Letters to the Editor

Readers write: Letters to the editor, November 7, 2016

Tired of Republican/Democrat gridlock? Cast ballot for Stock

I, along with millions of others, am disgusted with politicians at the federal level who seem to believe that "gridlock is good." I voted early and did not vote for a single incumbent, Democrat or Republican. It was liberating.

I've been told that in doing so I wasted my vote. However, I believe I am adding my voice to a growing body of disenfranchised voters (witness Trump's supporters). A body that will one day oust professional politicians, replacing them with representatives who are not beholden to their biggest donors or respective national committees. Representatives whose values and actions reflect the will of the folks who elected them.

What I did do was vote for Margaret Stock for U.S. Senate. Having followed two debates and studied her website, I realized that, of the six candidates, her values most closely reflect my own. Those include term limits for members of Congress, a non-starter in my lifetime; protection of our constitutional rights, including the right to be charged with a crime prior to years of imprisonment; elimination of military spending on unworkable weapon systems in deference to defense contractors; and acknowledging a woman's right to reproductive choices, suggesting that family planning and education will reduce unwanted pregnancies.

Her position on many important issues can be found on her website. I encourage you to study it (MargaretforAlaska.com) before voting.

I'm tired of Democrat/Republican gridlock. My vote went to Margaret Stock, who is thoughtful, intelligent, independent.

— Dan Sterley
Anchorage

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Republicans have no plan for Alaska; Democrats are ready

Hillary Clinton has chosen as her transition chair Ken Salazar. This man has opened oil drilling in Alaska as a former secretary of the Interior. Donald Trump has picked Chris Christie, a man of recent scandals who has no experience in Alaska. The Trump campaign was unable to even meet the deadline in the Alaska Voter Pamphlet. The Republicans have no plan for Alaska. The Democrats are ready, and will be able to open federal leases that help to connect to state leases.

— Mike Milligan
Kodiak

Trump isn't any less corrupt than Clinton

Hillary with all her warts is, unfortunately, temperamentally and experientially the best choice.

I wish we had other choices, but all things being relative …

People who criticize the "liberal spin machine" for trying to ruin Trump don't admit that the media is simply doing two things: 1. fact-checking his incredibly false statements, and 2. simply replaying his offensive speeches and mocking gestures.

Trump is neither the face of America we want to be, nor any less corrupt than Hillary in what he promises to do. (I could care less about Hillary's emails, or whatever Bill did … he's not running for president. I wouldn't blame you for someone else's transgressions either.)

And what about the conservative spin machines? Sean Hannity just got caught in a big lie when he spouted false news that Obama was implicated in Hillary's scrubbed emails. Hannity had to apologize.

I am amazed that those who believe in Trump's loving heart also think that a rich billionaire who bribes his way into everything is any better or different than a politician who manipulates her way through the system as well.

People who criticize Hillary for being untrustworthy or corrupt don't care or realize how well that describes Trump.

How can anyone believe that Trump really cares about the little guys like us, or those with disabilities (physical or hidden)?

Trump doesn't love the people, just what the country can do for him and big business.

I can't say it any better than a previous Letter to the Editor: "Pinch your nose and vote for Hillary."

— Ron Levy
Soldotna

Trump and Beltrami are cut from the same cloth

Other than Donald Trump being elected president, nothing could be worse than if Vince Beltrami were elected to the Senate. They're cut from the same cloth the way they belittle and bully others. Anyone who's experienced Beltrami's volatile tirades and quick-tempered insults knows he lacks the maturity and bearing needed for public office.

Contrast that with Cathy Giessel. A more hardworking legislator you won't find. She's focused, disciplined and thoughtful. A trained nurse, Cathy knows to stay calm under pressure and doesn't let petty partisanship get in the way of doing what's right.

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Cathy knows that good health and shelter are important for child development. She succeeded in passing bills that protect and provide safe shelter for children whose families face crises, and expands health care to young people and financial opportunities for people with disabilities.

Cathy accomplished this in a bipartisan manner and worked with people regardless of party affiliation.

Cathy regularly volunteers at a homeless shelter and middle school. Her sharp eye and keen awareness have saved many who have fallen through the cracks but needed health care nonetheless.

Alaska doesn't need another bully to blow and blather in Juneau.
Re-elect Cathy Giessel to the Alaska Senate.

— Andree McLeod
Anchorage

A lot to learn from baseball

The seven games played by the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians were a class act. They exemplified the best of American values. This World Series of baseball stood out in stark contrast to the presidential election campaign; these players, their coaches, the umpires and their fans represented their host cities well. The games were highly competitive all the way to the 10th inning of the seventh game with players of many skills, featuring pitching, hitting, fielding, home runs and close calls.

How keenly we wish that our state legislators, our U.S. Congress and our presidential aspirants and their respective supporters could finish their campaigns with as much integrity!

— Martin and Lori Atrops
Eagle River

Why income tax is the way to go

The comments by the Texas-based majority owner of a tourism air service illustrate perfectly why an income tax is the way to go as we work on solving the state's financial woes. That individual, who clearly values nothing about Alaska except what earnings he can take out of the state and home to Texas, basically contributes nothing to the state. He ought to at least pay some taxes in the state that provides him with an income.

Personally I hope he stays home in Texas — we do not need his racist opinions polluting tourism in Alaska.

— Tina DeLapp
Anchorage

Change needed for Eagle River

Eagle River needs new blood in the state House. For many years we have had a representative who is more interested in promoting her ideological agenda than solving Alaska's growing fiscal crisis. She promises bold leadership but instead managed to get herself booted even from the Republican caucus. Instead of working with others she held to the idea of "my way of the highway" and accomplished nothing. I think it is time to give someone else a chance. Joe Hackenmueller, the nonpartisan candidate for House district 14, is that someone else. He has a broad variety of experience from both the private sector (Arco, nine years) and education. He combines this background with a sharp analytical mind and a strong desire to create real solutions to Alaska's many increasingly critical problems. He is interested in solutions not ideology. I would urge the many who voted against the incumbent in the Republican primary to take a serious look at Joe and vote for someone who will actually do something for Eagle River and for Alaska.

— Russell Howell, lieutenant colonel,
U.S. Army (retired)
Eagle River

Sue Levi is clear choice in District 24 race

My wife and I have lived in Anchorage for more than 40 years and we find the race for state House in District 24 — Oceanview, Klatt, Bayshore — appalling. There is a highly qualified Democrat, Sue Levi, running against a carpetbagger from Kenai with little experience or ties to the district.

Sue Levi has worked for five governors in over 30 years of public service. During that time, she was a probation officer, a deputy director with Community and Regional Affairs in the Rural Housing Mortgage Loan Program, rural development coordinator for AIDEA, a special assistant to the executive director of the Alaska Energy Authority and as a senior aide to Senate Finance for five years.

Her opponent lived in Kenai for 20 years before he suddenly decided to run for state House in Anchorage. He is so poorly known in Anchorage he is running advertisements on the radio where he is being endorsed by the mayor of Kenai. Worse, he has a speckled record of public service. He was the commissioner of Public Safety under Gov. Sarah Palin for a whole 10 days. When Gov. Palin found out he had a letter of reprimand for sexual harassment, he was forced to resign. On top of that, he's been the chief of staff for Conoco-Phillips state Sen. Peter Micciche, part of the Kenai delegation determined to favor Agrium with more corporate welfare.

Voters in District 24, please cast your vote for Sue Levi, who favors your well-being.

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— Mike Kenny
Anchorage

Clinton is most certainly corrupt and the email scandal is real

I read with astonishment the letter from Carol Hoyt of Big Lake in the Nov. 2 issue.

Let's review, "Hillary Clinton is not corrupt. She has had to fight the Republican machine for 30 years and its vicious smear machine." Pass the Kool-Aid.

This drivel is about the least honest politician in American politics in my lifetime. More than 60 percent of the country believes Clinton is dishonest. Ms. Hoyt goes on to propose that the email scandal is "made up." You know the email scandal where "No classified information is on my personal server." Nor was any such material "sent or received" on that server. Both of which assertions have been proven patently false. According to the testimony of the director of the FBI, Clinton has lied to Congress and the American public about her server and its contents.

And the Benghazi incident, "What difference does it make?" Four dead Americans and HRC lies about the cause and then claims the parents of the dead lied when they said what she told them. The woman is despicable and without shame.

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Ms. Hoyt has the temerity to accuse Trump supporters of living in an alternate universe. Even many longtime "Blue Dog" Democrats can no longer abide HRC's continuous lying about everything. I have begun to believe that she can no longer discern the difference between the truth and lies she tells.

Do I wish there was a better choice on the ballot that actually had a chance to win? Absolutely, but Trump voters are not the only ones who may need a clothespin on Tuesday.

— David Kaiser
Eagle River

Votes for Stock and Lindbeck are votes for change

My fellow Alaskans, we face some very stark choices on Election Day. We can choose to change the gridlocked Congress on the national level by voting for change or stick with the incumbents who have shown they have more fealty to their political party than to the voters of the state of Alaska. Remember when Republicans, including Lisa, said that the choice of a new Supreme Court justice should be up to the next president? Now GOP senators are saying that they will obstruct any of a President Clinton's nominees as well. Are you tired of the do-nothing House of Representatives holding 60 nonsensical votes to repeal the ACA knowing full well it was a time- and money-wasting exercise in futility? Tired of endless hearings into made-up non-scandals just to pander to their constituents who are fed conspiracy theories on an hourly basis via right-wing media? Well, it looks like GOP representatives are preparing to waste away more sessions on immediately launching investigations into more made-from-whole-cloth charges against the duly elected POTUS and even impeachment on day one.
Do you want to change the gridlock and partisan rancor that has so infected
Congress?

A vote for Margaret Stock is a vote for a true independent voice in the Senate who will go into office not in debt to corporate interests nor beholden to either political party. She can caucus with whoever has the best policies for moving the country out of the morass.

A vote for Steve Lindbeck is a vote to finally have a representative who enters office untainted by ethics issues that have made Young virtually powerless in his own party. Lisa has shown she is incapable of honestly breaking with the demands of her party while Young is so ethically compromised that he has lost all influence.

Vote for change this election, folks. Vote for Stock and Lindbeck and you can be part of the change that you know needs to happen in the United States House and Senate.

— Robert Atkinson
Seward

Murkowski has proven herself to be the leader Alaska needs

"To hell with politics. Do what is right for Alaska." This phrase inspires pride in Alaskans, clearly illustrating our state's independent spirit and unique way of life.

Sen. Ted Stevens, who first uttered those words, employed that philosophy throughout his 40 years in the U.S. Senate. I was honored to work for Sen. Stevens in Washington, D.C., and witnessed firsthand how effective this simple phrase is when employed by our congressional delegation to ensure the needs of Alaska and our nation are met.

During my time in D.C., I also worked closely with Sen. Murkowski. She was then, and remains today, a highly effective representative of our state. Sen. Murkowski has continued the tradition of working with members of Congress, regardless of political affiliation, to develop innovative solutions to difficult issues.

This election, I have seen Sen. Murkowski's willingness to fight for the interests of all Alaskans disparaged. When did working across the aisle become verboten? When did a party's platform become the litmus test by which our elected officials are measured? As a second-generation Alaskan raising two young daughters, I am concerned whether a candidate for office is a proven leader with a positive vision for our future. I have no interest in candidates who speak in sound-bites without any substance.

In today's uncertain climate, Sen. Murkowski has proven herself to be the leader Alaska requires — demonstrating a vision, commitment, tenacity, and dedication to our state lacking in the other Senate candidates. On Election Day, I will recall the words of Sen. Stevens, my mentor and one of Alaska's greatest advocates, who said, "the future of Alaska … is in your hands." And I will cast my vote for Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

— Karina Walter
Anchorage

The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.

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