PUBLIC FORUM WE WILL PREVAIL.

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

The Daily News staff offers a litany of reasons for its support for John Kerry's run for the presidency. The ``botched invasion'' of Iraq was prominent among these reasons. The Daily News is wrong. Problems, botched operations and a long recovery and rebuilding period were all part of World Wars I and II. Chaos, tactical errors, and unforeseen difficulties have plagued the winners of major wars throughout history.

We will prevail in Iraq, and history will expose the Daily News staff and other Chicken Littles of the world as lacking in fortitude and vision. As for the hand-wringing over the ``alliance of nations that should be united against terror,'' the Daily News is again wrong. We are capable of protecting our interests without the help of the cowardly, crooked thugs in France, Russia and Germany, who abandoned their duty to humanity as they lined their pockets with ``oil for food'' money.

- Axel Anderson 

Santa Clarita 

Disappointing reasoning

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

I was disappointed in your endorsement of Kerry, but more disappointed in your reasoning. I think your only positive statement about Kerry was that he would do it ``smarter,'' with hopes he can live up to that ``promise.''

I am torn over my vote for Bush, in spite of my disappointments, for many of the reasons you stated, but not so much so to give my vote to one whose only attribute is his intention to do everything better or smarter, and by and large nothing different. Moreover, Kerry's life history is not to do it smarter or better, but in fact different. My surprise is your trust of words and your disregard for Kerry's life history of public service.

- Doug Kirk

Valencia

Fair doubts

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

In your endorsement of Kerry for president, you stated Kerry had promised to take a similar approach to terror as Bush. Then you revealed your doubts as to whether or not Kerry can fulfill his promises. Your ``fair'' doubts reflect the same doubts that many Americans have when questioning Kerry's ability to protect the United States.

We are talking about the risks, the safety and the future of our country. Do you trust a man who is telling you anything he can just to be elected? Or one that, although not perfect, is already doing the job? You may not like Bush's performance on economy, spending or how he speaks and looks, but what good are these things anyway when freedom as we know it is no more?

- Salvador Gallegos

Sylmar

There you go again

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

There you go again, just when I thought you were a newspaper with independent thought, you fall right into line with the other unfair and unbalanced print media moguls. Right in lockstep you go down that left-wing road.

You wonder why George W. Bush doesn't spend any time in California - it's because of newspapers like yours. I wouldn't waste a minute here, either. I would have respected you more if you had stayed neutral.

- L.A. Calabro

Northridge

In the Oval Office?

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

I was shocked to see on your Web site that you have endorsed Kerry for president. He has been a do-nothing back-bencher in the Senate for 20 years, is merely second fiddle to Ted Kennedy in his state, has no executive experience, and is full of empty promises tailored to each interest group to whom he speaks - and you would trust him in the Oval Office?

I am very, very disappointed in y'all's judgment. I hope that your choice loses on Nov. 2 by an unarguably big margin and number of electoral votes.

- Carlotta Barnes

Ventura

Mind-boggling

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

Your recommendation of Kerry for president is mind-boggling, based as it is on the assertion Bush has been ``divisive,'' and has made ``too many enemies at home and abroad to remain effective.'' The divisiveness at home exists because the Democrats have never accepted that Bush was legitimately elected president of the United States.

The ``enemies ... abroad'' can only mean France, Germany, China and Russia. These nations withheld support to protect their economic interests, and it is extremely naive to assume otherwise. So your recommendation boils down to the fact the Democrats and Kerry have been frothing at the mouth with an irrational hatred for Bush for years and the French, Germans, Chinese and Russians take bribes.

- Matt Diederich

Santa Clarita

Will not unite us

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

The Daily News supports Kerry in the hopes of uniting the country, yet a close election is guaranteed to leave the country divided once again regardless of who wins. The philosophical split that you wring your hands over began when the liberal Democrats defeated Judge Robert Bork's nomination for the United States Supreme Court in 1987. The split widened as the liberals attempted to defeat Clarence Thomas for a position on the Supreme Court in 1991 and continues today with the Democrats' refusal to approve a number of qualified candidates for federal judicial appointments.

The main reason why President Bush must be elected over John Kerry is that during the next four years it is anticipated that there may be as many as four vacancies on the Supreme Court. If Kerry is elected, these vacancies will be filled with activist judges having liberal agendas who will make law instead of interpret the Constitution.

- Chuck Hall

Woodland Hills

The wrong choice

We have enjoyed reading the Daily News for many years. I can hardly express my disappointment on discovering this morning that you have shown, it seems to us, such a monumental lack of judgment in endorsing John Kerry for president. There are no leadership abilities we may admire. There is no strength of character to recommend confidence.

We believe the fate of this great nation hangs in the balance, depending on the choice made this November. My husband (a Vietnam-era veteran) and I feel certain you have made the wrong choice.

- Noel Hobson

Burbank

Then and now

In the 1960s, I was a paperboy delivering the Valley News and Green Sheet. It was the land of ``Leave it to Beaver'' and ``The Brady Bunch.'' It was the safest place to raise a family as the schools and police were top notch.

The area has transformed from that to ``Escape from L.A.'' in a 40-year period. Now the Daily News has endorsed Kerry for president, a man that said he will offer amnesty to all illegal aliens within 100 days of obtaining office. If the readership is confused by the editorial staff's endorsement of mass illegal immigration, you need look no farther than your own front door. Just look, who now is delivering your newspaper?

- Jim Williams 

Sherman Oaks

Real source

Re ``Kerry for president'' (Editorial, Oct. 24):

Thank you for your thoughtful editorial of Oct. 24. One thing should be pointed out, however: You cite that ``Abraham Lincoln once famously warned'' that ``a house divided against itself cannot stand.'' Lincoln, himself, was quoting Christ, as reported in the New Testament: in Matthew 12:25 and also in Mark 3:25.

- Patricia Lovejoy

Burbank