A reply to John Ulfeldt

[I just sent the following letter to the editor to the LCF Outlook.]

I read John Ulfeldt's letter in the June 12 issue with dismay. John lives across the street from me, and so could not have missed the Russ Warner sign displayed prominently on our lawn during the primary election. I could not imagine what would lead him to allege that I support Russ because I want to pick his pockets. And when I asked him, neither could he.

I think we would all do well to remember during this upcoming political campaign season that at the end of the day we are all supposed to be on the same team. We are all Americans. We are all neighbors. This country has serious problems that need to be addressed. There's real work to be done, and it will be a lot easier to do if we think twice before we take pot-shots at each other. And this goes for my Democratic friends too.

I don't like taxes any more than anyone else. But I also look at the record of the last twenty years -- and the last eight in particular -- and it is far from clear to me that the Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility. I support Russ Warner because over the past eight years David Dreier has voted to support the Bush administration over 90% of the time. The results speak for themselves.

Reasonable people may (and do) disagree. But please don't say that the only reason that I could possibly support Russ Warner is that I'm after your wallet. If taxes go up, it's going to be coming out of my wallet too. But there's work to be done, and someone has to pay for it. It can be us, or it can be our children. Russ Warner is ready to step up to the plate, and I'm ready to step up with him. Are you?

Standing Firm for Russ Warner

I submitted the following letter last week to the Valley Sun and The Outlook:

Mr. Dinger’s letter in support of David Dreier reminds me of the “double speak” that has predominated the political speech of the Bush administration and Mr. Dreier in particular.

David Dreier says on Memorial Day, 2008, “What we say to honor those who serve will never be more than lip service if we don’t ensure that our veterans are cared for when they return home.”

Then, this week, Mr. Dreier voted against the “21st Century GI Bill” in spite of the fact that Republican senators John Warner and Chuck Hagel as well as the VFW and IAVA and Vietnam Veterans organizations voted in favor of this bill.

Do you really believe David Dreier represents the feelings of our community toward issues facing this country, Mr. Dinger? I certainly do not share that feeling. I know many in La Crescenta who would stand strong in favor of supporting our veterans as they return home, who would support health insurance for our nation’s children (which Mr. Dreier voted against) and would certainly not have favored the lavish federal spending brought on by the unnecessary war in Iraq. Mr. Dinger, are you really a fiscal conservative and support this administration?

Join the community, Mr. Dinger. Many of us support Russ Warner in large numbers, We will work to unseat David Dreier (contributor to Tom Delay’s defense fund) in the next election, Perhaps you should consider joining the true fiscal conservatives who would bring federal spending for the war under control.

Greta Pruitt