Though it is only nine months until the presidential election, we must ask ourselves, whom would Osama bin Laden vote for?

 

Feb. 23

Abramoff, DeLay, Cunninghan, Scanlon, Foley, Wilson, Simmons, Johnson, Taylor, Weldon, Boehner, Blunt, Roskam, Hastert, Gerlach, Doolittle, Boehner, Pryce, Sweeney, and now Renzi, all true and just Republicans. Hey Reddies, what are you so proud of?

 

Did we really need a $600 million U.S. Embassy in Baghdad? Why not a modest $60 million facility, or even a $6 million one? Wonder who the nut or nuts were who called the shot. Guess who is paying for that boondoggle? People don’t want to go to Iraq as employees. I guess they consider it too dangerous. Many people in Iraq, contractors, are robbing us blind. Is there no justice? Maybe there will be a better tomorrow.

 

I’m sure the lady who left a large sum of money to the city of Sierra Vista had hoped that money would be used to reduce or end the suffering and death of animals. Instead it was used for a nice new facility where animal control people will continue to use the same old system, where they cater to selfish and irresponsible people by accepting abandoned animals and disposing of them. It doesn’t appear that animal control has any plans to address this particular problem and stop it. So we will have the same just in a nicer package. It sure looks like it. If so, I’m sure that the lady will feel her money was not well spent.

 

I find Barack Obama’s speeches so stimulating. He can make platitudes sound real. He can even resurrect memories of Neville Chamberlain, the former British prime minister, who went to Germany to have a dialogue with Adolf Hitler and returned to tell the British people there was nothing to fear. I find Obama’s rhetoric so stirring that it inspires me to block out the real world and even history itself. What an amazing man to be able to do all that in such a short time. That is an extraordinary accomplishment. Yes, Obama truly inspires me.

 

To the people who look at the U.S. as the greatest country in the world, you are a little out of touch with reality. Only a minority of Americans achieve the so-called American dream. The dream is a house that’s paid for, a small amount of wealth, no worries about health care and the ability to move around freely in your retirement years. For the real America, 70 percent of Americans say our country is headed in the wrong direction. Americans are losing their homes at an alarming rate. Forty-seven million Americans do not have health insurance. Thirty-six million Americans are living near or in poverty. Forty percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Public education lags way behind other first world countries and the United States has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. Please regard all of this to only first world countries. I think people have a hard time accepting the ugly truth. Yet they seem to accept a beautiful lie much easier. The right-wing capitalist propaganda machine has truly taken away the real America, for the masses will believe anything. We truly are one nation under the almighty  dollar and liberty and justice for those who can afford it.

 

Feb. 24

I commend the Herald for its concern about corruption in the U.S. Congress. I cite the Herald’s front-page, in-depth article (Feb. 23), titled “Congressman Indicted,” in reference to the alleged corruption indictment of Republican Congressman Rick Renzi of Arizona. Perhaps the Herald will be equally aggressive with front page, in-depth coverage of the expected indictment of Democrat Congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana. What will fascinate readers is how the FBI uncovered $90,000 hidden in Jefferson’s refrigerator during its corruption investigation of the Democrat Congressman. The Herald also might like to touch on the wholesale corruption of Democrat politics in Louisiana, as it impacted heavily on the botched rescue of victims and recovery efforts during and after Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps the Herald’s concern for corruption could even extend to the wide-spread corruption, evident in the present Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress, in the form of earmarks, otherwise known as pork barrel spending. Surprisingly, the Herald has been silent on this subject, especially, in light of the extremely low 18 percent public approval rating of the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress.

 

In the long Saturday article on Rick Renzi, you never once mention the fact that he’s a Republican. Why not? If he were a Democrat you’d have made that clear. People like to accuse the newspaper with siding with Democrats. I think that’s a big joke. In Sunday’s article you did mention it once in passing. Usually you have party affiliation and state noted with every congressman. Why not Renzi?

 

This is the first time I’ve been to Walgreens in a while, but this is the last. All the signs at eye level are in Spanish. The ones in the middle of the aisles are in English. This is wrong. This is America. They’re catering to people who can’t speak English. I’m trying to locate certain items and the signs are in Spanish. This is wrong.

 

I just went to fill up my car with gas. Gas is now $3.06 per gallon for unleaded. I live on a fixed income of $1,300 per month. I would like somebody to tell me how is someone supposed to manage on this when everything is going up, groceries, gas, electricity, yet we don’t get one dollar more? I’d like the politicians to tell me how I can live, if you can call it that, on $1,300 per month? If someone has an answer for me I’d appreciate it.

 

The Fry’s parking lot is not a race track. Neither is Safeway’s parking lot or Hastings or Wal-Mart’s. I was so glad to see Fry’s put in a bait shop for us fishermen. They call it sushi and sell it for a lot more than I’m willing to pay for bait. That’s my comment and I’m sticking to it. Thanks for having OYM.

 

I’m reading today about the senior citizen saying the prices have gone up at Fry’s. We didn’t ask for all that fancy stuff and the improvements. Why should we have to pay for it? I’m a senior, too. I can get by on just minimal things. Before the improvements something I bought there cost $1.99. Now it’s $3.60. We didn’t ask for the improvements, why should we pay for it?

Feb. 25

Several things that Sierra Vistans apparently do not realize according to the musings in OYM. Safeway and Fry’s are both Kroger stores. (No competition) Fry’s in Sierra Vista is the highest grossing store in Arizona. Despite the monies spent in renovations, the increased check out stands, (always under utilized especially the express line). Those additional check-out stands must be to handle the crowds at Thanksgiving and Christmas causing all kinds of frustration. This is repayment for enduring the mess and the cold, for both their help and customers. The help should be commended for withstanding the elements in jackets and gloves for the duration of the renovations. Grocery stores are always going to claim the high price of gas for gouging, but you can also blame the city of Sierra Vista for charging sales tax on groceries and the gouging gas stations. It is actually cheaper to drive to Tucson and pay 20 cents less for gas and shop in grocery stores there (no sales tax) than it is to try and survive here in Sierra Vista.

Editor’s note: Given that Safeway is not owned by Kroger, it is up to the reader to determine the veracity of the rest of the statements in this OYM.

 

I was struck by a statement in a Feb. 25 OYM: “Regarding the number of black voters supporting (Barack) Obama, 70 percent to 90 percent, if he were white it would be considered racism.” How true this insightful statement is to anyone who thinks objectively. How different it is when the shoe is on the other foot.

 

Even if you could convince legislators these proposed gun laws are crazy, you would still have to deal with the National Rifle Association and the radical gun owners; those who believe if the charcoal doesn’t start, you just need to add more starter fluid. Let’s do what the gun nuts say, drop the gun laws and arm everyone. This way, we can all join in the fun of blasting our fellow man when the shooting starts at some university or shopping mall or on some freeway. Even if you miss the intended target, you can just say, “Oops, sorry about that. I was trying to hit the guy with the AK-47.” Of course, no one would ever mistake you for a bad “gun toting” guy. All good “gun toting” folks can easily recognize other good “gun toting” folks, so you will never be in danger of accidentally getting shot. The police also have this ability and will instantly rush in and help you kill any bad “gun toting” folks. Remember, this is America where the right to own, carry, and use guns (naturally, for self defense only) supersedes all other human rights, because the “Constitution says so.”

 

To the military spouse who hates Sierra Vista and to all the other soldiers who hate Sierra Vista: We’re with you. We’re counting down the days until you leave, also.

 

Please ask your sports editor Matt Hickman to put in the NHL results and standings. If he doesn’t have room, he can take out his essays.

On the front page of today’s newspaper, shame on you, Our Lady of the Mountains Church, for letting global chant into your church. All this is hedonism and a way of life devoted to pleasure and increasing humanism.

If the schools on post are worried about the money and how it’s spent, why is it children are able to attend when they don’t have a military connection? We have contractors on post with two parents making lots of money who choose to bring their children to schools on post because the classes are small. If these children went to school where they lived we wouldn’t have to pay for all these teachers. Someone should look into who is using these schools. Are they military children, or is it mostly contractor’s children, and other people without the slightest connection to the post?

 

I just finished reading the letter from retired Army master sergeant Obermeier in today’s newspaper. He hit that right on the button. I feel like he does. I’ll have to hold my nose, too, when I vote. I do not think we will get a good president out of this race. I can’t see how this country is going to do any good with these people running. Also, I read in the newspaper how illegals are taking the Fifth Amendment so they don’t have to testify. Since when are they guaranteed protection by the Fifth Amendment? They aren’t American. It’s time to get on the ball and do something about the government of this country.

 

Last year my husband was very sick and I had to go to Tucson every week. The American Legion and the VFW paid for my car to be repaired. They helped with my utilities, and I was not working as well. I just want to say they help you when you need help. No thanks are asked or anything. These organizations are terrific. I can’t put into words how much I want to thank you.

 

I’m an elderly person. I had a glass company come out to my house. I could hardly move my sliding glass door. They said they had fixed it and charged   me $260. I still can hardly move it, but I don’t want to pay more. So, buyers beware.

Editor’s note: As we have stated, calling OYM will not fix your problem. A call to the business to express your dissatisfaction will more likely bring the result you desire.

I am highly aggravated that Ralph Nader would again attempt to highjack the upcoming presidential election. The man is no better that the terrorists who are set on destroying this nation. As it is the country is in a sorry state as are global affairs. All Nader has to offer this nation is an inflated ego and a big mouth. He should be totally exempted from destroying the elections once again as he did before.

 

Forget the post office in Sierra Vista. They held a very important registered letter/check of mine for seven days and they never tried to deliver it. I was expecting it so I inquired. The postmaster never did talk to me even after I wrote her. She had a supervisor handle it and he was no help either. They never apologized or anything.

 

This is for the person who wanted to know about “The Waltons” re-runs. You can’t find them in Sierra Vista, but you can go to amazon.com and purchase seasons 1 and 2 for $39.98. Maybe the caller will be able to get it there.

Feb. 26

What rights does an illegal have in USA? None. The rights are for citizens. Illegals come to kill, steal, destroy and litter our country. They have the right “to remain silent” on their way back home. They have no Fifth Amendment right. They do not have the right to use our court system. If they were not here, it would not have happened. That is the law in their country. Agents should have the right to protect themselves and shoot trespassers. That is the law in Mexico’s southern border.

 Why is the county after the Bible College? Is the county still mad they paid out millions after the sheriffs attacked citizens in Miracle Valley? What if you were pulled over for speeding and the policeman gave you 30 tickets because he knew you had sped before? That’s what I heard happened at the college. Fined on the last day but made retroactive? How many people gave yard space for motorhomes and rented out their home or convents for the Super Bowl? I didn’t see any county going after them? Why do they pick on one group here? They should have the same rights as those in Phoenix.

Editor’s note: The Miracle Valley incident cited in this comment in which sheriff’s deputies were involved in a shooting incident occurred in 1982 and has no connection to the current property owners.

 

The United States is funding and in many cases arming the three ethnic factions in Iraq — the Kurds, the Shiites and the Sunni Arabs. These factions rule over partitioned patches of Iraqi territory and brutally purge rival ethnic groups from their midst. Iraq no longer exists as a unified state. It is a series of heavily armed fiefdoms run by thugs, gangs, militias, radical Islamists and warlords who are often paid wages of $300 a month by the U.S. military. Iraq is Yugoslavia before the storm. It is a caldron of weapons, lawlessness, hate and criminality that is destined to implode. And the current U.S. policy, born of desperation and defeat, means that when Iraq goes up, the U.S. military will have to scurry for cover.

President Bush predicted Monday that voters will replace him with a Republican president who will “keep up the fight” in Iraq. “I’m confident we’ll hold the White House in 2008,” Bush told donors at the Republican Governors Association annual dinner, which raised a record $10.6 million for GOP gubernatorial candidates. I would be willing to bet this doesn’t happen. Bush is not being very realistic unless he has figured out how to steal another election and completely bring the nation down. John McCain’s positions on the war, economy, health care, etc. are not realistic either. What are Americans going to have to sacrifice if he has his way on Iraq? Health care? Decent jobs? We can’t do it all, but McCain seems to pretend that we can. Americans are paying attention in this upcoming election. Business as usual isn’t going to cut it. The silent majority has become Democratic. And we aren’t going to be that silent anymore. Bush has dealt a major blow to our country but an even larger blow to the Republican Party.