Checkpoint protest
What about
the Bill of Rights?
The following is an open letter to Lou Dobbs concerning illegal aliens. I went to a protest in Port Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 20. I went in defense of our Fourth Amendment and the entire Bill of Rights. American citizens are being stopped by the Border Patrol as long as it is 100 miles from the Canadian border and their lives greatly inconvenienced for the purpose of seeking out “terrorists” and “illegal aliens.” American citizens are being fined for misdemeanor infractions and some taken to jail on discovery of some “crime” at these checkpoints. The protesters read the Fourth Amendment out loud and then proceeded to carry on with dramatics and all, about the abuse that is taking place against illegal aliens, calling them immigrants and abusing our Fourth Amendment unwittingly, or is it?
There was no mention of the violation to an American citizen’s rights whatsoever. We were not even worth mentioning. I was the only constitutionalist out there. The Socialist workers party was there, signs and all to wave. I was asked if I wanted to carry a sign and said, “No, I’m a Constitutionalist.”
I tried to tell her I admired her energy and devotion for coming out and standing up for what she believes but she turned her back on me and walked away on hearing I was constitutionally correct. The Green Party was there in small number. The Code Pink organization was represented also in small numbers. But the point is this: “Where were all those constitutionalists I have met?” Don’t we silently still outnumber the globally supportive comatose? Who do they think is going to stand there for them? I handed a few flyers out for Chuck Baldwin to the local police who were there, they told me, to be of help only if needed. They were very polite and professional.
They do not, it seems, appreciate the checkpoints any more than the liberals who took the time and effort to make a public statement and myself who stood alone, as far as I could tell, strictly for the Fourth Amendment, the Bill of Rights. There is no way I am going to fall back into the matrix and vote for either side of the same party.
I am voting third party and consider it the second party the media choices have become so symbiotic. Thank you for all you do and for allowing me to express this.
Colleen Smith
Kingston
Decision 2008
Reader
supports Cooney
How can representative and candidate Sherry Appleton keep pushing for more socialized public programs when Olympia has a projected deficit of $3 billion already? She claims to have been key in obtaining funding for public health nurse visits for all newborns in Kitsap County regardless of socio-economic status. Rep. Appleton’s idea of government shows her party’s contempt for our personal freedom and sense of responsibility. Are we no longer capable of raising our own infants?
I attended the Education Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters and it is obvious that there will be no innovation, creativity and ultimately no improvement to our school system if we reelect her. In office, she has secured millions in funding, keeps supporting “smaller class sizes” and raising teachers’ salaries. This is not news.
This is what Americans have been doing for 30 years and it is failing miserably.
Her opponent, Larry Cooney, is a leader. He talked about reforming state management practices so our tax money can be better utilized and supports focusing education funds on reading, writing, math and history. He has built a church from scratch, turned around a failing, historic mission in Seattle and now wants to turn his attention to changing Olympia. Larry supports citizens’ individual rights, personal freedom and responsibility. We don’t need more taxation to be thrown at an already bloated, wasteful government. I believe Larry has the heart and backbone to wake up our legislators.
LN Salsbury
Poulsbo
LaCelle’s disgusted, too, about signs
I read with great disappointment your letter regarding the vandalism regarding Commissioner Bauer’s campaign signs. If you knew anything about me, you would know that I would never condone damage to another’s property, and if you had been so kind to identify the individuals involved since you stated that they have “verbally attacked both county officials and other public speakers at public meetings … ” and “ … the few individuals are well known.” I would have happily contacted them personally and asked them to stop such unlawful behavior.
I sympathize as I, too, have been the victim of similar actions, namely theft; as all of my signs disappear on Finn Hill Road, Pioneer Hill Road, and other locations in the north end within a couple of days of them being put up by my volunteers. No one can claim to be a volunteer for my campaign unless they have been asked by me to assist in a task. I assure you that no one has been asked to deface or steal Commissioner Bauer’s signs.
Side issues like this, and any fight that continues because of them, area part of the reason why so many voters are weary of politics, politicians, and campaigns. When we leave the issues, and the most important information the voters need to make decisions, and instead focus on missing signs, which, unfortunately is an expected event in a campaign, we fail to clarify why we are running for office. So I will take this opportunity to ask everyone who reads this to stop defacing or stealing Commissioner Bauer’s campaign signs.
Let’s move on and let the prosecutor’s office take care of the criminals.
Sandra LaCelle
Candidate for Kitsap County Commissioner, Pos. 1
Thank you
Reader is grateful for support
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following who cared for my beloved husband Sverre Nordnes. Montclair Park staff, Dr. George Kina Harrison Medical Center, Belmont Terrace, Martha & Mary Nursing Home and Stone Chapel. Without your professional, courteous and loving care we would not have managed alone. You made a very emotional time bearable.
A special, heartfelt thank you goes to First Lutheran Church and Pastor Alison Shane, also our friends, neighbors and acquaintances for the cards, flowers, phone calls and wonderful turnout to Sverre’s service.
Elaine Nordnes and family
Poulsbo
Reader feedback
I was surprised to read the letter Judith Huber wrote the Herald concerning the “extremely narrow and callous reporting,” by staff writer Kelly Joines regarding her Sept. 17 article about the closing of Brazeau Mobile Home Park. Why would she take exception to a simple article about an old lady selling her property is beside me.
Ms. Huber wasn’t a resident of the park that I know of, and it’s obvious from her letter she knows nothing about the decision to close the park. She whines about the hardships, financial and otherwise, faced by the residents of the closing.
The park has been in the process of closing for over three years and the residents have known about the closing for just as long. Financial hardship? Let’s talk about the financial hardship faced by the owner of the park. How about property taxes being increased into the ozone layer? How about the residents who didn’t pay rent for years while money was spent for lawyers trying to evict them? How about the cost of dismantling and/or moving mobiles that had been literally trashed by an uncaring renter? Trust me when I tell you that no renter has paid a dime for any unpaid rent or removal cost to date.
Bud and Elaine Brazeau worked their tails off to afford a subsidy to their retirement income. A mobile home park should have been easier than it turned out to be. Check the Kitsap County Sheriff’s office blotter for calls ranging from drug dealing to suicide, as well as domestic disturbances, just to name a few. You tell me how an 80-year-old lady can relax in her golden years with all that going on in her backyard.
A three-year notice would be sufficient for anyone having to change his or her residence I would think. The only possible hardship would be those who needed a reference letter and didn’t get one to move into Ms. Huber’s backyard.
Oh yeah, one other thing that bothered Ms. Huber. About Elaine’s “fancy red Cadillac.”
The car is 12 years old, purchased before retirement and Elaine hasn’t been able to drive for over 10 years.
Jerry Mecham, (the son-in-law)
Kingston
