Question: It’s open forum week. What’s on your mind?
• If you move to Newton, you should have seen the trains go through Newton, and if you didn’t like it, you should have stayed out. And those who were born here should not complain because they’ve always had the trains here. If you build a bypass, overpass, underpass, whatever, it will take away Main Street and there will be no Newton.
• For some reason, I got on Orrin Hatch’s e-mail list and quite often I receive a communication from him. His message is always the same, lies distortions about Obama’s policies. I consider it trash. I never would forward it to my friends or use the material in any political discussion. I do reply to Hatch, letting him know how wicked I think his statements are and let him know that when I listened to Guiliani, Thompson, Romney and Liebermann during the Republican convention, I wondered if I had mistakenly tuned in to “The Liars’ Club” or “It Pays to Be Ignorant.” Shame on those Republicans who still play childish games in such a serious situation. The world is watching. I don't want them to think all Americans or even all Republicans are so unfriendly with truth. How can they trust us when some Republican leaders spew forth lies every time they open their mouths.
• Does anyone know when these flocks of starlings will have moved on? They seem to have multiplied.
• If McCain were to die while president, it would be Palin’s job. She’s pleasant and attractive. However, just being a mayor in a small town couldn’t possible have prepared her to be president of the United States. You know people who have been mayors. Think — did they learn to be presidents of the United States?
• I agree wholeheartedly with the Newton Young Professionals when they say we need a YMCA, not an activities center. I believe the people of Newton would get better service from a YMCA.
• Scared to death? You bet I am. We have huge financial problems, and some politicians like John McCain are trying to solve it. There is Bush — oh where is Bush in all this. Why has he let things get so bad? What is Barack Obama doing? Just trying to get more votes to become president. President of what? We’d better save our country now so we will have a nation to be proud of.
• I think the residents of Newton really need to start attending the city meetings. I was treated as if I did not belong there, and all I did was go to a public meeting. I was actually asked if I was a reporter. Somebody needs to be paying attention. These are elected officials who are representing the people.
• I think the greatest problem in the world today is the lack of respect for those of different color, gender, culture, religion, etc. The whole world must be laughing at us for assuming we are role models for them to follow. The Republicans put us all to shame with their lies and dirty tricks. We all need to work at correcting our character flaws so we can respect ourselves; then we can respect others.
• The biggest issue facing America today is honesty in government. We are still fighting a very expensive war based on the false “weapons of mass destruction” premise. When leaders of government are dishonest, dishonesty trickles down to the rest of society.
• To my fellow Republicans — Being a longstanding Republican, I urge each of you to closely observe and monitor the vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin when she is on TV. Polls show the Democrats are widening the gap of popularity, and articles by national columnists, yes, even Republicans, are saying she is out of her league; even I have observed this. Have you listened closely when she is being interviewed and how confused she gets at times and repeats herself terribly? To me she does not look a bit confident when speaking. Speak to party leaders and urge them to either get her more knowledgeable, or it is not too late to have her return to her family in Alaska. We cannot take the chance of her losing the battle for us at this time. Sen. McCain is doing a great job, as usual.
