Gov. Sarah Palin is like a shooting star – a meteor streaking through the dead rubble of the McCain campaign. Mirror image of Obama? Not even close. She is a replica of John McCain in reverse. She is the star of his show, a reflection of him in every sense. She can draw the large crowds, which he cannot; she has the high energy, which he does not; she is a comedian, which he is not; she reads the teleprompter well; he gets befuddled.
The Machinists are right to strike. They deserve much better than what they are getting. Boeing is reporting record profits and a seven-year backlog of orders and they still want to cut their employees’ benefits and reduce job security. Is that fair?
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave a rousing speech at the Republican Convention. But the speech, written by one of George W. Bush’s speech writers, didn’t reveal anything about Gov. Palin’s own views on many important issues.
I am thrilled with Sen. John McCain’s selection of Gov. Sarah Palin. I’m so excited that the person with whom Sen. McCain decided he had the most chemistry also happens to be a woman. There is no doubt in my mind that the United States is ready for a female vice president. I am a 22-year-old man now and I remember having a conversation with my mom long ago in which she told me that in the 80s many women couldn’t buy a home without the signature of a man. I remember how angry that made me. Today, we have the opportunity to elect our first female vice president. I admire how she became governor by defeating the Republican incumbent governor in his own primary and a former two-term Democratic governor in the general election. Gov. Palin truly is an independent Republican. When people talk about how Sarah Palin has distanced herself from ineffective and corrupt Republicans in her own state, it’s true! Gov. Palin didn’t just avoid being photographed with corrupt Republicans; she ran against them and beat them! I think Gov. Palin is extremely impressive and my mom and I can’t wait to cast our votes for the McCain/Palin ticket!
If Leiana Smith truly believes the letter from Beatrice Clark was based on “sensationalized reports,” wait until she hears “the rest of the story.” She admits she doesn’t even know the full story, so I will fill in some blanks. There are a variety of ways the WASL test scores can be interpreted, but when it all boils down, we still must admit the educational system is broken and needs to be fixed. I am very concerned about all children, not just mine. Emily Garland’s report only included the Title I schools that did not make Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) in the Renton School District. The other schools on the down list are Black River High, Hazen High, Lindbergh High, Renton High (level 5), McKnight Middle School (level 4), Nelsen Middle School (level 3) and (Dimmitt Middle School, level 4).
In reply to Beatrice Clark’s letter about our “failing” middle schools, it seems to me that she has just listened to sensationalized reports. I can’t speak for Dimmit or Nelson, but here is the information for McKnight. I believe that the following applies to all three schools.
From Washington, D.C., to Washington state, it is TIME FOR CHANGE. The dismal news that all three middle schools in the Renton School District failed to meet the adequate yearly progress (AYP) standard sends a strong message that our children are in deep trouble and we ‘‘cannot afford to wait.” This is a recurring problem in the District which has not been fixed.
Dean Radford wrote an article (Editor’s Note, Aug. 16, Renton Reporter) telling Renton voters to vote for Ms. Maxwell because she is a strong candidate, has an understanding of the Renton community and is a Democrat. The only one of these that should matter in this election is whether she is a stronger candidate.
Now that school is out and the kids will be using the streets and alleys more, and throwing their cigarettes here and there, we need to be more concerned about fire hazards.
If you can stand one more letter regarding “Huckleberry Finn,” I urge everyone interested in other points of view and new insights to buy or check out the July 14, 2008, copy of Time Magazine’s annual “Making of America” Issue. It has a picture of Mark Twain on the front, and the title says “The Dangerous Mind of Mark Twain.” Subtitled articles include:
Nobody is excited about “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” in today’s new and energized culture. The Renton School District needs to move up to the new era of using culturally competent materials in the classroom due to the extreme diversity of our country. Every facet of society is trying to remove the word “nigger” from the forefront of our vocabulary due to its nasty history and purpose and the school systems should be eager to participate. Last summer the NAACP did a mock burial of the word itself, and even the hip-hoppers went under pressure to cease the use of that nasty little word.
Possibly the publication of Norm Abrahamson’s letter in Wednesday’s Renton Reporter was the result of a slow news week, but the triteness and ignorance shown by the writer needs a dose of enlightenment. Since Norm was into the “numbers,” I will start by saying, “It is better to light ‘one’ little candle than to curse the darkness.” That’s the first ray of light. Second, millions and millions of people across the nation have protested the war in Iraq, but it still continues. Still talking about numbers.
I reviewed the USFA/FEMA Web site an earlier writer referenced in support of requiring sprinklers. This and related sites indicate that eventually 2,000 lives each year could be saved by sprinklers. Truth is, as they point out, this will only happen once ALL houses, new and old, are protected.
Letters from readers of the Renton Reporter.
Thank you for the excellent article Emily Garland wrote about our club and also the pictures Matt Brashears took to illustrate it. The Renton Reporter really promoted our club in a positive manner.
Celebrate the Fourth of July and honor our country with patriotism
You chose an interesting political cartoon on June 21, implying that $4-a- gallon gas will push people toward light rail.
In bringing attention to “Huckleberry Finn,” doesn’t Calista Phair realize that she has stirred up a curiosity about what the book says? Now I’d like to read it again, and that can’t be what she would like.
This is a rebuttal to a letter to the editor in the June 21 Renton Reporter. The U.S. Fire Administration, a department of FEMA, estimates the cost of a home sprinkler system at approximately $1 to $1.50 per square foot in new construction as of April 2008. Sprinklering a 2,000-square-foot house would cost $3,000 at the high end, about 0.7 percent on a sale price of $450,000.
As a new homeowner here in Renton and as someone who voted for improving our schools both in March and in May because I know how important having great schools are for one’s city or town, I just wanted to write and say how excited I am about the outcome, how pleased I am to think about what those funds will do for our kids, teachers, schools, and for Renton, and how proud I am of all the people who got their votes in this time.
