Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even my spouse! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and I wrapped all the gifts while he snored like a bear!* Charles Dickens wrote, “Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back the delusions of our […]
Michael Bryan manager “Governor Jerry Brown. He’s going to take the economy further into the toilet.” August Bryan student “Barack Obama. Because he’s not following through with his agenda.” Joshua Brown military technician “Barack Obama. He hasn’t made the change needed to be made.” Cathy Daniels retired “Barack Obama. He has misled the American people.”
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Olivia Gonzales, Grower-Shipper Association vice president of policy, member services, and communications,
I was disappointed to see the lack of balance in Dec. 9’s “Chemical warfare” story regarding the approval of methyl iodide. I had hoped the article would quote actual workers or farmers here in Santa Maria Valley rather than known opponents of pesticides as a whole, whose opinions are nothing if not predictable. These comments […]
Yesterday, Dec. 11, the 49th annual Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade went off (almost) flawlessly. The weather certainly cooperated, but more than anything else our town showed once again how very much it embraces the principles of community. We had wonderful support from the citizens who attended the event in droves and from the merchants […]
Thank you for having the courage to talk openly about child abuse and neglect in our community “(Talk about what’s too terrible to talk about,” Dec. 2). The circumstances surrounding the death of this young boy are certainly heartbreaking, and as a community, we need to respond—not only by scrutinizing the court proceedings and asking […]
Brianna Sheehy student “‘The Christmas Song.’ It’s personally my favorite, but there are so many versions—country, jazz, and classical. Alex Kelly CNA “‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,’ the Michael Jackson one. I hear it all the time in Wal-Mart.” Ashley Hylton photographer “‘Santa Baby.’ It’s even on right now.” Brittany Wright receptionist “‘Jingle Bells.’ […]
Those obviously conservative readers who took offense to my Nov. 18 commentary concerning the 500-pound gorilla (the budget of the defense department) obviously missed something. In the article, I cited a quote from Donald Rumsfeld—you know, the Secretary of Defense in the Bush Administration—who in essence said the Pentagon and its costs are among the […]
After reading Justin M. Ruhge’s opinion letter (“Sophisticated defense doesn’t come cheap,” Dec. 2) I felt compelled to submit a response. Mr. Ruhge’s proclamations were some of the most ignorant, misguided statements I have read in some time. Mr. Ruhge makes a number of offensive assertions, including accusations that “The Muslims have been the menace […]
Regarding “Sophisticated defense doesn’t come cheap” by Justin Ruhge (Dec. 2): As a Canadian traveling through the area, I was appalled by the statements made in this letter and the fact it was even published. “The Muslims must be defeated with focus and determination by freedom-loving people in the world.” How do you “defeat” a […]
I’m glad Mr. Ruhge is retired from his 40-year military and aerospace career. Good riddance. In his Dec. 2 letter (“Sophisticated defense doesn’t come cheap”), he repeatedly exhibits an odious and blatant religious bigotry against adherents to Islam and an ideology constituting a threat to our national security. He conjures “The Muslim threat to the […]
Miles Hack salesman “Age 21. It’s old enough to do everything without being old.” Marrissia Watkins student “Age 6. You get to play all day with no responsibilities.” Ariel Stich student “Age 27. You’ll have your career already on track with no worries about school.” Natalie Hoffman Student “Age 25. You’re still young and active, […]
After years of talking about how the military’s discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy must end, it has finally come down to the next couple of weeks. If the Senate is going to act to repeal this law, they must act now, before a more conservative Congress takes over in 2011. A recent Pentagon […]
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