Letters to the Editor - 8/11/2006
By: Readers of the North County Times and The Californian | ∞
Stop the water outages
You probably didn't hear about the fact that the seniors at Green Valley Mobile Home Park in Vista did not have water for two days. I feel that this is a serious problem. My mom and dad are in their 70s, and it is a serious health hazard for them to have that happen. They were forced to lug water over from my apartment. And not being able to do the dishes was really bad.
I don't think the city took this problem very seriously. The water just now stopped again. When is this problem going to be fixed? Will they wait until someone dies before they fix it?
MICHAEL KNUTSON
Vista
Let's go back to rationing gas
Is it time to ration gasoline? It worked in WWII. We need independence from the oil cartels. We are in a war on terrorism. We need oil/gasoline. We debate our energy policy while the price of oil/gasoline continues to go up. It's time for ordinary citizens to make some sacrifice on the homefront.
Let's feel some pain in our war on terrorism. I do not feel any pain when I receive a tax break in the middle of this war. Let's do something now at the pump. Institute gas rationing on all of us until our energy needs are solved. We have a model for this program. Let's revive the WWII gasoline rationing program.
DAVID RIDENOUR
BAKER
Oceanside
We already share the burden
In response to the Aug. 5 letter titled, "Traffic burden must be shared," Santa Fe Hills does share in the burden of regional traffic. Commuters divert from Twin Oaks Valley Road down Borden to Las Posas.
As for the wish that we "sleep well at night," many of our residents currently don't. Some don't even sleep in their master bedrooms backing up to Las Posas. There is no golf course to buffer our homes from traffic noise. We should not expand our roadways (Deer Springs and Las Posas) to accommodate more regional traffic. The freeway system is where this traffic belongs, not racing through any of our residential neighborhoods or past any of our elementary schools.
The information that our Mello-Roos obligations have been rescinded is incorrect. The fact is that Santa Fe Hills pays Mello-Roos, along with property taxes twice yearly. Our Mello-Roos funded many amenities that are shared with the community as a whole, such as Las Posas Park and its pool, tennis courts and soccer fields.
I hope that San Marcos can focus on quality of life for all its residents rather than just accommodating an unending stream of regional traffic.
PAM BANCELLS
San Marcos
A gripe with Cox
My gripe is with Cox cable. I have had them since they opened here in Oceanside. They offered various package deals as time went on, with an increase in price, which is OK. My problem is, I don't have digital cable, which is my choice.
What angers me is they are moving channels that I had in my package deal over to digital cable and are not reducing my bill. They say to switch to cable and you will have many more channels. Well, I was satisfied with what I had. Give me that choice. Don't take my channels away and force me to go digital. If you are going to take away channels that I paid for, then reduce my bill. We should get some congressional people involved in this.
ANTONIO ANTONIZIO
Oceanside
Who will pick up the rebuilding tab?
National and local television newscasts are graphically displaying rockets and guided missiles destroying countless structures in both Lebanon and Israel, causing death, injury and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of citizens of both nations.
Hopefully, this carnage will end soon. Whenever this happens the rebuilding will begin, bringing up the question of who will absorb the majority of the cost for this massive undertaking? The House of Representatives recently sent a $21 billion foreign aid measure to the Senate for review and passage. Included in this bill is $2.3 billion to Israel for military aid and $120 million for economic aid. This is free U.S. taxpayer money that has been sent each year in the form of grants for decades.
Locally, a congressman is requesting a U.S. pledge of $10 million to $100 million per month to stabilize and rebuild the region. If enacted, this massive cost would also be a grant that could last for years and is in addition to the foreign aid money.
When watching buildings being destroyed on television and wondering who will absorb the majority of the cost for the certain rebuilding program when truce is finally called, just look in a mirror.
LEON SMITH
Oceanside
Three musketeers are destroying O'side
For the three musketeers in Oceanside City Hall that are bent on destroying Oceanside's future, I want to refer you to the article on the right side of the front page in the July 29 Today's Local News (a freebie) all about Carlsbad's super-great expansion and improvement to their airport.
What a terrific moneymaker that will be, along with the mall, Car Country, five-star luxury hotels, etc., etc. But have no fear, Queen Esther will guarantee the final death blow to the Oceanside airport and plunge that prime land into low-income slum housing come hell or high water. As if our traffic isn't a total disaster now, let's put more unlicensed drivers in uninsured junkers to clog the roads worse.
By all means, you three absolutely must exert all your effort and pull out all stops to squash the trash pilfering. Don't even look at the stolen shopping carts scattered all over town. Do we have our priorities backward?
My admiration is for Mr. Leon J. Page. He puts the dart in the bull's eye every time.
G. CHARLES EVANS
Oceanside
Tough love for Rep. Issa
Our erstwhile Rep. Issa was on the national news last month saying that we needed to give Israel some "tough love." Maybe over 200 Hezbollah rockets a day are not enough to suit him.
As a retired lifelong Republican who is tired of his unsolicited, automatic phone calls, I plan to give him some tough love this November and help bring him home from his perch in D.C.
Darrell Issa needs a reality check.
JESSE FRANK FORD
Fallbrook
Jaka warns of an ugly campaign
Highly effective Vista Unified School District board member Jim Gibson is up for re-election, but he hasn't pulled papers. He has simply said he'll make an announcement soon.
In the Aug. 1 North County Times election article, the potential loss to our community of Gibson's not running becomes clear.
In that article, Gibson talks about accountability, basic education and commitment to parents, while candidate Elizabeth Jaka's only platform is her support for another hugely overbudget school (a school beyond board action).
Jaka, who obviously feels she has the union backing, said, "It's probably going to be one of the ugliest elections we've ever seen." This will be an ugly campaign only if Jaka and the union bosses make it one, as they've done before.
Jaka offers to do nothing except bring divisiveness to the Vista school board.
I'll soon be starting a committee asking the union bosses to stop the brutal tactics they've used for years.
The union bosses' legacy includes the former superintendent, who earns twice as much in retirement as his average pay during his entire term as superintendent.
For the sake of the teachers, students and community, it's time to ask the union to stop interfering.
ROBB SCHEELE
Vista
Criminal defense attorneys serve the system
Doris Lalka's July 30 letter verbally attacked Mary Ellen Attridge's defense of murderer Tito Lopez, as well as one of the young men in the Stephanie Crowe case. She takes issue with some of Ms. Attridge's comments in defending Lopez and, at the same time, defends Richard Tuite as paying for the crime she feels Ms. Attridge's client committed.
Had it not been for Ms. Attridge's tenacity and hard work, the lives of three innocent young men would have been ruined because of sloppy police work and interrogation tactics that were borderline unconstitutional.
Most people hate criminal defense attorneys, but many are dedicated to serving the system and their clients and, let's face it, somebody's got to do it. Ms. Attridge is one of the county's best, and Ms. Lalka should aim her anger at Tito Lopez instead of a woman who could make 10 times more in the private sector than remaining a public servant.
FRANK BODDEN
Carlsbad
Cox monopoly is unacceptable
Cox cable subscribers are forced to pay for channels they do not want in the packages they pay for. I do not understand foreign languages. There are many Spanish-language channels I do not want in my package. I called Cox to see if I could receive alternative channels in my package and I was told this is the way it is and there is no alternative except to cancel my account.
I am going to work to make changes in this issue. The city of Oceanside Telecommunication Advisory Committee meets in September at 8:30 a.m. on the second or third Friday. Call (760) 435-5018, to voice opinion about your Cox service, or to confirm the date to attend the committee meeting to insist you get what you pay for. This monopoly is unacceptable.
DONNA McGINTY
Oceanside
Liberals have high standards
Instead of defending every criticism of Bush, Victor Chabala should interview someone who knows something and write about that (Letters, Aug. 6). Back when Congress was trying to impeach Clinton he could have interviewed a lawyer.
Lawyers on TV at that time said perjury is lying about an item pertinent to the case of law before the court. When sex acts are not pertinent, lies about them aren't prosecuted as perjury.
What has offended many is that Bush does not sound educated: Clinton showed an intellect, which people worldwide respected. Sexual affairs by men of power are not shocking abroad. It's a matter of values. Clinton's "frat party" can be considered a way to develop solutions. Bush's use of a swear word shows his lack of polish, so there was comment.
Clinton had a fiscal surplus. He worked with Israel and Palestine for peace. His press conferences were informative. No war to get a pipeline built.
Clinton's legal avoidance of the draft is irrelevant: At no risk to themselves Bush/Cheney rushed to war and sent middle-class troops to fight. Will the twins volunteer for this fiasco? Liberals have high standards, they just aren't your standards, Mr. Chabala.
ELAINE BARTON
Oceanside
You can't take it
In Aug. 6 letters, Victor Chabala spews about double standards of liberals.
Seems that Victor and many of his party can dish it out still about Clinton some 14 years after he gained office, but can't take any criticism of their Republican president. Having said that, I respect true conservatives who have questioned Bush's judgment, the war, reckless spending and the compromising of our freedoms. If Clinton had yielded these same results we've seen from the Bush administration, I believe he would have been forced out of office from both sides. Clinton never sought an unprovoked war or uttered chicken-hawk lingo like "bring 'em on." Remember again that no one died when Clinton lied. Can you honestly say the same for Bush? How is that for a standard?
ROBERT WATSON
Carlsbad
Radical Islam is a threat to the entire planet
It is strange how a mistake in bombing has led to worldwide condemnation of Israel, yet no such condemnation erupted over the decades of Muslim terrorists using human bombs. As time marches on, Israel is being backed into a corner and the world loses its moral compass. There is no religion on earth that is viable if it believes that self-sacrifice through the use of bombs strapped to the body and the destruction of innocent humans is the way to justify its existence. The United Nations and the U.S. may end up condemning Israel, and the results will be catastrophic, for Israel will unleash its power of survival in the form of nuclear weapons and the Mideast will become a towering nuclear cloud.
If the secular world cannot recognize that radical Islam is a threat to all the planet, then Israel will be the final arbiter in this debate. The result will be worse than any human can comprehend and all will suffer in its stupid decisions. The results will make global warming and gas prices look like non-issues, for there will be no turning back and civilization as we know it will cease to exist.
JOSEPH KRAATZ
Oceanside
Selfish people cause much sadness
There are two kinds of people. One kind lives thoughtlessly, selfishly and carelessly. They throw lit cigarettes from their car window during a heat wave; they dart in and out of traffic on the freeway at 100 mph; they run from the police through a red light, hit a traffic pole and kill themselves. If we're lucky, the selfishness of these people will only hurt themselves, but it rarely ever does. Having witnessed the recent police chase (Highway 76 and Frazee Road on Aug. 2), and having seen the young man kill himself, I can attest to the trauma that he produced in all those who witnessed the tragedy.
I can testify about the sadness of those who mourned around that light pole for several days. I can imagine the sense of loss suffered by his parents. The thoughtless and careless life hurts so many others who just so happen to live in their path.
The other kind of people are thoughtful and caring. These are the people who suffer most at the hands of the selfish because they care enough to pray that the selfish person will find salvation and change. Honestly, it takes a miracle for people to change.
CHRISTOPHER INGRAM
Vista
Israel has used up its free pass
I was only 10 when WWII came to an end and our nation discovered the true barbarism of the Nazis. There was no TV then, and we got our visual news at the movies. You can imagine the feelings U.S. citizens had seeing bulldozers pushing bodies of slaughtered Jews into an open grave ññ one of the reasons the Jews have had a free pass for their actions in the upcoming years.
In 1946 the Jews brought terrorism to the Mideast by blowing up the King David Hotel, killing close to 100; however, the British didn't bomb the Jews and kill civilians. Israel was still allowed to become a nation. In fact, a couple of the planners of that bombing went on to become prime ministers.
With the latest Israel attacks on Palestine and Lebanon I believe the Jews have used up their free pass. I'm totally sick of the Israel lobby having free run of our new organizations using the same BS Bush used in selling the Iraq invasion.
The time has come for Israel to be held responsible for its atrocities like any other nation.
JOE MARTIN
Oceanside
People know what symbols stand for
After reading the "Supremacists appear to be anything but" letter by Gerardo Hernandez (July 28) I soon became angry and appalled. Sure there are people who support the German flags, confederate flags and swastikas to just feel "tough" and "cool" toward their peers, but no one can go around accusing them of not knowing what they stand for.
And assuming that these people didn't pass the high school exit exam is ignorant. Passing the exit exam has nothing to do with knowing what these symbols stand for. The exit exam is based upon eighth-grade math and standard ways of English.
I have my own views and beliefs and I know very well what the symbols stand for and here I have just graduated high school passing the exam. Not passing the exit exam does not automatically make you a white supremacist. I guarantee if any adult of any race were given this test, they would probably fail due to the change in the education system.
Whatever happened to the First Amendment: freedom of speech, expression, religion, press? Why is it such a crime to believe in something these days without people thinking we are bad people who can't pass a simple test? If fathers and sons wear things against terrorism, let them. It's their choice, their freedom of expression. If you want people to make an effort at whites being "supreme," wouldn't you get offended by that, too?
JESSICA MCLEOD
Temecula
Build hospital in Triangle
Let me put it quite simply: The Murrieta (Golden) Triangle should be the home of the new hospital. Forget about building a hospital on Highway 79 South. There's already too much traffic on that side of town. A hospital should be in a location that is central to the entire community, easily accessible, and in a place that won't be bothersome to nearby residents. Build a great big, beautiful, state-of-the-art hospital, with a helipad at the Murrieta Triangle. It's the most logical choice.
WINDY JOHNSON
Temecula
Questions for BP
Tell me, British Petroleum. Tell me why you allowed the Alaska pipeline to accumulate so much sludge that it corroded your pipeline. Tell me, how long will our petroleum supply will be shut down? Tell me, BP, where can I buy reasonably priced fuel to pull my travel trailer on vacation this year? Tell me.
DON PRICE
Temecula
A loophole in support system
We need to implement a change to be able to collect child support from a non-custodial parent who is self-employed. It seems to me that this is a loophole in the system. We need to implement that the child support is ordered to be paid out before any other financial obligations are paid out of the business account. Too often a child is left without because of this loophole. Also, many non-custodial parents are becoming self-employed to avoid their child-support obligations. Just a little letter to the editor to open this discussion.
DORI LOUISE YOUNG
Wildomar
Let us decide what's 'local'
Bravo to Tina Barton (Letters, Aug. 8). I moved here 2 1/2 years ago and subscribed to DirecTV so I could receive "local stations." Little did I know that the FCC has decided to leave the choice of what our local stations are to Nielsen, a private company.
Despite phone calls to everyone involved it seems that even though Temecula is two miles from San Diego County, we are considered part of Los Angeles. There must be lots of big advertising money behind this decision. Why not give us the choice?
STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Temecula
What is the 'right' profit for Big Oil?
John Van Doorn in his recent piece "Gas prices will go up," Aug. 9, displays his acute business acumen in surmising that when diminishing supply of a given product meets increased demand, the price goes up. He also points out that "profits at Big Oil are the obscenity of the age."
Maybe he can just tell us what the "right" profits are for Big Oil or what the "right" price for gas is rather than let the forces of a free market determine that. Profits are large for these companies because they are giant worldwide corporations. The profit margin, as compared with the investment in order to generate that profit, is fairly reasonable and in line with other similar industries. At any rate, Mr. Van Doorn is free to partake of these profits by simply buying stock in Big Oil.
The facts are that a sizable portion of the world oil supply comes from the Middle East and the Middle East is in turmoil; and that growing economies in countries such as India and China are demanding far more resources, such as oil, than previously.
Mr. Van Doorn can now turn his attention to the prices of pharmaceuticals and coffee.
HAL SCHILLINGER
Murrieta
Web Comments
Home sales plunge 31 percent in July
Readers respond to our Aug. 10 story about how sales of single-family houses last month plunged 31 percent from July 2005 and sales of condominiums fell 28 percent during the same time period, continuing a slowdown that has persisted throughout the year.
Pop!
Zen Question: "Quiet! Is this the sound of the bubble popping?"
Sooner or later
About Time: "Of course it was quiet. How long can people be conned into paying for real estate which is considered 70% overvalued according to reliable sources? How long can a market last when less than 10% of the people can afford an average priced home? People have to wake up some time. P.S. To Zen Question, that's hilarious!"
Live to borrow
Tess: "Blame the 'lines of credit' and the easy 'home equity loans' that have gotten people in debt way over the price of their homes. It is extremely expensive to live in San Diego -- never mind housing. Cost of life insurance, cost of health insurance, utilities, etc. You borrow to live. Then the feds up the interest rates. Is anyone making a profit on selling a house?"
Moving on
Pittsburgh: "Pay no attention! There is nothing to see here! Keep on moving, nothing to see here. There is no bubble popping. Rest assured that your one bedroom apartment that you call a condo is still worth $400k."
Don't buy it
ANTHONY: "The falsehood of the real estate market is finally being unmasked and reality is taking it's place. Easy money and low interest rates have created an artificial real restate market, not real economic fundamentals. Real estate agents/brokers are liars!"
Motorcyclists still plague Palomar Mountain residents
Readers respond to our Aug. 10 story about Palomar Mountain residents saying that some Ninja-style motorcycle riders are roaring up and down Palomar Mountain despite a heavy law enforcement effort last year to deter racing.
Few represent all?
RWC: "These Bozos are giving motorcyclists a bad name. Most are everyday good citizens just out to save money and/or have fun. Hopefully, CHP will be able to put a stop to this nonsense."
Don't ruin it for all
Woman: "This is an unfortunate situation and I'd be angry if I lived there and had to endure the disturbances. It's one thing for these people to put their own lives at risk, but they don't seem to recognize the danger they pose to others. However, I doubt there's adequate tax revenue generated in the area to substantiate the purposed extra enforcement measures."
Lame laws
Dave: "If the speed limit isn't set to the 85th percentile, cops can't ticket on it. If they set it to 35 mph, they can't enforce it. Enjoy the state laws."
Step up the penalties
JD: "Speed bumps, stop signs and stiffer penalties (similar to penalties for speeding in construction zones). Force these people out of the mountains by making the roads impassable for their high tech equipment! They do not care about anyone but themselves so make their lives as miserable as possible!"
Oceanside council approves homes on office site
Readers respond to our Aug. 10 story about the City Council deciding to change the use of a 28-acre property in central Oceanside so a developer can build 340 homes on the site originally planned for office buildings.
Five-star job
Randy: "What is the point in having a Planning Commission anyway? To be able to 'up the ante' from the developers appealing the Planning Commission decisions to the City Council? Well, in that case, the Planning Commission is doing a stellar job!"
Makes cents
local resident: "Why don't they just put a park on that land? Oh, sorry, I forgot -- it wouldn't make any money."
Slick hands
Brian: "Planning commission is against it. Staff is against it. Council votes for it? Who's palms were greased?"
You work for us
why did I move here?: "It is so obvious that Ms. Mackin and Mr. Wood are not thinking of the people in our city. Voting to put more houses in an area clearly speaks against what the residents want. Have they forgotten who they are working for? That's US, your constituents, who will not be voting for either of you again. Mackin needs to go back to Oceanside School District, if they will have her back. Wood is just "dead" wood -- he is not an effective leader whatsoever."
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To Windy wrote on Aug 10, 2006 11:28 PM:There IS a hospital in the Golden Triangle. It's called Rancho Springs Medical Center and it's being expanded. Inland Valley Hospital in Wildomar is also being expanded. Both are 8-12 miles from South Temecula. My husband nearly died because he barely made it to Rancho Springs after suffering a heart attack. We need the hospital that Southwest Health Care is building in South Temecula. A growing vibrant city needs a comprehensive care facility. We support the Temecula Medical Center 100%.
Why twice? wrote on Aug 11, 2006 12:24 AM:Joe Martins letter also was in yesterday's letters. His anti-sematic remarks are offensive and a real stretch. Joe Martin's accusation of Israel's attrocities is an insult to the world. They did not start the killing. Their soldiers do not hide behind civilians and they do not fight out of mosques. The very idea there is a quota for atrocitity is insulting. "
MB wrote on Aug 11, 2006 12:31 AM:Hey Brian - Surprise, surprise! Guess who is hosting a fund raiser on Friday 8/11 at the Hungry Huntger for Wood ($250 a plate) and Macken ($30 a plate)? You guessed correctly - the same developer who got the zoning change at last night's council meeting. According to Macken's Political Campaign Statement filed with the city clerk, Macken got between $7K and $10K. Any wonder why Macken voted YES and Wood voted YES for the zoning change. Macken says she is an independent vote and not influenced by the developers. Guess what folks! Wood keeps saying he wants "jobs for Oceanside, money from sales tax, industry to pay for police and fire personal." Well he did neither last night. Oceanside will always be a bedroom community as long as we have a Wood and Macken on the council. Your property taxes will keep going higher and higher each year just to pay for city services. I've lived in a few bedroom communities and the story is always the same - if the city doesn't invest and make room for LOTS industry, then the property tax bill starts to go up and up and up. There comes a point when you won't be able to afford your house because your taxes will be too high. Carlsbad is busting open with loads of land zoned as industrial and building on it to boot. That's smart thinking as the new business with generate jobs, payrolls and REAL ESTATE Taxes. Those folks know how to run a city. Bet their taxes per $1K is less than Oceanside's. Oh well, it's only money - YOUR money...
Hey slick hands wrote on Aug 11, 2006 12:38 AM:On the next item, planning commission voted for it and the council voted againstit. Cut the charade. Lets get rid of the planning commission. This council doesn't need it.
Mike America wrote on Aug 11, 2006 7:47 AM:Guiseppis'out of country? (Yesterday, Plagerist, 4:10 PM.) Where do ya think he went? Cuba, to visit his ailing uncle Fidel? Lebanon, to support Hezbollah. France, for an anti American speaking engagement? North Korea, Iran, maybe him and Cindy are visiting Hugo in Venezuela? No telling. How's he gonna get back, now that he won't be able to bring his cool-aid aboard the plane?
gail wrote on Aug 11, 2006 7:53 AM:Donna & Victor....It's not just the standard cable subscribers that got the shaft from Cox...Not only did they move the tv guide channel but they proceeded to delete at least 10 good premuim channels just to add 3 spanish only channels. Those 3 channels are of no use to me, since I speak only English as should most people in San Diego. It is a total sham that the customer cant order their channels ala carte. I bet if Cox offered this to the public I am sure they would also notice that NO ONE in their right mind would order the spanish channels and they would become obsolete.
WHY TWICE? . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 7:55 AM:.Why re-run yesterdays letters again today? Were there no new letters for today? OOPS!
Where's "G"? wrote on Aug 11, 2006 8:23 AM:Haven't heard from Guiseppi in awhile. My guess is he is in London and in police custody.
Confused wrote on Aug 11, 2006 8:33 AM:Liquid explosives are not, I hope, something that our Homeland Security folks had never heard of. Such a weapon has, after all, been used in a terrorist plane explosion before. So why has this never been attended to until now? Why, now that we have caught actual plotters, is the world suddenly up in arms about it? Did we think that if we didn't talk about liquid explosives, terrorists wouldn't know about them? Why are Republicans (and Lieberman) saying, "see?" about this? How does this plot being exposed translate into Republican votes? The US seems to have had very little to do with the whole thing, it being a GB/Pakistani operation. So what does this have to do with our political parties? And why are Republicans (and Lieberman) linking this to Iraq? I swear, sometimes I feel like I am living in a madhouse!
Randy wrote on Aug 11, 2006 9:06 AM:No more handouts! Vote NO on Tri-City Hospital Bond!!
To Why twice wrote on Aug 11, 2006 9:24 AM:The truth hurts, doesn't it.
Blog editor is asleep . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 9:43 AM:. The blog editor is asleep. These are not today's letters. They are yesterday's letters. What happened to the letters for Aug. 11?
Gas Rations? wrote on Aug 11, 2006 9:52 AM:This isn't Soviet Russia. Let the free market sort things out. I thought the War on Terror was supposed to preserve our freedoms, not take them away.
Ron wrote on Aug 11, 2006 9:53 AM:Ah, the urban legend of the Clinton surplus continues. Those who do not understand how a budget document is prepared continue to repeat this canard. Quickly, a budget is a description of how you intend to spend your money, and also describes your sources of income. "Fudging" of budgets is common to give the illusion of balance, or even surplus. The Clinton surplus canard can be quickly dispatched by going to www.CBO.gov. In Clinton's last years budget, they actually borrowed $63 billion to make the budget work. In business, there are always two budgets, Theoretical, and Actual. Due to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, businesses must comply with generally accepted accounting principals, or honest budgeting. Government, on the other hand, does not. They continue to carry debts "off-budget", which does not comply with Sarbanes-Oxley. Clinton's budget surplus was purely theoretical, what businesses would describe as an intended spending/income statement, and not an true description of what they actually spent.
Answer wrote on Aug 11, 2006 10:11 AM:to Don Price: You act as though you are entitled to go on vacation with your travel trailer and BP owes you "affordable" gas. If you can't afford the high price of gas, here is a solution: stay home this summer.
Repeated letters. . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 10:21 AM:. Not all of todays letters are repeats from yesterday. But we have letters both yesterday and today by Elaine Barton (OK), Joe Martin (OK), Robert Watson and Joseph Kraatz. Raatz! RAATTZZ!! This is not the fault of the blog editor, however.
to NCT editor wrote on Aug 11, 2006 10:53 AM:It'd be a more successful conversational arena if the blog editor refreshed these more than once every few hours.
lee wrote on Aug 11, 2006 11:03 AM:Dear Why Twice. Anti-semetic is anyone that suggests even a microscopic calling to account for Israel. And for sure don't ask Jewish Americans if America or Israel comes first.
to lee wrote on Aug 11, 2006 11:13 AM:a "microscopic calling to account" is what you and others give to Hezbollah. Actually, it's more like non-existent. The demand for Israel's restraint, on the other hand, is colossal. Tell your Hezbollah terrorist buddies to go home, and Israel goes home. Simple as that.
to Mike America wrote on Aug 11, 2006 11:18 AM:Nice post above! Loved it. Poor Guiseppi hasn't been heard from ever since you correctly outed him as a communist.
To Mike America wrote on Aug 11, 2006 12:14 PM:You've learned well from listening to Hate Radio, i.e., Ruch, O'Rilley, Savage, et al. Pick on someone who isn't around to defend himself.
Ron wrote on Aug 11, 2006 12:23 PM:More Clinton legends - Just because you made more money, the economy was better, energy policies existed and there was no failing school policy the Clinton years were not better. Even though every issue the president tackled did not fail it was not better. Everything good about the 90's is just a myth.
And no doubt wrote on Aug 11, 2006 1:39 PM:everything bad about the W years is also just a myth...Ron, that sentence about the 90s tells us more about you than all the long-winded rants you've done put together. They all exist around that one sentence.
Mr. Conservative wrote on Aug 11, 2006 1:48 PM:Ron is right again. Don't forget how Clinton's scandal ruining US morality. Now we have all these gays running around ruining our country.
Gary wrote on Aug 11, 2006 1:50 PM:RE : great big, beautiful, state-of-the-art hospital in the triangle......Oh no! Because it would probably have an Emergency Room, and the Illegals will come!
Awwwww wrote on Aug 11, 2006 1:57 PM:to "to Mike America" (12:14pm), Pick on someone who isn't around to defend himself? Isn't that what Guissepi does on a daily basis to President Bush and any other Republican that he hates? Get over it. BTW, I think Air Amerika (sic) is the new Hate Radio today. The venom that emanates from those shows would make Osama proud. Then again, if right wing radio ratings were that low, they'd probably be angry too.
Shauni wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:20 PM:Ok, subject change. Today's article under Community: Local Theatre Group seeks low-rent in old Children's Museum location. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/08/11/news/community/18_77_798_10_06.txt The Children's Museum was forced to close this June after 11 years in Carlsbad because of the high rent the City of Carlsbad was charging. As a non-profit organization, they were not able to meet the requirement for $3,150.00 per month to the City. Now the City is considering allowing a theater group (no offense to the group, my anger is at the City of Carlsbad) to rent the same place for $1.00 per month, or grant them two years free rent. They say it is because the Theatre Group will bring "more adults to the downtown area at night." Of course the only thing that is open at night is restaurants and bars. And the children don't drink. I see your reasoning. Screw the kids, they don't need a safe and interactive place to play. No more votes for Hall or Sigafoose from this house.
To Micheal wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:27 PM:Why did your elderly parents have to lug water from your house? Why didn't you deliver it to them? You can't boil a sink full of water and do your parents dishes? Plumbing problems happen, I doubt anyone planned a water outage just to inconvience your parents, I am sure they will get it fixed ASAP, in the meantime, get away from the computer, take them some water and do their dishes. Is there nothing you people won't snivel about in the papers?
Guiseppi in Vanuatu - wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:27 PM:. Yes, he is in Vanuata, but not doing volcano research. He has been commissioned by the government to design a new series of stamps of the volcanoes of Vanuatu. We anxiously await his return to blogging at the NC Times.
Angry mother wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:43 PM:I am so angry I could spit nails. I and my four children frequented the Discovery Museum both at the old location in the Village Faire Shopping Center and the new location on State Street. The entrance fee was minimal and the special events, especially the Bubble Festival, were something we all looked forward to. This is a slap in the face to every family in Carlsbad.
Lousy blog site . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:47 PM:. It’s time to face the truth. This is a lousy site for blogging. Totally inconsistent. Blogs sometimes have to be submitted two and three times before they are posted. They are often posted only twice a day, thwarting dynamic interaction. Many of us a convinced there is active ideological censorship on certain days. Yesterday, however, was a good day - quite the exception. Does the NC Times rotate editing between opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, or different ends of the competence spectrum? We often see blogs (with date-time) posted long before others with earlier times. Is homeland in-security inspecting these during this limbo? I normally wait several hours before re-submitting a blog, unless I see others posted after my own was submitted. I have had to submit a blog as often as four times before it is finally posted. What is going on?
Mike America wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:52 PM:Reply to blog 8/11/06, 12:14PM. WOW! Do all those famous people, et al, really think Guiseppes' a commie also?
Ron wrote on Aug 11, 2006 2:57 PM:NOT MINE>>>>>>>Ron wrote on August 11, 2006 12:23 PM:"More Clinton legends - Just because you made more money, the economy was better, energy policies existed and there was no failing school policy the Clinton years were not better. Even though every issue the president tackled did not fail it was not better. Everything good about the 90's is just a myth." ITS the LURKER.....
Where is GUISEPPI? . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:01 PM:… I heard that Guiseppi in on the Island of Tanna in Vanuata doing research on the volcanoes of the island. (submitted Aug. 11, 1:43pm)
Historian wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:09 PM:Regarding the Children's Discovery Museum of North County. It has been my experience that Carlsbad has never really supported the Children's Museum. Museum officials experienced that by having Carlsbad in the name (originally opened it's doors as the Carlsbad Children's Museum)it incurred the misconception that Carlsbad was a financial supporter of the museum. It is a shame that with all of Carlsbad's resources they failed to support an affordable, family-oriented non-profit organization. There be the rub. Non-profit is not in Carlsbad's dictionary.
Only the Left wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:14 PM:Only a left winger or a terrorist sympathizer could post "TERRORIST TURNED PEACEKEEPER" above. He or she refers to Hezbollah as a "valiant band". Hezbollah hides among women and children for protection. They put the "C" in Coward. Only to a left winger or a radical islamist could this be considered valiant and brave. Unbelievable.
Inquiry about Guiseppi . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:35 PM:Inquiry about Guiseppi . .. Is Guiseppi an artist or photographer? Or is he a volcanologist? When is he coming back to his blogging?
ANTI-SEMATIC . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:46 PM:… Blogger Why Twice (12:24AM) accused Joe Martin of anti-sematic [stet.] remarks. Look up the definition of ‘SEMATIC’ = ‘serving as a sign or warning of danger.’ Spelling is very important. You used the wrong word. [submitted 11aug - 1:30pm] [re-submitted 3:44pm]
SHORT SHOTS wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:48 PM:[1]We aim to please. Dear illegal foreign national, we provide bilingual teachers, police, doctors, store clerks, official documents and services, bank accounts, home loans, officials who wink at your illegal status, employers willing to lie and cheat to hire you, & citizen status for your children,. Don't hesitate to tell us if there is anything more we can do for you. [2] If Red means high-security alert, what color should we use for our shamefully open borders? [3] "Promise & pull" is the legislator's version of the old "bait & switch". Promise really, very, absolutely tough border security and then pull the funding. It's been working like a charm for decades and they're still at it. 811347P
Why blog? wrote on Aug 11, 2006 3:57 PM:In response to [Lousy blog site 811247p] Ditto. No consistancy, etc. I think that the NCT may not know what to do with a blog or how to value it, and thus don't staff it. When I called to complain about my posts not being posted, talked with a very nice lady who said she didn't know anything about it. But the problem cleared up for a time. The only other blog I bother with is Beyond Borders. It has exceptional quality of posting comments, immediate posting, but we have to register, so my posts have my full name on them. I don't know if that contributes to the quality of the posts, but the game-playing that goes on in this blog renderes it nearly useless. It may fill time for people who don't have a life, but for the rest of us, it is not worth the time. The overall quality of journalism at the NCT is reflected in this blog. 811357p
To Awwwww wrote on Aug 11, 2006 4:45 PM:I listened to Air America and Michael Savage today and, I've got to say to you Mike America, Savage scared the bageezes out of me with his bible thumping and quotes from the old testament. On Air America at least we got some entertainment with the Ohio Senator. Too much or Ron scares me with his two-dimensional view of the world. To many fanatics out there.
Guided vs. unguided missiles. wrote on Aug 11, 2006 4:45 PM:. .. Israel uses state-of-the art guided missiles and bombs, as they themselves claim, but Hizbollah uses missiles with primitive guidance systems fired randomly upon northern Israel. So the moral question becomes, is it more moral to aim smart bombs at children, or dumb bombs randomly?
A message wrote on Aug 11, 2006 5:00 PM:guess guiseppe is in contact with his flock here in the states. they should give him this message over in Volcanostan: Israel's rollin' again....
to Guided wrote on Aug 11, 2006 5:14 PM:or should I say misguided? Thank God Hezbollah doesn't have their hands on state of the art guided missiles. You can be sure they would specifically target Israeli cities, killing innocents; warnings forbidden. Not Israel's fault the idiots start a war with 1960's era equipment. And by the way, the smart bombs aren't aimed at children. Again, not Israel's fault the idiots hold innocents hostage in order to complete the propaganda photo-op for BBC and al-Jazeera. In order to have a discussion of morals, you first need to recognize the facts.
GI Joe wrote on Aug 11, 2006 5:16 PM:A lot of people miss Guiseppi. When Ron goes off the air, we say pheeew, thank goodness he's gone! Why don't you take a vacation for a week, Ron, to test my theory.
Terrorist became Peacemaker - wrote on Aug 11, 2006 5:30 PM:I found the article by Israeli journalist Uri Avnery referenced at 2:05PM. Why don’t we hear or read this quality journalism in the United States? It give a whole different perspective on the Israel aggression. This is not the message we are hearing from the Bush-Rice-Cheney war machine. You can locate the article with a simple Google entry “Uri Avnery”.
WAR MONGERS . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 6:07 PM:- Bush, for the first time publicly, used the term “Islamic Fascists” yesterday on television, and stirred up a firestorm of controversy around the world. We see the phrase occasionally on this blog. We also have Fascist war mongers in the United States, who praise the valor of dropping “smart bombs” on Lebanese children. Blogger (3:14PM) claims Hizbollah “hides among women and children for protection.” This is Fascist war propaganda, of course. The surviving 1,200 Hizbollah fighters are concentrated in the narrow Bekaah Valley in southern Lebanon, where there are almost no children or civilians any more. It is here Hizbollah make its final valiant stand against the invading Israeli war machine. Even as Israel speaks of a United Nations cease fire agreement, it plans to sabotage and violate any agreement it makes. Just wait and see. The Israeli dilemma is its limited success against the ferocious Hizbollah fighters, so instead it uses its war machine against helpless, innocent civilians in northern Lebanon. This is the real COWARDICE.
Cabbages & kings wrote on Aug 11, 2006 6:21 PM:According to evolutionary theory, our children and grandchildren should be more intelligent than we. So, how has that theory been working out in your household?
Holding of hostages .. wrote on Aug 11, 2006 6:24 PM:Mis-Guided (5:14PM) makes the mistake of raising the question of Hizbollah holding innocent hostages, referring to the abduction of the two Israeli soldiers last month. Mis-guided makes no mention of the 1,100 Lebanese held hostage by Israel for many months. See how insanely irrational is this Israeli war against Lebanon? Israel has now lost over 80 of its soldiers in its war to release two of its soldiers. Negotiations worked in the past and could have worked again, but tyro Israeli PM Olmert had to kill 300 Lebanese children prove his ‘manhood’. This is thesick depravity of war mongers.
R2 wrote on Aug 11, 2006 7:02 PM:For those unhappy with Cox (I am), there is a bill that is being worked on to give telephone companies the capability to provide cable tv service. I do not know the bill number, but can tell you that this bill will allow the consumer to pick and choose which cable company he or she wishes to do business with.
too Funny wrote on Aug 11, 2006 7:22 PM:WAR MONGERS thinks that Hezbollah hiding amongst innocents is "fascist propaganda". Never mind that it is well documented that they not only hide amongst innocents but are masters at staging so as to influence world opinion. Been getting your news from Reuters lately? How's about al-Jazeera? They often refer to Hezbollah as "valiant", don't they? Yep, Bush finally used the term Islamic Fascists, about 5 years late I might add. Does that label hurt your feelings? Maybe CAIR will file a lawsuit against Bush. Hurt feelings are a strong basis for a lawsuit these days.
Israel has used up its free pass wrote on Aug 11, 2006 10:49 PM:I totally agree with Joe Martin, thank you for having to courage to say what many of us are privately saying. I am sick and tired of people calling any PERSONAL opinion, “anti-Semitic, atrocities, nazi” and so forth. These words have outlived their time, this is the 21st century and the world has seen and witnessed many atrocities, and what Israel and the Bush regime are doing is a perfect example of one of these atrocities. Americans have a right to speak up with righteous indignation when human beings particularly children, old women/men and women are slaughtered around the world, race, color, nationality religion or creed should not be used as an excuse for these killings. “EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS VALUABLE” Thank you, JOE MARTIN for your opinion.......
NO justification . wrote on Aug 11, 2006 10:55 PM:… If a child molesters hides in Tel Aviv, is it OK to destroy the city, and all the people in it, because nothing is more despicable than a child molester? If there are terrorists hiding in Washington, is it OK to destroy the city, because ‘it is well documented that they hide amongst innocents’? NOT OK !! Yet this is the perverse logic of ‘too Funny ‘(7:22PM). This was the mind set of the FBI in burning all those children alive in the Koresh commune in the Waco immolation. This is the mindset of the American Fascist movement and of disciple ‘too Funny’: it is OK to nuke a whole city so long as you believe it is believed to be harboring Islamic Fascists. By his logic, San Diego should have been destroyed for harboring two of the 9-11 attackers. IT IS NOT OK to kill innocent people, because enemies are believed to be hiding among them. It is an abominable people who bomb children for any reason, but this reason is especially monstrous. Only psychopathic, sick people kill children for such reason. Their ideology perverts the teachings of Christ and Mohammed that all children are dear to the heart of God. Yet ‘too Funny’ mocks God. He mocks morality. He mocks all that is human.
to-Guided vs. unguided missiles wrote on Aug 11, 2006 11:06 PM: Israel uses state-of-the art guided missiles and bombs, because America and the Bush regime give them to Israel. So I suppose we too are guilty of killing innocent children and women. As "to guided" how interesting that Israel somehow feels that they are the only “chosen” people and only their lives have meaning and you all seam to place a lot of value and emphasis on your lives and disregard the lives of others human beings, how interesting, you need to pluck the rafter out of your eyes before you can see the sty in our eyes.
response to too funny wrote on Aug 11, 2006 11:12 PM:Maybe someone should bring international charges against Israel and Bush for killing innocen women and children don't you think, "to funny." Does killing children fall under your hurt feelings label?
Lieberman’s duplicity. wrote on Aug 12, 2006 1:36 AM: - I read the op-ed piece by Joe Lieberman in the Wall Street Journal back in May. “Watching the reels of pictures from the prison in Iraq was a jarring descent into a world without values or limits or law,” wrote Lieberman. “How could these deeds have been done by soldiers wearing the uniform of this country, which has always proudly defined itself by the values in our Declaration of Independence -- that every man and woman is endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights,” he asked. The duplicity of Lieberman began to show through when he added, “Most Democrats and Republicans, including President Bush and Senator Kerry, agree that we must successfully finish what we have started in Iraq.” Lieberman lied. Lieberman demanded that the United States continue down this perilous and ignominy descent into degeneracy. Kerry emphatically did not. Kerry demanded getting out of this quagmire, Lieberman demanded ‘stay the course.’ The true character of Lieberman became clear with his defense of Rumsfeld: QUOTE “Many argue that we can only rectify the wrongs done in the Iraqi prisons if Secretary Rumsfeld resigns. I disagree. Unless there is clear evidence connecting him to the wrongdoing, it is neither sensible nor fair to force the resignation of the secretary of defense, who clearly retains the confidence of the Commander in Chief, in the midst of a war.” END OF QUOTE. Clear evidence was everywhere connecting Rumsfeld with Abu Ghraib. Yet defenders of Lieberman label him a moderate centrist. Supporting the “Minister of Torture” Rumsfeld is not moderate centrism, and the voters of Connecticut recognized that. Supporting Rumsfeld, Gonzales and Cheney’s policy of torture and depravity is radical, not centrist. I am surprised that Lieberman has not yet removed his WSJ news release from his senate website. I am so proud of the Connecticut Yankees for setting America back on the path of peace.[submitted 11aug - 6:47pm] (submitted again 12 aug - 1:36am)
to No Justification wrote on Aug 12, 2006 6:19 AM:In the midst of your silly child molester analogy, you left out one extremely important detail: The Israeli military gives notice to innocents, urges them to vacate, and does not intentionally target said innocents. I only wish I could say the same for your Hezbollah buddies. to Guided: The Clinton regime also supplied Israel with state of the art guided missiles and bombs, some of which Israel is likely using today. Does this mean Clinton should be tried for war crimes too?
Just Curious wrote on Aug 12, 2006 8:05 AM:Re; "Israel has used up it's free pass", 10:49PM. In a lot of cases I would agree with you. But just for the sake of conversation, how do you feel about people who find racist and xenophobes around every corner and under every rock, as with the illegal alien invasion situation?
to "to No Just" wrote on Aug 12, 2006 10:17 AM:You know, it's not like people everywhere can just put the kids in the SUV and head to a hotel 50 miles away...the world does not live in the suburbs and your average Lebanese is not a soccer mom. But ok, Israel dropped leaflets and said "Get out of your homes, we're gonna bomb the bejeezes out of you". Let's grant you that this makes them better than the very worst. Terrific. Heroic. Noble. That's what we've sunk to: Israel isn't as bad as Hizbollah; US isn't as bad as Saddam. The air is SO clear here on the moral high ground.
to-Just Curious wrote on Aug 12, 2006 11:14 AM:What are you suggesting should we call the Israeli army and give them weapons to exterminate all illegal? Inst this what they are doing in the Middle East? is this what you want? I have to assume that you are white, so what are you doing here? Who invaded who?
Just Curious wrote on Aug 13, 2006 12:02 PM:HUUUH? Have Jerry Springer and MTV been taken off the air? Why are we suddenly getting so many posts from people like, "to just curious 8/12/06,11:14am"
Carol wrote on Aug 15, 2006 1:47 PM:To PAM BANCELL; SHAME ON YOU, a San Marcos School Board member for forwarding lies about Mr. Schall. You of all people should take the time to investigate the TRUTH before e-mailing lies. It is obivous that the person who is pretending to be Mr. Schall on-line does not live in the Twin Oaks Valley neighborhood, or they would know he has 5 school age children. You owe him and his family an apology. Maybe the person writing these lies is actually your neighbor..
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