Impeaching
the presidentRepublicans stage a 'disgusting' show
The first president I voted for was Richard Nixon. The result of that presidency damaged any positive feeling that I may have had for the presidency, national politics or the Republican Party.Jimmy Carter's presidency almost restored my respect for the political system. His defeat demonstrated that there clearly exists a stratification of power in the hallowed halls of Washington, D.C. There are insiders and outsiders. The insiders make policy and law, make the appropriations and care little for the outsiders who put them in office.
I view the shenanigans in Washington with total disgust. Let's watch these morons spend another 20 million of our tax dollars trying to impeach this very popular president. Let's watch these fools tie up the country for another six to nine months to impeach Bill Clinton -- for what?
Perjury? Lying? Encouraging others to lie? Sounds like a political campaign. And lying about what? Sex between consenting adults? I thought that a gentleman never tells. Abuse and misuse of power? President Clinton allegedly (and stupidly) used his office to cover up an innocuous (and stupid) indiscretion. It's not like he was trying to sell drugs for arms to circumvent a federal law.
Let's watch them lose the case for impeachment in court, then get rid of them all. No more incumbents.
Charles M. Ka'ai'ai
Kailua
(Via the Internet)
Pentagon, others wouldn't collude to save Clinton's skin
You obviously took the bait with your Dec. 17 lead editorial about Clinton and Iraq. GOP leaders like Sen. Trent Lott, who've been working for five or six years to destroy Bill Clinton, put their spin on the most recent attack on Iraq and you took it -- hook, line and sinker.Do you really think that the Pentagon, which is filled with generals and admirals who are anti-Clinton because he avoided service in Vietnam, would conspire with the U.N., Great Britain's prime minister, and the American president and commander-in-chief to help delay the House impeachment proceedings? Gimme a break!
Lott and a handful of other GOP losers say that they don't believe the president, the Pentagon, the U.N., GB, etc. and you believe these antagonists?
Can't you see a spin when it jumps right up in front of you?
Believe what you want about Bill Clinton, but give a little credibility to the 75 percent of Americans who can see through the Trent Lotts of this country. Lott would even destroy our national credibility in his attempt to "get" Clinton.
The president is doing a lot of things right, and it is pretty difficult for some to accept that he is doing a good job and that the common people want him to continue doing so. I suppose you think Clinton's peace efforts in the Middle East were all timed to get the opposing leaders to make very positive public statements about Clinton's efforts, singling him out as the only one who can do what he is doing (Take that, Trent Lott and other would-be leaders!)? Get real!
Lott and his kind don't show any patriotism and are about as un-American as any elected officials in memory.
Keith Haugen
(Via the Internet)Editor's note: The editorial said Clinton had to order the attack.
Case against president is about lying, not sex
In response to Jane Watanabe's Dec. 17 letter, "Great men like Clinton like great sex," I would like to point out that the impending impeachment is not based upon whether he had sex or not. It is based upon the fact, that when questioned about it, in front of a grand jury, he lied profusely.You cannot have a leader who lies under oath, sitting in the chair of president of the United States. How is America to maintain its credibility and reputation here and around the world?
Remember that President Clinton "is" America to most of the world. He is our foremost representative, and his office, along with the vice president, is the only office that all Americans vote on together every four years.
As I said in the past, what he does when his pants are down is between him and God; but what he says when his hand is raised is between him and us.
Rashid Abdullah
(Via the Internet)
Operation Desert Fox needs more appropriate name
Instead of Operation Desert Fox, maybe a more appropriate name for the ongoing operation in Iraq would be Operation Free Willy.Michael Paulley
Kailua
(Via the Internet)
Clinton has history of unabashed deceit
We have been exposed to President Clinton's indiscretions for a while. Unlike what the White House or other apologists may say, "the American people" do not wish to sweep this issue under the rug and just forget it.This president has a chronic history of lying -- from marijuana inhalation to draft-dodging to Jennifer Flowers. He even said that he had not been to a McDonald's, when there was a photo of him in the Star-Bulletin leaving a McDonald's while he was in Hawaii.
He wagged his finger in our faces on TV and said that he didn't have a relationship with "that woman." This president is no longer fit to occupy the highest office in this nation.
No one is above the law. The rich and powerful cannot abuse their power and office to create two systems of justice. If Clinton gets away with this, the justice system will never be the same. We may as well be a banana republic.
Choon James
Laie
City isn't efficient in using tax dollars
I just watched the evening news about the city raising taxes and fees for services to create new revenues, as its budget is reportedly coming up short. Once again, the property owner and poor soul just trying to get to work is being subjected to the city's mistakes.I still have a rubbish receptacle, provided by the city, gathering dust. Property and car registration taxes are reportedly going to be increased. It amazes me that we have to shell out all this money, yet the roads are in such deplorable condition. It's an example of how money is not being spent on the projects we pay for.
If I make a serious mistake at my job, I have to pay for it. I would think Harris and company should be required to do the same.
K. Stevens
(Via the Internet)
A better way to raise money for the city
Jeremy Harris, a very liberal Democrat, is telling us that he needs more money for a number of city projects which most of us think are dumb.Well, Mr. Mayor, instead of putting people out of their homes and onto the streets with higher property taxes, why not impose a tax on beer and other alcoholic beverages? A 50-cent tax on a can of beer and, say, a $16 tax on a bottle of booze would surely give you millions of dollars to play with.
The only down side to this tax is that restaurants and bars would probably feel it, but it isn't any more costly than a rise in property taxes.
And, Mr. Mayor, this would not in any way hinder your run for governor in four years, since the people of Hawaii are gluttons for punishment and will never vote the Democrats out of office.
Bruce Tetreault
Thanksgiving weekend, the start of the holiday season, was a time to share our thankfulness with close friends and those we love. It was a chance to relax and, for many, the happiest time of the year. Holidays aren't peaceful for some families
I took emergency calls that weekend. The part of me that looked forward to the holidays thought it should be quiet. People would be home with their families making Thanksgiving dinner, enjoying the long weekend, watching football. They would be thinking about the next month and a half, preparing for Christmas and the New Year.
Another part of me, the psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist, knew from experience that special holidays are not always quiet or peaceful.
Thanksgiving begins the drinking season. It can also mean open season on spouses and children.
Peaceful holiday weekends can deteriorate into ugly fights. Children, who should look forward to holidays as a special time to be with mom and dad, sometimes live in fear. Will mom become a punching bag again? Will dad get drunk and ruin the holidays one more time?
While some psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, can increase during the holidays, they can be managed if the person gets help. Illness is always disruptive to someone's life and can disrupt family life as well.
Alcoholism and other forms of chemical dependence have a devastating effect on family life. Children grow up dreading holidays. As each holiday season approaches, they are flooded with memories of fear, violence and sadness.
Throughout the years of their adult life, they wish they could go to bed on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and wake up on New Year's Day.
Those of us in the chemical dependency treatment field hope that people with addictions come in for help before the holiday season. The lucky ones do. The lucky families benefit. Unfortunately, we know that once the holidays start, addictive behavior drives the person through the holidays and few people seek treatment until after New Year's.
You know who I'm talking about. This is your family, your brother's or sister's family, your neighbors. You hear the screams, the police cars. Maybe you close your eyes and hope it will stop. You feel as helpless as we do when people who have the disease of addiction refuse to do something about it.
Your holidays can be peaceful. Your family deserves that.
Dr. Gerald McKenna Editor's note: Dr. Gerald McKenna is a psychiatrist and
addiction medicine specialist. He is the medical director of the
Ke Ala Pono Recovery Center, an outpatient chemical
dependency program in Lihue, Kauai.Voters cannot accept campaign deceit
The Dec. 10 article on the censure by the Campaign Spending Commission of Melodie Aduja failed to mention that, in addition to the complaint by Councilman Steve Holmes, two other complaints against the same candidate were also upheld by the commission.One was by Common Cause and the other by a group of 20 Windward citizens. The commission's votes to uphold the three complaints were unanimous.
The complaint filed by 20 Windward citizens represents the first time that voters themselves, not just a candidate or a public interest organization, took issue with campaign ads that distorted the truth and made false accusations.
These types of ads not only hurt and demoralize the candidate being attacked, but also discourage other good people from running for public office.
They increase the chances that we will end up with individuals who, once in office, will continue to have little regard for truth and fairness.
Hopefully, in the future, more voters repulsed by deceitful ads will speak out and insist on stronger sanctions. Ultimately, the power to demand honesty and fairness from those seeking office lies with the voters.
Ursula Retherford
Kailua
Jones' rebuff of Chargers is monumental decision
Congratulations to everyone involved in the selection of June Jones as the University of Hawaii's head football coach. This is a significant new beginning in the annals of UH football history.Jones' decision to leave the San Diego Chargers and come to the University of Hawaii is reminiscent of an event that occurred 62 years ago, when Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Warfield Simpson. A person is on the correct path when, after everything is taken into consideration, a decision is based on true and passionate love.
I believe it would be prudent for university officials to steer the football program on an independent course. And wouldn't it be wonderful if, in the near future, two independent powerhouses, Notre Dame and the University of Hawaii, were to play for the national championship?
Carlino Giampolo
(Via the Internet)
Professor needs lessons about UH football program
After reading the Dec.11 View Point column by Douglas Hilt, a UH professor in the Department of European Languages and Literature who was critical of the importance being placed on UH football, it became crystal clear to me why the following phrase was coined: Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach.Carolyn Tanaka
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)
John Robinson would have been a better pick
I'm confused by the decision to hire June Jones as the next head coach of the Rainbow football team. What was the part of his resume that closed the deal? Was it Jones' losing record as head coach in San Diego, or his abysmal record as head coach in Atlanta?John Robinson was the ideal candidate for the job. He wants to live and eventually retire here. He has a record of turning around failing programs, and has a 108-35 record at USC with one of the toughest schedules in the PAC 10.
If a local connection was so important (as it seems to have been), Athletic Director Hugh Yoshida could have brought in the Lee brothers as assistants to Robinson. Then they could have been groomed for Division I coaching by one of the best until his eventual retirement.
I wish the UH players the best of luck, but feel that they have been cheated of a real chance at success by a short-sighted UH administration.
Trevor Tourtillott
Kapolei
(Via the Internet)
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