Online-only letters

Presidential election

Palin lacks leadership

It is time to quit arguing about Gov. Sarah Palin's qualifications for vice president because she is already nominated. Consider the worst-case scenario in which she is elected and becomes vice president a couple month afterward. What kind of a vice president would she be?

Read The Times article "Palin promoted friends and secrecy, targeted critics" [Times, News, Sept. 14]. It covers her faulty management methods, appointment of friends with questionable qualifications as department heads, how she is very secretive and how she punishes employees who disagree with her agenda. It covers, in detail, many of her deficiencies as a leader and credit her with the few good decisions.

How can she deal with unfriendly government leaders when she refused to meet with a friendly Russian leader of an area she can "view from Alaska" when he offered to meet with her? Some Alaskans taking a trip to Russia invited her to go with them, she refused and the "Alaska First" zealots praised her.

She is a good speaker, is quick to give evasive answers to questions she doesn't want to answer and has good political instincts. She has a lot of enthusiasm but is overconfident.

I will not vote for Palin or John McCain. Please study their beliefs, policies and Palin's lack of leadership before voting.

— Glen Carey, Seattle

Media can't beat Palin's approval ratings

What a surprise! Gov. Sarah Palin replaced the "good ol' boys" with people she actually trusted. This is what the reporters from The New York Times discovered when they flew to Alaska on a muckraking expedition ["Palin promoted friends and secrecy, targeted critics," News, Sept. 14]. What effrontery! How dare she! How Machiavellian!

Get real. It's not like that hasn't been done by every smart politician in history. Remember John Kennedy's choice for attorney general? His brother, Bobby.

The fact that Palin is as genuine as she seems drives the mainstream media crazy. They will go to any lengths to discredit her. Let's look at Troopergate. Even in Washington state, if a state trooper tasered a 10-year-old child, he wouldn't have his job. It's likely he would also be spending a little jail time. Why does he still have his in Alaska? What would the hue and cry been like if Palin had tried to let the trooper keep his job?

Most politicians would sell their souls for an 80 percent approval rating. The New York Times so-called investigation won't make a dent in Palin's popularity. In fact, while the article was supposed to be an indictment of Palin, it has the effect of being a recommendation. The lady is competent and tough.

Now that reporters know that there is life west of the Hudson River, they might want to stop off in Chicago. They could even ask some questions about Sen. Barack Obama. Things like: history, associates, experience (or lack thereof) and the Daley machine backing. But it's probably too much to ask; probably won't happen.

— Denny Andrews, Bellevue

Question McCain's judgment, voters

Danny Westneat questions John McCain's honor ["Where has McCain's honor gone?," Times, Local News, Sept. 14]. We should also question his judgment in choosing such an ill-prepared vice-presidential nominee.

Must have had two weeks of coaching before Sarah Palin's first interview and has yet to hold a news conference speaks volumes.

Nobody had to coddle and shield Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel, Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, Helen Clark and all the many other women politicians who have become leaders. They rose to the top through sheer ability and determination.

Her recent interviews show that Palin may have the determination but lacks the ability. That's not sexist; just an obvious conclusion from watching the interviews. It was McCain who was sexist in selecting a woman not because of her ability but because of her gender.

— Merv Montacute, Fall City

Empty promises in McCain's reform

Bear in mind that I have been watching politics since Dwight Eisenhower decried the military industrial complex during his farewell address.

The Republican "dirty tricks" machine has been in business (at least) since the disgrace of Nixon's Watergate debacle right on through to today. Never have I seen such a blatant exhibition of totally dishonorable lies and smear tactics as the supposed war hero, straight-talking Sen. John McCain.

Now, in the midst of his raucous blather about how he will reform Wall Street, I have to ask: Where was all this righteousness during the last eight years of your Republican Party leadership? Where were the reform bills that he should have sponsored while his party held power?

McCain's accusation that Sen. Barack Obama would raise taxes is really only about raising taxes on those making more than $250,000 a year. He is worried about his taxes going up — not mine. Your economy might be strong John McCain, but America's economy is in the toilet!

— Roger Wright, Kent

Vote for neither party

I have had my fill of campaign ads — perhaps as many other readers have. I've had it "up to here" with assumptions that all white women will gravitate to Sen. John McCain because of Gov. Sarah Palin, and I am also unhappy that Sen. Barack Obama has done virtually nothing to retrieve those who have bailed out to the Republicans after he ignored Sen. Hillary Clinton and went with Sen. Joe Biden.

So — I am giving notice to both the candidates — neither side is worthy of my vote. I am writing in someone else for president and vice president. If you think I am wasting my vote, think again. I am exercising a right that neither party seems to recognize — the right of each individual to decide to not go the party line. Both candidates being pushed by their party are losing out on my vote and, I will bet, the votes of many others.

— Marian Ely, Renton

McCain digging himself into a hole

In choosing Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, Sen. John McCain has proved to be intellectually and morally bankrupt.

During this campaign, he has pandered to his base by reversing his economic policies, making the rich richer on the backs of the poor; by claiming early warnings about the Iraq invasion when he is on record for his gung-ho support from the beginning; by shifting his position from pro-choice to pro-life.

Now he has chosen Palin, an obscure two-year governor with no foreign-policy experience. She showed her woeful ignorance during her first TV interview when she was unable to identify the defining legacy of the Bush presidency: The Bush Doctrine, which claims the right to pre-emptive strikes on foreign countries. She believes she knows how to deal with Russia because Alaska is close to it.

Palin's social views do not reflect McCain's or those of most Americans. She opposes abortion, even in the case of rape or incest; opposes stem-cell research; supports drilling in ANWR; and as governor she hired a lobbyist to secure $26 million in earmarks for Alaska.

And please spare me the argument that Sen. Barack Obama has little experience, too. As senator, he co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to reduce nuclear proliferation. He serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Committee on Veterans' Affairs; Committee for Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and the Homeland Security Committee. Through a grueling 18-month campaign, he won the support of his party, proved his intellect and grit, and demonstrated his potential to become a great president.

— Paul Chasman, Port Angeles

Republicans blinded by faith

In a speech to a church assembly, Gov. Sarah Palin sought to associate our war in Iraq with "God's plan" and sought to associate a proposed Alaskan gas pipeline with "God's will." This exemplifies an approach that views foreign and domestic policy through ideological lenses, rather than using reason to ascertain the best course of action.

Guided by a faith untempered by reason, President George W. Bush fervently believed that God backed the plan to wage war in Iraq. Disaster ensued. In the domestic sphere, Republican politicians' ideological fixation on market solutions prevents them from working with Democrats to fashion a sensible health-care plan and generally prevents a reasoned approach toward problems facing a middle class frightened of falling into poverty.

While Republican politicians seek to paint those who disagree with them as ungodly or un-American, their own policies have undermined the chances for peaceful foreign relations, produced tens of thousands of needless deaths in Iraq, severely weakened our previously robust market economy, and increased our nation's poverty rate — conditions that I believe any religious and patriotic American should abhor.

Given McCain's 90 percent support for President Bush's policies and his kowtowing to the right wing in appointing a running mate who is all too sure that God is on her side, I fear for my country's future if he is elected.

— Daniel Burnstein, Seattle

Syndicated journalists wrongly trash Palin

Publishing Tuesday's columns by Maureen Dowd ["The power of positive unthinking," syndicated column, Sept. 16] and Thomas Friedman ["Stupid is as stupid does," syndicated column, Sept. 16] sets a new low for The Seattle Times.

Dowd's column is strictly a hit piece on Gov. Sarah Palin, whom she denigrates by calling her a "Napoleon in bunny boots." And, Dowd actually misrepresents Palin's remarks about NATO treaty obligations vis-à-vis member states. That's journalism? Then Dowd flat out lies about Palin's remarks about "God's plan and Iraq."

I've seen the entire Palin interview, and there is nothing "whacko" about it. The Times should avail itself of the same unedited interview.

Friedman's column is a whole 'nother piece of work. It contains nothing but insults. He slams fossil fuels as too expensive, 19th century technology, then he says he seeks expansion of 21st century technology, suggesting we can make the quantum leap in mere days by inventing "something." That's not journalism, that's trashing.

— John Hession, Redmond

McCain doesn't care

During his acceptance speech, Sen. Barack Obama characterized Sen. John McCain, "It is not that he doesn't care, he just doesn't get it." With McCain's selection of Gov. Sarah Palin, a person who is unquestionably unqualified to become the president of this nation, I would change Obama's remark about McCain to read: "It is not only that he just doesn't get it, it is also that he does not care" about the future of our nation.

— Bill Stroud, Lacey

Woman to woman, Palin's a ploy

It is strange that Gov. Sarah Palin invokes Sen. Hillary Clinton when appealing for women's votes when the only thing they have in common is gender. They have not one shared common value, and if gender were the only criteria then 51 percent of the American population would be equally eligible for the presidency.

So, could the reason be — I'm searching for a word — cynicism? That women are gullible and easily outraged, so angry with all male leadership that they will vote against their own best interests? Palin certainly does not advocate for children's health care and financial security for vulnerable elders, protection against abuse and a healthy environment.

Like Sen. John McCain, she would rather spend billions on foreign wars than repair bridges in this country. And the only bridge she wanted to build was one to a remote island in Alaska, not one that would bring people together. It seems that McCain is so desperate for his last chance at the presidency that he will risk our future on a hastily contrived ploy to broaden his limited appeal. This is not a risk we should consider taking.

— Brenda Swidler, Seattle

U.S. Constitution

Remember this important American anniversary

Sept. 17 is the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Public schools are required to teach the Constitution on this day. It would be a good day for all of us to read the Constitution and remember that this document is much more than a piece of paper. It is the foundation of our country. Unless we know the Constitution and demand that it be followed, those in power will abuse our sovereign rights and defile our foundation.

Article VI, Section 2 states that "This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land."

This means that all treaties must be followed. Those in power often ignore or sidestep the Constitution. Several examples include the treaties signed with Native Americans, the Treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, which guarantees the right to speak the Spanish language, and the Geneva Convention, which covers the laws of war and the treatment of prisoners.

I am a Vietnam veteran, and I often hear people say that freedom isn't free. I agree. Freedom requires that we, the people, understand our laws and vigorously demand that they be enforced. Democracy is a verb, and without our constant vigilance, we are no more than pawns.

Read the Constitution. Talk to your kids, family and friends about it. It is who we are as a nation.

— Arnold Stieber, Grass Lake, Mich.

Driving age

Give 16-year-olds driving experience

When I read Tuesday's article on the legal driving age potentially being raised, I couldn't believe it ["16 too young to drive? Some say wait till 17," page one, Sept. 9]. It really threw me off, knowing they were contemplating to change it to 17 or even 18.

People claim that raising the age will result in fewer accidents, but I don't think it would matter. If teenagers started driving at 18, they would still have the same amount of driving experience. What makes it worse is that by 18, more teenagers would be drinking, and considering that the drinking age is being debated, it could be legal to start drinking and driving at the same age.

Raising the legal driving age would also make transportation for many high-school students harder, because their parents have to take them or they need to ride the bus.

I think the way to stop accidents wouldn't be to stop people from driving until they are older, but in making sure they get adequate experience by the age of 16.

— Tyler Staeck, Redmond