpayers for approval. Oh, I forgot, that probably was not the intention of Marietta's leadership and their bond guru, Gordon Mortin. They are like the Obama crowd, "Let's get it done quickly before taxpayers figure out what we have done." Steve "Thunder" Tumlin and the MDJ are on top of this story. That bodes well for Marietta taxpayers. If Thunder isn't careful, he will make Mortin cry.

Anonymous wrote - At the very least, Tumlin has interjected some logic into this crazy and convoluted process! Can anyone trust what comes out of city hall? First they say the bonds were paid off from reserves. Now it is denied. Surely, the MDJ can get to the bottom of this mess.

Harrold wrote - Why is Marietta in the hotel business? Marietta is a failure at the city business, but they want to run a hotel too?

Golf1 wrote - Let us not forget, it was Goldstein and his old cronies on the city council that got the city into this mess. Everyone knew the conference center was a huge white elephant when they built it. The city needs to sell it, take the loss and be done.

Astonishing wrote - Marietta employees haven't had a cost of living raise in years, benefits are being cut left and right, positions are being left unfilled, killing the rest of us and and Bruton pulls this crap! He and the council should be ashamed.

Lmichael wrote - Tell me again how the City of Marietta ended up owning this hotel?

Non Entity wrote - Tumlin won't make a bit of difference with those clowns on the city council and their ringleader, Bruton.

Kirby blog: Should plug be pulled on Obama speech?

Marshall Thurmond wrote - Actually, it was a very good speech regarding things such as individual responsibility and hard work that students need to hear. I really think that this controversy was "much ado, about nothing."

Teacher Mom wrote - The premise behind any president wanting to address our nation's students and encourage them to do well and stay in school is wonderful. Where I take issue is with the federal government issuing lesson plans and telling teachers what to do. In almost 30 years as an educator, I do not recall any president - Democrat or Republican - providing such a suggested lesson plan to accompany his speech. From what I see and hear, a good portion of our country still does not trust this new president. If the trust were there, this whole situation would not even be an issue.

Utterly absurd wrote - The plug that should be pulled is on columnists that give further exposure to this ridiculous fit of hysteria by the spoiled-grapes right-wing brigade in this country that simply can't cope with the fact that an honest and decent family man (who also just so happens to be a Democrat) won the election. Actually, based on their parents' public behavior, my guess is most of these kids (of ranting right-wingers) get anything but a "fair and balanced" diet of propaganda within their own households. It might be a good thing to have them see first-hand that Obama isn't waving Mao's little red book nor wearing a hammer and sickle lapel pin. Oh wait, I see now....that's exactly "the propaganda" these parents fear most - the actual truth.

BabyBoomer1951 - If the President wants to speak to the children of our country, then scheduling a time on a Saturday during one of their cartoon programs would be a less controversial solution. This way it takes the monkey off the school systems' backs.

West Cobb Parent wrote - The kids have enough distractions in school to prevent them from learning what counts. They don't need the president and the added lesson material to take away from the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic!

Steve wrote - Although I question how much of it was planned, and how much was a natural turn of events, Reagan and Bush Sr. both spoke to school children and both somewhat used the time to push their political agenda. Their addresses were not as well organized and publicized, nor were they backed and touted by the Department of Education. In addition, no pre-speech and post-speech lesson plans were submitted to the school districts by an agency of the federal government. The point is that were made mistakes letter Reagan and Bush do it, what has changed, other than the president?

GoodScout wrote - The people and organizations that are focused on obstructing and crippling the current administration will focus on anything to accomplish their aims - even attacking a speech geared to help schoolchildren focus on success and staying in school. It is indeed, the silly season. And those who make an issue of this are either silly, stupid or evil.

Support schools wrote - The local school administration should be supported by the parents and community with the decision to have students watch this event at home with their parents.

OmaDeb wrote -Many people (both Democrats and Republicans) have begun to realize that with an unprecedented number of handpicked radical advisers, Obama has an agenda for his tenure in the oval office. Getting our elementary and college kids in the socialist frame of mind as early as possible is of vital importance in fulfilling that agenda. That knowledge scares the living daylights out of any parent with any sense at all.

School Advocate wrote - Just read the speech. Quite appropriate and harmless! Actually a good message! Now, the naysayers need to settle down!