Military needs sensible president
I learned after flying 100 day and night low-level attacks over North Vietnam that it is impossible to ram our way of life down another country’s throat with bombs, bullets, napalm, rockets and cluster bombs.
It is apparent that John McCain had a different learning outcome from Vietnam, since he voted to allow the military to attack another small, Third World country that had nothing to do with 9/11. There were only a few hundred al-Qaida in Afghanistan at the time of 9/11, and they have never been brought to justice.
McCain brags about a successful “surge.” However, the surge would not have been required if he and President Bush had directed their efforts against the known terrorists in Afghanistan — not Iraq. Osama bin Laden is still at large even though we have expended more than $600 billion and continue to spend more than $10 billion a month.
I certainly believed McCain when he professed that America will be in Iraq for the next 100 years. Now he has uncovered a running mate who is even more belligerent. Vice president nominee Sarah Palin indicated that Georgia should be allowed to become a member of NATO — then our military should retaliate against Russia if it invades Georgia. Putin stated that Vice President Cheney was in the region to politicize the current invasion in Georgia to win an election using the “fear” tactic.
Our military combatants have been abused since 9/11 with numerous back-to-back deployments, inadequate equipment and insufficient health care. It is time for a caring president who will not abuse the military with unnecessary wars. Speaking as a 25-year veteran with two sons in the military, we do not need an old, hot-tempered and bellicose president to be our commander in chief.
Lt. Col. Val Ross Johnson, USAF (Ret.)
Anacortes
Support Skagit Transit’s Prop. 1
The continuing of Skagit Transit’s intercity service and the necessary enhancements to local service — improvements to routes and schedules — for fixed-route buses, Dial-a-Ride and pocket services depend on the November general election passage of Skagit County Public Transportation Benefit Area Proposition 1. This measure will increase the local sales tax by two-tenths of 1 percent and provide the resources needed to maintain and improve service.
This means that people would pay 2 cents more on a $10 purchase locally.
Depending on which county precinct the voters are registered in, they will find two, three or four measures identified as Proposition 1! Each is proposed by separate municipal districts, but only the Skagit Transit issue involves sales tax.
City of Sedro-Woolley Proposition 1 is a bond issue intended to support fire service in that community.
Fire Protection District 16 (Day Creek) Proposition 1 is a property tax issue for that district.
Public Utility District 1 Proposition 1 is seeking authority to acquire and provide electrical service.
Our county auditor follows our state’s election laws and is not able to create ballot titles that are less confusing. However, in each instance, the label “Proposition 1” will be found on the second or third line of the ballot title just above the short description of the measure.
People for Skagit Transit energetically support the PTBA Proposition 1 described in the first paragraph above and encourages voters to carefully examine their mail-in ballots to vote in the way they intend.
For further information, you can find People for Skagit Transit online.
John C. Cheney
Mount Vernon
Obama has questionable relations
Like George Bush?
One can only hope that Democrats do not continue to be mesmerized by Barack Obama’s skillful spellbinding rhetoric.
Most people are aware of his radical associations, which reflect upon his poor judgment and possibly upon his character. Recall his longtime association with Underground Weatherman Bill Ayers, his spending 20-plus years attending Jeremiah Wright’s church and his 17-year relationship with Tony Rezko, who has just been sent to prison. That was not smart.
Barack Obama is a follower of Saul Alinsky, author of “Rules for Radicals.” An excerpt from chapter two of Alinsky’s book: “In a fight almost anything goes. It almost reaches a point where you stop to apologize if a chance blow lands above the belt.”
Barack Obama worked with the Chicago-based, far-left Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN). He operated as a “community organizer” and was its legal representative.
In July of last year, ACORN settled the largest case of voter fraud in the history of Washington state. Seven ACORN members, who are now in prison, had submitted nearly 2,000 bogus Washington state voter registration forms. That was the year that Rossi lost to Gregoire! ACORN has been implicated in similar voter fraud in 14 other states. Barack Obama is still listed as a member of ACORN’s board of directors. Would you believe that ACORN also gets 40 percent of its revenue from American taxpayers?
Barack Obama certainly is not “just like George Bush.”
Bill Reinard
Burlington
Bailey works for all constituents
Most of us are tired of angry, partisan politics and smear letters. We want someone who is not divisive, who can work with people on both sides of the aisle and who will listen. There is a candidate who is all of these things: Barbara Bailey. She is a legislator of honesty and integrity. She understands the issues and will work with representatives of both parties to represent us in Olympia.
Answering the plethora of misleading charges in the opposition letters about her is simply not her style. Obviously, the people who denigrate her voting record have not taken the time to actually read the bills. Barbara does.
There are many good reasons to vote no: The bill had impossible costs; there were bad provisions linked to the bill; the title did not reflect the actual content of the bill; and many others. Unlike many in the Legislature, Barbara takes the time to read bills to see if any of these negatives are present. Unlike many other politicians, Barbara Bailey does not make empty promises or vote for bills that are guaranteed not to pass simply to look good. If you have the time, check out her Web site to find out why she voted for or against a particular measure.
If you are looking for a candidate who cares about our district’s transportation problems, our children’s education, property taxes, the economy, health care and jobs, you need to re-elect Barbara Bailey. She truly works for us — all of us — and she has earned our trust.
Nancy Thompson
Clinton
PSE inspires yes vote on Prop. 1
Puget Sound Electric must think the voters of Skagit County are stupid. I’m greatly insulted by PSE’s tactics toward the Public Utility District’s Proposition 1, which will be on the next ballot. I recently received a phone call asking me to participate in a political survey. Early into the questioning, it was apparent that this survey was solely about Proposition 1, which if approved would authorize our local PUD to provide electric service here.
This issue was highlighted by questions that presented the PUD effort in very negative terms. I asked the questioner if her firm was hired by PSE to conduct this survey. She told me that she didn’t know. If PSE was behind this underhanded survey — and there is no other entity with a vested interest for the proposition — then this is appalling.
The other insult to our local intelligence can be seen with the many campaign signs stating, “Danger: No Government Take-Over — Vote No on Prop 1.” The implication is that free enterprise is under attack. PSE is a “monopoly” operating on a guaranteed profit margin for its stockholders at a rate established by our state utility commission. All private enterprise should have it so sweet. PSE works for its stockholders and the foreign company that’s acquiring it. What about “No Foreign Take-Over — Vote Yes?”
The PUDs work for their customers. Neither entity has competition in its service areas. Both entities should be making a case for which type of “monopoly” organization will best respond to the long-term electric needs and costs here. The way PSE is playing games with this important issue here has earned my solid yes vote on Proposition 1.
At least with the PUD, we will have an elected board and a healthy measure of honest, local accountability.
Scott MacFarlane
Mount Vernon
Vote Turner for commissioner
I have been a colleague and friend of Bill Turner for more than 28 years. We both began working in the early 1980s on alternative and energy-efficient construction for homes and businesses. Bill constructed some of the first homes in this state that set the standards for what later became the Washington state Energy Code.
As a builder and a private citizen, Bill has worked to improve construction practices and support responsible development. In the early 1990s, Bill was one of the few builders in Skagit County to support the goals and objectives of the Growth Management Act (GMA) and has actively worked to responsibly implement the GMA by participating in local planning efforts.
Being actively involved with the issues that shape our communities has given Bill the experience and understanding that Skagit County needs to move ahead. Vote for Bill Turner for Skagit County commissioner, District 1.
John Doyle
La Conner
