PUBLIC FORUM.

War on Medicare

Re ``Medicare to cut doctor pay, increase hospital rules'' (Aug. 9):

The Bush administration has declared open war on Medicare by cutting physician reimbursements by 5.1 percent, and once again thrown away Geneva Convention rules prohibiting torture. No matter what alibis and excuses they use, they are condemning Medicare to a slow, tortured death with this pre-emptive strike, with the first salvo aimed directly at doctors who will run for cover by opting out of Medicare.

It will also discourage new physicians from joining the war on diseases that afflict the elderly by becoming Medicare doctors, and will effectively force patients to enlist in privately run health care plans, which is the administration's primary directive.

-- Sandy Sand

West Hills

Had to happen

Re ``Lieberman loses primary race'' (Aug. 9):

It seems only natural that Joe Lieberman would lose the Democratic primary. Lieberman is a man of intelligence and integrity. There's no place for such a man in today's Democratic Party.

-- Kemp Richardson

Santa Clarita 

Kiss of death 

Re ``Lieberman loses primary race'' (Aug. 9):

The old Mafia expression of ``la boche muerta'' (the kiss of death) sure applies in politics. Bush kisses Joe Lieberman and Lieberman loses the primary. The next general election should bear that out -- a Bush endorsement may be the ``kiss of death.''

-- Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks

Lieberman's qualities

Re ``Lieberman loses primary race'' (Aug. 9):

We may have lost one of our finest leaders. Sen. Joe Lieberman is a rarity in politics, respected by members on both sides of the political spectrum.

He has integrity, intelligence, wisdom, a comprehension of world politics, and an understanding of how to protect our freedoms. Apparently these qualities are not important to most Connecticut Democrats.

-- Bill Hamburg

Woodland Hills

The Menard case

Re ``Warning signs on Web?'' (Aug. 6):

Please don't judge the Menard case in the court of public opinion. Let the justice system run its course. If Brandon is found guilty in a court of law by a jury of his peers, then you can connect all of the circumstantial dots you want.

Just because his family doesn't behave like Ward and June doesn't make him a killer.

-- Leonard Martinez

Granada Hills

Protecting ourselves

Re ``Robbers baffle cops'' (Aug. 4):

After a string of almost 200 robberies at S.F. Valley eateries, L.A. Police Chief William Bratton wants a law to increase prison time for wearing a disguise. Thinking like this will ensure more crime. Bratton should ask that these crimes be prosecuted with federal laws, which impose 10 years for possession of a gun added to the robbery penalty. Add another 10 years if bullets are in the gun.

A major deterrent would be the liberal issue of CCW (carrying concealed weapons) permits. A former victim has a very slim, if any, chance for a CCW permit. Only the rich and politically connected have permits. Bratton and Sheriff Lee Baca are preventing the law-abiding from getting these permits; they should be pushing for the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.

-- Rick Owen

Calabasas

Accessories

Tuesday's Daily News Poll results showing 67 percent of the respondents still believe that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction can only be explained in one reason. If the war supporters admitted that there were no WMD then that would make them accessories to genocide. We invaded and occupied Iraq because the Bush administration ignored and manipulated the facts on WMD. They now concede there were none.

At the 1946 Nuremberg Nazi War trials, the American Judge Fitzpatrick said, ``the perceived threat of security cannot be a defense in the waging of war on another country.'' The men who used this defense were all hung and their supporters disgraced. The tens of thousands of Iraqi and American dead and maimed deserve similar justice.

-- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Had to know

Re ``Over-the-hill hippies'' (Your Opinions, Aug. 7):

Poor Jeff Clarke of Simi Valley had a bad trip. But I suspect Simi's finest is a tad disingenuous: Any CSNY fan dedicated enough to pay Hollywood Bowl ticket prices already knows well the boys' politics. And if he didn't, all the better, he needs a reality check vis-a-vis blind faith in bad leadership does not equal patriotism.

Clarke complains the evening was anti-war. Do you know anyone who is pro-war? For the most part, the ``American Idol'' crowd stayed home and watched TV. Those who troubled to venture to the Bowl saw a moving, invigorating live concert led by Neil Young, still vital as ever. Why wouldn't he be? You won't fool the children of the revolution.

-- Bob Deluca

Calabasas

Not an anti-war rally

Re ``It wasn't Fox News'' and ``Read your ticket'' (Your Opinions, Aug. 9):

Kevin Teller, I did not say I was surprised by the opinions. I said I was disappointed in the manner in which they were expressed. As far as the use of labels, you seem much better at that than me. I read and contribute to this opinions page all the time and I don't watch TV news at all.

I did read the ticket, Judi DeBilzan. However, it was a concert ticket, not a ticket to an anti-war rally, which I would not have paid to attend. The truth is that some of CSNY's best works were anti-war songs. The key word though is songs.

-- Jeff Clarke

Simi Valley

I'd do it

Re ``No wimps allowed'' (Aug. 9):

I suspect that Mark McCaw was responding to a letter denigrating workers at the DWP. While it's impossible to paint all workers with the same brush, certainly one has to wonder why more workers don't leave this ``hellhole of a job.''

Could it be that they love their fat paychecks and their perks? So tell me, where can I apply for this despicable job?

-- Max S. Duran

Acton

Overtime earned

I realize this is a little late in being written, but, thanks to all the firefighters who worked during the heat wave in all that firefighting gear to put out the fires here in Southern California and save houses and lives.

For working in those conditions fighting fires and having to wear that protective gear and those long hours I say any overtime incurred was money well-spent.

-- Richard Mosier

Simi Valley

Tony Snow

Having watched and listened to Tony Snow recently as the Bush administration's press spokesman, we came to the conclusion that this principled man not only speaks for our president, but stands by his own words and convictions. Previously, he was nothing more than a talking head seen mostly on Fox News. But now we see a man who can speak extemporaneously, off-the-cuff, referring nominally to his notes. And he certainly keeps the liberal press in line with his succinct and direct answers to their many mundane questions.

The more we see and hear him, the more we would like to see him running for some high office in this country. This country certainly needs a strong man like Tony Snow.

-- Lee and Rusty Willoughby

Santa Clarita

Two in the bushes

Re ``L.A. Zoo's failed fight to save chimp recalled'' (Aug. 3):

Why doesn't the L.A. Zoo have peacocks to control the snakes? Carmel Valley has loads of the rattlers, and peacocks are used there.

-- Helen Styman

Reseda