Aug 31, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Daily News

George Bush's experience

Dear Editor: In these pages I have read that Barack Obama does not have the experience to be president. In 2000 George Bush apparently did have enough experience, which consisted of six years in the largely ceremonial position of Texas governor. So with eight years in the state Senate and four years in the U.S. Senate, Obama has far more experience than Bush had in 2000. After some head scratching, I realized that experience is not transitive.

Apparently, by choosing a Washington insider to be his running mate, Obama cannot bring change. I had not realized the vice president sets the agenda for the administration. Certainly, it seemed that way the past seven years, but I did not know until now it was mandatory.

I have also learned that it is a mistake to pick a running mate who does not agree with you on every issue. Many of the terrible decisions of the current administration have been attributed to "group think" - but apparently that is now considered a good thing.

But I have more to learn. I know that it is bad to have a "celebrity" as president and Obama is clearly a "celebrity" because he gives good speeches. Since John McCain is the only sitting senator to host Saturday Night Live and has appeared on The Daily Show more than a dozen times, it feels like he is a celebrity. But I am sure that these facts cannot count, and I look forward to learning why that is.

Edward Jenvey

Mountain View



Clinton supports Bush

Dear Editor: Columnist Marianne Means and other supporters of Hillary Clinton seem to be in denial of the fact that she has been more supportive of George W. Bush's foreign policy than any other Democratic representative or senator.

Sen. Clinton unapologetically supported giving Bush the power to declare war on Iraq. Not having learned from this horrible mistake, four years later she voted for a resolution declaring the Iranian Guard a terrorist organization and against a resolution requiring congressional approval for a declaration of war against Iran.

Unconscionably, she voted against a resolution banning the use of cluster bombs in densely populated areas. She has supported every facet of the Patriot Act, failed to support the Dodd Amendment reaffirming habeas corpus and unlike many Democratic and Republican members of Congress, failed to denounce this country's use of torture.

Moreover, during the primaries she shamelessly and falsely portrayed herself as a Bible thumping, gun toting, boiler maker chugging, sniper fire ducking war hero. In many ways Clinton's record of support of Bush is stronger than McCain's. It is no wonder that right-wing extremist Ann Coulter during the early days of the primary said that if Clinton ran against McCain she would support Clinton.

Nick Jaffe

Sunnyvale



Voters need the truth

Dear Editor: Redwood City's voters deserve to hear the truth about Measure W and to have the lies that have been written about Measure V exposed.

Save the Bay is distributing door hangers stating that Measure V is the "developer's counter-measure." This is a lie. Measure V was placed on the November ballot by the city council at the request of the affected homeowners, to avoid the "unintended consequences" of Measure W.

The truth is if W passes, almost 600 homeowners near Red Morton Park, in Redwood Shores and at Docktown will need to secure a two-thirds vote in a city-wide election to renovate. We will be required to disclose this to potential buyers, and it will lower the value of our homes.

Save the Bay and Friends of Redwood City deny that Measure W will have any impact on our properties. We have done our own research and found that our homes will be impacted. Consider the cost taxpayers and the city will bear as a result of the legal repercussions of Measure W.

Save the Bay is misleading voters by lying to our community.

I am so disappointed in the tactics and deceitfulness Save the Bay and the Friends of Redwood City are using to manipulate our community. I am confident the Redwood City community will see through this dishonesty and vote no on Measure W and yes on Measure V.

Nancy Keegan

Redwood City



Advance tickets for Caltrain

Dear Editor: Bicyclists who ride Caltrain are complaining about being bumped from the trains due to lack of space.

The bigger complaint seems to be that they never know if they'll be bumped or not until it's too late to do anything about it. Andy Thornley, program director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, is quoted, "... Bicyclists are frustrated when a 7:30 a.m. train has spots for 16 bikes one day and 64 spots the next, making it nearly impossible to predict whether they will get bumped."

Perhaps Caltrain should take a cue from the airlines and start selling advance reservations for bicycles. When the available spaces are gone, no more reservations could be made. Bicyclists would then know in advance whether or not there is room for their bikes on the train.

Bob Stine

San Mateo



Experience paradox

Dear Editor: Now that Governor Palin was chosen as John McCain's vice president candidate, I was amused by the paradox of the Democratic response that she lacked the experience to be president. But what does that say about Obama? He was a ward worker, an Illinois legislator and for two years, a U.S. senator. She was active in Alaskan politics, a mayor of a town and for two years a governor. It's the same resume, except she has had real executive experience while he has not. If she's not qualified, why is he?

Benjamin A. Halpren

Atherton



Palin light on experience

Dear Editor: You've got to love it. Ever since Barack Obama started running for the presidency, the GOP has insisted that he doesn't have enough experience and that experience is a minimum requirement for the office.

So, who do they select for office? They select a 72-year-old candidate who has already twice battled cancer and a 44-year-old woman with no federal experience as vice president. That places Sarah Palin one heartbeat away from the presidency if the Republicans win in November.

Obviously, the GOP's envy of the Democrats' success running Hillary Clinton has led them to the misguided conclusion that gender is more important than experience in the end.

So much for McCain's judgment.

Bob Stine

San Mateo



Biden a strong choice

Dear Editor: What great news to wake up to the news that Barack Obama chose Sen. Joe Biden to be his vice president. Biden is one of our nation's most powerful and influential voices on foreign relations, terrorism, drug policy and crime prevention, and provides a wealth of experience to the Democratic ticket.

A centrist, he has been playing a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy for over three decades. He has worked tirelessly for environmental protection and education policies that help struggling Americans pay for college tuition. We now have a team fighting for positive change, bringing knowledge, experience and energy to the White House.

Barbara Kyser

Los Altos