PUBLIC FORUM PATTER OF LITTLE FEET.For some months now, I've noticed that the tranquillity of lovely Sherman Oaks has been polluted by a horrible squealing squeal v. squealed, squeal·ing, squeals v.intr. 1. To give forth a loud shrill cry or sound. 2. Slang To turn informer; betray an accomplice or secret. v.tr. that I could not identify. Then I realized that the Republican recall rats were on the loose again. I had thought these obnoxious specimens had been sedated and caged in a suitably remote area - the fastnesses of the high Sierras, for instance - but, no, here they were again, trying to peddle their laughable idea that one of their verminous ver·min·ous adj. 1. Of, relating to, or caused by vermin. 2. Infested with vermin. verminous pertaining to, due to, or abounding in worms or in vermin. own should be wedged into the governor's mansion in the place of duly elected Gray Davis. It is impossible to believe Californians will be stupid enough to buy their shoddy goods. - George H. Atkinson
George Henry Atkinson (1819-1889) was an American missionary and educator in what would become the state of Oregon in the United States. Sherman Oaks Can't do business Re ``California is no place of business'' (Viewpoint, May 11): No man's land, liberty or fortune is safe while the California Legislature or Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. is in session. Solution: Do not re-elect re·e·lect also re-e·lect tr.v. re·e·lect·ed, re·e·lect·ing, re·e·lects To elect again. re anyone, and do not elect those who are termed-out to other office. Let them try to find employment in the private sector at anywhere close to the inflated salaries and benefits they were earning while in office. - Gary Schechter Woodland Hills Snowball's chance The Democrats should change their symbol from a mule to a crying baby because it appears that's the only thing they're any good at. Criticizing President Bush for his ``Top Gun-style'' arrival aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Various ships have borne the name Abraham Lincoln, in honor of the 16th President of the United States. In the U.S. Navy
- Greg Garnet Canoga Park Keep looking The George W. Bush administration can't find Osama bin Laden Osama bin Laden: see bin Laden, Osama. , Mullah Mohammed Omar Noun 1. Mullah Mohammed Omar - reclusive Afghanistani politician and leader of the Taliban who imposed a strict interpretation of shariah law on Afghanistan (born in 1960) Mullah Omar , Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (born April 28, 1937, Tikrit, Iraq—died Dec. 30, 2006, Baghdad) President of Iraq (1979–2003). He joined the Ba'th Party in 1957. Following participation in a failed attempt to assassinate Iraqi Pres. and his two sons, weapons of mass destruction Weapons that are capable of a high order of destruction and/or of being used in such a manner as to destroy large numbers of people. Weapons of mass destruction can be high explosives or nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapons, but exclude the means of transporting or , the economy, prescription drugs, jobs or a tax break for the middle class. Even a blind chicken will find some corn now and then. - Jerry Pennington Van Nuys Have they forgotten? The Democrats criticize the president for landing on the aircraft carrier Lincoln to pay homage to our military for a job well done. His visit was well done. Have they forgotten all the numerous landings on our aircraft carriers by the Democratic members of Congress via military helicopters Military helicopters are helicopters used by military forces. They can be found in a variety of roles in diffferent militaries of which the tactical airlift mission is the most common. and their crews? Have they forgotten all the visits (photo-ops) by these same Democrats to Vietnam, Panama, Kuwait, Afghanistan and now Iraq by military aircraft and their crews to see how things are progressing? Have they forgotten that these visits required that they be guarded by dozens of our military personnel for their protection? - Louis Thompson Woodland Hills More righteous Re ``U.S.: Iran a growing nuclear danger'' (May 8): Iran a nuclear danger? Guess Iran is next, right? I wonder if the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. is considered a ``nuclear danger'' to some in other parts of the ``one world.'' Of course we are bigger and more righteous. And we do not have ``weapons of mass destruction'' in any of our arsenals? Duh duh interj. Used to express disdain for something deemed stupid or obvious, especially a self-evident remark. [Imitative of an utterance attributed to slow-witted people.] . Does it not scare anyone to think we just might have some glory-seeking, greedy, power-mad, loose cannons among us here in the United States? - Willow Ross Topanga Still, I worry Well, ``Ol' What, Me Worry'' is at it again. This time he unexpectedly landed his plane on an aircraft carrier. He got out of the cockpit with the same cocksure cock·sure adj. 1. Completely sure; certain. 2. Too sure; overconfident. cock smile reflecting ``What, me worry?'' How does he do it? Maybe I shouldn't worry either. Then again, I do worry - about the economy, unemployment and inflation. But these problems don't affect me, except the cost of gasoline. I'm retired on a reliable retirement program. So maybe I shouldn't worry; yet I seem to be concerned about my children's and grandchildren's financial future. But I've insured investments and earnings that should last into the future. But then again, I won't be here. - Ronald Adler Chatsworth Bill the employers Re ``Immigrants blamed for health care fund drain'' (May 12): If illegal immigrants in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, use $350 million of taxpayer-funded health care dollars meant for U.S. citizens, and immigrant advocates want ID cards from foreign governments to be accepted here to make life easier for illegals, then why not use these foreign ID cards for health care coverage? If a person here illegally wants health care, the person must show a foreign ID card and proof of employment in the United States, with Social Security number, address and employer's name. Health care providers will bill health care costs to their employers. That way, only the folks who employ illegals will be paying their health care costs, and we taxpayers will be relieved of this burden. Sounds like a win-win situation to me. - Annie Caroline Schuler West Hollywood American jobs The big lie: ``They'' say that illegal immigrates take work that Americans won't. That is untrue. In the 1940s and '50s the immigrants did field work. But now you can find them in all areas. They are in warehouses, driving trucks, in construction, gardening. I, along with many others, made a fair living in construction and driving trucks before I worked my way into lower management in distribution. - Don K. Snyder La Canada Free market Re ``Gouging Gouging can be:
It's unfortunate the story quoted the speculations of a ``consumer advocate'' and an employee of a petroleum wholesaler on their personal opinions on the subject, without reporting where those individuals claimed to have obtained their information. The reality is, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the California Energy Commission The California Energy Commission is California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento, the Commission has responsibility for activities that include forecasting future energy needs, promoting energy efficiency through and others, prices rose earlier this year due to purely market forces, primarily because of the high cost of crude oil on the world market and several supply disruptions. Recently, market factors have driven prices down. This is how a free, competitive market works. Do gasoline prices generally tend to be higher in California than in the rest of the country? The EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance, Arlington, VA, www.eia.org) A membership organization founded in 1924 as the Radio Manufacturing Association. It sets standards for consumer products and electronic components. and others say yes. They attribute the difference primarily to the higher cost of our unique state-mandated cleaner-burning gasoline, our isolation from other U.S. sources of product supplies and the fact that Californians pay the third-highest taxes on gasoline in the country - more than 50 cents per gallon. - Joseph Sparano President Western States Petroleum Association USA policy Re ``What about Syria?'' (Your Opinions, May 7): Thank you, Harvey Dunn, for the structure. What country has openly trained, supplied and supported terrorists around the world? What country hasn't made peace with Afghanistan and its newly conquered country Iraq even though it says all is under control? What democratic country has a leader who was not elected by the majority of its citizens, is isolated and helps Israel against Palestine? What country promised the world more than three years ago it would reduce environmental damage it causes, but recently openly ``unsigned'' that promise? USA, USA, USA and USA. Stop USA policy in its tracks, and you place a stake in the heart of future terrorism. - Jill Hughart Burbank More and more The seniors of this country had the best of all worlds: low house prices and a chance to invest in stocks at a favorable price-to-earnings rate. Now all we can do is say gimme gim·me Informal Contraction of give me. adj. Slang Demanding material things or especially money; acquisitive: today's gimme society; tired of gimme letters. n. , gimme, gimme to the young working people. More Social Security, more Medicare pay for our prescriptions. For shame. - Marian Norwalt Los Angeles |
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