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Incumbent should acknowledge his loss

I saw a TV news interview with Garrett Toguchi, who lost his seat on the school board in the last election. Astonishingly, Toguchi said that despite losing he plans to continue as if he is on the board and will use his connections in the Department of Education to influence policy.

Clearly, he needs to be educated about the democratic process. If you're elected, you're in. If you're not elected, you're not in and you've got no business acting as if you have been elected.

Such arrogance and desire to hold onto power would be scary if it weren't so pathetic.

Vanessa Birang

Consumers will gobble up bargain at market

Once again, a big mahalo to Safeway for pricing turkeys so that people can provide for themselves instead of being forced to accept charity.

Caroline Dunn

HIFF should be careful about film selection

While the Hawaii International Film Festival is a great asset to Hawaii, "Jacks or Better" was the first HIFF film that I have ever walked out on. My only regret is that I didn't walk out sooner.

I am a liberal-minded person, but this film went over the edge. It made commercial porn seem like a G-rated home movie. It was about a husband who kills his wife because she wanted to go out with him on his poker night.

If the sponsors of the film festival had known the content of this film, I'm positive they wouldn't have wanted their names flashed on the screen prior to its screening. Three thumbs down.

On a positive note, Roger Ebert's frame-by-frame critique of the Alfred Hitchcock movie, "Vertigo," was awesome. In my opinion, the best of show should have gone to the local short, "Taro Roots," directed by Matt Yamashita. It's about a young Hawaiian man trying to make ends meet who inherits land in Molokai and is excited by the idea of selling it. In the process, he realizes there is more to life than money.

All in all, the film festival is something Hawaiians should be proud of. Let's be careful that one bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch.

Jim Rosen

Pavey shouldn't be commission member

I disagree with your Nov. 13 editorial endorsing Judith Pavey as the Hawaii State Bar Association's choice for a seat on the Judicial Selection Commission (JSC). While I fully agree that women lawyers need to be represented on the JSC, endorsing Pavey because she is a woman is irresponsible.

Greater in importance than gender equity is removing politics from the judicial selection process and Pavey is political. She is the former law partner of Governor Cayetano, and her husband previously held an appointed position in his administration.

Although Pavey's rejection will not curtail the practice of awarding judgeships based on political connections -- since the governor, Senate president and House speaker each choose two JSC members (a deplorable practice which should be abolished) -- her selection would not enhance the public's faith in the judge-picking process.

The JSC must distance itself from the days of the good ol' boys, when Bishop Estate attorney C. Michael Hare was chairman and the Bishop Estate -- with the help of Governor Waihee, who was vying for a Bishop trusteeship himself -- was picking our judges as well as controlling just about everything else in town.

I completely agree that a woman lawyer on the JSC is long overdue, but Pavey isn't the one.

Roy Frank Westlake

Quotables "We need to start an endowment for our long-term goals. But we'll still be pounding the pavement." Kelly Hill CO-FOUNDER OF SISTERS OFFERING SUPPORT BASED IN HONOLULU After the executive director of the nonprofit that helps young women escape lives of prostitution was named "America's Best Young Community Leader" and was awarded $100,000 for her agency "We're a matchmaker. We find a family in need and find a volunteer, and put them together." Reese Williams PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE RIVER OF LIFE MISSION On the Mission Possible project, which began in Nanakuli three months ago and whose aim is to battle hunger in Hawaii

Revote or popular vote is the way to go

The presidency of the United States of America is the most challenging, prestigious, rewarding job on earth. It should not be tenuously, whimsically, haphazardly decided who shall be elected to that eminent position.

So let's go back to square one and have a new presidential election altogether.

For the second round, there should be no campaigning, hype or rhetoric. The two candidates are to stay in the background and let the voting public decide who is to be our next president.

The U.S. Supreme Court might even consider bypassing the Electoral College and abiding by the popular vote majority for this very special election.

T. Ono
Hilo

Gore is embarrassment to his political party

Lifelong Democrats in Hawaii should be ashamed of their candidate and the behavior of their party. Al Gore has promised everything to everybody and cannot hope to accomplish the tasks.

He comes across as a conniving, dishonest and deceitful person --no doubt all behavior learned from the incumbent.

Henry Pundyke Jr.
Kaneohe

Hawaii could decide election in popular vote

It was disheartening that on election day there was a strong possibility that the next president could be declared as early as 3 p.m. Hawaii time. That's three hours before our polling places closed.

We need to elect our country's president by popular vote. Then wouldn't it be great to have the candidates in a dead heat at 3 p.m. and having our state's votes be the deciding factor?

Carol T. Chun

Driving on North Shore is like speedway

My wife and I have taken recent drives to the North Shore to surf, and we can truly say we are more afraid of facing drivers than large North Shore waves.

In every instance, we have seen near misses, discourteous behavior, erratic high-speed lunatics zoom past us and, most recently, we witnessed a horrible accident in which people died.

Drivers, please look at the posted speed-limit signs. They say 55 mph. If you can't follow the limit, you are breaking the law! If you want to speed, please buy a race car and go to the track.

Kenny Ashburn

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