LETTERS
E Pluribus Unum
I have heard over and over again John Edwards’ speech at the Democratic convention and his call for “One America.”
Are Democratic leaders for “One America” when they divide, classify and value us all differently based on our race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual habits?
Is it “One America” when they call for those of accomplishment and achievement to be punished, resented and disliked for their achievements?
Are we only “One America” when we are subjugated to excessive and onerous regulations requiring us to all act and think the same?
And is it “One America” when we are all hyphenated Americans instead of just Americans?
The party whose political success in the past few decades has been based upon promoting division, envy and resentment between one group of Americans and another cannot now claim to champion “One America.”
John Campbell
Assemblyman
Irvine
Developer GOP
In 1985 or so, Orange County Republican politicians quit being Reagan Republicans and started being Developer Republicans.
Developer Republicans want the opportunity to do the Developer’s work at a higher level where there is more recognition and more money. The county’s future infrastructure needs don’t even get the backseat; they get thrown out the window while speeding through one of the many new developments.
To be effective, Developer Republicans need to be able to lie with a straight face and a pious sound in their voice. They have to make the people feel that if we do not do it the Developer’s way, then our children will have no future, our elderly parents will be over-burdened, our house will drop 80% in value and our businesses will have to move to San Bernardino County.
The Orange County bankruptcy was unpleasant and the San Diego County fires were heartbreaking but there may be a monumental infrastructure failure in our future. People will scratch their heads and wonder, “What the heck happened?”
The simple answer will be, “We got what we deserved because we let the Developers get what they wanted.”
Bill Turner
Costa Mesa
Run, Cheney, Run
Vice President Dick Cheney recently told C-SPAN he cannot envision any circumstance in which he would not run for a second term, saying President Bush has been “very clear he doesn’t want to break up the team.”
Count me in the Bush/Cheney camp on this one.
It appears the drumbeat to replace the vice president has been heard in some quarters. Former New York Sen. Alfonse D’Amato said he believed either Secretary of State Colin Powell or Arizona Senator John McCain would accept the position if it were offered and “that would change politics in America for the better.”
We now know the vice president, in the wake of Sept. 11, spent weeks at the CIA, manipulating documents used by the president, secretary of state and others to prove their case for war before the United Nations, Congress and the American people. That said, since Bush and Cheney together delivered the war in Iraq, t-e-a-m Bush/Cheney clearly should stand for reelection.
The Bush/Cheney ticket has staked its fortune on events in Iraq. It is up to the American electorate to decide if their plan was right or not.
Denny Freidenrich
First Strategies LLC
Laguna Beach
