Anchorage Daily News

Russia might like to have us back

In light of the governor's hard-line stance about Russia, I hope she takes in consideration that her home state would be the front line if such a war were to occur. Do you think that they would overlook one of the biggest oil producing states for this nation?

Only the Bering Strait (about 52 miles wide) separates us from a lot of people who would love to have their former territory back under a Russian flag (1867 land deal be damned). Russia also surpasses us in total military personnel, and their forces are not stretched thin as we are.

I'm all for offering NATO protection to any former Soviet state that wants it, but just be careful with those war drums.

-- Lance Graveley

Anchorage

Palins are hardly role models

The recent article about the Palin family quoted Track Palin's coach at hockey camp saying that Track might have been good enough for a college scholarship if he'd been in control of his temper. It also said that Track rarely played more than half of any hockey game because his anger was out of control.

The article talked about Bristol Palin's pregnancy and about her "fiancee" dropping out of high school. The article said the Palins are "just an average American family."

Since when does a family like the Palins represent the average American family? And does the "average" American father have a DUI?

Yes, all families have troubles, but don't we strive to help our teenagers get a grip on their temper issues when anger is a problem for them? Don't we strive to avoid teen pregnancy and don't we strive for our teens to complete high school? I hope the Palin family is not considered a role model for the American family!

-- David Lee

Anchorage

Gays, lesbians don't need 'cure'

In regard to the recent conference "Love Won Out" sponsored by Focus On The Family, we want gay and lesbian children and their parents to know that there are many faithful Christians who also happen to be gay. We do not agree with the Christian fundamentalist view that gay people are sick or evil. They do not need to be "cured" of their homosexuality. "Reparative therapy" has been long discredited by the major professional medical and psychological organizations.

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbian & Gays (PFLAG) offers support and honest answers to parents and their gay and lesbian children.

-- Jane Schlittler, president,

PFLAG/Anchorage

'Experts' have messed us up

Attacking Obama or Palin for lack of experience, particularly in foreign relations, is dumb. The value of experience that national leaders possess is shown by the messes America now suffers from. We're better off with leaders who are willing to learn instead of being mouthpieces for "experts" fronting for domestic and foreign special interests.

Our leaders have shown they've learned how to make war from Hollywood movies. They howl about honoring military sacrifices to hide their destructive prejudices and ignorance.

Those claiming to know when God supports making war must always discredit His Words on making peace.

-- Stuart Thompson

Wasilla

Focus should have been on storm

I'd like to see ADN go back to reporting the news. On Sunday, Sept. 14, the article on Page 1 above the fold should have been about the hurricane that just devastated sections of Texas. Instead, once again it was Palin-bashing time! Are you a newspaper or a tabloid?

-- Dena Kelley

Eagle River

Want control, Sarah? Watch out

Regarding the fascination over Sarah Palin, I am curious. After the election is over and the dust settles, just how much control will a 72-year-old, grouchy, entrenched Republican white guy give to a woman holding the traditionally meaningless vice presidency? Will he expect her to stay pregnant, barefoot and out of his way? More important, as a devout female Republican, will she do it?

-- Tim Crowley

Eagle River

Palin speech more of the same

Beneath the charm, love for her family and spirited jabs at Obama, in her entire speech Palin offered only one concrete plan -- "to lay more pipelines ..." and produce more energy. She delivered a great speech and my heart too swelled with local pride, but that's not enough to put her in the White House.

What she did give us plenty of were the Bush-Cheney-Rove tactics of making exaggerated claims and falsely portraying an opponent's words, deeds and character. As for her being a reformer, she favored the Bridge to Nowhere before national outrage ignited and she now has an ethics complaint filed against her. So much for the exhausted posture of her being a politician who isn't a politician.

McCain's shrewd attempt to counter Obama's genuine platform for change falls short, proves as convincing as the grimace he passes off as a smile.

-- Keith (K.P.) Liles

Anchorage

These 'monsters' are lovers

I was astonished at the amount of ignorance displayed in Victoria Walsh's letter about pit bulls. To paint all of these animals with such a broad brush, and label them lethal beasts and monsters, is ridiculous.

If Victoria would like a balanced view of the breed, I invite her to visit the Anchorage SPCA and meet pit bulls Cavan, Bishop, Willow and Lily. Of course, she runs the risk of having one of these "monsters' climb into her lap and lick her to death.

-- Linda Beller

Anchorage

Show positive side of Palin

I am growing exasperated by looking at "Bash Sarah" headlines on your paper for the last weeks! If ADN is an unbiased news reporting agency, then where are the positive stories of what Sarah's accomplished?

-- Michelle Kilbourne

Wasilla

Pay attention to the real issues

Did anybody at this paper ever write something about Biden? Did any photographs of Biden appear in the paper?

Did anyone write about things he did at his job or report his ideas about this country, which spends 40 percent of the federal taxes on the military, 1 percent on diplomacy? How about paying attention to some real issues like what to do about cluster bombs, the State Children's Health Insurance program (vetoed by Bush), torture, how to increase renewable energy production, the debt to China and the deficit. ...

How about trying to explain that this "Land of the Free" has the highest inmate population in the world (both in absolute and relative terms).

How is it that all these "family values" folks are so content to pass on our problems and bills to our children and grandchildren?

Why not explain how foolish it is to try to drill our way to energy independence (a 19th century approach that is destroying our world)?

Why are Americans so afraid? Who is exploiting this fear and ignorance?

-- Louke Ellenbroek

Anchorage

Interview aired Palin weaknesses

In the ABC interview on foreign policy, Sarah Palin demonstrated no independent thought on any topic asked about. She substituted emphatic repetition and empty sincerity for substance. She was like a high school kid giving a report on a subject about which she had no clue a few days ago.

She gave no indication she understood the potential ramifications of "not second guessing Israel." If she were simply to be the VP, I'd have no worries other than having to suffer through four years of her performances. But she is a potential president of the United States, one who in personality and world view is too reminiscent of the current occupant. One who would be in thrall to the neocons.

John McCain had credibility with me before this decision. He went for electability over governance. So much for putting the country first.

-- Roger Miller

Eagle River

About presidential hopefuls ...

I appreciated the article "Palin hires friends, attacks her critics" for its varied discussion of questionable actions in Palin's political career. But I also noticed that the Sunday paper had three Palin articles on the front page. Could someone remind me who is running for president? And if we are going to talk so much about VPs, could we hear a little more about Joe Biden?

-- Julia Plotnik

Palmer

'Hockey mom' just a hired goon

I liked Sarah Palin as governor, until I heard her acceptance speech for Republican VP. First, she has not earned the right to be on the same stage as Sen. McCain or compare herself to Hillary Clinton. What's more, Sen. Obama earned his nomination and was not plucked out of the crowd; her belittling Obama based on his "lack of experience" is a joke.

Palin's speech revealed her true colors that (to my surprise) represent the extreme right reminiscent of Reagan era and Bush 2 policies. I spent most of my life in those "small towns" that she claims to represent and her values do not represent the people I know or places I've been. Nice try. Recently Sarah was heard criticizing Obama's foreign policy since she apparently learned a lot about foreign policy as mayor of Wasilla. By the way, women are smarter than she thinks.

This move by McCain is a desperate and unfortunate one. It's clear that Palin is a hired "goon" by the McCain campaign to go after Obama. In hockey terms, goons spend a lot of time in the penalty box because their job is to go after the good players on the other team. They play that way because they've got no real game. At least in the penalty box Sarah will have time to put on her lipstick.

-- Dan Lung

Anchorage

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