Putting the nation’s interests first

Now that the midterm elections are behind us, I want to thank my constituents for the continued opportunity to serve.

I first ran for office because I wanted to ensure that the country we pass on to our children is even better and stronger than the one we inherited. As the father of two young children, it is still what motivates me. But that intergenerational compact is at risk.

I understand how deeply people are hurting in this poor economy, as well as how many others are worried about our country’s future. We will have to work hard to prepare our nation to compete and win in an increasingly global workplace.

We must confront the need to balance our budget and pay down our debt, issues that I have been focused on as a Blue Dog Coalition member since my first days in Congress. And, now that we are entering an era of divided government, it will be more important than ever to find bipartisan answers to the challenges we face.

I am optimistic that all of this can be done and that our best days are yet ahead of us. It will require us to change our political discourse, to stop demonizing those who hold a contrary view, and to put the best interests of the nation ahead of all else.

The road ahead will be long and hard at times, but they say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. So let us begin; and thank you again for your confidence.

Your Congressman,

Adam Schiff

Burbank

Ike took responsibility for his watch

Lately I’ve grown weary of the election ads on TV. Instead, I turned to the Military Channel, which had been showing footage from World War II.

I was taken by the character of Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, supreme Allied commander during the D-Day invasion of Europe and Normandy. Soon after this successful event, by way of radio, the general addressed the people of Western France, if not the world, and explained the happening.

In his pocket, “Ike” had another prepared statement, declaring just in case that the invasion failed, and that the failure was his fault, and his fault alone.

President Obama on the other hand, after 20 months of being in charge, is still blaming George W. Bush for all of today’s slip-ups.

John Wallace

Glendale

Glendalian is not in Kansas anymore

The Nov. 2 election showed that no-brain Californians are out of step with the rest of the nation!

If you live elsewhere and want to run for office, come to California, establish a residence somewhere in a motel, say you are Democrat and you’re a shoo-in!

It also showed that mud-slinging (by governor-elect Jerry Brown) does get you somewhere.

There is one bright spot for me. My former home state of Kansas has returned to the Republicans after ousting Kathleen Sibelius to the Obama cabinet.

Now, let’s get started on clearing the rest of the Washington mess by getting the Senate a new president!

Francis Adams

Glendale