Letters to the Editor

Republican rhetoric

Editor, The Times:

Thank goodness Sen. John McCain selected Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate!

This evidence of his good judgment has certainly made up my mind as to who has my support in the presidential election: the Democrats!

— Karen Clay, Port Orchard

Sorry, Ms. Stein

After listening to Sarah Palin's convention address last week ["Feisty Palin slams Obama, D.C. insiders," Times, page one, Sept. 4], one can only conclude — with apologies to Gertrude Stein — that there is no there there.

— Blaine Beveridge, Vashon Island

Don't forget the cake

Taking into account what's at stake and the fact that Sarah Palin likes to shoot high-powered, semi-automatic rifles, if there was ever going to be the modern-day equivalent of a shotgun wedding, this is it.

— Dave Richards, Bainbridge Island

Mathematical qualifications

It has been stated that Sarah Palin is more qualified to be president than Barack Obama because she is the current governor of Alaska.

The 2006 population of Alaska was 670,053. The state of Texas that year claimed 23,507,783 people.

Simple math shows that a governor from Texas would be roughly 35 times more qualified to be president than a governor from Alaska.

Oh dear!

— David J. Marzano, Seattle

Pithy names

Regarding headlines: "Obama/Biden" his time, and "McCain/Palin" by comparison.

— Gary Fasso, Seattle

Will of the people

Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson's stirring account of John McCain's POW experiences gave a level of detail new to me.

The strength and character displayed by McCain through those years of captivity was truly amazing.

Enduring great pain and torture, he never caved to his captors.

What puzzles me now is: How did the "agents of intolerance" on the Republican right break his will?

— John Gabrielson, Shoreline

Politics by Mother Goose

So McCain shoved Palin through the glass ceiling; and now the shills are shattered and alive with the sound of mutiny.

To wit: If the Republicans don't end up in the reign, the blame will fall plainly on John McCain.

— Noel Freedman, Stanwood

School daze

Money matters — and not just to teachers

Bellevue teachers feel they should be paid more than other teachers in the state because they teach in Bellevue ["Bellevue teachers, district far apart," Local News, Sept. 3].

Perhaps they wouldn't mind contributing to the salaries of others who work in Bellevue, such as clerks, secretaries and janitors.

— LaVerne Hall, Bellevue

Machinists strike

Some "thanks" due to certain people

I wish to thank the following: Boeing, for not caving into the thuggish demands of our union, and for not coming back to the table with a contract that was enhanced over the last offer to quell the vitriolic fervor over the "last and final" offer ["Boeing, machinists talks fail; Union to strike," News Sept. 5].

To our union, who spoon-fed rhetoric to members over the last eight months and gathered all together like a flock of blind sheep to a possible slaughterhouse of financial ruin if this strike is prolonged more than a few weeks.

To the members who acted like spoiled, petulant children and were so quick to strike and not want our union leaders to negotiate a better contract.

Thank you all.

— Roger Dean Pickens, Federal Way