Democrats must really be getting desperate
It saddens me to read and watch the desperate attempts of the Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor in detracting Hawaii's populace regarding Linda Lingle's success as governor. From the
bogus headlines used on their TV commercials to
politicizing the earthquake, they illustrate how unqualified these candidates are to lead our state.
Rather than focus on important issues and qualifications as leaders, they choose to attack the governor any way they can. Is it possible they have no leg to stand on, on both counts? Perhaps their prowess can serve us better at a local neighborhood board.
By contrast, we see Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, whose professionalism and dignity stood strong in his community's hour of need. We need more Democratic leaders like Mayor Kim.
Ernesto Jose
Honolulu
Democratic Party has sunk to a new low
Everyone appears to be commenting on what they could/would/should have done following the massive earthquake that rumbled through our lives this past Sunday. While we all experienced some form of fear and frustration, we should all be thankful that we indeed survived this incident. It brought forth changes that will forever affect our lives.
Further, I note that the Democratic candidate for governor is now making remarks that the Lingle administration could/would/should have done a better job (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 19). While I agree that some changes could be made, the question presented to the Democratic Party leaders is, what would THEY have done if we had a Democratic governor in office? And why did they wait some three days to comment and not start blasting our governor the same day as the earthquake?
I am not proud of the way that the Democratic Party treated my candidate for Senate in the primary election. I was appalled at the way Ed Case was shunned by the Democratic Party. I always believed that democracy was about choices and we as voters could make that choice, free and clear from pressures of the party. How wrong I was.
So, this election, I will again vote for Linda Lingle for governor. Why? Because she offers the people of this wonderful state the sound judgment, grace and sincerity far lacking in our Democratic Party. I will cast my votes for candidates based on honesty and what they stand for. I will not vote the party ticket. I urge my fellow voters to do the same.
Gayle Nakama
Honolulu
Thielen won't carry weight in Senate
You make a number of assertions in your endorsement of Cynthia Thielen (
Star-Bulletin, Oct. 18) that I believe are not facts. She may or may not be part of the majority party. Hopefully others across the nation will realize the Republicans have been a "do nothing" Congress and will vote in a party that will move the country in a way that reflects the thinking of the people. As one Republican and a freshmen, she will not be a person who will carry any weight with her own party. Thielen is 70-plus years old. She will not be in the Senate long enough to achieve any meaningful seniority.
Freshmen rarely have any effect on their entrenched parties. Sen. Dan Akaka has seniority, experience and integrity. He is a far better choice to keep as our senator and very possibly he will be a member of the majority -- Democrats. Something must happen to put this country back on the right track. Innocent Americans and iraqis continue to die and there is no policy in place to stop this meaningless loss of life.
Jacqueline Foil
Kailua
Thielen endorsement a breath of fresh air
I was blown away that the editors of the Star-Bulletin have
endorsed Cynthia Thielen for U.S. Senate against Sen. Daniel Akaka. While there are other endorsements on the state level that I don't agree with, I was pleasantly surprised to see this one. Way to go!
Being a Republican, I believe in the ideals of our Founding Fathers, and I support anyone who supports these views as well -- doesn't matter if they are Republican, Democrat, independent or a third party member. I'd also reject anyone who would ignore what these wise men have created for us, regardless of party affiliation (my trust and confidence for President Bush, for example, no longer exists on many issues).
While I am still convinced that the majority of Hawaii's mainstream news media are biased toward the Democrats (who, in my opinion, have been ignoring what the Founding Fathers wanted for our great nation in the last few decades), your endorsement of Thielen was a breath of fresh air. Not because she's a Republican, but because your choice of candidate, to me, seemed to be an educated one. And that's what we need more of today when we go to the voting booths, instead of relying on sound bites and slick commercials and slogans.
Eric J. Seabury
Lima, Peru
Former Hawaii resident
Mandatory drug tests won't protect children
While reading the Star-Bulletin online Monday, I noticed your
reader's poll inquiring whether "public school teachers should be required to take drug tests." As a Hawaii resident who currently is a student in Boston University's master's program for education of the deaf, I was really saddened, not only by the existence of such a question but by the resounding "yes" that appeared as reader response.
Knowing that this poll is precipitated by recent events in Hawaii, I see how people's concerns are heightened at this particular moment. I think it's important however, not to allow one event to blow our views out of proportion. The fact remains that most teachers are not drug users or drug pushers, and mandatory drug tests will not protect us or our children from everything that is out there.
I understand that questions such as drug testing are raised because we worry about our children. But teachers are not criminals. We go into education because we honestly believe we can help children. So please, don't make us feel like criminals by instating mandatory drug tests or fingerprinting. Rather, take the time to know your children's teachers as well as you can. Respect us, so that your children will follow your example and respect us. Help us teach, don't hinder us, and you'll end up with better teachers because of it.
Shaaroni Wong
Allston, Ma. and Honolulu
Test their parents, not their teachers
Maybe they should
drug-test the parents -- they are the ones who have the most direct contact with the kids, the most influence, and they are the ones who model for them. "Monkey see, monkey do." Leave the teachers alone!
Mary Kane
Aiea
Troops' death raise anguished questions
The death of any U.S. serviceman or woman diminishes me. The ultimate sacrifice paid by my fellow Americans tears at my heart. But when a Marine from Marine Corps Base Hawaii or a soldier from Schofield is killed, it hurts immeasurably more, and with it comes a bit of guilt as well. Did I pass this young man at Windward Mall? Did he smile at me as I walked into the Subway on base? Was he the one bodysurfing with his friends at Makapuu? Throwing a football in the parking lot at a University of Hawaii game? Did I have the chance to say "Howzit?" or, more importantly, "Mahalo!"? These are "our guys." They died for us in Hawaii as much as for anywhere else. And I never even said "Thanks!"
Michael Weaver
Kailua
More warning of lane closures would help
I have a suggestion for the people who repair our roads. Why not put up a warning sign a mile or so in advance to notify motorists that a lane will be closed? That would give motorists plenty of time to merge into the lanes that are open. As it is now, the closure happens all of a sudden, with no advance warning. The result is a bottleneck and significant delay.
Ray Graham
Waikiki