SENATE RACE

EDITORIAL RECOGNIZED THIELEN'S STRENGTHS

Your Oct. 8, 2006 editorial was so strong in its praise of me, and so weak in its discussion of Sen. Dan Akaka, that I had to read it twice to grasp that you were endorsing him, not me.

It seems that your heart and your head were both telling you that I would be a more effective and energetic senator for Hawai'i, though you didn't quite have the nerve to actually endorse me.

I am confident the people of Hawai'i will recognize my strengths as you did, but will have a little more independence in the voting booth than you do on your editorial pages.

I do thank you for recognizing my energy, talents and (in your words) "admirable record."

CONFLICT

ISRAEL HAS BEEN THE MIDEAST AGGRESSOR

Reading Marion Waxman's letter about poor Israel (Oct. 8) made me realize how my heart goes out to that poor little country surrounded by all those terrible Arab countries. How awful to be the only country in the region to have an estimated 400 nuclear warheads and the fourth strongest army in the world, plus U.S.-made air war vehicles and weapons of mass destruction, plus millions of cluster bombs to kill and maim those aggressive Lebanese and Palestinian men, women and children who dare to rise against the sadistic Israeli occupation in resistance with their homemade bombs and stones.

Israel has only killed 786 Palestinian children while the Palestinians have killed 121 Israeli children (since Sept. 29, 2000). Bad, bad Arabs!

One Israeli soldier has been captured while Israel has only some 9,600 Palestinians illegally held in prison. How terrible!

And, lest we forget (or lie), the invader is Israel: Egypt, 1956; Egypt, Syria and Jordan, 1967; Lebanon, 1978, 1982, 2006; Iraq, 1981; Palestine, in a continuous condition of illegal military occupation since 1967.

TRANSIT

O'AHU LACKS ALTERNATIVE ROUTES, THUS NEEDS RAIL

Cliff Slater, a strong opponent of the mass transit rail system, often quotes an 8/80 rule in his articles, which is probably true to some extent.

However, there is a missing link that needs to be considered.

Many of the cities Mr. Slater cites that have had low rail ridership are large metropolitan areas. Many of the large cities on the Mainland have many alternative routes one can travel to get from point A to point B.

There are very few alternative travel routes in the Islands. Rail will provide that necessary alternative route through the most congested areas.

Although elevated roadways using HOT lanes may appear to be a solution, there is still the problem of what happens when drivers reach their destinations and must then travel on congested streets. Back to square one. And parking is another issue.

Rail is the way to go. Rail will be able to handle the increased ridership when traffic gets to the point of standstill in the future.

AMENDMENT

AGE CUTOFF FOR JUDGES AN ARBITRARY, SILLY LAW

I note that my friends at the Hawai'i State Bar Association have voted to reject the constitutional amendment that would remove the 70-year-old mandatory retirement age for judges.

With respect, this aging lawyer believes the existing provision ignores the crucial role of experience in the courtroom, constitutes flagrant age discrimination inside the very institution that must condemn it and sacrifices some of Hawai'i's finest judges each year because of an arbitrary age limit.

Physicians face no similar bar, nor do mayors, governors, generals, admirals, U.S. senators or the president. Are their jobs less important or their occupations less prone to senility?

Four U. S. Supreme Court justices would no longer sit on that court if it was governed by Hawai'i's archaic law, and two more would face imminent retirement. No member of that court has retired below the age of 70 since World War II.

Two of Hawai'i's finest federal trial judges, Sam King and Martin Pence, served into their 90s with distinction, offering wit, wisdom and fairness as good or better than their younger colleagues. There can be no better example of this needless waste than Judge Harry Tanaka, the Yale-educated jurist who gave 10 years of brilliant service to the Hawai'i Intermediate Court of Appeals, only to disappear at age 70 in 1991. He should have been elevated to the Hawai'i Supreme Court, not turned out to pasture because of this silly law.

'AINA HAINA

CONDO PROJECT IS TOO MUCH FOR COMMUNITY

'Aina Haina is a small and peaceful community of single-family houses, where most people know each other. In the past two to three years, we have been affected by overdevelopment of the Hawai'i Kai area. That has resulted in an enormous increase in traffic, gridlock and congestion on Kalaniana'ole Highway, and an increase in crime in the Hawai'i Kai, Niu Valley and 'Aina Haina areas.

Now, we find out that there is a request by a developer to construct 15 condominiums above the 'Aina Haina Elementary School. With so much other land available on O'ahu, why are permits given to overdevelop already busy areas?

Some of our homes are built against the downside of Wai'alae Iki Ridge, and there is an enormous risk for falling rocks, boulders and mud slides.

Why can't these developers, who are only interested in making more and more money for themselves, be steered to other less dense and less populated areas, such as Kapolei, Waimanalo or Kalihi Valley?

Please help us put a halt to the overdevelopment of East Ho-nolulu, and in particular to 'Aina Haina!

ELECTION 2006 RACES DRAW REACTION, RESPONSE

IWASE ATTACKED BUSH SO AS TO CRITICIZE LINGLE

Message for Randy Iwase: George Bush is not running for governor. Let the sleaze begin. Randy can't attack Gov. Linda Lingle's record, so he attacks her relationship with President Bush.

His strategy is: "People hate George Bush. Linda Lingle is a friend of George Bush. Therefore, you should vote for him instead of her."

Randy, is that the best you've got? You blamed Governor Lingle for the lack of new prisons and the policy of housing some prisoners on the Mainland. Let me refresh your memory. Gov. Ben Cayetano tried to build a new prison for eight years, and the public protested every proposed site. He gave up, and it was Cayetano who initiated the program to house some prisoners on the Mainland.

One question the reporters should have asked Randy is, "If elected governor, would you require non-bid contractors to contribute to your campaign fund?"

HSTA ENDORSEMENT IS AN INSULT TO TEACHERS

On top of mindless, albeit well-meaning educational policies, teachers have been further alienated from the rights and privileges granted by their diplomas. This latest insult to teachers is the Hawai'i State Teachers Association endorsement of the challenger to Gov. Linda Lingle.

Teachers, however, may find a little hope in the fact that the congressional candidates are questioning the efficacy of No Child Left Behind.

GUBERNATORIAL DEBATE A STUDY IN CONTRASTS

The Iwase-Lingle gubernatorial debate on Oct. 6 was an interesting portrayal of contrasts.

Both candidates did a good job of presenting divergent views. But there was a marked difference in presentation. Gov. Linda Lingle, for the most part, limited her time to a straightforward and unbiased discussion of the issues, her accomplishments as governor and pressing needs of the state.

Randy Iwase also showed due concern for the issues, but spent much of his time questioning the accomplishments of the governor and too little on how he would improve the administration of state affairs. He belittled the governor for what I consider a positive action of developing an association with the president.

Mr. Iwase indicated that he has a major responsibility of serving the Democratic Party as well as the state. In contrast, the governor responded that the governor's job should be to serve the people, regardless of political affiliation.

A bit of contention was added to the debate when Mr. Iwase alluded to the local-boy-is-best syndrome. Such a designation might gain votes, but it is questionable as a qualification for serving as governor of a diverse society.

HAR WOULD BRING NEW IDEAS AND FRESH VOICE

While the Democrats may not always agree with The Advertiser's endorsements, we have always respected your decision knowing that you have weighed the candidates and the needs of their communities objectively.

Your endorsement of newcomer Sharon Har to represent Kapolei over the combative, long-time incumbent Mark Moses was a surprise, but a welcomed one. We believe that Sharon will bring a fresh voice, a harmonious style and new ideas for the people in her district.

Of course, the respective parties are going to stand up for their own. I would urge the voters to keep an open mind, and compare the candidates with the same objectivity that The Advertiser has applied.