Will misreads California

Will misreads California

EDITOR:

In his analysis of the Republican primary field in California’s Senate race, George Will once again revealed how poor he is at election predictions. He breezes past the most credible candidate, former Silicon Valley congressman Tom Campbell as unable to win the GOP primary because of his departure from right-wing orthodoxy on issues like taxes, abortion, and the environment. He also breezes past the less credible Carly Fiorina, despite her considerable financial reserves. Instead, he touts the third candidate, right-wing Orange County assemblyman Chuck DeVore, despite the fact that he would be massacred outside the few conservative enclaves in Southern California. Even those uneasy about Boxer’s strident liberalism will flock to her if DeVore is her opponent. The days when a Reagan-style conservative could win statewide in Clifornia are over and have been over for more than a decade.

And to all the right-wingers pointing to Scott Brown’s success in Massachusetts, don’t even attempt to draw a comparison. Brown avoided social issues entirely (and may be forced by political reality to support liberal stands on some topics), and Democrat Martha Coakley didn’t bother to campaign until it was too late. Barbara Boxer, a veteran of many battles with the right, won’t be such easy quarry. Secondly, that was a special election; this is a general election that will also feature a hard-fought governor’s race (in which the far right has no horse). As for the ballot initiatives concerning gay marriage and union dues, Will ignores the fact that, while those measures may boost turnout among conservatives, they may also boost turnout among liberals and labor unions — Boxer’s base.

LUKE TOCHTENHAGEN

McDonald

People here are quick to help

EDITOR:

I was driving home from work recently on I-680 south. There were still some slippery spots from the snowstorm the night before and the car in front of me found one of those spots. I watched the Dodge Stratus start to slide, spin, and then crash into the concrete divider right at the South Avenue exit.

It looked to me to be serious. I pulled over to call 911 and before I was halfway through the call, another car had stopped in front of me. Two young men, who looked to be teenagers, quickly jumped out of their car, came up to me with genuine concern to ask if I was alright. They they went to look after the couple who had crashed their car. About 5 seconds later, two more cars had stopped to try to help. One gentlemen walked toward the oncoming traffic to try to get other drivers’ attention, to slow them down, to help avoid making the situation worse. Thirty seconds after the accident, help was on the way after 6 complete strangers stopped in the middle of the freeway trying to help two other strangers that needed it.

We hear all about our areas problems. Some things we hear, such as the shooting at St. Dom’s, make us doubt what kind of world we live in. What I saw shows that the majority of this area’s people are the best, and I’m glad that I live here.

GEORGE A. DAVIS

Poland