PUBLIC FORUM.

Fry guy

Re ``Tom's antics just a cruise through midlife?'' (Viewpoint, July 3):

I have to agree with Stephanie Becker about Tom Cruise being the new clown prince. In fact, I think Tom is a french fry short of a Happy Meal!

- Claire Tucci

Tarzana

Space waste

Re: ``Probe strikes comet'' (July 4):

So JPL is celebrating spending $333 million in tax money to crash into a comet in the hopes of discovering how the solar system was formed? Hmm, I wonder if American senior citizens who are forced to take less than the prescribed dosage of medications because they can't afford refills are celebrating. Or perhaps the American children who went to bed hungry last night, or the homeless disabled American veterans.

Seems to me that there are a lot more meaningful ways $333 million in tax money could be spent.

- Sherry Bishop

Valencia

Good riddance

Re: ``New day'' (Our Opinions, July 1):

This year, Independence Day arrived early in central Van Nuys. Many residents in our community celebrated an additional liberation day on July 1, 2005. Namely, freedom from James Hahn's economic development demons - that gang of arrogant, duplicitous and corrupt bureaucrats; those urban-planning visionaries from hell. What a nightmare and good riddance.

We have no kind words for the economic development geniuses who were responsible for that dirty animal shelter development in central Van Nuys. Remember? The community really needed and wanted that new elementary school. Remember?

Now, with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's new leadership, we are hopeful that the great injustice that was inflicted on our community will be rectified. Good reason for us to celebrate. Viva!

- Maria Scherzer

Van Nuys

Leave it alone

Re ``Taxing behavior'' (Our Opinions, July 3):

When I read the editorial on Proposition 13, I really was angered. Once again, someone is trying to eliminate the majority vote of the people. I have lived in my house for 41 years. I can tell you I wouldn't have my house today if it weren't for Proposition 13.

Living on a fixed income is tough enough. Start looking into where all the tax money goes from the bonds we vote on for schools, fire and police. Leave Proposition 13 alone.

- Leada McKelvey

Sunland

Slumgullion 

Re ``Let George W. run a war? Absurd'' (Viewpoint, July 3):

Just when it seemed safe to be a practicing Catholic without others assuming it's a synonym for goofy, along comes ``a columnist and correspondent for the National Catholic Register'' planting his imprimatur at the end of a column my Irish Catholic mother would have called ``slumgullion.''

Regarding Brennan's analogy between our 43rd president and our 1st, the Britannica states that in the French and Indian Wars George Washington ``ranged the whole field on horseback, making himself the most conspicuous target for Indian bullets ... (and) saved the expedition from annihilation.''

And George W. Bush?

- Mary Black

Winnetka

No comparison

Re ``Let George W. run a war? Absurd'' (Viewpoint, July 3):

I have never heard such rubbish as spouted by Robert Brennan. Comparing the old days to today's circumstances is ridiculous. There is no similarity between the American Revolution and the present war in Iraq. Brennan's comments are an attempt to excuse an administration which waged a needless war without integrity, with no plans, and only the vaguest objective.

- Patricia Lamoree

Granada Hills

George W's values

Re ``Let George W. run a war? Absurd'' (Viewpoint, July 3):

The absurdity lies in Robert Brennan's attempt to draw analogies between important issues of then and now, while ignoring the important differences between the two ``George Ws.''

Unlike our first president, the current one allows moneyed interests to determine policy and tramples over international commitments. Though Washington anecdotally once professed, ``I cannot tell a lie,'' today Karl Rove would issue a statement claiming the cherry tree had been chopped down by terrorists with ties to Iraq.

Which brings us to Brennan's rehashing of the tired fallacy that our problems in Iraq have something to do with how the war is being run and not why it is being fought at all. The sad truth is that we are losing in Iraq because the war is based on lies, and the world knows it. George Washington emerges through history as an icon of truth and justice. Perhaps one day impeachment and war crimes charges against Mr. Bush will show the world we still care about those values.

- Carl Wurtz

Burbank

Stay the course

Re ``Bush: Job's not done'' (June 30):

In his recent address to the nation, President George W. Bush articulately explained America's policy in Iraq and the reason for that policy. Both are sound. Terrorists are flooding into Iraq who would otherwise seek to come to our homeland. The only remedy to terrorism is democracy - the natural human desire for freedom cannot be restrained. Stay the course! I bless and praise the brave men and women who serve the cause of liberty in this dangerous land.

- Richard Wahler

Valencia

See the seats

Re ``LAUSD parcel tax raising support, opposition already'' (June 30):

If Jon Coupal thinks the Los Angeles Unified School District has nothing to show, he should go to Dodger Stadium and stand at the pitcher's mound. There he will see 56,000 seats - the same number of seats we will deliver to the kids of Los Angeles by the end of this year.

If he doesn't want to go to Dodger Stadium, he should go to www.laschools.org. Not only will he see photos of the 23 schools we've completed, but also the 89 we have under construction today.

- Jim McConnell

LAUSD chief facilities executive

The actual facts

Re ``The rich get richer'' (Your Opinions, July 4):

Gilbert Smith is either unaware of or misrepresents the actual facts when he blames President George W. Bush for the 5-4 Supreme Court decision that extended the eminent-domain provision of the Constitution. It should be noted that the majority decision was made by liberal justices.

- Bill Zelenka

Granada Hills

A conundrum for some

Re ``The rich get richer'' (Your Opinions, July 4):

Gilbert Smith is in dire need of Civics 101. The Supreme Court operates independently of any administration, including the one Smith doesn't like. More specifically, it was the liberal members of the Supreme Court who voted to violate our right to own property. All votes against this violation were cast by the conservative members of the Supreme Court, just as the conservative members were the only justices to support the right to medical marijuana.

This is may be a conundrum to the thinking liberal, but the blind liberal refuses reality.

- Patrick Weir

Chatsworth

More than money

Re ``Rockin' the world,'' July 3:

Live 8, the pop music event to ``raise awareness'' and solicit financial aid for African children, is commendable. Regrettably, the $1 billion suggested by Bono to end this tragedy is insufficient and shortsighted.

As performing artists gyrate, groove and look toward heaven while performing current hits, African children continue dying. An instant infusion of cash to solve this is insufficient, and concert promoters should know this.

Instead, far more money is needed to educate African populations about birth control, hygiene, waste disposal, proper housing and the like. But this involves scientific technology, which leftist artists oppose as inhumane.

Hence, one can only believe that this Live 8 exercise is more an exercise in guilt reduction by artists earning fabulous wealth compared to average workers.

- Christopher W. Williams

Valencia