Letters to the Editor - 7/16/2006

By: North County Times Readers - | Saturday, July 15, 2006 8:33 PM PDT ∞

Print some truth on illegal immigration

I'm a legal immigrant from Canada. I've been here 49 years. My parents went to night school for about a year back in the 1960s to become legal. They took the test, paid their fees and became citizens in 1965.

So, I believe I have the right to ask the media why they are so afraid to show the bad side of illegal immigration, like what went on in a gas station in Rancho Bernardo last weekend. A man filming 18 men unloading out of a van to look for work illegally was attacked, and nothing was on the news about it, including this paper.

Please stop being so afraid and print both sides. This is getting bad when all you have to do to get Medicaid if you're illegal is to check the box that says you are a legal citizen and you are covered because it's never checked, and that's just one example. I'm just asking you to step up and print some truth.

ROBERT JORDISON

Ramona



Waldron on the right track

I support Escondido Councilwoman Marie Waldron's proposal to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. Escondido's housing stock has been increasingly misused since 1990.

According to the city's own figures, only 52 percent of the city's single-family homes are now owner-occupied, and between 1990 and 2000 housing units increased by only 3,010 while population increased by 24,924. A recent city study indicated that one of its more troubled neighborhoods, Mission Park, added 6,000 more people in the last five years with negligible new housing units.

Slumlords have lined their pockets by packing their deteriorating units with people who will live in ghettos without complaint. Waldron's proposed ordinance needs a council vote.

However, I would suggest the least disputatious method to rid the city of illegal immigrants and curtail residential overcrowding would be for the council to follow the example of communities that for decades have protected their neighborhoods from slumlord abuse by enforcing "no parking in yards" infractions and implementing "no parking overnight between 2 and 6 a.m." tow-away zones on city streets within our deteriorating residential rental areas.

PAUL GARDNER

Escondido



Ohio points the way on shopping carts

The article July 11 about Escondido's shopping cart problem by David Fried was interesting. Where my mother lives in Ohio many of the stores with carts have started using a system similar to luggage carts in airports. Patrons deposit a quarter to release a cart for use. When they are done using the cart they return it to the rack and their quarter is returned.

People who do not return their cart do not get their quarter back, but others are quick to take the loose carts, use them and receive a quarter for returning them to their storage area. I very rarely see any misplaced carts.

CHARLIE GRAGG

San Marcos



Oceanside's gang of three

Oceanside is on the road to ruin. The gang of three currently in power on the City Council is determined to sell off irreplaceable city assets - the airport, the Marina Towers - to finance enormous and unsustainable increases in pay and benefits to the public employee unions whose huge investments in time and money got them elected. What's next? Parks? Schools? The beach? Can condo conversions of Oceanside's mobile-home parks be far behind?

The current council majority is hot on a path that will leave Oceanside in the unique position of being both asset-free and bankrupt. Our only chance to save our city is to vote at least one of this gang out of office in November, with the possibility of a recall of one other.

DONALD PUTNAM

Oceanside



Things are heating up nicely

Our occupation of Iraq has taken on a surreal quality. We see the child whose leg was blown off whisked to the U.S. for a new artificial leg, and then photographed smiling while surrounded by her new American soldier friends who made it all possible - both the new leg and the losing of the old one. And always we see photos of U.S. soldiers passing out candy to Iraqi urchins.

We finally blew up al-Zarqawi last month, who was actually a small part of the Iraqi violence. His much-ballyhooed death has led to no drop in the turmoil whatsoever. A total of 1,595 bodies showed up at Baghdad's central morgue in the month of June.

Meanwhile in that other war in Afghanistan, things are heating up nicely.

Although we don't keep an Iraqi body count, it seems that we do against the Taliban. We killed 30 of the terrorists today. I guess if they shoot back they are terrorists.

I will write again in a couple of weeks. That will give us time to spend a few more billion dollars killing another thousand or so people in the Middle East. That's not even counting what the Israelis are doing nowadays.

ERIC PARISH

Vista



Torturers are not heroes

Re: The July 9 article in the Features section by Johnny Diaz of the Boston Globe, "Manly men pushing aside metrosexuals," I was appalled reading the article about some men who choose torturers as their heroes. Diaz should read the article (July 9) about ethics training in the military, where it says that there are rules to keep soldiers from becoming monsters.

Torturers are mentally unbalanced people - monsters - and they cannot be models for real men. Diaz rears back and forth in search of male heroes, and he made a bad choice in choosing Rumsfeld, who never was a soldier and has not seen the horrors of war.

A man's man is, above all, honorable, a soldier if he must be, but one who adheres to the ethics of never being a torturer or a murderer.

BRANKA CARAN

Oceanside



Iraq - politicians' nightmare

The Middle East quagmire gets worse by the day and, instead of the generals running the war, inept Donald Rumsfeld should be replaced now! Winston Churchill was responsible for the two worst disasters of World War I and World War II, namely Gallipoli and Anzio-Nettuno, Italy, and the worst experience of my life. When we finally broke the German lines and entered Rome on June 4, 1944, our combined Brit and Yank forces was 135,000 men. The beachhead was 10 miles wide and eight miles deep and sufficient to break the lines.

We have 135,000 troops in Iraq, and our top generals have been replaced for asking for 100,000 more troops. Anzio and Iraq, the same number of troops. One for the longest beachhead in American history and the other an entire country! When are G.W.B. and Cheney going to wise up to get rid of Dummy-Rummy and end this war?

DOUG B. COOK

Escondido



Illegals and rentals

Well, let's see how much honesty this paper is willing to print. First you must understand the word "illegal": not authorized by law, unlawful, illicit; in short, a criminal. No ifs, ands or buts. If you harbor or rent to illegals, then you're harboring a criminal, which makes you one.

Is it OK to have a thief, robber, or how about a murderer living next to you? Can you assure us that they are not? Can you? You can't because there's no legal proof. That's the way we legal residents feel. Where's our legal right for a safe environment?

What gives anyone the right to take that away from us legal residents? I believe, probably for most legal residents, you can't answer that simple question. Remember, the word "illegals" equals criminals.

DALE GRICE

Escondido



Ordinance barring illegals from renting

I applaud Escondido City Councilwoman Marie Waldron on her brave proposal to bar landlords from renting to illegal aliens. The North County Times' editorial on July 11 was dripping with emotion against this proposal.

I am a landlord and own 10 rental properties. I require a valid state driver's license or ID card and a Social Security card from prospective tenants regardless of their ethnicity. I run a credit report and criminal background check before making the decision to rent to them. This is in no way discriminatory against any race; it screens out the responsible from the irresponsible.

Immigrants here illegally should have a very difficult time surviving here. Our infrastructures are stretched, and more and more of our tax money goes to support illegals and the result of them being here. I reject NCT's view that our economy would be destroyed if they left. It would be a wonderful day when the effects of illegal immigration no longer touch every aspect of our daily lives.

Thank you, Vista City Council, for the brave move requiring permits of employers of day laborers. I would like to see day laborers be required to apply for a license to work in the city. This way they can pay taxes like any other business operating in the city.

JAY BERMAN

Vista



Verifying legal status could lead to hate

I felt compelled to respond to Councilwoman Marie Waldron's persistent actions against illegal immigration ("Escondido councilwoman proposes banning rentals to illegal immigrants," July 9). I can't help but wonder if there is an ulterior motive that is being masked by the topic of illegal immigration. I want to start off by stating that I myself am against illegal immigration.

However, with the city of Escondido trying to create and enforce this type of law on landlords it would start to create discrimination that will bring forth hatred and racial prejudice against Hispanics. One cannot look at a person and tell whether or not that person is legal or illegal, so this will cause every Hispanic looking to rent to be thought as an illegal immigrant until proof of citizenship is provided.

This type of presumption will bring about racial issues on both sides of the line. This may not be your intentions, but, make no mistake, pursuing this law in Escondido would undo so much progress that has been made in civil rights. What's next, verifying legal status before people can buy food at grocery stores?

On a similar note, Waldron's being endorsed by the Minutemen is nothing to be proud of. What side of the line will you be on when one of these vigilantes commits a crime against another human being?

RUBEN TORRES

Escondido



Poway stonewalls televised meetings

I am writing in response to the July 11 article titled, "Program aims to train leaders for community." The overall concept of a leadership-training program in Poway is a good one.

However, City Council candidate Connie Messina addressed the true core issue of educating residents and developing community participation. Connie stated that one of the best ways is with televised City Council meetings. I note that Poway is the only city in North County without televised City Council meetings. Why?

Televised meetings have been a campaign promise for over two years, and finally made it onto Poway's City Council agenda for approval in September of 2005.

However, city officials state that televised meetings will not begin until the end of this year.

Why is our Poway City Council seemingly so reluctant to televise their meetings? Residents have every reason to be suspicious of the motives behind this delay. Those of us who attend Poway council meetings regularly have firsthand experience at witnessing questionable council decisions in the making.

It's time to come out of the Dark Ages and turn on the television cameras in Poway's spiffy new $25 million high-tech City Hall complex.

KAREN KNECHT

Poway



We are in a lose-lose situation

The current cry for the Bushites is "we're fighting terrorists in Iraq so that we don't have to fight them at home." This mantra is no more based on reality than the previous ones. Remember WMDs, "Hussein has them and will use them." Carried to its logical conclusion, that means invade.

Back to the current mantra of Bush and his choreographed minions, "there, not here." Carried to its logical conclusion that means to be safe at home we must continue to expend folks and dollars at an unsustainable rate.

Bush has gotten away with "there, not here" mantra for over 1,000 days, but now too many folks are finding the present situation unacceptable. Sooner or later we'll have to start withdrawing troops regardless of the situation on the ground.

What then? Bush has been training thousands of terrorists in Iraq. If the unity government works, there will be thousands of terrorists available to attack Americans and their property worldwide. Some terrorists have apparently moved to Afghanistan. If the unity government fails, there will be local unemployment for a while, but then most will go looking for Americans.

Whatever happens in Iraq we are in a lose-lose situation.

ROBERT JONES

Encinitas



Constitutional right to be an idiot

This is in reference to Chris Pulse's letter printed July 8 in the North County Times. It was titled "Americans are sons of pigs and monkeys."

I am one of the supporters who go every Saturday to the Camp Pendleton main gate to support the Marines in the brig. I am proud to do so.

The same Constitution that allows Chris Pulse to make asinine, unsupported and ridiculous statements is the same Constitution that is supposed to provide protection to those accused of crimes. It called "due process."

I do not know if those who have been accused of crimes in Iraq are guilty or innocent. I do know, however, that they deserve a fair and impartial investigation and hearing.

I work on Camp Pendleton and, from my years of experience on base, I know better than to trust our military and political leaders to comply with the rule of law or respect human rights.

FRANKLIN KLINER

Oceanside

Investigate the whole system

Well, let's see, more inland enforcement means that our state is already under occupation. The whole welfare system in this state and in Nevada should be federally investigated for people knowingly giving all the welfare benefits - low-income housing, welfare, food stamps - to people they know are not U.S.A. citizens and knowingly making it almost impossible for legal Californians to get help, even though they know these are U.S. citizens.

TOMMY CHANICK

Oceanside



Beware of politicians

Beware of politicians in surf clothing. Ring a bell. Brian Bilbray says that the state wants to take back control of the coastline in the North County Times front page article on July 12. Did he say to preserve the ecology of the most precious resource left on this planet? No, he did not. He wants the state to take control of the oil and gas for our flying metal caskets.

Yes, that is right, he wants to support big business. What a concept, what a vision, scraping tar off of my feet when I walk the tidepools. Have we become so desperate to support the vision of a person whose claim is that he stopped raw sewage from entering the ocean? I about died when I saw this as his platform for his election.

What have you done for me lately, Brian? Not much. Don't drill off our coast. Give us alternative fuels. What are we going to do, anyway, pull it out of the ground and sell it to Europe?

JOHN WARNER SMITH

Encinitas



Vista's mobile radar unit

Now I've seen it all. Talk about the height of hypocrisy. I was driving on Grandview in Vista on a recent morning going to visit my daughter when, lo and behold, there, sitting alongside the road was the Vista sheriff's deputies' mobile radar unit monitoring the speeds of cars that passed by it.

I would guess, roughly, that the average number of cars traveling on Grandview may number around 15 an hour. I mean, this is out in the upper-east boondocks of Vista. A dead-end road.

My first thought was, why on earth is this radar unit sitting way up here on this road? Then it dawned on me. Mayor Vance lives up this way. Is he trying to intimidate his neighbors with a subliminal message into slowing down while driving to their homes? What gives here? Why is the Vista Sheriff's Station wasting this valuable radar unit way out here? I have begged both the mayor and the Vista Sheriff's Station to slow down the traffic on Bobier Drive, which is a major east-west thoroughfare through Vista, for over five years now with no satisfactory results.

It just doesn't make sense. Can anyone give me a reasonable explanation?

DON COLLINS

Vista



The final death knell for America

Wake up, America. President Bush's publicity stunt pretending to protect our borders is worse than a transparent ploy. Washington bureaucrats, backed by prominent think tanks, are now proposing the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), which they say will give you a safer and more prosperous North America with freedom, economic opportunity and strong democratic institutions.

That's what the neocons promised they'd do to Iraq. The SPP's trilateral effort to increase security and enhance prosperity they have planned for us is even worse than what they've done for Iraq.

Sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the SPP is the blueprint to drive the last nail into what once was a sovereign constitutional republic. It is NAFTA on steroids. El Presidente Bush and his amigo Vicente Fox are merging Social Security so that illegal fraudsters can loot the trust fund.

While the CFR stooges in Washington export American jobs and our manufacturing foundation to potential foes worldwide, Fox is exporting Mexico's poverty, crime, drugs and disease to his north-of-the-border colony.

MARIO MINERVINI

Vista



Wealth compared to what?

John Van Doorn's June 28 column about the American obsession to make money was mainly missing the point. Most people try to balance their lives to have the greatest amount of satisfaction and reward for hard work, education and investment. His slightly incoherent piece disparaged those whose efforts result in wealth creation. Income distribution is a function of modern economic growth.

Capitalism does not come out very well in the perspective of equality. But neither does socialism, or any other form of political system. Those for whom equality is a paramount value would be well advised to cease blaming or defending either of the two major contemporary systems (capitalism and socialism). A strong country economically is a strong country militarily.

A larger overall critique of modernity would lead to a comparison of sharia (Islamic law). After that, we can have a better discussion.

BEN BENNETT

Oceanside



Americans are being cooked

The frog in the pan story is a great metaphor for what is going on with the government-promoted illegal alien invasion from Mexico. It goes like this: If you put a frog on a hot pan he'll promptly jump out. But, if you place him in warm water, he'll like it and won't notice that the gradual, incremental increase in heat is cooking him until, finally, he's cooked! Sound familiar?

Likewise, Americans are being cooked on the alien invasion crisis. Post 9/11, haven't you noticed a dramatic increase in all things Mexican including illegals? Press 2 for Spanish; Spanish on speakers at major retail outlets; most packaging in English/Spanish; Mexican flags everywhere; NAFTA, CAFTA, etc.?

The blockbuster new book, "Minutemen: The Battle to Secure America's Borders" by Jim Gilchrist and Ron Corsi, boldly exposes how the Bush administration has betrayed America with the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), which is a cloaked pretext to abolish all borders between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, destroy our sovereignty and middle class with cheap labor, have common currency (called the Amero), and all this by 2010!

It's well under way. How can we have an effective war on terror when Mr. Bush is intentionally allowing 10,000 illegal aliens/terrorists per day to enter from Mexico? Please tell us how?

GARY WALKER

Escondido



Integrity of Op-Ed pages

As a regular reader of opinion pages, and a frequent writer to this and other papers, I understand that not every letter can be printed because of space constraints. I'm OK with that. But two things are not OK with me.

The first is boiler-plate letters sent to dozens of papers with dozens of local people's names as author. Finite letters space is taken by a scam letter, sent by a liar, that might be used for a genuine letter. These scam letters all have a theme of not eating meat for the sake of health, water supplies, air pollution, bird flu, etc. You name it and commercial meat production and consumption is to blame. A quick Google of any sentence in one of these letters will get dozens of hits. But, in spite of the fact that these scam letters have been around for years, the letters folks at this and other papers don't seem to catch on.

The second thing that discredits the integrity of the Letters page is using the anonymous comments that are posted on stories in a previous day's paper. Not even editorials are as anonymous as those posts. What are the credentials of those anonymous posters? If my letter says that candidate X is great or awful, my name backs up my opinion. And the newspaper has my contact info to protect themselves. Furthermore, you printed these anonymous posts about political issues after your deadline for election letters. What's with that?

BARBARA VICKROY

Escondido



A reader's roses and raspberry

A big rose to Lee B. Thibadeau for standing up for America's troops in a very unconventional war ("Our troops in Iraq deserve better," July 3).

Another one to J. Stryker Meyer for sticking up for the young Marines charged with war crimes ("Retired Marines gather steam for effort," July 3).

A big raspberry to Gail Chatfield and her weekly 500 words of drivel and liberal spin ("24 tons of controversy," July 3). This time, on why legal surrender and getting rid of the cross on the Soledad war memorial is a good thing. Wave the white flag, Gail!

Big question: Why is Chatfield an NCT columnist? An opinion piece here and there, maybe. Why should anyone care what Gail Chatfield thinks?

JEFF JUSTICE

Oceanside



Medicinal marijuana

Our San Diego police chief has noted that marijuana dispensaries have become magnets for crime - quite predictable wherever people can legally sell illegal drugs. The FDA has formally stated that "no sound scientific studies" support any medical use of marijuana. Neither does any reputable medical organization support that.

Thus that big con job Proposition 215 was carefully worded so as to promote smoking marijuana while requiring no doctor, no patient, no examination and no actual medical records. An actual doctor treating an actual patient already could legally prescribe even strong narcotics, but, by definition, a prescription would be written, and with a traceable copy.

Thus Prop. 215 carefully avoided "prescribed," substituting such evasive terms as "recommendation" or "approval," which could be done by a caregiver who could be merely a temporary roommate, even just another addict.

It's reported that of the patient records seized, 98 percent claimed only to be suffering from such non-provable conditions as muscle spasms, neck and back pain, headaches, etc.

Apparently, what's mostly relieved by smoking marijuana is just the addictive pangs of potheads.

ALLYN McDOWELL, M.D.

Rancho Bernardo



Article on reshaping attitudes

I want to compliment both Rachel Caplin and the North County Times for the article appearing in the June 25 Life section on reshaping attitudes.

As a psychologist, I have seen too many women think that their bodies are ugly because they can no longer wear a size 4 or 6 at 40 years old. Their self-esteem has plummeted because of this, and many of them are embarrassed to even be seen by their husbands, or significant others, unless they are fully clothed. I have also seen 12-year-old girls who are concerned about their weight, even though it is average for their body type. When I ask them to cut pictures out of a magazine to show what they think is a heavy person, and their ideal person, the ideal person looks more like the models they see on television ads or actresses.

Perhaps it is worse in Southern California, where the emphasis seems to be on physical, youthful beauty at any price. Just go to San Diego Magazine to see the number of plastic surgeons that advertise. They must being doing fairly well to pay the magazine's advertising rates.

Thank you, Ms. Caplin, for helping people begin to realize that, although obesity is certainly not good for one's body or self-esteem, neither is anorexia or bulimia, which is what many women resort to in order to keep their weight down.

LORRI GREENE

Cardiff-by-the-Sea



We must slow our country's growth

Two items of interest appeared in the media recently. Even though they do not seem related, they are.

First is the record $37.5 billion measure that will go before California voters Nov. 7. If approved, $19.9 billion is scheduled for transportation, which includes the widening of freeways across the state to ease growing traffic congestion.

The second relates to the arrival of North Korean defectors in Los Angeles, the first of what advocates hope will be a wave of North Koreans into Southern California. These are legal aliens under the North Korean Human Rights Act signed by President Bush in 2004. Never heard of this act? I'll bet that approximately 90 percent of American citizens never heard of it either.

Today, the population of the U.S. nears 300 million with no end in sight. This total does not include the millions of illegal aliens across the nation, nor the hundreds of thousands of persons waiting to enter legally.

The only answer to curb overpopulation is to stop all illegal immigration and place all legal immigration programs on hold for at least 25 years. Unless this is done, in time 20-lane freeways will not be able to handle normal traffic flow.

LEON SMITH

Oceanside



Thank you, Oceanside

I read the July 2 article in the North County Times regarding the Fourth of July parade last Saturday. Your article referenced two lovely ladies waving red, white and blue signs that said "Thank you." I am a cousin of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Karl R. Linn, who was killed in action in Iraq on Jan. 26. Karl and seven of his fellow servicemen were honored at a ceremony after the parade at the Oceanside Civic Center.

I was one of the family members who was honored to ride in the parade. We, the families, were absolutely overwhelmed by the love and support expressed in so many ways; the salutes, the waves, the blown kisses, the thank yous, the hands to your hearts - I could go on and on.

We, the families of the fallen, are members of a club no one would want to join.

We had no choice. The grief is impossible to describe. Some days are better than others. Saturday was a very good day. Thank you for helping us live with our losses. Thank you for honoring our sons and husbands, brothers, nephews and friends. Thank you for embracing us and enveloping us with your love and support.

LORRIE LINN ODELL

Santa Ana



Rewriting history to support position

In his letter of April 25 in the North County Times, Mr. Stuart Goodman of Oceanside comes out strongly in defense of Israel's actions against the Palestinians - as he has every right to do!

He does not, however, have the right to rewrite history in support of his position. Mr. Goodman is dead wrong when he states, "On Nov. 2, 1917, the Balfour declaration established a permanent home for the Jewish people in Palestine." As follows are the real circumstances: In 1917, during World War I, the British government asked the Jewish community in Palestine (centered around Tel Aviv and Jaffa) for logistical support in their war against the Ottoman Turk Empire, which was allied with Germany.

In exchange for this assistance, the British government pledged to look favorably upon the eventual establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. And that was it - nothing more!

The British did not have the legal authority to establish such a thing. There isn't space here to list the factual errors in historical fact made by Mr. Goodman regarding the British mandate to govern Palestine in the post-war years, or of the League of Nations' decision that led to it.

Sufficient to say that one should not quote history unless one has done the research.

ROBERT GREEN

Escondido



Resident needs more facts on proposed project

I wish to take exception to Hugh Mosbacher's July 12 Community Forum, "Hydro project would help lake." I think Mr. Mosbacher needs to learn the real facts. I don't know where he was in 1980, but it certainly was not Lake Elsinore. I have lived in Lakeland Village since 1967 and never once since then has the lake been dry. In fact, during either 1980 or 1981 the lake flooded.

There are many unanswered questions about this project. Here are three:

1. How will keeping the lake filled by using reclaimed water (which is high in phosphates) decrease algae growth? Phosphates promote algae growth.

2. Where in writing is it specified that the project's developer will pay the cost of maintaining the water level?

3. What will happen when the lake and the upper reservoir are full and we have heavy rains as we have had in the past? Hopefully, the flood channel can handle the overflow from the lake, but what about the reservoir? I hope we never have to find out.

Lastly, I would suggest that Mr. Mosbacher read the Draft Environmental Impact Statement published by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in hopes he will understand why many of us are concerned about the negative impacts of the project.

JoAnn McCracken

Lakeland Village

All are entitled to their beliefs on the matter

It continues to amaze me that people in 2006 continue to pick and choose the science that suits them. They can believe that science will invent medicines that will cure everything from bad breath to cancer, but cannot believe in that same science that says the most plausible answer for life on Earth is through evolution, and the key word is plausible.

A theory is not fact, but the fossil evidence that science has uncovered is fact.

The fossils are there for everyone to see. The fossils can be traced, and they can be placed in certain times on this planet, all older than what the Bible tells us. Would the people denouncing evolution have us turn a blind eye to what is under our feet, all in favor of a book that was written by man less than 2,000 years ago and whose meaning has been debated by man ever since.

The movement to bar teaching evolution in schools is a very dangerous slope.

We cannot pick and choose our science. If astronomy finds life on other planets, or evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory, are we to just close our eyes to that also?

I support your right to believe in God, and to believe as you will concerning the world around us. What I cannot support is your belief that the rest of us have to believe the same. I would rather our children have the right for themselves to choose.

Dan Zuckerman

Temecula

Web Comments



Resident starts process to recall Sanchez

Readers respond to our July 14 story about community activist Lawson Chadwick taking the first steps to try to recall Oceanside Councilwoman Esther Sanchez.



Taking it personally

Baseless: "'I wouldn't be involved in the recall if I was still the sitting chair of the police and fire commission,' Chadwick said. A recall is serious business. It affects the entire city. It should not be solely based on someone's personal slight. Personal slights should be forgiven and forgotten. Otherwise, they may end up poisoning our community."



Cops for recall

Ex-Cop: "I certainly endorse my brother officers getting a fair and living wage, but the obscene increases that Sanchez and the troika gave to the police and fire will in time only come back to bite us. It's like what's happening in San Diego where police are leaving in droves for other police agencies. As an ex-cop, I support the recall of Sanchez."



Bumpy road ahead

Robert: "A-ha! The recall effort by Chadwick is really not about what Esther has done, but about Lawson 'they did me wrong' Chadwick. 'I wouldn't be involved in the recall if I was still the sitting chair of the police and fire commission,' Chadwick said. Sour grapes. Poor baby! And of course the city has an extra $400,000 to spend on another stupid election? Fix our streets first!"



Three strikes

Vern: "Numerous reasons to break up the troika of Sanchez, Wood and Mackin. The cancelling of the Rancho Del Oro interchange will bring traffic to a standstill on College and El Camino Real within a few short years. To pacify a small bloc of voters, hundreds of other Oceanside residents will be inconvenienced for years. This is only one of the many reasons I will sign that recall petition. The Melba-ites are taking Oceanside backwards instead of forward. Recall all THREE!"



Doctor's orders

Waa waa waa: "I am forming a new PAC called 'Citizens for Lawson Chadwick's Anger Management.' A twelve-step program is what the doctor ordered for Lawson Chadwick!"



Selling out

Beachcomber: "I'm particularly ticked off about selling the Marina Towers for pennies on the dollar. In a few years, this valuable asset would revert to the city and could be a important revenue stream. Recall Sanchez."



A delicate dance over drilling

Readers respond to our July 14 editorial which says our view is that oil exploration is not welcome off California's coast, but the issue is more complex for other states' shores.



System is broken

Short Sighted Policy: "One of the effects of term limits in our state assembly and senate is the high turnover and lack of legislative continuity and political give-and-take. The term limits encourage a winner-take-all attitude, or take as much as you can get, rather than a cooperative spirit of governing. By transferring the decision making process over offshore oil drilling to these very same legislators who generally are unable even to pass a timely budget (this year is a notable exception) is the height of stupidity. The squabbling and partisan bickering do not lend themselves to long-term solutions; it only leaves the legislators wide open to the arms and money of oil and gas lobbyists."



Wrong ideas

Oil Man: "Next time the NCT times starts complaining about the price of a gallon of gas and yelling conspiracy, remember this liberal-slanted view of needing the resources to reduce 78-plus dollar a barrel oil and the anti-business California attitude that prevails. No new refineries, power plants or oil supplies will be contributed by California anytime soon. Get rid of the liberals -- we can't afford them."



California for sale

Enron by the Bay: "I think it is a fine idea to let California control the shores...look what a good job the legislature has done in the past. They are held in such high esteem by the voters. Look what a good job they did when we were being screwed over power rates. Heck, why not let SDG&E and Exxon run the state?"



Issa cites fear that Mideast violence may spread

Readers respond to our July 14 story about U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa saying that the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon raises the specter of a broader Mideast conflict.



Sound the alarm

bill: "Issa sells car alarms and therefore is literally an alarmist. Is that why you sought his views on this story? I can think of no other reason."



One of many

To Bill: "I believe after reading the article that the North County Times quoted more than just one person. Issa is a member of the intelligence committee -- that makes it quite possible for him to know a lot more than others. I don't believe it is an alarmist's point of view."



We're at capacity

Jack: "Here we go again sticking our noses in places they don't belong. Let's sit this one out; let the Jews and the Arabs duke it out once and for all. We have ourselves involved in enough world fiascoes right now. Namely illegal Mexican immigration, Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea is simmering. Not to mention the numerous political domestic scandals in Washington."



Enemy of my enemy

Kate: "Let's see if I got this one right -- everyone that the United States and Israel dislikes is a terrorist and should be eliminated. Now if we don't agree and go along with it, we too are terrorist. Something is very distorted about this view, and why is everyone so afraid to criticize Israel when in fact they are doing all the bombing with our U.S. dollars?"



Start praying

The violence will spread: "Count on it. It's just a matter of time. The US has poked a hornet's nest. God help us."



A reminder

GFN: "Where are the 6,000 national guard soldiers to patrol the border, Congressman Issa?"