Palin pick exposes Democrats’ fear
Do-nothing Rep. Mazie Hirono's criticism of the McCain VP choice - "Palin brings the same out-of-touch conservative thinking of the past eight years ... nothing maverick about either one of them" -is hilarious
(Star-Bulletin, Aug 30).
Hirono is clearly terrified: presumptive benefits from the carefully staged hoopla of the glitzy Democratic convention evaporated ... in a matter of hours.
Criticizing Palin's "lack of experience" invites risky comparison. This youthful Alaska hockey mom, moose hunter, lifetime NRA member, political reformer and intensely competitive woman - given the sobriquet "Barracuda Sarah" on her high school basketball team - has amassed more executive experience as an elected office holder than Senators Obama, Biden and McCain put together. And in one critical area - energy independence - she is an expert. Some are already calling Gov. Palin a female Teddy Roosevelt.
And she is not the top of the ticket.
By contrast, it is likely Barack Obama's foreign policy OJT, like that of JFK and Jimmy Carter, would be marked by hesitation, hand-wringing, humiliation, retreat and bloody defeat.
Thomas E. Stuart
Kapaau, Hawaii
Choosing Sarah Palin an act of brilliance
John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for his vice president was his one act of brilliance in this campaign, perfectly timed one day after Barack Obama's acceptance speech to draw attention away and dull its effects on all who heard it. It was an ideal political smokescreen, the kind that has worked so well in the past for George Bush and the Republican Party - when taxes are increased or social services are cut to fund war, bring up again those old issues which might never be solved like flag burning, abortion, gay rights or prayer in the schools and hope people forget about the real, immediate issues.
Are citizens so naive? I hope not. I believe that we are an intelligent people, capable of self-government and of making decisions that will help our country prosper. Palin is a remarkable woman and worthy of our respect but let's not lose sight of the issues. If you believe that health care is worth what you pay for it, that poisonous vegetables have nothing to do with environmental pollution and that you have not lost any of your constitutional freedoms in the past eight years, vote Republican!
Ellen Koppenheffer
Honolulu
Dems picked Obama for the wrong reasons
What a night! Only in America. Only in America could an alleged major political party nominate for the highest office someone so lamentably under qualified, solely on the basis of his race. Just how desperate can The Party That Could Not Beat Bush (Twice!) get? Silly question, isn't it?
Christopher G. Boucek
Honolulu
Elected dictators issue bans too freely
Just heard that the County Council of Hawaii Island also banned plastic bags! Do they realize that they are costing the public money by banning plastic bags? Every store has to get rid of their plastic bags and buy paper bags. Of course, they don't worry as they just pass the cost to the consumer.
The Council members are turning into dictators. They are telling the public what to do and what not to do. They ban vacation rentals because a few break the rules. This costs a lot of lost revenue. Now this ban on plastic bags. What next? Paper plates and cups that litter the roadside? Beer? See many bottles litter the side of the road. Maybe soda! See lot of empty soda cans littering the roadside.
This nonsense has to stop! Next thing they will ban riding in the back of trucks. Everyone is complaining of high cost. These Council members just drive up costs and everyone suffers and also it makes shopping very inconvenient. Perhaps we need a change of these current members and to elect more intelligent and understanding people.
Francis K. Ibara
Kahului, Maui
Save our schools - vote for a Con Con
In the emerging global marketplace, any strong economy will be increasingly based on a strong high tech sector. Without a well-educated workforce, Hawaii can expect a bleak future.
Hawaii's public schools are foundering, but it is not for a lack of trying. Many new programs have been implemented, but they have all failed to measurably improve the overall quality of education. The system itself is broken, and it has been broken for a long time.
Hawaii's public school system needs to be completely restructured. But although the Board of Education and the Legislature have the power to reorganize Hawaii's public schools, they have failed to do so. The people need to take matters into their own hands.
A Constitutional Convention can create a new organization for Hawaii's public schools that will enable people to succeed.
Some say that a Con Con would not be worth its cost, which could be as much as $20 million. For the future of Hawaii and for the future of our children, it is worth a thousand times that amount - and more.
Vote in favor of a Con Con in the November general election.
John Kawamoto
Honolulu
Gridlock will get worse without rail system
We want rail! I do not believe that anyone who sits in Honolulu traffic at 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily can be against the proposed rail system.
Four years ago during rush hour it took me 20 minutes to get from Aina Haina to the airport. Now it takes one hour.
There are rail systems in most major cities in the world, such as Portland, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Sydney, Hong Kong, Washington, Amsterdam, Chicago and Paris, just to name a few.
The only reason that there is less traffic in downtown San Francisco is because of BART. And the argument that a rail system will destroy Honolulu's landscape and view is bogus. I personally do not get satisfaction out of watching the freeway turn into a virtual parking lot!
I challenge people to take off their blinders and see the situation for what it is: gridlock on a daily basis, and it is not going to get any better.
Please do not live in denial, vote for rail.
Debra Witteveen
Honolulu