Online-only Letters

Impeachment answers

Remove what is unwanted

Editor, The Times:

After reading the various responses in Sunday’s paper to the impeachment question, I can see two main arguments against impeaching our president and vice president [“Is the party over?” Northwest Voices, July 29].

The first argument is that we naive, nonpolitical types should not be trying to make big decisions about impeachment because we simply do not understand all the political implications. Actually, if only well-informed, political types were allowed to make decisions about our country, we would not live in a democracy. The beauty of democracy is that the people decide. That is our right. We should not let anyone tell us that we are unqualified to clamor for impeachment if that’s what we want.

The other argument seems to be that we ought to keep this new “toolbox” that the Bush regime has created for the executive branch because the Democrats will soon be in power, and they can use the Republicans’ own weapons against them. I wonder if this “toolbox” refers to illegal spying, obstructing criminal investigations, suspending civil liberties and torturing people to death. Anyone with a “toolbox” like that would be much more like a dictator than an elected president of a democratic nation.

I do agree, however, that the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney should not be done in anger as payback for an earlier impeachment. We need to remove Bush and Cheney from office quickly and without emotion, just as a surgeon removes a tumor.

— Amanda Goodwin, Seattle

Spreading democracy

The wrong way

Floyd McKay [“This conflict’s too tricky for ham-handed Bush team,” guest commentary July 25] errs in writing that the U.S. “promote[ed] democratic elections in the Palestinian territories and then refus[ed] to accept the overwhelming victory of Hamas in a free and fair election.”

Israel and the U.S. fully accepted the results of the elections and recognized Hamas as the legitimate and democratic leaders of the Palestinian Authority (PA). They have also recognized the fact that Hamas has declared an all-out war of terrorism against Israel, with the express goal of destroying Israel and killing all Jews. McKay’s claim that the Palestinian people “want peace and support a two-state future” is clearly refuted by the results of their election of Hamas, as well as many public-opinion polls.

American policy vis-à-vis Hamas is a response to this war, not a challenge to the elections’ results. The conditions laid out by the “quartet” (the U.S., European Union, United Nations and Russia) — to recognize Israel’s sovereignty, cease terrorism and abide by previous agreements — are requirements for being considered part of the international community, not for being accepted as the Palestinian’s government.

— Iris Langman, Mercer Island

Israel just trying to defend itself

I was appalled by Floyd McKay’s opinion article.

McKay erroneously states that “just as our invasion created al-Qaida in Iraq, isolating Hamas may create a branch in Gaza.” There is no connection between the two. Israel did not just “give” Gaza to the Palestinians in 2005. They forcibly evacuated the citizens, demolishing their homes and businesses.

U.N. Resolution 242 (1967) affirms the right of every state in the area “to live in peace with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.” There were no “Palestinian territories.” Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt controlled Gaza. Israel did not have “secure and recognized boundaries,” so retention of some of those territories was possible under 242. Israel is not a “foreign” military occupier in the West Bank but, pending final negotiations, the lawful military administrator as a result of a successful war of self-defense.

Mckay wrongly states that “there is terrorism on all sides.” Palestinian suicide bombers and indiscriminate rocket attacks intended to kill innocent civilians are not the same as Israeli soldiers taking defensive measures against the perpetrators of these attacks.

— Josh Basson, Seattle

Waiting for the punch line

This is no joke

Whenever I read a letter to the editor like the one from John Gamash [“Jumping on removal is politicians’ way of covering their mistakes,” Northwest Voices, July 29], I start out thinking it will be a great joke with a rib-tickling punch line. The further I read, the sooner I realize the joke’s on me, and that this person is serious.

It’s astounding people like Gamash equate Bill Clinton lying about cheating on his wife with George Bush being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousand Iraqis and thousands of American citizens, an illegal invasion of a country that never attacked us, the torture and abuse of prisoners, and on and on and on.

Bush still hasn’t, somehow, been able to capture the one person that actually did attack us, Osama bin Laden. There is no comparison.

And it has nothing to do with being Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. If Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, or any other Democratic president did anything remotely like George Bush and all his abuses of power, I would be howling for their removal from office. They would’ve violated the law (like George Bush does everyday of his life as president) and disgraced the office of president. But neither Clinton or Carter acted so egregiously.

Hopefully, by November 2008, the American voters will have had their fill of Republican Party “government” and vote to throw the rascals out. The American people cannot afford anymore of this corrupt bunch of crooks. The Supreme Court is now stacked against us because of Bush and the people who put him in office, i.e. the people who voted for him. The Bush presidency is the worst thing to happen in the history of this country.

— Richard Ellenberger, Normandy Park

Getting some exercise

Not so easy in Seattle

King County officials’ efforts to enhance walkers’ and bicyclists’ use of the Burke-Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park has achieved a major step forward. That part of the trail can now be widened to make it more accommodating to users [“Trail given right of way,” Local News, July 26].

About two weeks earlier, city of Seattle officials — who frequently talk (which is cheap) of their considerable desire to make the city pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly —decided to keep the Burke-Gilman Trail through Fremont closed for another year as a favor to a private developer. (About three years earlier, the city allowed the Burke-Gilman Trail across from Gas Works Park to be blocked for many months, also on behalf of a private developer.)

So, the moral is: When it comes to the welfare of walkers and bicyclists, King County leaders are prepared to put their efforts and money where there mouth is, whereas Seattle leaders seem to be mostly mouth.

By the way, it’s also worth noting another indicator of Seattle officials’ lack of regard for users of the Burke-Gilman Trail. Where the trail crosses Brooklyn Avenue in the University District (and perhaps elsewhere on the trail), the city has installed multiple flashing-light signs to alert walkers and bicyclists of the requirement to stop before crossing Brooklyn. Are there equivalent flashing signs to caution drivers that pedestrians and bikers may be crossing the street? Not in Seattle.

— Lester Goldstein, Seattle

Washington’s water

Give me bottled

I read "Some would like to play taps for bottled water” [News, July 26] with dismay. I very recently moved to the Northwest from Los Angeles, and soon after, my face developed a rash and was breaking out with little pimples, something that has never happened to me before. After talking to a dermatologist, I learned that the water in Washington is hard (full of minerals, etc.) and the water in California is soft and does not leave a residue on my face or hair.

I totally solved the skin problem by using Arrowhead or Crystal Geyser bottled water to wash my face and rinse my hair. Both brands are bottled in California and do the job perfectly.

So please let us not hear about doing away with bottled water. Tap does not do the job!

— Nancy Feinerman, Issaquah

Cashing in on false emergencies

The fines are alarming

"Sounding the alarm on false emergencies” [editorial, July 27] mentions that in 2006, the city of Seattle collected $1.4 million in false-alarm fines. These fines were supposedly collected to offset “police-response” costs. I would like to see how those police-response statistics were compiled.

In the vast majority of cases, police responding to false alarms are already on duty, so how does responding to a false alarm increase their costs? I suspect the statistics have been manipulated in order to justify yet another government cash grab.

Alarm systems can be easily triggered by even well-intentioned home owners, especially seniors who might have physical impairments. Does the city really want to fine grandma in order to get a quick buck?

— Steve Triesch, Shoreline

Sub-par parade

Torchlight not so bright

Who’s running the Seafair Torchlight Parade? This year’s parade was almost pathetic. There were a few good entries, but very few.

Where were the Seafair floats? There were a just a few of the familiar ones from outside the city. Where was the royalty? In the past there were many more in the parade. Where were all the military groups? I think there were two, maybe three, bands. Don’t the armed forces have drill teams anymore? Don’t the people running Seafair know about them? What about the hydroplanes? Is Graham Trucking the only civic-minded racing group? The antique fire trucks were there, but what about getting some antique hydroplanes from the hydroplane museum?

Who does the timing? There were long stretches of groups waiting for other groups to move. Seafair should have had parade marshals spaced along the route to regulate the flow of participants, people who know what to do to keep things running smoothly. The gaps should have been full of clowns and other characters to provide continuity, not tucked onto the end like an afterthought. We saw very few of the parade officials in the parade — have they downsized?

And what of the police, who were wearing gas mask packs slung on their sides like bulky holsters. Is their paranoia so rampant that a parade with families watching might erupt into a riot? That is not a good image for our police.

Seattle is a city becoming well-known throughout the world. It deserves a better effort when it puts itself on display.

— Ben Anderson, Seattle

Thanks a million

We’ve lost millions

“Five people were shot to death within six hours early Sunday, including three killed after an argument in a bar, police said . . . deaths bring the number of killings in the city this year to 232, on pace to be the highest rate in a decade . . .” [“Separate shootings claim 5 in 6 hours,” News, July 23.]

Thanks again, NRA. I always feel so much safer with your untiring insistence that all of us can own guns.

— Blaine Gibson Hammond, Seattle