Taken aback by an endorsement
Re “He should be back,” editorial, Oct. 15
In your endorsement of Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor of California, you state, “Schwarzenegger correctly senses that a leader with good instincts and confidence is more effective -- and more inspiring -- than one with a good plan and a lot of details.” I’d say that is the kind of fuzzy thinking that got President Bush into office and America into the hellish mess in Iraq.
Challenger Phil Angelides is assuredly the better man and better candidate.
JON STEPHENS
Palo Alto
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Your endorsement of Schwarzenegger for governor is more evidence you are caving to conservative influence. Does your editorial board even read your news articles, in particular one front-page article (“Insurers Liking the Coverage of Schwarzenegger’s Policies,” Sept. 24) on Schwarzenegger being in the pocket of the insurance industry? And his disgusting veto of the universal healthcare bill for California that our Legislature passed? What has happened to your editors, who in the past had the courage to take an unpopular view, polls be damned? Any opinion that will increase circulation, is it?
MARY ANN GILMOUR
Whittier
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I am a 50-year-old gay Chicano. Over the last few decades I have participated in the struggle for equality in both my communities. In your endorsement of Schwarzenegger, you’ve neglected to mention his veto of important pieces of gay legislation. Is that the “moderate course for California” The Times is endorsing? Why must equality for gay Californians be constantly put on the back burner? This gay Chicano will not be voting for Schwarzenegger. My vote will be cast for a progressive California, where everyone is equal and where it won’t be heterosexual business-as-usual.
CARLOS D. CHAVEZ JR.
Los Angeles
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I am amazed! Your offices are only a few miles from Hollywood, and you still can’t tell when an actor is acting. Schwarzenegger hasn’t renounced his extreme right-wing ideas, like taking the pensions from the widows of police officers and firefighters; he has only acknowledged that he will have to find another way to go about it. This is the same governor who betrayed the majority of California voters by going to Ohio and helping swing the 2004 election to President Bush. Did Fox Broadcasting buy The Times?
ARNOLD PIERCE
Shingle Springs, Calif.
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I’d just like to remind everyone that our governor stood in front of that subliminal “old rugged cross” at the Republican National Convention in 2004 telling us what a great job President Bush was doing and that we needed his “guidance” for four more years. There are no safe Republicans anymore, least of all Schwarzenegger. Just ask any teacher, nurse or firefighter in California.
As we watch the GOP crumble because of arrogance and corruption, one can only wonder why anyone would vote for a Republican, let alone any incumbent. It’s time for a change, on every level, be it city, state or national.
DOUG HARD
Upland
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I think The Times’ readership would be better served if the paper had endorsed neither candidate for governor.
Our current governor has reneged on promises regarding campaign funding, the role of special interests, reducing state indebtedness and representing all Californians, to cite just a few. Yet The Times chose to ignore these broken promises even though it took former Gov. Gray Davis to task for the same things.
Is there something else at play in the paper’s endorsement? Maybe Chicago wants to keep Schwarzenegger in Sacramento so he won’t clutter up the theaters with his films. It certainly can’t be because he is a great leader who delivers on his promises.
GARY ST. CLAIR
Monterey Park