PUBLIC FORUM.

Won't go away

Re ``O.J. book on slayings sparks outrage'' (Nov. 16):

O.J. Simpson should hide in some remote country and shut up. He is lucky not to be in state prison for life. No one should buy his book or listen to his ``fictional'' version of his crime. Fred Goldman has every right to pursue this lowlife forever to extract any amount of the $33.5 million awarded by a jury in the wrongful-death verdict. O.J. regularly flaunts his criminal-trial verdict, rendered by a dozen mindless jurors, while evading paying a dime of the civil-trial award. He goes below the lowest of the low.

-- Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks

Retired cops protest

Re ``Retired cops protest media coverage of recent videos'' (Nov. 16):

Bravo for the retired Los Angeles Police Department officers who came in support of our officers. It's no wonder LAPD is finding it difficult to recruit new officers. Thanks to the local media's irresponsible biased reporting, a gangbanger is now back on the streets and will probably sue the city. City Council members will most likely settle, and a courageous LAPD officer is perceived as the bad guy.

It's shameful that not one politician had the leadership to speak out in support of our LAPD officers after all they have done for this city. I want to remind people of the immigration protest back in March, when 500,000 demonstrated and there were no arrests or serious injuries.

-- Monica Harmon

Los Angeles 

Levels of violence

Re ```Warrior' bent in LAPD'' (Nov. 12):

Larry Bauer stated William Cardenas was fortunate. Bauer sounds like dozens of citizens who think law enforcement arbitrarily goes around looking for people to beat on. Cardenas could have done as others with warrants -- stood there and been arrested without a fight. He resisted. Officers used force to overcome that resistance and make the arrest.

People need to realize we pay cops to do the dirty work of society. That means dealing with dirtbags who don't want to get arrested, who fight and who then, looking for a payout, claim excessive force.

-- Rick Doray

Santa Clarita 

No, you first

Re ``$2.7 million prank'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 13):

Hey, Bob Budsworth, ever read the Constitution or the Bill Of Rights? I don't think this is your country. Why don't you leave?

-- Michael Helwig

Canoga Park

$2.7 million award

Re ``City to pay $2.7 million for prank'' (Nov. 9):

In conjunction with the city attorney, our ethically challenged City Council members, with the exception of Dennis Zine, have determined that a prank is a serious crime and have awarded the ``victim'' almost $3 million of our tax money.

Since a determination has been made that a compensable crime has been committed against a member of our fire department, one can only reason that the perpetrators of the heinous event will be appropriately punished -- to wit, employment of all concerned, in whatever capacity, will be summarily terminated and all benefits, current and future, forfeited due to their criminal conduct. Awarding damages to the ``victim'' victimizes the taxpayers, and our only recourse would be to punish the persons responsible.

If our City Council members lack ethics, maybe they can find some backbone.

-- Harold E. Boucher

West Hills

Bipartisanship 

One thing that you have to admire about George W. Bush: He is a marvel of consistency. Throughout his administration he has called for bipartisanship while being unwilling to display any of his own.

After these latest elections produced a turnover in Congress to Democratic control, Bush said that he ``got it'' and again made his plea for bipartisanship. Shortly afterward, he called on the lame-duck Congress to pass the domestic-spying legislation and to confirm John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations while Congress remains in Republican hands. Meanwhile, he has offered nothing to the Democrats. It is clear that Bush sees bipartisanship as a one-way relationship.

-- David Holland

Northridge

Praising Rumsfeld

Donald Rumsfeld should be praised for the guidance that he gave to the Defense Department during his six years of service. He did an excellent job in directing the Iraq war effort. Just because it appears that a somewhat different approach may be required at this phase of the Iraq war does not mean that Rumsfeld did not do a good job while he was the civilian in command of the Defense Department.

The Democratic politicians have so much hate in their hearts that they have nothing useful to propose or to say, except to tear down the man in charge.

-- Richard Kinsman 

Chatsworth

3 percent raise

How insulting to teachers to be offered a measly 3 percent raise. The City Council members have given themselves a 13 percent salary increase, and the Los Angeles Unified School District board has seen fit to hire a superintendent at an exorbitant wage with all the attendant perks. Please, board members, do not tell us the money isn't in the coffers to pay for a 9 percent increase in teachers' salaries.

-- Yolanda Fintor

Northridge

Insult to both sexes

A female who is expecting equality and professionalism in the workplace is trying to be a man? Letter writer Elizabeth Potter's premise is an insult to both sexes. A desire to pursue a certain career should be driven by aptitude and interest, not by gender.

-- Joan Kelley

Van Nuys

Living in yesteryears

Re ``Her own fault'' by Elizabeth Potter (Your Opinions, Nov. 15):

When I was growing up in the 1950s, women were offered very few occupations, such as working as teachers, nurses, factory workers and maids. Is Elizabeth Potter saying that only women should be cooks, interior designers or fashion designers? Does that mean that men in these positions are trying to be women?

Thank God, times have changed. I am proud to see that some women are advancing and paving the way for future women of the world to obtain jobs that at one time were not offered to them. Today we have women pilots, engineers, race-car drivers, law enforcement officers, company presidents, senators and astronauts. One hopes there will soon be a woman president.

It seems to me that Elizabeth Potter is living in yesteryears. People should not be discouraged from achieving their dreams because of antiquated ideas such as hers.

-- Marva Williams

Lancaster

Second thoughts?

With the newly elected Democratic House and Senate members making clear their intentions to ``urge'' President George W. Bush to begin phasing out American troops from Iraq, perhaps they now regret mocking the ``Mission Accomplished'' banner?

-- Stephen Wagner

Valencia

Voting rights 

Recently in the Daily News, a claim was made that ``voting is a right guaranteed by the Constitution.'' Voting is not a right guaranteed by the Constitution. The only voting mentioned in the Constitution is that done by officeholders and the special group of presidential electors.

Voting by individual Americans is a state matter. The Constitution is silent.

-- Gregg Frazer

Castaic

No respect

Re ``Victory dance'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 12):

Zachary Charles' letter comparing Vice President Cheney to Herman Goering is a perfect example of the disgusting venom spewed by those who hate this administration. This goes way over the top and shows no respect for the office of the presidency.

-- Greg Tarizzo

Valencia