PUBLIC FORUM.

Page 1 editorial?

Re ``Winners better be wary'' (Nov. 21):

``Winners better be wary.'' Is this headline Monday's news, or simply your lead editorial appearing on the first page of the newspaper? The only paragraphs in the story that relate directly to the title were the last two, in which Barbara O'Connor urges the ``special interests'' not to gloat. Is that worth the top headline?

- Siegfried Othmer

Woodland Hills

Cell-phone driving

Re ``Busway crash injures 15'' (Nov. 4):

How many people are going to be killed before they put into law that cell phones are illegal to use while driving cars? What is so important that people have to talk to someone in their cars, at the grocery store, in the restaurant, at the doctor's office, etc. Why can't they go somewhere and talk where they aren't disturbing another person?

I have almost been run into a number of times by someone in a car talking on a cell phone. The phones should be used in an emergency only. What a dangerous thing to have. What can we do to get cell phones outlawed in cars?

- Gretchen J. Downs

Pacoima

Welcome Orange Line

These people who are complaining today about the new Orange Line are the NIMBYs of yesteryear who were complaining about all of the choices submitted for approval. To continue the argument after the fact is nonproductive.

The MTA, under adverse conditions, did its best to provide us with East- West transportation. It also started an education program for the public months before opening day. If we, as drivers, choose to disregard well- marked intersections, we are responsible for the consequences.

- Joy Stovall

Woodland Hills

Cheney's actions

Vice President Cheney has continually stated that Iraq had WMDs and very strongly implied Saddam's alliance with Osama bin Laden in various speeches and on talk shows even though it's been continually disproved. He also states he does not benefit from Halliburton's contracts in Iraq, yet he does still have stock options that he will be able to exercise.

Cheney went to court to keep records of his energy policy meetings with various CEOs of oil companies secret. Who is acting ``dishonestly and reprehensibly'' now?

- Jean Strauber

Encino

Very telling moment

Re ``House divided against itself over Iraq war'' (Nov. 19):

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, howlin' Howie Dean, sure summed it up when he said the Democrats' job is to disagree with everything the Bush administration wants or is trying to get done. That answers the question of why the Democrats have no alternative plans, why they'll talk cut and run, but won't do it, and why they straddle the fence on support the troops but not the war.

Yet when Rep. Jean Schmidt read the (Reserve) Marine's letter, telling Rep. John P. Murtha that ``Marines don't cut and run,'' the Democrats loudly booed. These men and women who support the troops - exactly what or whom were they booing? Very telling moment.

- Roger Olsen

Burbank

Booked up

Re ``Teacher's workday'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 20):

I hope that Steve Krogh isn't sharing his apparent disdain of teachers with any children he may have. On top of that, his facts are just wrong, at least on one count. He says that we work a six-hour day. We are paid for six hours, but many of us arrive at school at 7 a.m., spend six hours with your children, and don't leave until all the necessary preparation/grading/conferences/paperwork is done, often 4:30 p.m. or later.

Many come in on Sunday mornings to do any of the above. It doesn't help your children if they come to school with any lack of respect for teachers, and they are merely a reflection of you. Do you really think teachers are overpaid?

- Prentiss Moore

Sherman Oaks