GOVERNMENT

BUSH LEAVING CONGRESS WITH JUST TWO CHOICES

So the president is going to run roughshod over Congress and ignore its actions.

That leaves Congress with two choices: Either impeach the president and convict him of violating the Constitution, or elect Mr. Bush president-for-life and abolish itself.

BUSH

What would liberals change in this picture?

So William Mossman of Kailua (Letter, Jan. 15) is unhappy about George Bush, wants him impeached and is obviously bowing to Teddy Kennedy, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi and their comrades.

So what's your new direction, Mr. Mossman? Regardless of what we feel about Iraq, what else will you and your wonderful liberal leaders change to make our country better?

Perhaps we should look at what is right with America.

Which of these Bush creations would you like to "change," Mr. Mossman?

The stock market is at an all-time high. Unemployment is at a 25-year low. Taxes are at 20-year lows.

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs. The deficit is down 50 percent from the Democratic predictions of 2005. Inflation is in check and at a 20-year low. Osama bin Laden is hiding under a rock. Saddam Hussein and 95 percent of his mass murderers are dead. We've made wonderful progress in Afghanistan, and its people are free.

Libya gave up its very sophisticated nuclear programs without firing a shot. Democratic elections have been held in several Middle Eastern countries for the first time in history. We haven't had a single terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.

But enough is enough, we really need to change this. Let's impeach Bush and hasten the "change" agenda of Mr. Mossman's leaders.

WARS

LBJ NOW REINCARNATED AS GEORGE W. BUSH

Lyndon Baines Johnson is alive and well and cleverly disguised as President Bush. LBJ, the president during the Vietnam War, falsely claimed there was an unprovoked attack on a U.S. destroyer by the North Vietnamese to get Congress to increase troops strength, to escalate the conflict.

In his reincarnation as Bush, he has positioned an armada of naval ships near Iran and has ordered 20,000 more troops.

Since most Americans and many generals called for an end to the war, why does Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appear steadfast in supporting Bush's plan to expand the war?

MOLOKA'I

RESIDENTS HAD INPUT INTO LA'AU POINT PLAN

The letter from Chris Cramer of Honolulu that appeared in The Honolulu Advertiser on Jan. 13 contained inaccurate information about the La'au Point project on Moloka'i that deserves a response.

Specifically, his accusation that the chief executive officer of BIL International, the company that owns Moloka'i Ranch, decided on the La'au Point project is wrong.

The project development is only one part of the Community-Based Land Use Plan for Moloka'i Ranch. As the name says, it was community based. More than 1,000 of Moloka'i's 7,000 residents participated in the creation of the plan during a two-year period and some 120 meetings.

The plan addresses a wide variety of needs on our island, including the protection of our environment and subsistence practices, as well as other things that make up the traditional Moloka'i lifestyle. It also contains ways to strengthen our economy and provide badly needed jobs on our island.

All kinds of people worked long and hard to develop the plan, including our kupuna.

As a mother of three young children, I have lived almost my entire life on Moloka'i. The process of including the community in planning its future and the entire package, including the managed and controlled development at La'au, is something that I fully support for the future of my family and community.

Mr. Cramer does not speak for many of us on Moloka'i.

ESPERO RESPONDS

D.R. HORTON POSITION IS AN APPROPRIATE ONE

I am responding to Garry Smith's comments about my part-time employment with D.R. Horton-Schuler Division.

My work at D.R. Horton does not include "lobbying" as Mr. Smith suggests, but centers on maintaining strong community relations for the company.

I am involved with the company's "Read to Win" program, which is designed to urge more elementary school students to read. More than 800 students participate. I also oversee development of the company's quarterly community newsletter and other outreach activities with non-profit and community organizations.

I do not lobby on behalf of the company, nor do I get involved with helping it obtain permits or approvals. Therefore, the state's Ethics Commission has advised that my position as a community relations manager is appropriate.

Garry Smith also incorrectly states that I paved the way for Gentry and Haseko to build homes in 'Ewa Beach. In fact, the City Council and mayor had final say on these projects.

As a resident of 'Ewa Beach, I am concerned about development that doesn't incorporate smart-growth concepts, and I continue to advocate for these principles.

My voice and input will always have the concerns of 'Ewa Beach and West O'ahu residents at the forefront.

RESIDENCY

KAMA'AINA RATES FOR ALL NATIVE HAWAIIANS

I beg to differ with Jonathan Higa's letter (Jan. 14). He feels that all residents of Hawai'i are entitled to kama'aina prices just because they are residents.

Kama'aina means land child or native born, and kama'aina prices have been around longer than Higa's 15 years in the hotel business.

I am a Native Hawaiian who has lived in California for more than 45 years, and the blood in my veins is and will always be Native Hawaiian. I have and will continue to use kama'aina prices because it is my given right as a native-born to do so.

It's like Native Americans: They don't lose any of their rights because they don't live on the reservations.

LAST QUEEN

LETTER DISTORTED TRUTH ABOUT LILI'UOKALANI

This letter is in response to Kenneth R. Conklin's Jan. 15 letter, "Queen can't be linked with King, Gandhi."

I'm sorry, Mr. Conklin, but I was unaware that an attempt to recover an illegally occupied throne was such a "violent crime."

In addition, the fact that the weapons hidden in the queen's garden were never used certainly cannot label it as such. On the contrary, the only crime that was committed were those of the conspirators of the overthrow.

Thus, do not lessen the severity of the queen's imprisonment, because the fact of the matter is she should not have been locked up to begin with.

Also your racial allegations toward the queen are misleading and irresponsible. Her foremost concerns were those of the Hawaiian people, and when referring to "my people," she was implying all subjects loyal to the Hawaiian monarchy.

It is quite obvious that your biased position toward the Hawaiian people has influenced your perspective on these matters, causing you to distort the truth.

I am of Hawaiian ancestry and I acknowledge that our beloved queen cannot be held in the same regard as these men with all their great accomplishments.

But that does not mean we should revere her any less. For what Martin Luther King is to the African Americans, Queen Lili'uokalani is to the Hawaiian nation.

KING PARADE

ORGANIZERS THANK ALL WHO HELPED, TOOK PART

"On calendars, it's called the Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. But it's more like a two-hour peace party that marches from one end of Waikiki to the other," staff writer Mike Gordon wrote in the Jan. 16 Honolulu Advertiser.

In the spirit of the "Peace Party," we the members of the organizing committee of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition-Hawaii, send mahalo to all of the people who participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. events.

We cannot begin to name all the people it takes throughout the year to create a "Peace Party."

So to all the numerous volunteers; the mayor and countless employees of the City and County of Honolulu; the Royal Hawaiian Band; the legislators who participated; the corporations that donated cars and materials; the cosponsors and, of course, the workers in the vineyard — those who have gone before, those who are with us now and those yet unburned, who give so much and get so little, mahalo!

GOLF

WIE NOT YET READY FOR MEN'S TOURNAMENTS

Michelle Wie's dismal performance at the Sony Open this week strengthens the argument for the teen golfer to give up playing with the men, at least for now.

There is no denying Wie's talent, but I do question her emotional and professional maturity.

Wie's future is bright and she has much to look forward to, but she needs to grow in maturity and experience before playing with the men again.

LEGACY

SURF TRADITIONS LIVE ON IN HAWAI'I'S HO FAMILY

It's always great to read about the surfing Ho family (Sports, Jan. 12). Even though Brian Ho, mother of Coco and Mason, does not surf, many old-timers will remember Brian from her years at the now-legendary Hale'iwa club Steamers during the heady mid-1980s.

As DJ, Brian held late-night court, spinning rock and roll tunes to a wild and voracious mix of local surf residents and visitors.

I left my home on the North Shore for Maui many years ago but it is terrific to read that the long marriage of Michael's cool finesse and Brian's live-wire have produced offspring who will continue a fine Hawaiian surf legacy.