ELECTION 2008

STUNNED TO SEE LINGLE SUPPORT CHOICE OF PALIN

I was stunned to see our governor, who presents herself as a moderate on social issues, endorse Sarah Palin with such enthusiasm.

As a Democrat, I believed that Linda Lingle was a moderate and voted for her in the last gubernatorial election. Now I realize that she was a wolf in sheep's clothing. I shall not be fooled again.

Sarah Palin comes from the radical right of the Republican Party. She is anti-abortion, anti-gun control, doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming, wants creationism taught in public schools, she opposes a comprehensive sex education program for public schools and favors an abstinence-only program for sex education. There is nothing moderate about Sarah Palin.

Our governor's support of Palin indicates a large political shift toward the radical right. Indeed, the Republican Party continues to be controlled by the religious right. I am profoundly disappointed that our governor now supports such issues.

MCCAIN NOT THE ONLY AMERICAN WAR HERO

Let me preface this letter with the fact that I'm a registered Democrat. Yet in the last four presidential elections I've voted twice for the Republican candidate and twice for the Democratic candidate, so I consider myself fairly moderate in disposition.

I'm also a veteran who comes from a family of veterans. It's apparent to me that the Republicans think that John McCain is the only "real" war hero on the planet. It's a myth that he seems unwilling or unable to dispel.

Every single veteran who served honorably is a hero. Every service member who gave life, livelihood, or physical and/or mental well-being is a real hero.

And we all need to recognize that every day.

It's also apparent to me that sarcasm is going to be a major component of the Republican campaign. And if her RNC speech is any indication, especially from Gov. Sarah Palin. Excessive sarcasm is a sure sign of a small mind and a frightened heart, whomever it comes from. We're all better than that.

MCCAIN-PALIN IDEAS DO NOT SOUND LIKE CHANGE

John McCain promised the American people change. What would the change look like?

Sarah Palin said she does not believe climate change is manmade. Sound like somebody in the White House now?

Palin supports abstinence-only sex-ed in public schools. Sound familiar?

The McCain-Palin team wants to open up Alaska (among other sites) to massive drilling, as does the current White House occupant. Enough said.

GOV. PALIN NOT TRUTHFUL ABOUT BRIDGE STANCE

Gov. Sarah Palin stated forcefully that she stood up against building the infamous Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska. She did not mention that she repeatedly supported that project in 2006.

She said she told Washington they could keep their money — that if Alaska wanted that bridge, Alaska would pay for it themselves, when in fact she told her people to take advantage of earmark money "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Gov. Palin says she speaks the truth, but partial truths are lies. We are obliged to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

I would not be writing this if Gov. Palin had said, "I was for the bridge at first but when I found out the truth about it, I changed my mind." It takes a wise leader to say, "I would rather be right than consistent," as Sir Winston Churchill said.

Therefore, I cannot vote for the McCain/Palin ticket. I will vote for the Obama/Biden ticket — they do not mesmerize me with words but I can believe their words.

GOP BECOMING PARTY OF RADICAL IDEAS, PLANS

In reference to the Sept. 5 commentary on Sarah Palin ("Sarah Palin not yet ready for national stage"), I feel that the room for sensible conservatism is disappearing rapidly.

Once the party of Abraham Lincoln and an older version of conservatism, the Republican Party seems to have been taken over by folks with radical ideas and plans.

Gov. Palin and Sen. John McCain have put forward a number of radical lines and plans, such as teaching creationism, stopping sex education in schools if it is comprehensive and accurate, supporting the largest oil companies, such as British Petroleum, in their quest for increased profits, and insisting global warming is not caused by the actions of human beings.

As a military veteran, school teacher, parent and conservative, McCain and Palin leave me little to trust and support.

Do some research and check things out for yourself.

3 THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT GOV. SARAH PALIN

There are three points I think we all need to consider when looking at Sarah Palin for a possible VP.

As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them — shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving 'full support' to the mayor."

Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP.

She did support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

VICTOR DAVIS HANSON

SOME GREAT PRESIDENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN LAWYERS

Well, I see where Victor David Hanson is at it again in giving advice to Democrats.

This time he writes that the DNC should stop nominating lawyers for the presidency. Here's a list of presidents who were or are lawyers — John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Van Buren, Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Hayes, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, McKinley, Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, Nixon, Ford, Clinton.

And, let us not forget, the one- term congressman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln.

Not a bad list. Some great, some good, some mediocre. Just like the rest of the population.

And while looking at this list, it must be recalled that of our 42 presidents (Cleveland twice) nine of them, or 21 percent, did not complete their term of office. The vice presidency is indeed more important than a "bucket of warm spit" as FDR's vice president, John Nance Garner, once put it.

ENVIRONMENT

O'AHU'S SEWAGE ISSUES MUST BE DEALT WITH

It is dismaying to read that Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts is planning large expansions to its Waikiki hotels (Aug. 30, Business Today). The EPA has been struggling for years to get the City and County of Honolulu to provide secondary waste treatment to our sewage, which is dumped into the ocean.

We cannot keep dumping more and more sewage from large-scale hotel and condominium building projects into the ocean.

It's a matter of priorities. Traffic is a serious problem. But sewage treatment, trash disposal and renewable energy are critical problems for our state. It would be far better for our quality of life to spend a few billion dollars on these projects instead of a rail system.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

PLAN TO CUT SECURITY PATROLS DISTURBING

I find it disturbing that the Department of Education is considering cutting night security patrols from the budget.

I have lost count of how many schools have reported break-ins and vandalism over the past few years. Many are so high profile as to make front-page news on occasion, resulting in an outpouring of community assistance to replace stolen computers and paint over graffiti in classrooms.

What is more disturbing is that Board of Education Chairwoman Donna Ikeda stated that there "isn't any kind of data that the program has been effective or needed." How can there be when Gilbert Chun, director of the DOE's auxiliary services branch, said that the DOE does not keep track of vandalism or break-ins that occur on school campuses?

You would think that there would be some tracking of criminal incidents occurring in our state school system that result in thousands of dollars of damage and theft of equipment paid for with taxpayer money. Go figure.