Oct. 31

Look ahead with optimism to election

The upcoming election can be Oregon’s finest, as we turn away from the miserable, failed, policies of the Bush era to better times for ALL.

In this spirit, I endorse Jeff Merkley for senator and Barack Obama for president. It is really the Republicans who are the wasteful big-spenders! They really go in for the BIG TICKET items. Health, welfare and education expenditures are but pocket change when compared to what we are blowing away on a misguided war.

It is time for positive changes; time to think about building instead of destroying; time to cherish our Earth, our grandkids, and our future.

Louise Parsons, Corvallis

Electing Merkley will give Obama a strong ally

After looking at Jeff Merkley the man and politician, then taking a closer look at Gordon Smith the man and politician (their lifestyles and values), my choice has become matter of conscience and consciousness.

I want to give what I fervently hope is an Obama-Biden administration its best shot with a filibuster-proof Senate. Beyond that, Merkley’s positions merit support in their own rite, especially compared to Smith’s rubber stamp approach to neo-conservative policies and affiliation with the lifestyles of the rich and heartless —the poorly and willfully uninformed and purely self interested.

Look into it, think about it, and I believe your choice and conscience will be as clear and clean as mine.

John W. Ross, Corvallis

Why Obama won’t be elected

Voters realize that Barack Obama is totally unqualified to be president.

Obama may have degrees from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. But other than that, he hasn’t done much. He has never owned a business, never been partner in a law firm, never tried any important cases and never written any work of legal scholarship. Other than mastering the art of self-promotion by writing one book in 1995 and another in 2006, he hasn’t been much of a shining star.

Obama’s occupation before entering politics was as a “community organizer.” However, by his own admission, this work achieved only “some success,” and nothing worthy of pointing out on his campaign Web site.

He served eight unspectacular years in the Illinois State Senate and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. And in the U.S. Senate, let us not forget, he’s not even considered to be one of the Democratic Party’s legislative leaders. Why then do people believe that he is the “one we have been waiting for”?

He might be considered a larger-than-life rock star, but I don’t think that’s going to translate into votes. I think that sophisticated voters will see through that thin veneer of glamour and vote in the other direction. At the end of the day, it’s the values of the heartland of America (not Hollywood) that define what most voters want in a president, which, by the way, is the most powerful position in the world.

That’s my theory, and I’m sticking to it.

Jeff Limon, Corvallis

G-T should not have ignored historic Obama rally

Recently OPB reported on Obama’s rally that day in St. Louis — the largest political rally in U.S. history; more than 100,000 people attended. (St. Louis police confirmed that estimate.) Sunday morning, I went online and read AP stories about the rally in the L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune. From the articles it sounded like a truly historic event in many ways.

I looked through the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday G-T, but there was no mention. I asked people throughout my workdays “Did you hear about Obama’s rally in St. Louis? 100,000 people there!” Everyone was amazed but hadn’t heard about it except for one co-worker read it in the New York Times.

I know the G-T focuses on local and regional news, but as I read the Tuesday paper I notice two “In Brief” stories: “Senior Charged With Keeping Kids’ Ball” in Blue Ash, Ohio, and “Six Killed in Arson, Stabbing Spree” in Seoul, South Korea.

When Obama spoke in Germany this summer, he drew an unprecedented crowd of 200,000. I only learned about that through a letter to the editor. Now that you only publish letters about the presidential election online, there are even fewer ways for people to find out what’s going on in the race. There’s still so much to learn about the candidates and so little time left.

I appreciate many things about the G-T but would ask for better prioritizing.

Valori George, Corvallis

And now for a little election pun

I’m so ready for this election to happen, but here’s a little light PUNishment while we await the big day. (Please don’t assume that this reflects an endorsement.)

The Democrats are Biden their time, and the Republicans are Pale-in comparison.

Now, get those ballots completed and turned in!

Stephanie Strom, Philomath

McCain’s economic policies are bankrupt

I don’t understand how anyone can still support the failed trickle-down, laissez-faire economic policies touted by John McCain. Aren’t these the policies that brought us the current financial crisis, stagnating working and middle class incomes, increasing unemployment, obscene executive compensation and an immense and widening gap between the wealthy few and the rest of us?

Why do these failed economic policies still resonate politically? How can McCain continue to garner political support for a set of policies that have been shown to be bankrupt? McCain’s economic proposals ignore the current situation, play to greed and have demonstrably not “raised all boats” or “trickled down.”

We all know what trickles down. McCain’s economic policy is a continuation of Bush’s. Haven’t we had enough?

Martin R. Mulford, Corvallis

Thoughtful people will support Sen. Smith

A recent letter urges voters to vote against Sen. Gordon Smith because of his support of farmers in the Klamath Basin water issue. I agree with the writer that Sen. Smith was wrong on that issue. However, in my opinion, he’s been right far more often than wrong in his career. Here are a few examples:

He’s been right on other water issues. For example, working with the Deschutes River Conservancy and the Tumalo Irrigation District to restore Tumalo Creek. This is also an example of his ability to find consensus among competing interests. He’s done similar work on other Oregon water basins.

He’s been right in his work for civil rights. All nine of Oregon’s Indian tribes and tribal confederations have endorsed him. He has sponsored legislation in favor of gay rights despite being severely criticized by many members of his own party. Since the loss of his son due to mental illness he has worked tirelessly to pass legislation to aid others suffering from mental illness.

He was right when he voted against denying Habeas Corpus rights to Guantanamo Bay detainees. I was appalled when Sen. Ron Wyden voted to deny these rights. Nevertheless, I may vote for Sen. Wyden when he runs for re-election. No two people agree on everything. Sen. Smith is a compassionate man and an effective senator. I urge voters to re-elect Senator Smith even if they disagree with him on some issues.

Nancy Mandel, Corvallis

Obama doesn’t show flag enough respect

I am very proud to be an American. We have privileges or freedoms many countries do not have. I spent four years in the U.S. Air Force, during the Vietnam war.

When I think about how great our country is and then look at who may be elected as our next president of the United States, I become very concerned. I am saddened to think that we have one candidate that does not want to salute our national flag. Then to think he could become the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces.

How can he be a commander when he does not know what it is like to ware a military uniform? I know he may have the military advisers, however, he will never have the compassion or knowledge of what it is like to be in the trenches of battle nor what it is like to go through basic training and the discipline it takes to follow orders just because an order is given.

Will he be willing to salute the current commanding officers? Our current military men and women are defending what our national flag stands for and yet one presidential candidate does not respect our flag enough to give reverence of putting his hand on his heart as does the majority of proud Americans.

Now I can’t say his opponent is all I wished for, but he at least knows what our military men and women are going through when in a military conflict outside of our country. He also has respect of the unborn and born children of our nation. I am still proud to be an American and feel privileged to be able to cast a vote for our national readers.

Dan Buster, Albany