Palin should withdraw from campaign

Sarah Palin, who is personable, ignorant, though inexperienced and dangerously religious, can best serve her country by withdrawing from this campaign, thus allowing John McCain to choose Joe Lieberman, who is personable, experienced and sensible, as his running mate.

Robert Douglas

Escondido

Freedom to have personal beliefs at stake

Responding to Mr. David Horwitz (Letters, Oct. 4): Sarah Asplin, a recent law school graduate and former president of the Law Students Association (2007-08, UC Davis School of Law) said this to TV cameras in California the day of her lesbian wedding: "The decision that gave us the right to marry today in fact was even more sweeping than just giving marriages. What it effectively did was, it gave gays and lesbians protection under the law that will extend to other areas of the law such as employment and other contexts, and so it is actually an even bigger deal than it seems on its face. It#'s not just about getting married, it's about all sorts of ways that we can protect people in our community."

Unquestionably, homosexual activists understand the implications of the California court ruling allowing gay marriage. Judging from Ms. Asplin's comments, and a lawsuit against a fertility doctor in Vista ("Court rules doctors can't refuse services to gays," Aug. 19), if Proposition 8 fails, our freedom to have personal beliefs will soon stop at the state line. … Please vote yes on Prop. 8.

Philip Taylor

Vista

Clean up the road yourself

Andrew Parish's letter (Oct. 4) regarding wanting the city of Vista to clean up the bike route he uses made me wonder if I could get some taxpayer-paid services for some of the roads that I use.

I'm in trucking, and pay a fortune in road-use taxes. Just on diesel, I pay four taxes: sales, federal, California and district. I also pay a heavy-vehicle-use tax to the IRS. He doesn't pay 1 cent of tax when he rides his bike, yet he wants the city to clean up the road for him. As for saving gas, I wonder how much the city would use to clean up the bike route?

I think Andrew should get his bike buddies together and clean up "their" road themselves.

Ronald Ford

Valley Center

Palin doesn't make a good impression

First, Sarah Palin has an interview with Charlie Gibson of ABC News; she could not recite the Bush doctrine. Then she has an interview with Katie Couric of CBS News. First, her only experience with foreign affairs is she can see Russia from her house. When asked what newspaper or magazine she had read to keep up on what's happening in Washington, she could not answer.

Also, in a campaign rally, she says she was 8 years old when Joe Biden first started making speeches. She's running with a man who is six years older than Biden. She is still under investigation for Troopergate. On Fox News, she wished she could have had a longer debate on Friday night. Sarah, the debate was on Thursday night! Am I voting for Barack Obama? You betcha!

DeeDee Dana

Oceanside

Prop. 11 brings real reform to redistricting

Legislators drawing their own district boundaries is a major conflict of interest, which contributes to partisan gridlock and prevents voters from holding lawmakers accountable. California needs a system that removes that conflict and encourages citizen participation in government.

Proposition 11, the California Voters FIRST Act, does both. District lines have long been drawn in backroom deals at the Capitol. Prop. 11 creates an open, transparent redistricting process with an independent citizens commission, which includes Democrats, Republicans and members not associated with either party. The commission will represent our state's diversity and protect minority representation.

This initiative is voters' best chance to bring real redistricting reform to California. The League of Women Voters recommends a yes on Prop. 11.

Margaret Dornish

co-president, North Coast League of Women Voters

Carlsbad

Backcountry need backup power source

Re: "SDG&E to shut off power in Santa Anas," Oct. 3": For once, I agree in part with SDG&E on something. The utility will be shutting off some power in the backcountry under certain "red flag warning" conditions. However, SDG&E should also shut down the power for the big 230kV and 500kV transmission lines as well. If those lines are left on, you are risking another catastrophic fire similar to Cedar in 2003 and the 2007 firestorms.

We in the backcountry need to have back-up systems, such as generators or solar power with battery backup. Under California law, California cities are permitted to issue low-interest loans to electricity consumers to purchase solar systems, and these low-interest loans are repaid through a temporary assessment on your property tax bill. Think about that! You will be paying a lower amount for electricity through your tax-deductible property tax bill.

We need to encourage the cities we live in to pass legislation to issue these low-interest loans. This incentive for the public to invest in solar generation has bipartisan support. … One day, Assembly Bill 1920 will pass and we will be paid for our excess power generation. Talk to your city councils and encourage them to adopt this legislation.

Denis Trafecanty

Santa Ysabel

Don't let the mud stick

One of John McCain's top campaign advisers, Greg Strimple, issued this statement on Oct. 4: "We are looking for a very aggressive last 30 days. We are looking forward to turning a page on this financial crisis and getting back to discussing Mr. Obama's aggressively liberal record and how he will be too risky for Americans. … "

If we read between these lines, we can see the resurrection of all those Swift-Boat tactics that were so effective in bringing down another American hero, John Kerry, in 2004. We now know all those assertions were blatant lies. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the American people, who have lives too busy to fit in a little fact-checking, bought into this, and the results were disastrous. Besides, this isn't extolling any possible virtues of John McCain; this is just claiming that "Obama stinks more, so vote for me."

This election, being as important as it is, demands that you please check all the facts thoroughly before you vote. A lot of stinky mud is about to be slung in your direction. Don't believe it. Research and find the truth yourself. It's the right way to vote â€"â€" informed, that is.

Brian Schultz

Oceanside

Escondido needs more firefighters

Escondido is constructing two additional fire stations. I have learned that there is no plan to add even the minimum of nine firefighters suggested by the Escondido Firefighters Association. Shifting firefighters from their existing locations to cover the new ones will mean fewer on each ambulance and fire truck.

The reason we added more fire stations was because we need more help, certainly not less. Some parts of our budget may need to be cut, but this means life or death. I hope that our City Council will rethink their decision â€"â€" and soon!

Dolores

Christensen

Escondido

Palin bears false witness against Obama

We now know the true nature of Sarah Palin, the fall guy for John McCain. "Go ahead, honey, tell the world Obama pals around with terrorists. It is the truth, you know," the visibly aging McCain says, using his power-hungry, gullible, trophy vice president as the attack dog. Don'tcha just love when the right is so desperate, they push their women in front of the bus?

This deliberate character assassination of the elegant Barack Obama shows how easily the so-called Christian character of Palin is so willingly compromised and used by the old boys. Using her like a tank, the cowardly men hide behind, waiting for the fallout. When the truth … sinks into the public's head, the only notoriety Palin will ever be known for will be Tina Fey's mocking of her stupidly abnormal personality.

Peggy Hart

Carlsbad

McCain and Palin a couple of smear operators

John McCain and Sarah Palin are both a couple of smear operators. Everyone knows that a vice presidential candidate's statements are approved in advance by the presidential nominee.

Palin was telling the truth in saying that Obama had "palled around" with a radical activist from the 1960s. McCain obviously authorized the attack, even if he denies doing so publicly. He is following standard Bush White House tactics in trying to scare people into thinking that Obama supports radicalism and terrorism. But nothing could be further from the truth.

McCain is behind in the polls and will do anything to change the situation. The problem is that he is just a rerun of Bush. McCain supported Bush's failed economic program throughout his entire time in office. The results are plain to see: rising inflation and unemployment, loss of personal net worth and greater dependence on oil from dictators.

It is time to throw the rascals out. We can start by voting for Obama and Biden this Election Day.

Jeff Moore

Escondido

Candidates find it easy to distort the truth

John McCain has Sarah Palin on the campaign trail distorting the truth about Obama's association with William Ayers. I want to demonstrate how easy it is to distort the truth.

While we were at war with North Vietnam, John McCain had a 5 1/2-year deep and personal association with the enemy we were fighting. Is my statement true? Yes. Being a tortured POW is deep and personal. Does it imply McCain did something wrong? Yes. He was associating with an enemy of our country. Does it reflect the reality of the situation? Not even close.

So, all you Joes keep popping open your six-packs and you hockey moms keep putting on you lipstick, but for goodness' sake, don't buy the garbage Sarah Palin is peddling.

Phil Acosta

Vista

Gay marriage is not marriage

All that legal stuff gays say they need marriage for is baloney! An attorney can put something together for anybody who wants to be protected with money for the partner. Look at Leona Helmsley and her $12 million dog. It is an attempt to butt into a sacred marriage between man and woman instead of settling for another name for their union.

I saw a letter where a man was asking his wife if he could marry his mistress and be a threesome. I believe he was being comical. But here we go! Is that next? Why not? The mistress needs protection, right? Maybe her dogs as well.

Christine Martinelli

Escondido

Sarah is 'Phalin'

Last Thursday I watched the vice presidential debates. After they were over, the right-wing spin machine went wild. Sarah was fantastic, they said. She saved the ticket, they exclaimed. She was on top of her game, the way she told the moderator and Joe Biden she would only answer the questions she wanted to answer. She said things like, "darn right," "you betcha," "there you go again" and "say it ain't so, Joe." She tried winking, even if it was really blinking. She was one "Golly, Beav," from mediocrity.

She proved to be everything the right-wingers were looking for. They found George Bush, in a dress. Then the poll numbers rolled in. The American people wanted more than mediocrity. They said on economic issues, Sarah was "Phalin." They said on facts concerning her own running mate, on the Phalin/McCain ticket, (her idea, not mine), Sarah was Phalin. On being ready to step into the presidency, if need be, they said Biden was ready and Sarah was Phalin.

Sarah is as ready for the White House as John McCain is. In other words, both are Phalin.

Thomas Cowan Jr.

Escondido

Don't remove the foundation of our society

One writer (Letters, Oct. 4) ends his pro-same-sex marriage letter with, "It simply makes it possible for more people in love to find shelter under that umbrella." If being "in love" is the linchpin for marriage, then why not the brother/sister "in love," or the man with multiple women "in love," or the father/daughter "in love."

Remove the traditional definition of marriage, and you remove the foundation of American culture and society.

Phyllis Hassinger

Escondido

The choice is Socialism vs. capitalism

If you have ever had to budget your household money you know this: It's not hard to run out of money. The Democrats have done everything they can to cover up the fact that their social programs have run us out of money. The $800 billion bailout was nothing less than the Clinton administration's social programs coming back to bite us.

Now we have Obama, who says he will increase spending by another trillion dollars. He said he would [tax] couples who earn more than $250K. Notice, he didn't say he would lower taxes on you, the middle class, only that he would take more from them. Why in the world would you ever vote for a guy who says he would do that? If you don't make that much, then you probably work for someone who does. When they lose part of their income, how secure do you think your job will be?

Obama's plans are not good. McCain's plan is to allow us the continued right of self-government and freedom. Socialism vs. capitalism, this is your choice. Choose wisely, your future depends on it.

Don Steigerwald

Escondido

Send a message to tyrannical judges

I know that there many arguments on both sides of this sensitive issue. The issue I have is the following: Four liberal lawyers (pseudo-judges) can overrule the will of 4.3 million voters, a tyrannical act. This is not just an issue of two people who love each other and want to enter into a holy covenant of marriage. This issue has in the past opened up litigation against parochial and religious universities, adoption providers and doctors.

I don't think that any form of government should dictate what religious organizations must recognize as their moral standard. The possibility of churches facing litigation, losing tax-exempt status, or having to modify religious ordinances if the proposition fails is unconstitutional. I don't want young children being indoctrinated with same-sex literature. It is happening in Massachusetts. Parents do not have a choice to opt out because it is the law. Any chance of our children being indoctrinated that same-sex marriage is the same as traditional marriage is too much to risk, if this proposition fails.

Send a message to tyrannical judges, that the will of the people is to honor traditional marriage. Please visit protectmarriage.com and join your organization or church to support yes on Proposition 8.

Bill Buelna

Oceanside

Election signs trash neighborhoods

Another election is drawing near, and once again the politicians are showing their total disregard for the voters by trashing neighborhoods with their ugly signs. Even worse, they are insulting the voters' intelligence. Honest businesses aren't allowed to do this, but crooked politicians (excuse the redundancy) are. Show me a politician who will back an ordinance to ban neighborhood political signs, and I will vote for him/her.

Politicians think all voters are stupid. They think that if the voter sees a person's name on many signs, the voters will vote for that politician without knowing anything about the politician such as … what is the politician's political history and education?

Since the politicians trash my neighborhood with ugly signs and think I am stupid, I will refuse to vote for any of these insulting, inconsiderate bums. I will also vote against the recommendation of any sign regarding any proposition.

Bernard Elbinger

Oceanside

Gallo, Abed will take our city forward

As our election date draws near, I think it's important to know what the candidates stand for. I know Sam Abed, Ed Gallo and Olga Diaz. I have lived in Escondido for more than 20 years, and I have seen good and bad candidates.

I firmly believe (the facts are there) that Escondido has become a much-cleaner and safer city with Mr. Abed, along with Mr. Gallo, on the City Council. I also just as firmly believe that Olga Diaz is the wrong person at the wrong time and would be taking us backwards from where our city needs to go!

David Cline

Escondido

Special recognition of marriage

There is lately a lot of talk about allowing gay people to marry. Despite all the legalistic arguments about rights that the proponents like to use, and all the religion-based arguments that the opponents like, there is a vastly more important reason not to allow this.

The union of a man and a woman is very special, and only such a union can create the next generation by producing children, on which the future of any civilization depends. Since the male/female union makes such a vital contribution to the future of our country, we must recognize such unions as special. …

If, as a society, we lose the ability to recognize how special marriage is between a man and a woman, we will be ignoring that which has made us great, and instead will be rewarding those who make a much-less vital contribution. …

Of course, this does not imply that same-sex couples should have any of their civil rights abridged, or even that they would be unfit for parenthood. It only recognizes that their contributions to society are not as vital as those who create the next generation. Reserving the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman is at least some special recognition.

Barry Mc Elmurry

Vista

Welcome to the Socialist State of America

Do you people really not see what is going on? Ask yourself why government got into the home loan business to start with. Then ask yourself â€"â€" was it really to help people buy something they could not afford, or was it a trick to grab property? You see, you get a perfect storm going by importing people, thus causing a housing shortage.

Then there is the big building boom, but no one can afford an overpriced house, especially when they only earn subsistence wages. You loan them so-called "money" to buy a property that will eventually revert back to the bank, which goes bankrupt, so the government bails them out and, thus, owns the property. Simple! Not only do we have more poor people (the imported), but now the government owns the property, and since they have all the law enforcement on their side, they can do with it what they want. It is a government land grab.

First parks, then schools, hospitals, prisons, roads, businesses, fuel, etc., then taxing your wages before you can take the money and spend it, thus leaving you poor and dependent on government. Welcome to the Socialist State of America.

Fred Schuster

Vista

Renewable energy possibilities

As much as I would like to stop using oil as energy from overseas and coal for energy, as it is so dirty, and I worry about the environment, there might be other options.

I hate to hear that one presidential hopeful is promoting more nuclear power plants; what with problems with our own San Onofre plant, and no place to store its waste, more nuclear plants is not a good idea.

Since they are lining the aqueducts with concrete liners to prevent loss, it might be a good idea to cover these water sources with solar panel cells to generate energy and to prevent evaporation. No land would need to be confiscated, as it is already in the hands of the state. For California, this is a great alternative to drilling off our beautiful coast and building more nuke plants in our fair state. Driving across the desert yesterday made me see its possibilities.

Timothy Taylor

Oceanside

What were Obama's infuences?

Barack Obama's handlers and the leftist media are frantically diverting attention away from Obama's radical past and his abnormal attraction to extremists. They evade mentioning his influences, Frank Marshall Davis, who professed "wiping out white supremacy" or Saul Alinsky, who wrote "Rules for Radicals," whose lessons will reveal Obama's true definition of "change." They avoid questions about his association with the Weather Underground terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who urged Americans to "kill your parents." …

They dodge his connection with racist and anti-America pastors who preach Black Liberation Theology, Jeremiah Wright and Father Pflager, or his ties with convicted felon Tony Rezko and ACORN, the voter fraud outfit from Chicago. They overlook his involvement with Franklin Raines and James Johnson of the Fannie Mae scandal and his relationship to … George Soros.

They chastise anyone who claims guilt by association with this menagerie of leftists, radicals and anti-Americans who support Obama. Why are Obama's boys and the far-left media working overtime to destroy the good Sarah Palin and her family? Is it because they don't want Americans to know the ugly truth about Obama's past and his hidden agenda for America?

Darrell Beck

Ramona

Stop and ask before criticizing

This is in response to Richard Mathys' letter to the editor on Oct. 5, "Fire trucks shouldn't be used as billboards": If Mr. Mathys had stopped and asked one of the volunteers driving the old firetruck that has the political signs on it, he would have found out that the people driving it are doing this on their own time; the truck is an antique and was rented out for this purpose. I happened to see it on Sunday, and I was quite impressed!

If Mr. Mathys had looked a little closer, he would have read the words "In memory of our fallen brothers, FDNY." Oh, by the way, I saw the big truck for those other guys, and I sure don't think this looks professional at all. In fact, I've seen little kids decorate better.

Ellen Austin

Oceanside

Remember the Keating 5?

Sen. John McCain's link to Charles Keating and the Lincoln Savings and Loan debacle is well-documented in both Senate testimony and government documents. Three of his campaigns netted more than $112,000 from Keating donated funds. McCain family vacations to the Bahamas were paid for by Keating.

McCain and four other U.S. senators (the Keating 5) met directly with government banking regulators in an attempt to intimidate and end the government's fraud investigation of Lincoln Savings. Keating, in large part due to McCain's pressure, was allowed to operate for another two years, ending finally in the worst financial crisis this country had seen until recently. How quickly we seem to forget!

Fewer than 20 years have passed, and yet some want to see McCain elected president of the United States. What possible evidence is there that John McCain won't betray the American people as he did in 1990 as part of the Keating 5? We cannot trust him to lead us out of our ever-worsening economic crisis beginning on Wall Street but now impacting the world.

Michele Nelson

Poway

Support clean-energy politicians

We can have healthier cars, homes, schools and neighborhoods. American and other world-recognized scientists have proven that a clean-energy economy will do this.

Please support their programs and vote for those who will change our economy!

Paul Athan

Poway

Senior voters have a responsibility

If you are a senior citizen and voting for John McCain, it's time you recognize your responsibilities and do the following:

1. Notify Social Security and tell them thanks, but no thanks. You are not going to participate in this government-run program any longer.

2. Notify Medicare and tell them also, thanks, but no thanks, I'll be purchasing my own health insurance rather than rely on government to supply it.

It's time for you to stand up and live your words by insisting that government get out of your lives.

I am tired of the lies and distortions that have been foisted on the American public by the Republican Party and I sincerely feel you, seniors not for Obama, would be much more happy in your own world, and it certainly would leave much more for those of us who are so thankful for both Social Security and Medicare.

It's time to vote, count our many blessings and rebuild this wonderful country's spirit!

Vi Mooberry

Escondido

20 years in business in Carlsbad

Concerning your article, "Sparks fly offstage at candidates forum," Oct. 7, it would seem to me to be far more important how much an individual has contributed to a community as opposed to how long a person has lived there. After all, thousands of good citizens move to Carlsbad and Rip-Van-Winkle their way through decades without community contribution.

Farrah Douglas has owned a business in Carlsbad for 20 years and has been an active community contributor for that long. Check Farrah's record at www.farrahdouglas.com: Planning Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Prop. D, Boys & Girls Club, Library and Arts Foundation and others. In fact, check the records of all the candidates. Who knows? There may be candidates who have lived here a lot longer but have contributed a lot less.

Joe Charest

Carlsbad

A sad sign of the times

I became a U.S. citizen a couple of years ago, and am looking forward to participating in the political process. I bought a sign for my presidential candidate, and was told at the time that the signs are getting taken down almost as quickly as they are put up.

I placed my sign in the morning, kind of keeping an eye on it. In the evening I saw a couple in their 50s walking their dogs. The man went up to the sign and kicked it up into the air and onto the street, and the couple walked off. This has made me only more determined to assure my candidate wins.

Perhaps one day we'll be able to return to civil debate and a voting process free from intimidation. That gets my vote!

Nik Grant

Escondido

Candidates take stand against lawlessness

Do your city council candidates oppose sanctuary policies for illegal aliens? Do they believe in the rule of law and full cooperation between local police and ICE and Border Patrol when dealing with criminal aliens?

The membership of the San Diego Minutemen had those same questions entering this year's election season. So we devised a short questionnaire for all the mayoral and council candidates to help us make this year's endorsements. The survey, and all our countywide endorsements, can be viewed on our Web site, www.SanDiegoMinutemen.com>Elections 2008.

We are pleased to endorse quite a few candidates from North County who have pledged opposition to illegal immigration and vowed to fight it at the city level. Enforcement of laws and the safety of your residents begins with your local police or sheriffs. Cooperation with federal immigration enforcement is critical. Just compare the cities of San Diego and Escondido. San Diego is a sanctuary city with a "don't ask, don't tell" policy; Escondido has full cooperation with ICE and has become a much safer city because of it.

Where does your city stand on enforcement? Vote wisely this election.

Jeff Schwilk

founder,

San Diego Minutemen

Vista

Problems with the no on 8 argument

I am puzzled with why some people continue to compare the debate over Proposition 8 as similar to the civil rights movement in the 1960s, or similar acts to give equal rights and treatment of blacks to that of whites.

For example, one that is stated again and again is the fact that at one point, it was illegal for a black to marry a white. I find this to be a fallacious argument in the mere fact that a black man and a white woman, or vice versa, are still able to come together and produce a child, and with that are capable to act in their functions as a mother and a father. Gay marriage is a completely different arena that neither produces children, nor provides all the needs that are required from both a mother and a father, a fact that many psychologists today agree upon. …

Regardless of opinions, one can choose whether or not to follow a gay lifestyle. But I cannot choose whether I want to be black, white, Mexican, etc.

Prop. 8 merely states simply that marriage is between a man and woman. If a man and a man, or a woman and a woman, want to have a relationship, then that is their choice. But it is wrong to force others to accept a lifestyle choice that they don't agree with.

Vote yes on 8 to restore marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Steven D'Alo

Carlsbad

Are all lives defended?

This is to all of the right-to-life/anti-abortion people. I have one question: If the life you save grows up to be gay, will you still defend their rights?

Frank Straw

Escondido

Gay marriage forces majority to accept minority

Proposition 8 is bigger than gay marriage. Myself and many others are angered because the California Supreme Court judges thought that their views on gay marriage were more right than the views of the roughly 4 million voters who had voted against gay marriage. What sort of democracy is this, that a vote of the people can be overturned by judges whenever they disagree with voters?

The problem with gay marriage is that it forces the majority to accept it; that is wrong. Forcing individuals to accept gay marriage is a serious violation of one's religious values and freedoms. Marriage is not a lopsided relationship, but one that is in balance with the concept of Christ as the head of the man and woman together. Most people only oppose the use of the word "marriage." To many, the word "marriage" is sacred. I believe that most are fine with gays having the same rights as a married couples; we just ask that they call it something else.

Rhonda Deniston

Oceanside

Courage of his convictions

If the worst Jack Feller and his cronies can come up with to attack Oceanside City Council candidate Chuck Lowery is that he made contributions to Moveon.org in 2004 â€"â€" that says a lot to me about the integrity of Mr. Lowery. You know they must have scoured the Earth looking for something to use against him, and he came up clean.

Chuck has my vote and my complete trust to do the right thing for all the people of Oceanside, including our military families and veterans. Chuck has the courage to stand up and take action for what he sees as fair and just, and he won't be cowed into acting against his values. You can't get more patriotic than that. I would think that the Marines would have great respect for that kind of courage and integrity.

We are very fortunate to have him in Oceanside, and I can't wait to see how this city will thrive with Lowery, Sanchez and Wood working for all of us.

Juan Del Rio

Oceanside

Less-polarizing board needed

at MiraCosta

Re: "MiraCosta trio merit return to trustee board," Oct. 1: Urging voters to re-elect three incumbent MiraCosta trustees defies logic. Assigning blame for the turmoil that beset MiraCosta under former President Richart's leadership to a "rambunctious faculty" and board minority ignores the responsibility that belongs to the board majority â€"â€" and Carolyn Batiste presides over that majority.

Asserting that Trustees Carranza and Simon need to be held to a promise to "work toward academic harmony" suggests they haven't been working toward that goal all along. … Carranza and Simon persistently attempted to voice their conscience in the face of the bullying majority that led this college to the stormiest years in its history. …

Carranza and Simon deserve re-election. Batiste does not. MiraCosta is an exceptional institution and a new president needs to be selected. MiraCosta stands a better chance of moving forward if the dysfunctional majority/minority composition is replaced with something less polarizing. The best way to accomplish that is to elect George McNeil to replace Batiste, and re-elect Carranza and Simon.

Richard Cone

Cardiff

Leader or cheerleader

I was pleased to see how well Sarah Palin held up in Thursday's vice presidential debate, but am still puzzled as to what her role is in all of this. I certainly in no way mean to be condescending to her gender, but I was left with the impression that she was more of the cheerleader of a team called the McCain Mavericks than a leader of our country.

The girl-next-door approach may be charming to some, but it sure doesn't instill a heck of a lot of confidence.

George Smith

Carlsbad

Prop. 2 supports family farms

Proposition 2 is a modest measure that stops cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, ending the practice of cramming farm animals into cages so small the animals can't even turn around, lie down or extend their limbs.

It's simply inhumane to confine veal calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens in tiny cages barely larger than their bodies. Calves are tethered by the neck and can barely move, pigs in severe confinement bite the metal bars of their crates, and hens get trapped and even impaled in their wire cages. We would not force our pets to live in filthy, cramped cages for their whole lives, and we should not force farm animals to endure such misery either.

All animals, including those being raised for food, deserve humane treatment. Prop. 2 improves our health and food safety, safeguards our environment and supports family farmers. Please visit YESonProp2.com, and remember to vote "yes" on Prop. 2!

Edie Flaiz

Carlsbad

Time to vote out self-serving councilmen

By endorsing Jerome Stocks and Jim Bond for the Encinitas Council, the North County Times has done a great disservice to the residents of Encinitas ("Encinitas trio merit return to city council," Sept. 30). Here are some real reasons not to vote for Stocks and Bond: The two have consistently voted against a transparent government for Encinitas. …

The two supported the Mossy property purchase. The $9 million "turnkey" project for a public works yard will cost taxpayers over $12 million. The two voted to ban smoking on our local beaches only after it became politically expedient to do so. The two supported a ridiculous raise for a city manager. …

The Stocks and Bond pro-development agenda has resulted in traffic gridlock throughout the city. Follow the money from local and out-of-town developers' contributions, and it will lead you to Jerome Stocks and Jim Bond. It is time to rid Encinitas of two self-serving myopic councilmen. We need the two replaced by candidates who will listen to and represent the residents.

Hector Lopez

Encinitas