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On Your Mind is the Herald/Review’s telephone opinion line and is intended as a public forum for our readers. Comments represent the opinions of callers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the newspaper or any specific knowledge that we have. Readers may share their opinions by calling 458-0332, or by e-mail to svhoym@transedge.com or regular mail at 102 Fab Ave., Sierra Vista AZ 85635. Due to the volume of submissions, comments will be limited to 150 words or fewer. Comments are edited. On Your Mind comments regarding the general election will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Oct. 22 and printed on Oct. 27.
Sept. 23
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The Doonesbury comic strip is portraying Sarah Palin as a dim-witted bimbo not to be taken seriously as a legitimate vice presidential candidate. Cartoonist Gary Trudeau is revealing himself to be a blatantly sexist chauvinist pretending to be a liberal humorist. He and others of his ilk would be surprised at how many of us “bitter Americans clinging to our Bibles and guns” respect and admire her.
There is a special category of motorist for whom we must make a provision in Sierra Vista. I recommend we petition the government to provide these drivers special lights and sirens to identify them. I’m speaking of the people whose jobs on the Fort are so important that they need the rest of us to clear space for them. Every day, I see dozens of drivers who must risk their safety, and ours, to get to the main gate 4.2 seconds ahead of everyone else. They are forced by the critical nature of their jobs to weave through traffic, nearly wreck others while rapidly changing lanes, and can’t be expected to be courteous or use such common extras like turn signals. Yes, they must have very important work to be forced to chance hurting themselves and others to get to their jobs.
Recently there was a person who stated they still hadn’t received their stimulus check. After seven months, filing twice, I had complete adversity from the IRS. At the end they stated they were going to deny my claim. I then contacted Gabrielle Giffords’ office and found out that hundreds of people were facing the same circumstance. After talking to her office in less than 10 days, I received my stimulus check even after the IRS said it was going to be denied. Giffords is my kind of congresswoman. She definitely has my vote. God bless her for being such a great gal.
The U.S. taxpayers should not have to pay Wall Street banks or any other companies that have for too long lived like Orwell’s pigs making million dollar salaries and all the gratuities that go along with their positions. What Washington should do is start helping people from the bottom, the middle class, and up to senior citizens and work its way from the bottom up instead of the top down. I and millions of Americans have faced drastic situations in our lifetimes but we have to crawl out from the bottom on our own two feet with help from nobody. Likewise, Wall Street should make it on its own without any form of taxpayer money. This country just can’t afford it.
I guess the Democrats figure that the more these Giffords’ ads they shove down our throats the more likely we’ll vote for her. But her voting record does not correspond to what the ads say she had done. And the Democrat ads about how much money it cost when President Bush came and spoke for Tim Bee, I guess they forgot all the money that was spent when the Obamas and Clintons visited the state. Probably a whole lot more than the measly $100,000 they’re worried about.
I’m an independent and I’m to receive my mail-in ballot right after Oct. 2. I can’t find out any solid information on McCain-Palin. He has only had one press conference since his acceptance speech. Palin has had none and only two interviews. She is as managed by the Republican campaign as a candidate would be in North Korea or some other dictatorship. This situation is too bad in a free press democracy. Ads are just propaganda not facts and I pay them no mind. So, as I have learned a lot about Obama’s platform and I know a lot about Biden’s views, and I know McCain’s past eight-year record. I guess I’ll vote Democratic in two weeks.
Sept. 24
Is the environmental movement being taken over by whacko thinkers? For example, John Davis, the editor of Earth First, has written, “Human beings, as a species, have no more value than slugs” (The Environmentalist’s Little Green Book). David Foreman, writing in Earth First, said: “We advocate biodiversity for biodiversity’s sake. It may take our extinction to set things straight.” and “Phasing out the human race will solve every problem on earth, social and environmental.” (qtd. In “Environmentalists in Outer Space,” The Freeman, March 2008). Dr. Reed F. Noss of The Woodlands Project said: “The collective needs of non-human species must take precedence over the needs and desires of humans.” (qtd. In “Taking Liberty,” Range Magazine, Fall 2005). Human beings have become inferior to non-human species? Truly, whacko!
John McCain’s father died at 70 of an unexpected heart attack. His grandfather died at 61 of an unexpected heart attack. McCain is 72. His heart was stressed for 5 1/2 years as a POW (prisoner of war) and during bouts with melanoma. These are the facts. If you want a President Palin during the next four years, vote for McCain.
I was feeling sorry for Barack Hussein Obama because of his strange mistakes, but now I’m truly alarmed. Today he said the new president would have to contend with the current financial crises in about 40 days. Does he really think the new president takes over immediately after the election? How can he be running for president and not know the inauguration does not take place until January of the next year? His gaffs are becoming a habit. The ignorant statement he made today is right up there with saying he’d been to all 57 states. He’s so confused. We don’t have 57 United States, but it’s common knowledge there are 57 Muslin nations.
Tim Bee must have been living on another planet because in his ads he makes it sound like Gabrielle Giffords had anything to do with the marriage tax. Guess what, folks? That tax was passed in 2003, and Representative Giffords wasn’t even in Congress. If memory serves me right, it was Republican Jim Kolbe who held that seat. Not only that, Congress was Republican-controlled. Wow, another pack of lies from the Republicans.
I must agree with Senator McCain that the nation’s financial crisis is more important than Friday’s campaign debate. I guess if Senator Obama does not agree then he and Senator Biden can have the Friday debate. I’ll even watch.
This is concerning the message on Sept. 5 about smokers in the workplace. I’m a smoker and have been for many years. I can tell you non-smokers in my building take as many breaks as I do if not more. And if I come in nobody even know that I’ve smoked. I’ve been here almost two years and they just found out I smoke. Not everybody who smokes smells like an ashtray. Think about what you say and be careful who you pick on.
A reply to the Sept. 24 OYM, that Barack Obama was only 8 years old when William Ayers was bombing the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, and the NYC police headquarters. Ayers was an indicted terrorist Weather Underground member, who told the New York Times in 2001, immediately after the calamity of 9/11, “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.” According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Obama has worked closely with Ayers on numerous projects over a period of several years, both as a Chicago community organizer and Illinois state senator. Obama worked with Ayers formulating state legislation, as a state senator. Ayers created a foundation and made Obama its CEO. Obama sought Ayers’ public endorsement when he decided to run for state senator and made his public announcement in Ayers’ home. This has all the trappings of a long close alliance between Barack Obama and William Ayers.
I have a question. Where I come from here in Arizona, our newspaper has a similar column to your OYM column, which they print six times a week. Why can’t you do the same thus keeping the content fresh and not a week or two old? Right now I read your paper three times a week only because of that column.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A few years ago, following a readers survey, we developed guidelines for how we would handle On Your Mind. As part of that, we said the column would be published three times a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We have kept to that promise, and we have even added more space than we first were allowing for On Your Mind comments due to the volume of comments. We’ll consider your idea for possible changes in the future.
John McCain has voted “no” on equal pay for women for equal work. He voted “no” on a bill to give some uninsured children health insurance. He is pro-life. Even more radical on the last issue than McCain, Sarah Palin makes no exception for a mother’s health, rape or incest. If you are a woman, think about these stances before you vote.
Last week’s police log was missing from both Saturday and Sunday newspapers. Would you please not forget to include the police log? This gives our neighbors a good way of telling what is happening or not happening in our neighborhood.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We did publish some Sierra Vista police beat in our Sept. 21 edition. It was on Page A13.
In your editorial this morning about the rising cost of electricity, you mention several ways to cut back on electricity use, but you seemed to point out swamp coolers. I just wondered why that was. It seems to me that air conditioning uses a lot more electricity than a swamp cooler does.
It never ceases to amaze me how vitriolic the obviously Republican callers can be. It’s too bad they can’t recognize that a lot of the problems we’re experiencing are because of Congress which has been Republican controlled until 2006. Since then it would appear that this Democrat controlled Congress has done little to help or hurt anyone. If I were new to this country and watched the campaign ads, all that they show me is how mean and nasty people can be and that the truth is something that can be added or deleted at will. Is this what America is supposed to be about? Some example we’re setting for future generations. It’s really, really sick.
The city wants a new band shell. What’s wrong with the one we have already? Why doesn’t the city fix the corner of Fry (Boulevard) and Avenida Escuela first? It’s been like that for more than two years. Fix that corner before you try to do anything else.
I’m wondering with this electricity situation we’re in and with the article in today’s newspaper that said electricity is going to go up again, and another article talking about what the state wants to do with reducing greenhouse emissions and all these regulation, cap-and-trade stuff because of global warming going to take effect; I’m wondering if the average person is going to be able to afford all this stuff. Does the average person realize what all these feel-good things are going to cost? Does anybody really know what would really happen if we didn’t take all these steps to do all this stuff? It’s going to be so expensive. I think we need some questions asked and answered, and not just somebody’s theory but some hard facts.
I always enjoyed reading OYM until the election came along. Now it’s nothing but election, election, election. All we read about is all of the people running for office. I’ll be so glad when the election is over and we can get back to our normal complaints and thank-yous and everything else in OYM.
I think it would be counterproductive for Washington to bail out the banks, the housing industry, and Wall Street. What they need to do is bail out the people in the Gulf states who are hit by hurricanes as well as other areas hurt by tornadoes, etc. What we need to do is take care of people in this country rather than the mercenaries at the top who will continue to bleed America dry.
What good is this green, clean world if nobody can afford to live in it?
Sept. 25
I can describe John McCain’s move to suspend Friday’s debate in one word: “chicken.”
The free-wheeling, unregulated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two housing government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), are the root triggers of the present financial meltdown on Wall Street. The political irony is that Republicans who have controlled the White House for the past eight years are being blamed. The truth is that Democrats have coddled and protected Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from any reform and regulation over these many years. President Bush asked Congress, specifically in 2001, 2002, and 2003, to reform these two huge, unwieldy, and questionable financial giants. Democrats, using the threat of filibuster in the Senate, killed these attempts. Sen. John McCain co-sponsored a reform bill of the two GSEs in 2005, only to have it killed by the threat of Democrat filibuster. In 2008 alone, President Bush tried 17 times, asking the Democrat-controlled Congress for reform of the two GSEs, and met opposition from Democrats.
My wife and I were involved in an automobile accident, and their insurance company refuses to take any liability for their client’s involvement. Because of both parties coverage arbitration is not an option. Estimated damage to our vehicle including towing is around $6,400. Small claims court handles up to $2,500, civil court to $10,000, however, the lawyers contacted so far are not interested in taking the case as there is no serious injury, and vehicle damage under their guidelines is minimal. They will put you in contact with lawyers who will take the case for $5,000 retainer and $250 an hour, so you can see where this is going. Too bad our income isn’t substantial enough to chalk it up to pocket change. Both parties are at fault and we feel it should be resolved equitably. What has happened to humanity and dealing fairly? Help!
Very little has been made public regarding the Tombstone school district 10 percent budget override for the November election. Perhaps this is in hopes the people of the district will be too ignorant to make an informed decision when they go to the polls. The current school board has made two other attempts to push an override through and they never justify a need for doing so. In Jan. 3 members of the board will be replaced with new members. These new members have good ideas and knowledge of what it takes to run a school district. I encourage the people of the Tombstone school district to vote “no” on the budget override and give the new school board members an opportunity to fix the financial problems of the district without levying more taxes on everyone.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Herald/Review plans to run a story about the Tombstone school district budget override proposal on Oct. 4.
This is in reference to the article in today’s newspaper about the police dismissing the report of sexual assault between two 5-year-olds. Five-year-olds don’t just learn how to sexually abuse someone. If you’re not going to prosecute the crime or investigate the crime at least investigate the 5-year-old suspect’s home life because there’s a chance that child may be in danger, may be sexually abused. At least do something to check the welfare of that child.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The original story that was published incorrectly stated why Sierra Vista police did not pursue the sex assault case, and a correction ran the day after the story appeared. According to police, a sex assault did not occur.
Gabrielle Giffords’ ads say she is against wasteful school spending and she supports our military. Yet she voted for the defense-spending bill that has more pork than any other previous bill. In order to get all this pork through 100 amendments were left out which would have supported our military and our retirees. She says she works with anyone including those from the other party. Yet, she has voted with Nancy Pelosi almost every time. She has yet to co-sponsor or co-sign a bill presented by the Republicans.
Tim Bee says he blames Congress for the economic woes that we’re in right now. Now wait a minute. I guess he’s selectively forgotten that Congress has been Republican until the 2006 election, which means they’re the ones that took all the controls off of everything and let these people do what they’ve done. So Mr. Bee, you better start looking at your own party for these problems because the Democrats didn’t do it. They haven’t had time to screw it up. Republicans have for years and years. So blame the Republicans not the Democrats. All you Republicans out here are blaming Democrats for everything whether it’s true or not. As far as Tim Bee, I guess he can’t see what’s what.
I’d like to compliment Trudy Berry, Cochise County school superintendent, on the informational pamphlet that she produced about the special override election. It was very well done, complete, and easy to understand. I think she should continue on as county superintendent. I think she’s the only one of the two who has the qualifications, the experience, and the know-how. She has done a great job and she will get my vote on Nov. 4.
www.procon.org is an excellent Web site for those of you who have access to the Internet to check out the stand of each of the candidates on a multitude of different ideas regarding health care, the war, marriage, etc. It’s a good site to check out what the candidates’ positions are.
I just received my voter information packet, report, and text of the ballot for the Sierra Vista Unified School District of Cochise County made out to “all qualified electors” at my address. It said it’s official election mail. If it’s only for qualified electors at this address and if it’s for people that are qualified to vote, why do they have half of the book in Spanish?
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Why is it wrote on Oct 23, 2008 4:38 PM:
Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion o
Question: What is the ONLY National Guard unit on permanent active duty?
Answer: 49th Missile Defense Battalion o
Question: Who is the Commander in Chief of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion of Alaska National Guard?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska
Question: What U.S. governor is routinely briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counter terrorism?
Answer: Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska
Question: Who has a higher classified security rating than either candidate? Sarah Palin ! "