PUBLIC FORUM.

Proud legacy

In six years of absolute power, the Republicans have been able to destroy a budget surplus, spend more money than in the entire 200-plus-years history of the USA, mortgage the debt to Chinese banks, give away the U.S. treasury (to the oil corporations, health care industry and war profiteers), effectively repeal the Constitution's Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment and Sixth Amendment, create more terrorists, fail to catch all the 9-11 masterminds (where's Osama?), ship American manufacturing overseas, fail to secure our borders (how many illegals are here now?), underfund our troops and deny benefits to veterans, set a new record for political-corruption scandals (DeLay, Cunningham, Foley, Abramoff, etc.; the list is long) and give America a one-time, $300 tax rebate.

But don't worry, I'm sure this was all somehow President Clinton's fault.

-- Robert Barr

Burbank

Distinct distancing

Re ``Dems seize House'' (Nov. 8):

Upon listening to right-wing, inane-stream radio the day after the election, I learned that these former Republican propagandists were no longer going to carry the water buckets for the Bush administration team. The ``we'' they had been so proud to be part of for six years had suddenly become ``they,'' and all of the Democrats who had won previously Republican seats were actually not Democrats, but Reagan Republicans.

Next thing you know, all of these fair-weather supporters will go back to pronouncing ``nuclear'' correctly.

-- Marshall Barth

Encino

Fuzzy-headed liberals

With the capture of Congress by the fuzzy-headed liberals, the U.S. sinks rapidly in all areas. The country was already on a disaster course with the Bush administration strongly favoring business. The Iraq war was a rallying call for the liberal media to use. The real problem in America has been the favorable treatment Congress accords to global business while ignoring public concerns.

The liberals will not relieve the burden for the middle class, since most of the federal revenue comes from this source. There will be lots of lip service to the middle class during the next two years from the Democrat-controlled Congress, but little progress. The media are to blame for concentrating on the wrong issues, and the Democrats are also parties to this disaster since they are controlled by liberals.

-- Sion Colvin

Woodland Hills

Election results

Ahhhhhh! That feels better.

-- Arnie Moore

Sherman Oaks

Measure H

Supporters of the billion-dollar, upside-down (benefit-wise) Measure H said opponents needed to propose alternatives, rather than just oppose the expensive bonds. Unfortunately for those needing housing, city officials did not listen to fiscally prudent recommendations.

Now that enough knowledgeable voters rejected Measure H, government officials who sincerely care about low-income people should pay attention to the unsubsidized owners who have been providing housing. Apartment owners should no longer be penalized for paying to improve and properly maintain the apartments. Also, the anti-investment aspects of the 1986 Federal Tax Reform Act should be reversed.

-- Victor N. Viereck

Valley Village

Politics work

Democracy works. The president and right wingers have been rebuked by the voters. It's my guess that, to continue to hold on to whatever power remains and get a leg up in '08, Dick Cheney will resign and the president will utilize the 25th Amendment to nominate the more moderate John McCain to take his place.

The new Congress will go along in exchange for having the Justice Department back off on some of the investigations. Politics always works.

-- Hal Rothberg

Calabasas

We are in trouble

Re ``Dems seize House'' (Nov. 8):

When this country inadvertently ``elected'' an extreme San Francisco liberal as speaker of the House, only two heartbeats away from the presidency, it showed that we folks are in trouble.

Bush is now a lame-duck president for the remainder of his term, and you can be sure the Democratic House is going to rush resolutions through. The Democrats will certainly let the tax cut expire in 2010. The strong economy and bullish stock market will no longer be. Congrats to the Democrats.

-- John Reilly 

Granada Hills

Tax them

Every politician in California should be charged a very hefty fee, sufficient to pay for caller-ID service for every phone in the state.

-- Marte Brengle

Glendale

Elections

I know of a proposition that would win by a landslide. In light of the most recent campaigns, I propose that using TV, radio and telephone political advertising be limited to three days a week -- Monday through Wednesday only -- in all statewide elections.

That would give us weary voters time to relax over dinner, watch our favorite TV shows and avoid hearing 24/7 campaigning blather. Ready to sign up?

-- Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks

Where's Harriet?

So, I hear that Bush is replacing Donald Rumsfeld with Robert Gates. Why? Wasn't Harriet Miers available?

-- Eddie Johnson

Panorama City

Typical tactic

Re ``5% trims urged for city departments'' (Nov. 8):

So Mayor Villaraigosa is calling on city department heads to cut spending by 5 percent and ``find'' $20 million in savings? It's a typical tactic used in the city of Los Angeles as officials prepare to negotiate with Service Employees International Union Local 347 and its 10,000 blue-collar workers early next year. The mayor and City Council always try to mislead the union into believing that there simply is no money.

Well, if the mayor is looking for millions of dollars in savings, I suggest he look no farther than inside City Hall. Perhaps we could start the savings bonanza by repealing the 13 percent pay increase that the beloved mayor and the 15 City Council members just received.

-- Brian Hollenbaugh

Saugus

Glendale development

Re ``Blueprint for future downtown could get final approval'' (Nov. 8):

The discussion about the new downtown Glendale has gone on for far too long. It was voted on two years ago on the ballot. The new project will help boost our economic standing. There has been a lack of parks in the area prior to this project, and this will make it a more enjoyable place for families and kids.

Too much time and money are going into discussion about it. The developer has already invested a lot of thought, money and effort into perfecting the proposal. No matter what, there will always be questions and concerns. Overall this is ``smart development,'' and it addresses most of the residents' concerns.

-- Elizabeth Khodzabashyan

Glendale

Not worth it

Re ``It is wrong not to want U.S. to win in Iraq'' (Nov. 5):

Bill O'Reilly and other conservatives don't seem to understand. Do you want your country to win in Iraq? Asking that question is like asking: Have you stopped beating your wife?

The real question is: At what cost are you willing to win in Iraq? In my opinion, losing nearly 3,000 men and women in uniform and having nearly 20,000 wounded to avenge the 9-11 loss of nearly 3,000 lives to terrorism does not make sense, unless there is total victory.

Losing 3,000 more Americans and spending nearly an additional half-trillion dollars to prolong a quagmire, which appears to be a civil war, is clearly not worth it to this voter.

-- Richard Buratti

Northridge