It’s relaxing to vote early and ignore rhetoric
There is a sense of peace that comes with voting early. I looked at campaign stories in the newspaper today and they looked like old news. This is already over. It has been decided. I have cast my vote. There is nothing they can say that will sway me or make me change my mind. I don’t have to get mad at outrageous campaign attacks or responses. I just have to wait for the evening of Nov. 4 when I can put on my partisan hat again and sit on the edge of my seat as the polls close in state after state on the eastern seaboard and the television news puts them up colored red or blue.
There is so much riding on the outcome of this election for our nation and the world. I believe this election is the defining point between who we are as Americans and America, and the discovery that we have evolved into just any other nation. We should be different and stand as an example to others of what they can be if they try hard enough. Two hundred years of work are almost gone in governance for eight years by a C student, and a gentleman’s C student at that. A man who can never admit any mistake or misstep never learns.
So between then and now I can sit back and ignore it. I have voted. I will not forget to vote. It’s done. I find that a very relaxing feeling.
Gary Acevedo, Ronan
Palin not qualified to be a PTA vice president
I would not want Sarah Palin even as my PTA vice president.
Allison Cifelli-Ramsey, Missoula
Media libeling Obama, insulting the public
Regardless of political parties or personal views, a critical responsibility of being a free society is being factual and truthful. The news media bear the greatest responsibility; they are falling down on the job!
Regardless of whom you support for president, the fact is that the Annenberg Foundation and the Annenberg Challenge were funded, endorsed and supported by the late billionaire philanthropist Walter Annenberg, ambassador to Great Britain under President Nixon and frequent advisor to Ronald Reagan and a host of other presidents, both Republican and Democratic.
As Wikipedia details, Annenberg is the same Annenberg on whose foundation (called the Annenberg Challenge) Barack Obama sat with the now-controversial college professor William Ayers. The purpose of the Annenberg Challenge, which Annenberg funded, endorsed and supported, was to seek education reform in key urban cities, including Chicago. Logically, that’s why Barack Obama was tapped as a board member and that’s why he served. End of story. There is no other story here but the media are shamefully fanning the flames of inaccuracies and misinformation.
As George Bush said when Annenburg died in 2002: “Walter Annenberg’s life serves as a shining example of generosity, patriotism and dedication to serving others.”
Truth is freedom and the truth is, Sen. Obama sat on the board of the Annenberg Challenge because he was committed to educational reform in urban public schools. The Annenberg Challenge was Annenberg’s brainchild. To say that this was anything else, to even suggest some terrorist links, is absurd; to allow media of any kind to suggest this is libelous and an insult to free-thinking, decent people who still believe in the goodness of America, regardless of political viewpoints. To suggest anything else is not only dirty politics; it is shameful.
R. Bron, Frenchtown
Will vote for Rehberg, but won’t endorse him
No matter what our political leanings, we all lose if our leaders fail. So, let us all hope or pray, as appropriate, that the rescue of the international financial system will achieve a good end.
I believe the second vote by our U.S. House of Representatives for the “sweetened bailout” will prove the most important congressional vote in our lifetime. It accelerated the erosion of authority from the legislative branch of our constitutional government to the executive branch. This fear-based trend is defined by the creation of the Homeland Security Department, the passage of the Patriot Act, allowing warrantless wiretapping, invading Iraq and the failure of Congress to strategically review the defense budget in keeping with the congressional responsibility to avoid ruinous wars.
The executive branch railroaded Congress into passing this bailout just when we most needed a steady deliberative institution to bring together independent experts to define the problem and devise a proper response.
Congressman Denny Rehberg voted to slow the stampede. Just this once he did the right thing. As a result, as I promised before he cast his vote, I’ll vote for him.
However, this does not mean I endorse Congressman Rehberg. I do not. Two years ago he said (in reference to invading Iraq), “it’s not my job to second-guess the president.” He has voted with President Bush on all of the administration’s major issues. I see the role of a congressperson differently.
As you decide your vote, please consider my candidacy. Our campaign without money requires you to Google “John Driscoll for Congress” for my position on important issues. If you want to communicate to Washington that it’s time for a “separate but equal” Congress, consider me as your message from Montana.
John Driscoll, Helena
Grateful to be asked to sacrifice for our country
I have no idea what deep sacrifice is, though our country is filled with those who have suffered.
Soldiers and others from all walks of life - fireman and policemen, nurses and nuns - who have sacrificed deeply and unconditionally. My father, who spared my brother and sister from telling us his war horrors. My teaching colleague who served in Vietnam. The more than 4,000, now, who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. And all the parents and brothers and sisters and husbands and wives who have had to live and endure a sacrifice that I will never know. I am humbly and sadly grateful.
And now, as an American, it is time for me to consider at least making a minor sacrifice to the greater good of this good nation. As our good nation struggles, the ideas of sacrifice and service are more important to me than whether my taxes will be raised. This planet, for the sake of my grandchildren and their children’s children and the American people much less fortunate than I, are far more important to me than my 401(k) plan and the tax breaks I may or may not receive.
I am grateful for a candidate openly encouraging sacrifice. Heaven knows, it is nothing compared to the sacrifices of thousands and thousands of humble and quiet Americans. But I appreciate I am being asked to sacrifice and serve, to do my own small part, too help strengthen our struggling country.
Jeff Ferderer, Eureka
Phone banks will be set up to stop S. Dakota measure
For the second time in two years, voters in South Dakota will be asked to say yes or no to a measure that would ban almost all abortions in the state.
Initiated Measure 11 looks similar to the extreme South Dakota abortion ban that failed in 2006, but includes the narrow exceptions for rape and incest. Complicated and burdensome, Measure 11 requires women and doctors to follow such cumbersome rules that it could lead to a doctor going to jail for 10 years if she misses a single step in the process.
Planned Parenthood of Montana takes a great interest in helping South Dakota, not only because it is our neighboring state, but because the supporters of Measure 11 hope that it will eventually lead to the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that made abortion safe and legal for American women.
Planned Parenthood of Montana will host volunteer phone banks in Billings, Missoula and Helena the evening of Nov. 3. We will call South Dakota voters and urge them to vote “no” on Measure 11. We stopped Montana’s detrimental anti-choice ballot initiative, CI-100, from getting on the ballot in Montana and now it is time for us to help South Dakota.
If you are interested in helping, please visit our Web site, www.ppamt.org.
Tannis Hargrove, Missoula grassroots organizer,
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana, Missoula
Gutsche committed to protecting Montana
This election year there is an important yet low-profile race on ballots throughout western Montana - the race for District 4 of the Public Service Commission. The PSC is the state body that oversees public utilities in Montana, including municipal water, communications and, perhaps most importantly, our gas and electric supplier - NorthWestern Energy. Think: your power bill.
Fortunately, we have a terrific candidate and consumer advocate in Gail Gutsche. During her eight years representing us in the Montana Legislature (including a term as vice-chair of the House Natural Resource Committee), Gail was a champion for protecting our clean air, water, wildlife and public lands. I’m excited about having Gail on the PSC because she is totally committed to developing our abundant supply of low-cost, renewable energy, continuing her work to protect the last best place for future generations of Montanans.
In contrast, Gail’s opponent in the race, Republican Doug Mood, supported the deregulation of Montana Power Co. as a legislator in the late ’90s - a fiasco that has moved Montana consumers from paying some of the lowest gas and electric rates in the region to some of the highest.
On the PSC, Gail will never put Wall Street profits above the interests of Montana’s energy ratepayers. Please remember all the important races on the ballot on Nov. 4, and especially Gail Gutsche for Public Service Commission.
Janet R. Allison, Missoula
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