GOVERNOR

LINGLE FULLY ENGAGED IN HAWAI'I NEEDS, ISSUES

Lee Cataluna's column ("Is Lingle losing her local cred?" Oct. 17) speaks volumes about her.

Cataluna took statements Gov. Linda Lingle made in Colorado (not Nevada) in our opinion clearly out of context. Had she asked about the full content of the governor's interviews, she would have learned the true nature and substance of all her statements.

For the record, the governor was responding to comments made by Sen. Barack Obama to a Colorado audience about knowing "western" issues.

The governor made the point that by claiming Hawai'i as part of the "western" states, Sen. Obama's attempt to connect with Colorado voters was disingenuous.

The governor stressed that Sen. John McCain represented Arizona, a far more "western state," for nearly three decades, while Sen. Obama represented Illinois for most of his adult life. It is ridiculous to say the governor never acknowledged Obama was born in Hawai'i and went to Punahou.

Second, the governor is working on local campaigns and is actively assisting candidates. She has "conceded" nothing.

Third, Cataluna could have gone to her own office last week when the governor met with the publisher, seven editors and reporters to lay out a plan to stimulate the economy. Contrary to Cataluna's previous statements, the governor does not sit around making "arbitrary" spending cuts.

The governor laid out her travel plans — at no expense to taxpayers — which totaled only 2 1/2 days this week.

Fourth, even while traveling, the governor is completely engaged at home, in touch with her Cabinet and in communication with industry leaders.

The governor has never "lost focus" or her energy to complete her job and is dedicated to working until the last minute of the last day to move our state forward.

Your readers deserve facts, not commentary that leaves false impressions.

PRESIDENTIAL RACE

MCCAIN BETTER CHOICE FOR HAWAI'I RESIDENTS

Sen. Barack Obama and I share a number of things in common. We are both from Hawai'i, are minorities, are from unique family lineages and are graduates of Punahou and law school. Unlike Obama, I stayed in Hawai'i to make a contribution.

The question is, how do Barack Obama's promises help Hawai'i's ordinary citizens.

Obama's business tax plan would punish Hawai'i consumers and businesses. His proposal of higher taxes would lead to higher consumer prices and stifle business expansion resulting in fewer jobs, causing younger workers to seek Mainland employment.

Obama's opposition to retrieving oil from U.S. reserves would hurt Hawai'i's economy since the state is dependent on foreign oil. His anti-military stance would jeopardize maintaining a healthy level of military spending. Further, the inventory of affordable housing would be depressed through Obama's increased capital gains tax.

John McCain will be a champion for Hawai'i by ensuring a healthy business environment with new job creation, and by maintaining strong military spending.

MCCAIN WILL CONTINUE TO ERODE FREEDOMS

On Oct. 11 you published a letter expressing fear that if one ticket wins, erosion of the Constitution, socialism, increased dependence on government and other ills will result. I share the fear — but of the opposite ticket.

How is it possible to miss that the present administration has disastrously eroded our constitutional protections and freedoms? As for socialism — does the reader not mind being a serf to a gang of ignorant thugs who've just destroyed the economy, and with it our retirement, our children's education and every other security our hard work should have bought us?

The recent "bailout" solved nothing, but made us, as taxpayers, indentured servants to Wall Street, banks and big business, paying them even more for their bad decisions than the millions they've already made — with no obvious benefits to us.

Have any of those CEOs offered to donate any of the multiple millions they were paid? Was anyone fired for the half-million-dollar exclusive retreat that immediately followed the bailout of one of those companies?

As for dependence on government — how can it possibly be increased when government has bankrupted us and itself with war and corporate bailouts?

Your reader fears Obama-Biden? It's McCain-Palin who terrify me. The current administration uses crisis to take more and more away from us, and there's nothing to suggest a reversal of those policies at a time when we face an emergency of monumental proportions.

CONCON

GOVERNMENT COULD BE WORKING MUCH BETTER

Your Oct. 12 article on the debate for a Constitutional Convention was very informative. From what I've seen, the more people know about a Constitutional Convention, the more likely they are going to vote for it.

With the economy, presidential campaign and rail debate overshadowing substantive discussions on a Constitutional Convention, seemingly too many people are relying on campaign ads for their information. These ads are funded by a narrow group of special interests that don't reflect the diversity of our community.

There is no "silver bullet" issue I want to address, but I know that government could be working much better. Our residents should have a forum away from the politicians and special interests in which we can take a fresh look at how our government operates.

A Constitutional Convention is healthy for our democracy, and it will help to involve our residents in government again.