A tried-and-true Republican's dilemma

I have a dilemma. I am a Republican by inclination. I believe in the tried-and-true Republican principles - you know, small government, don't spend money we don't have, never live on credit and, above all, do what's best for America - not just for a favored few.

I've never been an "automaton" or a "lemming" Republican, i.e. I don't feel it necessary to follow the party line if that support means a policy that is narrow and self-centered. My parents didn't feel like this - they supported the party line, whatever it may have mandated. They would consider me a "maverick" for thinking for myself. I sometimes feel as the early Christians must have felt when they wanted the Scriptures translated into their own language - whereas the priesthood (i.e. the status quo) wanted to keep it as a subject strictly for the priesthood!

I don't feel like a "traitor" to my party - far from it - but I have to admit that some fellow Republicans view me as just that! Perhaps, in order to clear the air, I should re-register as an Independent. What do you think?

Robert Green

Fallbrook

Where were they when?

Where were Misters Parkola, McGuire and Palmeter (Letters, Mar. 11) when the cowboy was president? …

The one who started the fake war. The war where of hundreds of thousands lost their lives when you include the Iraqis. The war he started without Rumsfeld and Colin Powell (check it out). The one who sanctioned torture and without gettingˇany actionable intelligence. The one who sanctioned illegal wiretapping. The one who never vetoed a spending bill in eight years. The one who was a constant embarrassment every time he opened his mouth.

Where were these guys who just wrote in? Not one complaint in eight years. If it's your party, anything goes. This man ignored the failing economy in lieu of the fake war. He forced us into a relationship with China because he borrowed the money from them for the war.

Now Obama is to be a miracle worker and clean up the cesspool. Don't even get me started about the bill Obama passed so the federal government didn't completely shut down. You know the bill. It's the one that the Republicans wouldn't pass because of earmarks. Those hypocrites had millions in earmarks in the bill.

Peggy Sloan

Escondido

Does Obama have a clue?

It is apparent that the Democrats want to blame the economy on George Bush, and I'm not a fan of his or a Republican, but the blame starts with Bill Clinton in 1999 who pushed to lift stringent home loan requirements and get Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to loan to millions who could not finance chicken coops, let alone a home.

Try $200,000 times 10 million and you have the fiasco in a nutshell and Obama shoving more money at borrowers who can't meet the mortgage. Now we have stimulus after stimulus and all we get is just debt. This guy wants to give money to radical socialist countries. Does he have a clue?

I didn't vote for a novice. I voted for Bob Barr, an experienced candidate, not someone who wants to tinker with our economy and socialism and energy, but he hasn't a clue. Six hundred and fifty scientists can tell him the truth that there is no man-made global warming, just Al Gore's ridiculous flawed book.

Charles Bagwell

Vista

Clean out the whole lot of them

The president is but one of 545 politicians in D.C. Congress is the group that controls what goes on in this country. They are responsible for our present woes. The president is as guilty as anyone else. He is just one more politician playing the power and personal-gain game in D.C.

My claim is substantiated by what took place March 12 in the puzzle palace. Obama signs a $410 billion spending bill. He reneged on his campaign promise. He proposed, again, safeguards for earmarks (pork) in the future. Why not now? Why not refuse to sign that pork-laden bill. No, Congress will not listen to him any more than they did with the lobbyist ban he proposed.

We need to bilaterally clean out the whole lot of them. We don't need their expertise to run this country. Look what that expertise has done for us. It is past time we flush the system of self-made mini-gods who think they are above the law, looking down their noses at us. A good start to get their attention is the countrywide organized mailing of a tea bag to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500 on April 1.

Walter Jennings

Oceanside

A dog-friendly city makes dollars and sense

Coronado, Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Long Beach - what picture comes to mind? Upscale, economically sound tourist destinations - they also have clean dog beaches!

As a 20-year Oceanside resident, community volunteer, home/business owner and pet owner, I care about my city, environment and water. The Friends of Dog Beach is putting effort into clean beaches, with monthly cleanups beginning April 11. We can combine a dog beach with clean water.

For city staff with an open mind, thank you. For those not quite there, I look forward to the opportunity for positive communication and action showing that a small dog beach, if even on a trial basis, is good for Oceanside.

According to e-mails I received from dog beach city officials:

"The positive feedback we receive outnumbers the negative feedback we receive about 100 to 1," wrote Mark Sandoval, Long Beach marinas and beaches manager.

"We don't have a problem with owners not picking up after their dogs," wrote Jon Edelbrock, Del Mar community services and lifeguard sergeant.

The pet industry is the seventh largest retail market, and if the successes of recent dog events prove anything, Oceanside must get a piece of the action!

Making Oceanside a dog-friendly city makes dollars and sense.

Lisa Scolman

Friends of Dog Beach

Oceanside

Hemingway, a unique soul, will be missed

Arthur T. Hemingway passed away on Feb. 26. Everyone who knew his contagious smile, inspiring courage and insatiable thirst for knowledge feels diminished personally but joyful in his freedom from the bodily struggles of the last 30 years.

He is a unique soul who lifted the spirits of everyone whose life he touched.

He is a friend, hero and living example of God's love on earth.

Richard Cole Dando

Encinitas

Compassion, love aren't about money

Re: "Letter writer should pay for octuplets," Letters, March 4: Only one-third of the world agrees with Nelida Villalva. But two-thirds of the world agrees with me! What is it about compassion that she doesn't understand? It's not very nice to call someone crazy. People who rely on food stamps or welfare to live a life like she and I do shouldn't have stones thrown at them.

Does she know what it's like being hungry? I'm happy she is able to support her child and herself, but try having some compassion and love for the octuplets' mom and her children. Being compassionate and loving has nothing to do with money, my dear!

Nadya Suleman made a dumb choice and I agree, but don't we all at some point in our lives? I know I have. But throwing stones like she has doesn't help matters. I'm sad that she and her third of the world feel the way they do. I'll pray for them.

William Leston

Oceanside

A dog beach is a financial disaster

Hugh Foley's letter (March 12) states that if a dog beach is established, the dogs would run the seagulls off the beach. This leader of the Friends of Dog Beach failed to mention that other birds, including the endangered brown pelican, would also be affected.

In the same edition of the North County Times, on the front page, is a picture of Mr. Foley walking his two dogs illegally on the beach in defiance of the law ("Dog beach group sees an opening," March 12). That really doesn't speak too highly of the people who say on their Web site they care about the beaches and environment. Doesn't sound like a law-abiding group that would pick up the poop left by their uncontrolled dogs.

The big money spenders he refers to allegedly are going to help the city's economy by buying coffee and doughnuts and (paying) more parking fees. The item he failed to mention is that the city of Del Mar spends over $100,000 a year maintaining the section of beach where dogs are allowed ("Idea of dog beach surfaces again," May 19, 2008).

That's a lot of coffee and doughnuts.

Mike Cafarchia

Oceanside

Thanks for replacing trees in San Marcos

Many thanks to the city of San Marcos Public Works Department, spearheaded by Richard Cook, Sheila Busch and Ryan Bishop, for pulling together with Bill Holbrook of the Meadowlark Community Church off Rancho Santa Fe Road and yours truly representing Meadowlark Ranch residents to have four trees replaced at the entrance on Rancho Santa Fe Road and Redwing Street.

The original trees were removed during the Rancho Santa Fe Road improvement and were promised to be replaced, and they most graciously were.

No forked tongues here.

Rod Miller

San Marcos

Riehl's 'bait and switch' column

Mr. Reihl pulled a classic "bait and switch" in ("Protecting health of children," March 13). Of course, who would oppose children's health? So much for the bait. But the "switch" is to get those pesky parents out of the loop when a child is confronted with major medical decisions - and replace them with the profit-driven persuasion of Planned Parenthood.

"Juno" is a nice movie. But the reality is that once Planned Parenthood gets a child in its clutches, it warmly assures her that the best choice - i.e., most convenient choice - is to off the baby. No muss, no fuss, and no 'splaining to do.

What they don't explain is the lifetime of regret the child will bear when she learns she consented to her own baby's death. But by then, the baby will have been killed, the money given to Planned Parenthood and the clinic will be barking, "Next!"

So much, Mr. Riehl, for "protecting health of children."

William Gillespie

Bonsall