The Morning Blend
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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. Comments for the week also can be viewed at www.svherald.com, under “Opinions.”
Oct. 7
It is a well-documented fact that George Bush has driven every enterprise he has ever been connected with into the ditch. And now with the help of his henchmen he has done it to the U S of A. Voters, are you paying attention?
What did I learn from the Herald today? On Page A3 I learned that Danny Allen Mason is a she; see top of fourth column. I learned that Jacalin Blue is a he. See Page B2. Please proofread the paper that we pay money to read. The grammar grannies are watching.
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Anyone who really wants to understand how the U.S. got into this financial mess and Obama’s contribution to it should read Diana West’s commentary in today’s issue of the Herald. As usual her clarity of complicated issues was excellent. This is one columnist I hope we never lose.
This is in reference to the letter from Gerald Eberwein of Naco, Ariz., who seems to believe it’s a good thing for the Palominas school district to consolidate or make a unified school district. The letter writer is misinformed. There is no requirement for Palominas to be forced to merge with Sierra Vista or any other school district. That’s why it is currently on the ballot now as a choice the voters can make. They can not be forced to consolidate with any school district. It requires a vote of the voters. Eberwein of Naco, how about you leave Naco alone and leave Palominas alone and let those voters decide with the correct information.
To Diana West: Your article on race based social engineering has got to be tongue in cheek, because it is definitely not in touch with reality. So you must be rewritng history again? Your projecting and blaming are on a par with Jonah Goldberg’s liberal fascism. You project all your trashy ugliness on the other side and declare how trashy and ugly it looks and then blame them for it. That’s the problem with conservatives of your ilk; you are full of blame and hate but you have nothing positive to bring to the discussion. Now that’s what adolescents do. Even in conservative Arizona you stink. You are probably a grandma but you still need to grow up.
Senator McCain’s campaign has announced that they plan to “turn the page on the discussion about our economy” and personally attacking Barack Obama. We don’t need to read and listen to McCain’s smear attacks. We need to know how he plans to move our country forward, solve our economic problems, restore our values, create jobs, give us energy independence, reduce our debt, bring down the deficit, improve education for our children and grandchildren, make college affordable, and build international alliances that can reduce nuclear proliferation and lesson global conflict. With all of these issues, McCain chooses to spend his words, time, and campaign dollars attacking his opponent. He believes he can enter the White House through the back door of dirty politics. I guess he knows he can’t get in by telling us where he stands.
Oct. 8
I’d like these former executives with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac who basically lied to the public to reap the rewards of their thievery. If you are a taxpayer, if you have a private pension account, if you are expecting a government pension or Social Security, they have stolen from you. We should be paid back. They should take every asset these people have. Let them have $1 million to retire on. That’s more than my wife and I will have. That’s more than we had before they stole from us. They need to pay.
I was glad to see that Calvary Chapel bought the 4.8 acres next to their church. I hope they will build enough parking places for the people attending their service. That is really a mess on Sunday mornings with people parked any place they can find enough space to get part of their car off the road. If this was anything but a church, the police would be there in force writing tickets. Safety should be the consideration there.
The alternative school must have a lot of students to warrant an assistant principal salary about $72,000. If there are a lot of students enrolled there, then some assistant principal positions in the high school can be cut. How about a director with less pay/salary. There are five assistant principals listed for the high school with an enrollment of 2,654 students. This seems excessive for the enrollment. There are 20 people listed on the district school web site staffing that have no assigned duties. I would have like to have one of those types of job. Pay but no assigned work/duties. If action was taken to reduce the excessive administrative staffing at the high school there would be more then enough money freed up for the music, art and P.E. teachers the school board and administrative staff has said would be laid off if the school override is not passed.
Conservative writer for the New York Times, David Brooks spoke frankly about the presidential and vice presidential candidates Monday afternoon, calling Sarah Palin a “fatal cancer to the Republican party” but describing John McCain and Barack Obama as “the two best candidates we’ve had in a long time.” In an interview with The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg at New York’s Le Cirque restaurant to unveil that magazine’s redesign, Brooks decried Palin’s anti-intellectualism and compared her to President Bush in that regard: Palin is a fatal cancer and she has also signaled the end of McCain’s chances. Fatal choice, Mr. McCain.
Talk about cheerleading. How about that Sarah Palin? She can stir ’em up into a frenzy. In regard to Obama, she’s got ’em yellin’ “kill him.” The race card and not even done subtly. Sarah, it ain’t workin’. The economy is in the toilet and she’s slingin’ serious mud. Sarah, wake up and pay attention. It’s the economy stupid.
The slide continues, but these days it’s a mudslide of desperation and deceit — so blatant that McCain strategists announced they were moving to dirty because they can’t compete on the issues. Sad isn’t it? The candidate himself chimed in, promising to take the gloves off in the debate, urged on publicly by his running mate as she threw spitballs at every stop. But last night McCain was something of a paper tiger, reluctant to live down to the pre-debate promise to be the agent of slime, trying to seem presidential but coming across as largely empty on the big issues. He won’t be elected because he has nothing relevant to offer for an economy in meltdown and a nation in fear. His last resort answer isn’t hope, but more fear — of Obama. But Obama persuasively swatted away the lies about tax increases and health care; McCain lost both arguments. McCain/Palin is making Obama look more and more presidential.
Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is the chairman of House Finance Services Committee. Frank has been a member of this committee since 1981. This committee oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which are at the heart of the corrupt mortgage scandal. Frank has been known as a stalwart defender of these two GSEs. On July 3, 1998, the Washington Post reported that Frank, who is openly gay, had a romantic relationship with Herb Moses, a top executive of Fannie Mae, and that Frank referred to Moses as his “spouse” and “lover.” In another Washington Post report, the Post said the two were “still friends” after the breakup. One has to wonder about conflict of interest on both Frank’s and Moses’ part. This question arises. In the current economic crisis the nation is facing, why is the mainstream media quiet on Frank’s close association with Fannie Mae and not calling for his stepping down as chairman?
I have been paying particular attention to the local political candidates’ advertisements and am amazed at content of some. Some content does not reflect proper grammar and some just plain doesn’t make sense. Today I note that a local candidate, who has been listing only women who support him, no men, has listed his wife and his elementary-aged daughter as supporters. I would hope so! But his daughter is not even of voting age and I doubt, at the age of seven or eight, that she has any understanding of the political issues involved. My vote will be cast for those candidates who are serious about their runs for office.
The Sierra Vista high school has an assistant principal (earning a base salary of $73,000 plus more for education) for athletics, plus even harder to believe there is even an athletic director assistant, although there is no athletic director listed on the Web site staffing of the high school. Normal schools, professional sports clubs (i.e. baseball clubs, football, etc.) and universities have one athletics director plus the individual sports coaches. There is no need for an override tax increase. What is needed is cuts in excess personnel who have no role in teaching students.
One OYM reader amazes me when he compared McCain to Obama. Quote: “McCain cannot use a computer. Barack cannot land a jet plane on an aircraft carrier at night.” We are now in the year 2008. I don’t care what McCain’s skills were 40-some years ago. Can he do it today, fly a jet plane? To me, it does not matter. What matters to me in 2008 are the skills and new ideas a president should have. Computer skills rank higher over flying a jet 40 years ago. Obama’s fresh ideas and youthful looks sure beats ideas from the 1960s. As far as being a hero, “Duke” Cunningham the fighter pilot is my hero. He also served about the same time McCain served during the Vietnam War. “Duke” is often shown on the History Channel in dogfights fighting off and scoring against North Vietnamese MIGs.
The current Sierra Vista school district override is for seven years. During the sixth and seventh years of the override, there is a “step down” process where it goes from 10 to 6.6, then 3.3 and finally to zero. This is required by Arizona law. The text of the ballot (Cochise County Schools Superintendent Trudy) Berry sent out plainly states the proposed new override, if passed, will be at 9 percent for seven years. Please explain, Mr. County Attorney, how the county school superintendent is getting away with breaking state law. There is no provision under the law governing overrides that allows an override to run seven years at a set percentage. All overrides must have a “step down” included. How can a voter make an informed decision when the entire question on the ballot is wrong. As the law was not followed, there are ground for a lawsuit and the override vote being declared invalid.
I was shocked when I read the comments of the military wife concerning the Fort Huachuca Thrift Shop. I not only volunteer in the shop, but I shop there, too. The shop is always neat in appearance, except in the summer when we get so much furniture and donations that it is hard to find room for it all. Instead of complaining, why doesn’t the military wife come in and help out? We have great volunteers, and the manager is great, too. She has been there for at least 20 years and has done wonderful things to the shop.
I am a volunteer at the Fort Huachuca Thrift Shop and I would like to comment on the On Your Mind comment about the shop. I have worked there for more than 10 years, along with about 50 other volunteers. Our donations have tripled this summer, and it is all we can do to keep up with the donations. Instead of complaining, why doesn’t this military wife donate some of her time to the shop instead of making ugly comments? The shop does so much good in the military and civilian community. This year they gave 37 $1,000 scholarships to seniors and approximately $37,000 to the military and civilian community. And you want to find fault if some clothes are lying around?
Some things to keep in mind regarding the Sierra Vista public schools budget override. With the elimination of art, music and physical education, the children of Sierra Vista will be cheated out of one instructional hour per day. Along with these cuts, they also will be doing without librarians. The school day would end earlier and many parents would need to make additional arrangements for day care and/or after-school supervision. Rather than punish the children of Sierra Vista, why not vote to pass the override and then begin to go after our state legislators to provide more funding for education. We need to hold our state government accountable and force them to fund more for the children’s education. By eliminating these programs and cutting the school day short, we are setting the children up for failure. So, please, support the budget override for the good of all of us.
Overall, the county school superintendent position appears generally useless. But despite that, we, as voters, must still chose someone for that office. Since the president gets only eight years in office, then so, too, should the county school superintendent. As a Republican, I will be voting for Raul Torrez. From his brochure, it looks like he taught in the classroom for 16 years, so he at least knows what goes on. Electing someone new couldn’t be any worse than the current superintendent Berry. Vote Torrez.
The Southwest Gas franchise question in Sierra Vista is deceiving. Nowhere in the ballot language does it mention it is a tax increase. Vote “no” on it and make the City Council rewrite the proposal with less or no tax increase. When will the rape of the citizens end? Shame on the city. You should at least be honest with the ballot.
In today’s OYM someone wrote in about the post office in Hereford being in bad shape and needing a cleaning. You’re just lucky you don’t live in Bisbee. The Bisbee post office is a wreck and that postmaster doesn’t care either. It’s a federal building but they don’t seem to care. Lately they’ve cut the weeds but they have been growing up higher than a person and the post office itself is filthy. So don’t worry Hereford. Bisbee is just as bad.
We think your sports editor, Matt Hickman, needs some help. He does a terrible job about sports. What about NASCAR? Very little about NASCAR. NASCAR is a very important sport, and he does very poor coverage. And that’s not the only sport, but let’s start on NASCAR. Give Matt some help. He desperately needs help.
I’m glad to see all the fools nationwide voting for Democrats. For too long they have blamed Republicans for everything from natural disasters to teen pregnancy. Four years from now when Democrats control Congress and the presidency and we have no money, no jobs and no future, then you can say, “I made a mistake.”
Why is it that black Americans get a whole month to celebrate? Hispanic Americans get a whole month to celebrate? The Scout says Monday is German American Day. The Irish Americans get St. Paddy’s Day. But then Oriental Americans get a whole month. This is a little bit unfair, that three nationalities get a whole month of gratitude for helping build a better America but two nationalities get one day for helping to build America. I think a German American just as much as an Irish American helped build America. This is wrong and needs to be changed. All nationalities helped to build Americas. Remember we’re called the “melting pot”. So not one nationality should get to celebrate more than another does.
Did anyone else notice that after the presidential debate on the 7th that the candidates and their wives went into the crowd to shake hands and greet people, and Cindy McCain had her hands behind her back and wouldn’t even offer her hand to the “common person?” She probably didn’t want to be soiled. Shows you just how out of touch those two are with America.
I just decided to vote for Obama for one reason — to help the idiots and the sheeple of this country get their just desserts for being stupid enough to vote for him. I want to have him run this country and I want o see it go down the drain. I want it to be just like the Depression in the 1930s. Maybe they’ll be satisfied then.
Oct. 8
Would you please put the crossword puzzle back on the right-hand side of the newspaper? The way it is now, to remove the puzzle to work it, the quarter sheet needs to be torn out to have the puzzle detached. Reverse the comic strip with the puzzle and that would allow easy access to the puzzle for those who want to separate the puzzle from the sheet in order to solve it or work it at a convenient time.
Editor’s note: We’ll take your comment into consideration.
I like the new newspaper format, but I really do not like the new format that you’re using on the TV Guide mostly because you’ve cut out a couple hours in the morning from 6:30 to 8 and that’s when some shows I watch are on. Some of the titles like “Wheel” for “Wheel of Fortune” make it difficult to identify the shows. I hope you can come up with an idea that might rectify that. Keep trying. We appreciate what you’re trying to do to cut down costs.
Editor’s note: Thanks for the comment. Yes, we had to alter the TV grids to fit the new space.
So, John McCain uses the phrase “that one.” What’s next, the “n” word? Can anyone be more disrespectful or condescending that McCain?
So, you come home from a long, hard week at work and your wife says, “I’m pregnant” and everybody’s happy until she says, “But it’s not yours.” But then she says, “But it’s God’s.” So what guy is going to jump for joy about that? Who’s going to believe that? Come on, guys. Your old lady’s pregnant and it’s not yours and you’re going to believe it’s God’s. Think about it.
Looks like the world is almost on the verge of a depression thanks to right-wing Republican hide your head in the sand, don’t pay attention, take care of the fat cat policies. Thank you, George Bush, and your bunch of fat cats, non-caring people.
Poor Senator McCain. Your blood need not run cold when you think of Barack Obama not voting to fund our troops. Your handler, Cindy, used you to spout another McCain half-truth. The facts are Obama didn’t vote for one bill to fund our troops because it had no provision for a timetable to withdraw our troops from Iraq. He is for such a timetable. McCain also voted against a bill to fund our troops because it had a timetable in it and he is opposed to such a timetable. Simple opposite opinions. So relax, Cindy, and next time learn the truth before you go off half-cocked.
Oct. 9
The sickening lesson we have learned in this election year is that the mainline media and press generally have not been honest with the American people. They have avoided any honest research into Barack Obama’s past. Instead, they have falsely created a man who isn’t what he claims to be. Anyone can research the Internet and learn the true facts about Obama. The scary thought is that the smooth-sounding Barack Obama, inexperienced and radical at heart, may be the next president of the United States, now engulfed in a dire economic crisis and two wars. The mainline media and press have betrayed us.
Contrary to all the terrorist claims we, the United States of America has never had to resort to torture to attain the information we need to protect our military forces and the land we love. I will acknowledge one form that is what they refer to constantly. We have issued all prisoners at GITMO a copy of their Holy Book in the language of their countries. Sadly since most of them cannot read the Book I guess they consider that a form of torture. For all of their lives they have had to rely on the words of their War Lords or the crooked mullahs to tell them what their Holy Book says.
I see the Herald has decided to support the school override. Here is why I do not support it. Besides the mismanagement fiasco they just had here are my reasons: Natural gas, water, electricity, garbage fees all went up despite lower use. Food, gasoline and phone now cost more. All have gone up, but not my pay. I must state the property taxes have increased substantially. No, I do not support the school override. I have to live within my budget the needs to also.
Fifty-six or 14? The Oct. 4 Herald article and schedule on the proposed school district override implies the district will loose 56 teachers if the override fails. But the data furnished indicates a loss of 14 teachers. Which is it? The article states this year’s 10 percent override furnishes $3,113,086 and funds 56 teachers and associated classroom supplies, an average cost of $55,591 a teacher ($3,113,086 divided by 56). If an override is not approved, funding drops to a 6.6 percent level; $2,159,650 or 39 teachers ($2,159,650 divided by $55.591). Under the proposed 9 percent override, funding would be $2,915,527 or 53 teachers ($2,915,527 divided by $55,591). A decrease of 14 teachers (53 to 39) between the 9 percent and 6.6 percent funding levels, not the implied 56.
Editor’s note: We suggest you contact the Sierra Vista school district superintendent, Brett Agenbroad, at 515-2700 to discuss this issue further. The district has said that if the override doesn’t occur, it will have to reduce its work force by 56 teachers.
My wife said to me tonight, “If McCain wins this election, the American people are really sick”. And I said, “They are already sick, they re-elected Bush in ’04.”
John McCain has turned his straight talk express into a trash talk disaster. Rather than address America’s problems, he chooses to hurl distasteful accusations at his opponent. All of us have watched his frenetic attempts to de-Americanize his opponent. We have heard him lace his rallies with references to a remote Ayers connection. We have seen him use rabble rousing “Barack Hussein Obama” rhetoric. This is a decision calculated to appeal to our worst instincts. No doubt there are some who will support and even cheer these smears. Those are not the people who care about this country. People who care are alienated by his actions, infuriated at their incendiary nature, and sickened because they come from a once honorable man.
Both of the presidential candidates have said they favor expanding our search for alternative forms of energy. Congress’s quest for alternative energy sources is like an old maid, they will wait their entire life for the right one to come along.
We now know that voter fraud is taking place and that registrations are being made fraudulently. In every case where this occurs it needs to be investigated fully. If people can be found doing it they need to be prosecuted fully. They need to be sentenced fully and then it needs to be broadcast through the media the sentences these people receive. We need to stop voter fraud in this country or this country will fall. It’s just terrible that this seems to be the modus operandi of some groups. ACORN (Association for Community Organizations for Reform Now) seems to feel any method is all right. This is a group that Barack Obama worked for in two capacities, first as a community organizer, then as a lawyer. People in Washington are seeing that this group receives federal money. It should be cut off from any federal funds.
I’d like to comment on some people who have a little bit more money and more stuff than someone else who tends to treat people that they see as inferior to them lower like they’re just a bit better than everybody else. Generally that person you are treating like that has more morals than you do and more education than you do. However you got your money is not important, but don’t act so high and mighty because it will come back to you in ways you never expected.
To the person who commented in OYM about Gabrielle Giffords’ husband being “just an astronaut,” that’s just as dangerous a job as being on the ground in Iraq or Afghanistan. Does the word “Challenger” bring that back to home, guys? He’s putting his life on the line every time he goes up in that space shuttle. It’s just as dangerous, sometimes maybe more so. So don’t make exceptions and pick on Giffords. She’s still right, her husband is the only active-duty military, whether he’s in Iraq or Houston.
What are John and Cindy McCain, Sarah Palin, and their workers trying to do? Get Barack Obama killed by some low-life nut case out there? If something happens to Obama it will be on their hands. But apparently they don’t care or they would stop inciting the violent threats and racial name-calling. A “Muslim” is just a polite way of saying “black” or “negro.” That Lee County, Fla., sheriff is a replica of a Nazi storm trooper which, of course, he wants to be. It’s not Obama’s campaign that’s the dirtiest in history, to quote Cindy McCain’s lie. The McCain campaign is worse — the most dangerous in history. Enough, John. You are better than that.
As a parent of a high school student, I am amazed at how many assistant principals are at the high school. I’ve counted six. So why is the school district going to cut teacher positions and programs if the override doesn’t pass? I can’t believe there isn’t any other alternative.
When reading the override flier you’ll notice the same scare tactics like last time, cutting teachers and art programs. You’ll also notice that not one administrative position is on this list. This alone should be a big warning flag. Why does the administration always threaten to cut teachers positions and programs? Because they are counting on your emotions. Please remember who is educating our children and making the schools a success: the teachers, not the administrators. The administration is there to support teachers not the other way around. I would like the Sierra Vista school district using this newspaper to show its budget. I would like to see every position and program itemized with cost, etc., so the taxpayers can see how the money is spent and where cuts can and should be made. While cuts are necessary especially in these uncertain times they should never be on the classroom level.
Editor’s note: If you’d like to review the district’s budget, it’s available at the district office, 3555 E. Fry Blvd., or you can arrange a meeting with district officials at 515-2700.
Oct. 10
McCain is a man I have long respected and liked, but the man running for president is a different man from the John McCain of two years ago, or eight months ago, or just a few weeks ago. What really clinches the deal though is that a continuation of the Bush era is simply unthinkable. GWB has left this country in shambles. And it doesn’t take an intellectual, an educated person, a doctor, a lawyer or a rocket scientist to figure this one out. The right-wingers want to blame FDR, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton et al. That is such a stretch that it boggles the mind. If it weren’t for racism and bigotry Obama would win by a landslide. And so that is all that remains for McCain to do: call Obama names and distort the truth into another big fat lie.
I have heard little kids whine less than John McCain. But then again he is on the other end of the spectrum — senility. I used to have a lot of respect for McCain, but as soon as he started acting like George W. Bush it died. His campaign has not only been low, nasty, and empty but has been just plain stupid. Almost how to lose the whole darn thing. I hope the old man retires from politics after this debacle. It would be good for him not to mention the rest of us.
McCain and Palin truly are playing with fire. McCain calls for decency in the campaign and then turns around and fans the fires of hate and anger. Racial hate, fear, and anger. Is this what he means by decency and honor; is this what he means by country first? The McCain/Palin crowds are yelling “traitor,” “liar,” “terrorist” and “kill him.” We are in the middle of two wars and the worst economic crisis ever and all we hear is character assassination. McCain have you no decency left? The mask has slipped; beware it doesn’t slip down around your ankles and trip you up. You are really going to hate yourself after this is all over.
There are several revealing lines in the Associated Press (AP) article, “Alaska inquiry finding: Palin abused her governmental power” (Oct. 11) that question the validity of this inquiry: 1. “(Investigator Stephen) Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.” 2. Yet “The nearly 300-page report does not recommend sanctions or a criminal investigation.” (Why not, if Palin really “violated” a statute?) 3. “There was no immediate vote on whether to endorse its findings.” (Why not, if this inquiry is truly reliable and justifiable?) 4. The panel released the report “not without dissension.” 4. A member of the panel, Republican Sen. Gary Stevens, said, “I think there are some problems in this report. I would encourage people to be very cautious, to look at this with a jaundiced (skeptical) eye.” This inquiry has the appearances of a political frame-up - especially releasing its unendorsed findings “not without dissension” three weeks before a presidential election.
As a Christian I am very disappointed in the Rev. John Evans’ comparison of Sarah Barracuda Palin with Esther of the Bible. As a Christian my focus, my devotion belongs to Jesus Christ and not some American meteoric politician, who by the way is falling like a rock. She’s a proven liar (big time) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/04/politics/animal/main4414049.shtml. She is promoting racism, hate, anger, and inciting folks to violence. She is about as low as one can go. Obviously we worship different Gods.
Art in the Park is a great local event. Have the organizers thought about expanding to include Friday? It would be great for retirees and allow Saturday and Sunday for those who work and cannot attend on Friday. Every year getting through the aisles is like trying to swim upstream. In addition, people often stop in the aisles and visit with friends, which is great, but it slows everything even more. Just an idea.
Most people including the people on Social Security only got small raises last year and with the cost of gas going up over $1 gallon and utilities going up an easy 10 percent who can afford to give the school district more money. The Sierra Vista school board when they should have been watching money changed the name of Sierra Vista middle school. When people are losing their jobs they spend money. Buena High did not make the grade on AYP, but was proud about their score. When I went to school if you did not pass you received an F and you didn’t pass. We have a new superintendent of the school district was told if the override passes you will get a bonus for it. It’s time the school board got their house in order and when everything is going correctly then try for an override.
There was insight in the Oct. 10 letter, “Taking on the ‘welfare slave’ mentality.” The idea of citizens losing their self-reliance and individualism and being dependent on government from the cradle to the grave comes to mind every time I hear Barack Obama speak. I agree with the writer. Obama’s policy statements are clearly socialist. Not surprising, if we examine the ideology behind Obama. It’s no secret Obama is an avid admirer and student of Saul Alinsky, a radical socialist Chicago community organizer, who had a disdain for the capitalistic system and advocated a bloodless revolution by the poor. Alinsky wrote “Rules for Radicals.” Obama was hired as a Chicago community organizer by followers of Alinsky. Obama learned, practiced, and taught the radical principles of Alinsky in workshops to other community organizers. The Obama campaign has been a textbook application of “Rules for Radicals.”
Last night I watched a black woman on TV who registers voters who openly admitted she tells voters whom she registers to vote for Barack Obama. This constitutes voter fraud and is blatantly illegal. The voter registration law calls for a person who registers voters to be politically neutral and show no political bias. A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against the Ohio secretary of state to stop voter fraud that is rumored to be widespread in Ohio, a pivotal state in this election. ACORN, to which Barack Obama has paid $800,000 to register voters, is being investigated for voter fraud in 12 states, many of which are pivotal states. Democrats tried unsuccessfully to slip ACORN into the recent $700 billion bailout to receive millions of taxpayer dollars. It is widely known that ACORN works in behalf of Democrats.
I see this morning that the price of crude oil is now less than $80 per barrel. Why is it that when the price of crude oil increases we see a response at the pump within a day yet when prices decrease it takes weeks to implement? Why is that?
Does anyone else have this problem? I have children that go to the Palominas school district and it seems like anytime I have a problem like with any of the bus drivers I supposedly have to call a guy who is the head of the transportation department. He never likes to call me back. He’s supposed to investigate things. He never does anything. Are there any other parents out there that have this same problem? Every time I call over there he never does anything about it. The Sierra Vista school district, I know some parents there and my mom used to work for that district, and if anything happens over there they get right on it. It seems like Palominas has to abide by the same rules and regulations but they’re out in the country and seem to do whatever they want.
Editor’s note: If you haven’t brought your problem to the district’s school board or superintendent, it seems like that might be a good idea.
What a difference in potential first ladies. Cindy McCain, our state mannequin, is out their spewing lies about Obama allowing herself to be used by her husband’s handlers for mischief. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama is on Larry King, calm, forgiving, gracious and unruffled by these attacks, talking about the real problems people fear today in health costs, the economic downturn and war. The choice is clear to me.
This is in reference to the comment in today’s OYM about (Agent Nicholas) Corbett killing the illegal guy from Mexico. We all saw on the video when it first happened that the guy was down on his knees when the officer shot him. There’s no proof that he was a drug smuggler. His family was right there and saw him get shot. How does that family feel? It’s not like illegal people are coming here to cause problems. They’re coming here for a better life, like what we’re supposed to be offering them. Obviously, America is not what it used to be. Everyone hates everyone. It’s getting ridiculous.
Let’s vote for John McCain. Here are some of the figures: Egypt in the U.N. votes against the USA 79 percent of the time. Our taxpayers give Egypt $2 billion per year in foreign aid. Jordan votes against us 70 percent of the time. Our taxpayers give Jordan $192 million in foreign aid each year. Pakistan votes 75 percent of the time against USA in the UN and our taxpayers give over $6 million per year in foreign aid. India votes 80 percent against the USA in the UN and we give $143 million per year in foreign aid. That’s just a small touch. Our money should be spent better than that. I believe McCain will do right about us and taxpayers won’t have to spend money like that to people who mostly don’t like us.
Today you say that you have not cut down the size of the puzzles, but the Sudoku is horrible. It’s really small. I have in my hand the Sept. 18 Sudoku and it is much larger. Trying to put numbers in these things, they’re really small. Come on, have a heart. Please go back to your old format. Please make the puzzles big. I’m sure the crossword people thank you, but how about us Sudoku people? Please make them bigger.
Editor’s note: Thank you for your comment. The size of the Sudoku is slightly smaller than it was, and we don’t foresee the format changing with the current size of the newsprint the Herald/Review is using.
I’m responding to the person who called who was looking for the library employee. I wonder if that person knows he sounds like a stalker?
I never realized how good the Republicans are at living in the past. Maybe that’s why they like John McCain so much. It’s nonsense about Obama and Ayers. Let’s talk about McCain and Charles Keating. Keating hurt a whole lot more people than Ayers ever thought to. Ayers is a tenured professor. He served his time in prison. So what’s your problem Republicans? Let’s start talking about McCain and Keating, because he’s just as crooked as the rest of them.
Oct. 11
Hilarious. Grandfather McCain at 72 years wants to be our president. He flew a fighter jet 40-some years ago while Obama just started elementary school. Hurray for the fighter pilot. Can he do it today? It really doesn’t matter. Being able to fly a jet 40 years ago, does that cancel out so badly needed computer skills in any job? Today, people working at any store or office are required to have such skills. His technical knowledge, his thinking from 40 years ago, remained unchanged, and it shows in every speech he has given.
A couple of weeks ago the Herald ran a full-page story about the art and music departments in our schools. In that article, the teachers stressed how important these subjects were to the students and indicated that the students would lose out on these studies if we, the taxpayers, didn’t vote for the override, thus neatly shifting the burden of responsibility on us. The real burden of responsibility belongs to the school administration and the way they handle their funds. By cutting the unnecessary number of “aides and “assistants,” and by learning to balance a budget, none of these extra studies need to be cut. Please, don’t try to put the burden of guilt on us taxpayers. We have already passed a huge override just a couple of years ago. Hold the school administrators responsible for balancing their budget in a timely manner.
I urge everybody to vote in favor of Prop. 102 unless you want to have what happened up in Connecticut happen here. It could very easily. All it takes is a few activist judges to overthrow the will of the people. Please don’t let it happen in Arizona.
For a fleeting moment last night I caught a glimpse of the old John McCain whom we revered. He made us proud to be Arizonans in 1986. Last evening he rebuked an ignorant supporter of his, a woman who actually thought Obama was an Arab. Sen. McCain told his supporters we need not fear an Obama presidency, that Sen. Obama was a decent family man and a good citizen of the U.S. McCain all but admitted his ads, many of them lies and half-truths, had gone too far. He and Palin have in fact incited the crazies and that is scary.
If you have a house going into foreclosure, do not move out. The mortgage company will send you letters, call you to get out, and even stick a paper on your front door. Do not move out of your house. Stay there. Keep it nice and clean as you are now doing and taking care of it. Pay your utilities. Just don’t pay any more loan payments. Ignore their letters and calls. There are millions of you out there who got “taken.” They cannot physically remove all of you. The mortgage companies then will have to give you all low loan interest rates. They do not want your home; they want your money. All of you that are losing your homes, you will have control of how much interest they will really get. Masses of people doing the same thing will bring the real estate and mortgage companies back to their senses. Stay in your home.
Back in the 1960s we had a similar war going on. Civil unrest was rampant. We had young people understandably upset. Students on our universities were a hotbed of anti-war demonstrators. This was fomented by their socialist teachers. Their heroes were enemies of our country. Our military forces were the enemy in the mind of these socially misdirected students. Now those who did the misdirecting are socially prominent. The former students and their children are offering one of their own as a candidate for president. These former perpetrators of these social crimes against humanity want the facts suppressed as to all the wrongdoers. History has accurately recorded the events that transpired. As I think about these times a song for the time comes to my mind. The name is “The Eve of Destruction.”
Earlier I could not believe the U.N. would allow the North (North Korea) to disable their nuke facility at Yongbon. Now the U.N. is allowing the North to do it again “immediately” without U.N. supervision. Sure they will and re-locate all of it to a new, better, hidden location.
The audacity of that very intellectual young man to think that someone like him in his 40s could lead this country, rev up the down economy and challenge young people to give time and service to their country. The audacity of him thinking his two cute children and his attention-getting, well-educated wife could help garner votes. The audacity of that northern, book-writing senator with the, you know, “religious” question, thinking because he graduated from Harvard and all that he could actually be president of the United States. But I remember JFK well, and he had plenty of “audacity.”
I just retired after 50 years in the work force. I had a good education in parochial schools. I didn’t take music or art in school but enjoy them very much. No job interviewer ever asked me if I liked El Greco or Renoir better in art or if Glenn Miller was better than Bruce Springsteen in music. I feel sorry for art or music teachers or librarians if they lose their positions, but I don’t feel responsible to provide a job for them with my taxes, especially in this economy. I lost a very good job in the oil industry once but did not ask taxpayers to pay more taxes so I was not inconvenienced. I just found another job.
How closely do school administrators check to make sure we are not teaching illegals at our local schools? How much school property is missing from the local school district each year? It’s estimated the average school district has about $80,000 in school property lost per year and administrators say they are just too busy to look it. I have a real problem with my taxes going up to teach students who should not be here and for school property that disappears. Why isn’t the Herald asking these questions?
Oct. 12
Former Democratic President Jimmy Carter has spent many of his post-presidential years traveling the world making sure that elections are fair in remote and obscure countries. We now have election scandals in half our states with ACORN voter registration fraud, and Carter is silent/absent. Instead, he is badmouthing America from foreign countries. He is a major part of the problem. His legacy is becoming more horrendous.
In reading the ballot text for the override, here is what it says: ‘a yes vote will authorize the SV governing board to extend the current override for seven years but with a reduction of the maximum amount to 9 percent of the district’s revenue control limit.” Therefore, what we are voting on is to extend the override seven years, with the two years left on the current override that makes a total of nine years. At 9 percent with no step down in the last two years.
The McCain camp whines and cries like a bunch of little babies. The media keeps pondering what could he possibly do to change the tide? No. 1, he should not have chosen Sarah Palin for his running mate. No. 2, and the big one, he shouldn’t have lined up with GWB on everything from war and politics to his fabulous economic policies that have got all into the largest mess this country has ever been in. McCain has run the foulest, lowest, most hateful and racist campaign in the history of this country and Cindy McCain claims Obama is the one running the dirtiest campaign in American history. Is that breath-taking projection or what? No. 3, we are sick and tired of the smear, hate, character assassination political strategy of the Republican Party. It is backfiring big time. McCain’s timing is great isn’t it? The only thing worse than his timing is his decision making.
I found “Bee, Giffords split on earmarks, not San Pedro,” (Oct. 12), very interesting. Gabrielle Giffords said that Congress “appropriately cut the amount of earmark funding.” I don’t find the $6.6 billion of earmarks, that were unrelated to the defense of our country but attached to the recently passed Defense appropriations bill, all that “appropriate.” Nor do I find, if Tim Bee’s statement is accurate, that Giffords voted for 9,000 of them (earmarks) at a cost of $7.4 billion during her first term in Congress, all that “appropriate.” I do agree with Bee’s position on earmarks: “Projects must stand on their own merits. They must be defendable within the realm of the appropriate federal agency under which they fall.” Giffords defends “transparent” earmarks and she “carefully selects projects.” Sorry, but Giffords is talking from both sides of her mouth as she does on so many issues.
Many Americans are blaming the GOP for the current economic crisis, whereas the Democrat strongholds Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and ACORN are the root causes of this crisis. Voters should beware. A majority Democrat House, a majority 60-member Democrat Senate, and a Democrat president spell a one-party system. Nancy Pelosi then controls all money appropriations legislation which must originate in the House. Harry Reid controls a no-filibuster Senate. Barack Obama becomes a virtual dictator as president. The minority GOP is made totally impotent in the legislative process. Realistically, there is no opposition party. No voice for the interests of millions upon millions of Americans who may not favor the socialistic spending programs, social legislature, or foreign policy of Democrats. Bipartisan government becomes unreal and non-existent. Taxpayers, get ready for Obama’s change. Unparallelled, wholesale corruption stemming from a one-party system.
As a member of the Sierra Vista Car Club, I was very pleased with the large article featuring the 21st Annual Cars in the Park. However, not once was the Sierra Vista Car Club mentioned as the host and organizer of the event. By reading the article, it seems this event just magically happens the second weekend of every October or the city is somehow responsible. SVCC works all year long to organize this event rain or shine, and volunteers spend countless hours before, during and after the event to ensure all participants and spectators enjoy the day. Without the dedication of the members of the Sierra Vista Car Club, this event would cease to exist. A big thanks to all the members and participants who make the event so great.
If anyone is considering voting for Paul Newman for the corporation commission, talk to some of the people in District 2 where he is the current Supervisor. He refuses to return calls and he announced to a packed room at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors that he will not discuss anything with anyone that might come before him to vote on. He claims he wants to keep an open mind when it comes before the board. But then he flailed around asking stupid questions because he had no idea of what was going on. He would definitely not make a good corporation commissioner.
We Americans are sickened by the corporate greed of the stock market. We’ve overlooked the leeches of the oil industry. In the early ’70s they were charging us $13 per barrel for American sweet crude oil. Imported Arab sour crude cost $5 per barrel. They wanted an equal price so they cut production. Imports were limited — a form of protectionism. Sweet crude produced about five times as many products as sour. Our government acquiesced and allowed the increase in price of imports. We only had three or four refineries that could process sour crude so the import products were divided. Prices in imports increased so additional drilling was not necessary. Demand and price caused us to want less imported oil and more domestic production. This is the cause, cost and pain at the pump. Good business, excessive profits. God bless America.
The lending crisis we have right now is due to sub-prime lending according to all the economic experts. Sub-prime lending was fostered by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and pushed by people like (U.S. Rep.) Barney Frank, (U.S.) Sen. (Chris) Dodd and by ACORN, a group that employed Barack Obama. Obama pushed lenders to make sub-prime loans. He received payment from them. He pushed tens of millions of dollars in certain directions. Later ACORN gave him more than $800,000 to start his campaign and asked him to oppose the war. This is a corrupt system. Voting for Obama is voting for the people that caused this economic crisis. Use your brains, people, and not your emotions.
Oct. 13
The Sierra Vista school district is now on another break this one is a Columbus Day break, Oct. 14-18. Seems the children are out of school more then they are in school. The state really did need to implement a law to require a certain number of days and hours to make a school year. If it was up to the “educators,” there would be one day of school, but, of course, they would still get their yearly pay.
So what’s Tim Bee going to do for the nation if he gets elected? Instead of just pure negative attack, why don’t you tell us what you are going to do? There’s no way at all I would vote for a man that’s that negative and only attacks people.
Bob Bland, chairman of the Cochise County Democratic Party recently wrote, and I quote: “As the only member of Congress married to an active duty member of our military, Giffords knows firsthand about the sacrifices our veterans have made.” He also wrote” “understanding the challenges unique to military families -” As a 30-year military retiree I am curious as to how a woman married less than a year to a fairly high ranking military officer can know anything “firsthand” about the “sacrifices” our veterans have made. “Firsthand” means one has actually experienced something. Giffords has “sacrificed” nothing as a new military officer’s wife, and nothing about being such a wife has given her the first clue in “understanding the challenges unique to military families” Just more Democratic lies aimed at sucking in the military vote, but they only leave the veterans of this area laughing at her.
In regard to Al Byrd’s letter to the editor about his “slave mentality” fears surrounding socialism, I would like to make the following few points. Since Byrd is a retired veteran of the military (as am I), he is probably benefiting from the VA’s “socialized medicine.” I do too. In fact, it is one of the best and most efficient medical systems in the country. Most of us are probably products of American “socialized education”. Frankly, those who argue that Democrats are pushing America toward socialism is pure bunk. The politics of name calling will get us nowhere. I guess the only thing we really have to fear is the fear mongers.
Are they not so much fun, and I’m glad to be registered as an Independent since I do not vote for donkeys or elephants. I vote for people.
Looks like the Republicans are prepping themselves for an old-fashioned circular firing squad. I’m sure McCain strategized to be down double digits in the poll at this point in the campaign. I love it when a plan comes together, even if that plan is only indicative of the fact that McCain’s moved to the “denial” stage of grief. Brace yourself, because anger and depression are still to come! About 85 percent of the American news media, musical artists, Hollywood actors and other entertainment luminaries have voted, and will soon vote, Democratic in the presidential election. These shining examples of addiction, divorce, spurious living, plastic surgery, and image worship consistently support and back the Democrat in any race with fierce loyalty. These are tens of thousands mainstream personalities that are in the media every day. They treat morals and values like used tissue and care more about one fur coat than a thousand slain unborn infants.
A candidate may well change his or her position on, say, universal health care or the war in Iraq. But he or she cannot change the fact that he or she is a pathological liar, or a dimwit, or a proud ignoramus. And even in the short run, this must and will tell. And according to former Ronald Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan “Obama seems older in a way,” . “McCain has seemed herky-jerky. Obama has seemed like the older, steadier fellow since the economic crisis began.” McCain has just looked like an old disoriented guy that doesn’t know what to do now or to do next. Great strategist. Is that what we really want?
This weekend’s SVH letter from a “reverend” comparing Sarah Palin to some historical Old Testament Ruth and quoting Malacai, et al, elevating Palin as the new “savior” of our country just goes to show that Sen. Barack Obama is not the only one who’s ever listened to a lunatic minister. Honestly, where are they giving out those pastoral degrees these days? On the back of matchbook covers? Give the Christian mythology a rest and focus on the real issues that face our troubled country. And sorry, but gays getting married ain’t it either. It’s all a smokescreen. Sen. McCain did the first honorable thing in this campaign when he took away the microphone from the “lady” parroting that Obama is an Arab. We need to reclaim this country from the lunatic fringe! I, for one, am looking forward to a new president who actually understands and will defend the Constitution.
Re: “Herald/Review staff takes 9 first-place awards in contest” Congratulations. Well deserved. I do wish you would continue with the financial newspaper on the weekends.
As protest I won’t be a participant in the new recycling debacle. As a former resident of the greater Phoenix area we weren’t charged extra for recycling because it was paid for by the money made off the recyclables. Just another scheme here in Sierra Vista to separate one from his hard earned cash such as this phony school district tax override. Get rid of the non-teaching parasites in the school hierarchy. Tough times are coming and that 37 cents may make a difference of going to bed hungry.
I’d like to give applause to the Sierra Vista Police Department. On Sunday I was over at the Tompkins Park. There was a stray dog that I was able to corral into the small dog cage in the park. I called the police since it was Sunday and they sent Officer Friendly out to come and pick up the dog. Thank you very much. If the owner is out there the dog was white with brown spots and did not have a collar on or a nametag. I hope the dog is OK.
For the caller who thought the vice presidential debate would require Sen. Biden to get a small rug for the back of his head, I would say that was really a comment made in jest. However, to follow up on that, if I had a balding head, I think I would just shave my whole head and keep it nice and shiny. I wonder if he’ll consider that. Men seldom do those things though.
Someone said in OYM today that they were quite disturbed about Gwen Ifill being the moderator at the VP debate and that she should have recused herself because she has a book in process that will be published after the election. I too was concerned about this when I heard about the book. However after watching Gwen and her questions at the debate she was so professional I had no problem. She far exceeded what Lehrer did and Brokaw did most recently. Those two old-timers who have been doing this type of thing for years, they couldn’t control the meeting, their questions were bad, etc. Ifill did a commendable job moderating that debate. Palin chose not to pay any attention to her. So please don’t consider Gwen Ifill a detriment to that process. It was one of the better debates.
A good example of what is in store for America is what is happening in Zimbabwe and Darfur right now if Obama is elected. And Obama will be elected. Why? Because the college students have all been brainwashed and the sheeple in this country don’t care. Obama has a cute name and he is exotic. McCain is an ugly old man. Sarah Palin has a pregnant daughter and she fired a crooked member of her cabinet. But Obama is the first Black man to ever be president although he isn’t really Black. He’s a quarter Arab, a quarter African-Negro and half White with no experience. But he has a catchy little name, he’s cute and he has a great line and he is a Democrat. I hope all of you who vote for him and get him elected will be happy to live in a Third World country.
In today’s newspaper someone is urging Pat Call be retired from his supervisor position. I would remind this person that the alternative is a young man who is barely out of high school, has never done a thing in his life that is worthy of emulation, much less confidence in his abilities to make tough decisions that we have faced and are being greatly exacerbated by the state and federal budget problems. You are really willing to put a kid who has no background, no experience — a high school degree plus a year or so of college? He’s been running for elections three times. Fortunately, he’s lost the other two times. Don’t deceive yourself. If you have a problem with Pat Call, go to Pat Call. He’ll listen.
This is for the caller who believes he alone knows what Sarah Palin’s personal beliefs are. Do you have a direct line to God or is this just a case of personal prophecy? If the latter, can you please let me know when the stock market will reach 14,000 again? I’d really be grateful for that information. Bless your heart.
Oct. 14
Parents of Cove-goers, I have a question for you. Was your child at The Cove on Oct. 11 between 2 and 5 p.m.? Did they later that day or later that week have a bit of “extra money” (around $27) and a gift card to Wal-Mart ($25)? If so, it could be because they searched in the unlocked lockers at The Cove until they found one (or maybe more) that had such an unguarded “prize” for their taking. Yes, my son took his wallet to The Cove. We canceled his library card and tried to see if Wal-Mart could track the gift card. Apparently it can only be done if you know the bar code number. I thought I would try this last hope effort to see if some parent out there would have noticed the extra money situation with their child. My son has hopefully learned his lesson. It would be nice if the perpetrator also was able to learn. Call Matt Wilcox at 458-1897 if you know anything about the missing wallet. And, for those who carry gift cards, write down those bar code numbers just in case.
I believe that many of the very degrading comments in OYM and on TV against Barack Obama are because of his skin color rather than because of his rhetoric. This was quite evident with Martin Luther King when he first started to remonstrate for equality and civil rights. Gov. George Wallace, the police, and the public were strong against Martin Luther King but history proved he was a great man and probably inspired by God to make change for the better for all humanity. I believe something like this is about to take place with Barack Obama. We need change regardless of who the man is.
It’s funny that the media is so concerned about how confrontational McCain supporters have become. Just a few short weeks ago Obama himself told his supporters “I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face.” Considering this comes from a supposed Christian who claims he will unite our country, I don’t think Obama’s supporters should be surprised when McCain supporters reciprocate the aggression.
When you make your political comments, could you please pull your ear from Keith Olbermann’s mouth long enough to have a coherent thought? Would you please share an original, well thought-out idea and stop shouting clichés and pre-programmed tirades? I am sickened by the rabid, chronically devoted MSNBC followers who have no other daily responsibility than to watch Mathews, Olbermann, et al and spew their diatribes in this paper. Please get out more and read a book or find at least one more source for your opinions. Your constant harangues are tiresome, dull, and embarrassing to you. I hear you in restaurants, stores, at the library and other places. I’ve tried to engage a few of you, and have had you yell and project spittle in my face as you repeat MSNBC’s daily propaganda. You think that the louder and more forceful you yell, the more people will agree with you. Have you no integrity and self-discipline?
Barack Obama operates in very dangerous territory when he proposes raising the taxes of households and businesses that earn more than $250,000. Consider that the 500 largest firms in the U.S. dominate our free enterprise economy and control 75 percent of the profit generated in this economy. How these top 500 firms make decisions to use this profit has major consequences for the evolution and health of the U.S. economy. These decisions have tremendous impact on millions of small and medium size firms. Raising taxes on these top 500 firms dampens their business incentive, resulting in less investment and consequently more unemployment. Remember these giant firms employ about 30 percent of all workers in the U.S. The inevitable adverse trickle-down effect flows into the rest of the domestic (and worldwide) business community, slowing down business overall and causing further unemployment. This deepens our present recession caused by the Washington bailouts.
Democrats have fleeced taxpayers of billions of dollars in pork barrel earmarks slipped into legislative bills without scrutiny. Gabrielle Giffords calls these earmarks OK because they are “transparent.” Following her line of reasoning, it’s perfectly legal for Joe Smith to rob a bank, as long as we know Joe Smith did it. Debating openly the merits of an earmark is unnecessary in Giffords’ eyes. Now we learn Barack Obama had close connections with ACORN, deeply involved in the bailout crisis and being investigated in 13 states for voter registration fraud. Obama paid ACORN $800,000 to register voters, worked for ACORN as a lawyer, and trained ACORN workers as a community organizer. The mainstream media is sile
Sick wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:23 AM: