Sotomayor has been a judicial moderate

The level of hysteria, race phobia and delusional thinking has reached a peak. It is not racism to believe your background affects who you are. That is true of all of us. Sonia Sotomayor has been a moderate judge.

She has been appointed to judgeships twice, once by G.H.W. Bush and once by Clinton and confirmed easily, even by Republican majorities. Her last confirmation was in 1998.

Looking at her opinions since then should be an easy task under any honest appraisal.

Before Sam Alito was elevated to the Supreme Court, every one of his decisions, 100 percent, that were reviewed by that court were reversed. So that argument is a non sequitur.

As far as belonging to La Raza, that would be comparable to belonging to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the American Civil Liberties Union, not the Ku Klux Klan. It certainly is not an illegal organization.

Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas vote very predictably. They have voted 100 percent of the time in favor of the government or corporate interests. We need someone who will stand up for the little guy, like you and me.

Ted Robinson

Carlsbad

Don't say it after he's gone

Letters! Keep 'em coming. They are very entertaining; especially those from writers whose tails I have twisted. Since only a few have criticized me, I take this opportunity to give others a chance. Here are some of my beliefs. Have at 'em. I believe that:

1. Homosexuals should have the same marriage rights (and rites) as other couples.

2. Guns do kill and I believe that we all would be safer if guns were registered.

3. We all should pay our taxes. (Come on, now. You don't pay too much.)

4. Clinton was a good president and that Obama will also be a good president.

5. George W. Bush was a farce and that he brought shame and despair to our country.

6. Both Israel and Palestine each have the right to exist.

I want all to know that I take no offense when someone objects to what I have written. After all, they, too, have that same right. It's in the Constitution.

One thing: Please say what you believe while I am still alive. Don't do it after I'm gone.

Harry Titus

Oceanside

Hating the 'international Jew'

In response to William Dreu, "Wake up, America" (Letters, June 13), his facts are worse than garbage. I find it strange that he, Eric Parish, Daniel and Patricia Lynch and Chris Pulse all live in Vista.

Do they have a little clique organized to hate the "international Jew," as Henry Ford would put it? Perhaps the Southern Poverty Law Center would be interested in having them on a list, just like (the man) who shot the security guard at the Holocaust Memorial?

As far as Mr. Dreu's point about Israel wanting a state where only Jews are allowed and another (Palestine) where only Palestinians are allowed, that is called the two-state solution.

Anyone who even casually watches the news knows that the politicians in Israel are being forced by the United States to back this plan. Christians and Jews will live in peace in Israel and the Palestinians will have their separate land, just like they claim they want.

I can't wait until Palestine shows that nothing is good enough and that they simply have an insatiable blood lust. Then, people will understand that Mr. Dreu and the rest of the "Vista Crew" just hate Jews and are falsifying this propaganda.

Brandon Webb

Carlsbad

Irony in state's cuts

As Judy Ki of Poway wrote (June 17), yes, the state cuts will hurt those most in need. That is primarily because those not in need usually don't access much from the state. The reason most of the state programs are set up is to help those in need of the programs.

It is a great irony that whenever a state is in financial trouble, those in need are hit the most, and whenever a state is doing well financially, those in need are helped the most.

It is sad that those in need are hurt by our financial problems within our great state, but …

Gary Goldman

Oceanside

Escondido parks need full smoking ban

Escondido citizens and City Council need to support the upcoming vote for a full smoking ban in Escondido parks and recreation areas. Escondido is one of the last cities to ban smoking in its parks and recreational areas in San Diego County â€"â€" a very dubious distinction.

The American Cancer Society strongly supports smoke-free parks and recreation areas. Secondhand smoke causes between 35,000-40,000 deaths each year from heart disease. Three thousand healthy nonsmokers will die from lung cancer because of secondhand smoke. Deaths occur because tobacco users are not the only ones who breathe smoke.

Cigarettes remain the only legally available product that, when used as directed, will kill you and the people around you (inside a building or out in the fresh air).

As a representative of the American Cancer Society and a spokesman for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, these nationally known organizations support smoke-free parks and recreation areas. Their expertise on the subject is unquestionable.

(In) talking with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, they were shocked that this host city did not have smoke-free ordinances. Lung cancer does not discriminate between a smoker and a nonsmoker.

Encourage the council to protect its citizens and support a full smoking ban.

Dawn Durbin

American Cancer Society

San Marcos

No reason for gay discrimination

A year ago June 17, same-sex couples in California were allowed to marry each other. An estimated 18,000 couples did exactly that and affirmed their love in front of society. Proposition 8 was then passed by a … confused majority afraid that "gayness" was some kind of flu that would infect their kids. Happily, that kind of thinking will soon be history.

In the meantime, these 18,000 legally wed couples, plus those fromˇother progressive states, are still denied their rights as couples. Texas doesn't have to recognize these marriages. Neither does the federal government, thanks to the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996. President Bill Clinton signed this law, and we all know how much President Bill respects marriage.

Unfortunately, President Obama's Justice Department is supporting the DOMA in court. President Obama has also refused to get rid of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. I still remember the homophobe pastor Rick Warren praying at Obama's inauguration.

On the other hand, President Obama has announced same-sex benefits for federal employees. That is a start. There is no reason for hateful discrimination against gay people in our society today. Shape up, Mr. President.

Eric Parish

Vista

Stop the madness

I have read a number of articles on different plans some of our state legislatures have come up with to solve the state's budget problem. I have also read a number of letters from people who don't seem to understand the problem and the solution.

It is relatively simple. Last month, the citizens of California overwhelmingly defeated the propositions that were put forth to solve our budget problems. These were defeated because the citizens who pay the taxes and fees are tired of paying more and more. The message was to cut spending, but it seems that no one has the backbone to look and cut where it needs to happen.

Most of our state funds are spent on entitlements, so it is a no-brainer that this is where the cuts have to happen. I pay a lot of state taxes and fees and get zero entitlements. If all of us in that situation found a way to leave the state, who then would fund the entitlements?

Michael Walkusky

Vista

World has always been warming or cooling

In medieval times, when Greenland was green and England was warmer, the world was warmer than today. During the "dark ages," sometimes called the little ice age, it was colder than today. The world has been gradually warming up since then.

The world has always been warming or cooling. You can't have both at the same time. Which one do you want? If you would like the earth to warm, send your requests to the sun, address, center of the solar system, and kindly request maybe a few sun spots and a little more activity.

If you would like the earth to cool, the sun is presently fulfilling those wishes, as the earth has been cooling for more than 10 years, and has eliminated all that was gained in the last 100 years.

Grant Layton

Carlsbad

Let the seals stay

Regarding letters concerning the seals on La Jolla beach: I was happy to see most were for leaving the seals. We have one of nature's phenomenons happening before our very eyes.

In Northern California, one can see elephant seals on the beach. Walkway viewing areas have been built for visitors to witness the mating and birthing of these great creatures. What an extraordinary exhibit of animal husbandry.

Now San Diego has the same thing; drawing visitors from all over, and certain people want them driven away? Do we think the seals won't come back again and again? The sound of barking dogs, real or piped in, will bring more havoc on the city with the constant noise affecting residents.

I admit, the beach was set aside for children by Mrs. Scripps. But isn't Scripps associated with oceanography and sea life? What better example of the name than a real, live seal beach where children see the animals in their natural state?

Leave the seals. Children are learning so much more.

Ask the children whether they want the seals to go and see what their answer is. I bet the seals will win!

Connie Hubbard

Valley Center

Schwarzenegger is not a leader

It is not enough to be a famous actor and movie star. To manage the state of California is a great challenge for anybody. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Mr. Terminator," showed us that he doesn't have the talent and abilities to be a leader of this state.

He has two decisions he could make: 1. His resignation as governor, or 2. To finish the period as governor of California.

I wish Californians would not waste time with this "actor." It is time to find a new person to be a leader to stand up and fix the economy, and the faith of the people of California.

Maria Regan

San Marcos

Adolf Hitler was a threat to the U.S.

For Mr. Chris Pulse's information (Letters, June 18), I am not, as he claims, "ignorant." I was a young boy living in New York City during World War II. He says we were not in danger from the Nazis. Baloney! All the buildings on my street and others were lined with sandbags for protection from bombardment by U-boats patrolling off the East Coast. We had constant air raid alerts. Hitler was having his scientists design long-range missiles and aircraft capable of reaching New York, which had a sizable Jewish population.

Had we lost the Korean War (I was there as a Marine during that time), the NKPR, with the aid of the Chinese Communists, would have overrun South Korea and not stopped there. Had Truman listened to Gen. MacArthur instead of firing him, things might have turned out differently.

The Arabs hate us solely because we support Israel. They couldn't care less about Iraq and Afghanistan. Part of their oil profits go to arm countries hostile towards Israel. The other parts go toward the lavish lifestyle of their imams and sheiks while the majority of their kingdoms suffer.

So Pulse should do his homework before calling people ignorant.

Jack Strumpf

Escondido

Defamation is never acceptable

I don't watch late-night television, so I missed the Late Show with David Letterman (and) his disgusting remarks about Sarah Palin. (I understand) he said Palin "bought makeup from Bloomingdale's to update her 'slutty flight attendant' look." It is never acceptable to refer to a woman, any woman, as a slut. Also, Letterman's comments about the Palins' young daughter were unacceptable.

There is a delicate balance that should never be crossed. It is of no significance if the person we are saying these things about is a public figure or not. Sexually perverted comments are not acceptable, or at least they should not be acceptable in mainstream America. I do not agree with Palin's politics; however, as a woman hearing this it did incite a righteous anger in me, and it should in all of us.

We must always be conscious of the fact that with our free speech comes responsibilities and consequences. One example is the sexually perverted comments made by some anti-immigration activists about Joanne Yoon, a human rights observer, and those perpetrators were found guilty of defamation.

It is never OK to slander or defame a person just because you don't like their point of view.

Tina Jillings

Vista