PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Gingrich is the trueconservative choice

Wake up and stand up, conservatives!

Any voting conservatives should be ashamed of themselves if they are not supporting Newt Gingrich for president. Those who call themselves conservative politicians should be public about their support, and the rest of us voting conservatives should be encouraging others to vote for the only true conservative in the race that has a chance of beating the moderate from Massachusetts.

Even if Mitt can beat Obama, he isn’t as good a choice as Newt. Newt makes specific proposals, gives specific timelines for conservative action he would take as president. Mitt doesn’t. We need contrast against the incumbent.

Newt is inspiring and knows more about this country, its history, how things are done, about science than any other candidate. Newt is the only one with proven success in the highest levels of government.

Newt has made enemies in the Republican establishment that now hold him back with disinformation. They whine about how Newt treated them when he got things done as speaker of the House. Don’t let the selfish, petty establishment distract you. Vote for a fighter willing to step on toes to get this country out of the ditch and back on track.

CHRIS ATHERTON, Eagle

Get back to freedom;support Ron Paul

Are you happy with the direction the president is taking our country? I know I am not!

With our national debt, SOPA, NDAA, the bailouts, the Patriot Act, voting fraud, lack of justice, and the erosion of our liberty, I can’t sit by anymore and let our country fall!

We were founded as a republic, not a democracy. We are all Americans; let us not be divided anymore. We may never agree on everything, but we must all agree that we believe in freedom if we are to survive as a country!

If you are planning to vote this time for president, I recommend that you look at the honest, principled and consistent conservative, Dr. Ron Paul. He voted against the bailouts, voted to go after Osama, but against the Iraq War, votes in favor of gun rights, and he predicted the housing bubble years before it happened.

Do not believe what the media tells you, It is just propaganda. They lied about WMDs in Iraq, the bailouts, and who knows what else?

Ron Paul has been for the people for the last 30 years. It’s time to get back to freedom! Vote Ron Paul 2012.

MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Athol

Vote red, then smile

Thank God the red state of Idaho is e pluribus unum .... a state with a Republican governor. Leftliberal Marxists are seeing red. Red state governors will reverse the tenebrous decline of their states’ economic condition created solely by Barack Obama’s “handouts for free mentality.”

Red flags are going up, as Barack Obama’s popularity plummets like a rock in the Red Sea.

Opposing the Keystone XL pipeline is just another red mark on his horrific presidency, which cost us 20,000-plus jobs. Canada is threatening to sell the oil to Red China. Really!

As if Barack Obama hasn’t lied through his teeth before — in his 2009 State of the Union speech, he “promised to reduce the deficit” — in half — by 2013. Balderdash. A bold-faced, red-faced lie ... he’s added $4 trillion and more red tape.

As the Red Chinese continue to buy Barack Obama’s debt, you’ll be living in the red river valley and penniless. Unless you’re liberal ... where everything will be free from your bankrupt Uncle Sam.

Roses are red, violets are blue, Obama’s all but gone, make it come true! Valentine’s Day is for lovers — for the love of God, vote him out. Vote red. Then smile.

DANO SAVINO, Kuna

TEACHERS

Cut out the middleman

Although Idaho Education Association membership has declined below a majority in many districts, teachers can retain their bargaining privileges if they exercise their right to form “local only” associations and gain a majority in an election.

“Local only” associations have distinct advantages. Without the expense, politics, and tactics of the IEA-National Education Association middleman, more teachers may join, thereby strengthening the local association’s voice.

Set loose from managing cumbersome NEA-supervised contracts, teachers may even find more money available for salaries and benefits. Increasingly embraced across the country, no “local only” association (once formed) has ever returned to the NEA.

Northwest Professional Educators (NWPE) is a nonpartisan, non-union association that empowers teachers to form effective “local only” associations. For a fraction of the cost of IEA-NEA dues, NWPE provides teachers with caring support and non-bargaining benefits and negotiation resources.

Teachers do have a choice. “Local only” associations partnered with NWPE can lead to a new environment where teachers receive the respect, recognition and reward they deserve.

CINDY OMLIN, executive director,

Northwest Professional Educators,

Spokane

OIL PIPELINE

President’s policies denyrecovery, independence

Having recently traveled a long distance to visit my family over the holidays, it's apparent to me that we need to do something in this country to achieve energy independence.

We shouldn’t shrug off opportunities to do this, just to keep the peace with the liberal left. This is exactly what President Obama has done: accommodate the left, while denying Americans energy independence and delaying much needed jobs with the Keystone pipeline.

I am in agreement with Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson. “The president talks a lot about job creation, but his policies have done nothing to remove the real roadblocks to true economic recovery.” Poorly made decisions continue to stifle this economy, and Americans continue to struggle with unemployment and high energy costs with President Obama at the helm of this ship.

LORI A. BAILEY, Boise

Citizens would benefitfrom interstate pipeline

Having been a USFS smoke jumper, logging truck driver, heavy equipment hauler, Boise Cascade modular hauler, I’ve been around most of Idaho.

Back in the Midwest, I laid cradles for the interstate pipeline, thus gleaned knowledge of that construction project.

It would do best for the Republican congressmen of Idaho if they would push for that Interstate Oil Pipeline, to come from Canada down through Idaho to North Salt Lake City, Utah. That would allow a two-way pipeline for both crude oil and back flow of gasoline, from the many refineries of that area of Utah, with an additional spur pipeline taking off following Chevron’s pipeline over into Oregon and farther on.

My letter of such to President Obama went unanswered, and now I see why, as he vetoed a bill yesterday.

The people of Idaho and Oregon could enjoy a much lower cost at the pump for gasoline, if this were pushed through Congress.

MERRITT ANDERSON, New Plymouth

EAGLE FUN DAYS

On parade day, more water equals more fun

During the Eagle Fun Days water parade, I think that the people on the side of the road should have more protection. Some water cannons, along with some walls and a lot more water, would be nice. Most of the time, people are out of water before it’s over.

My idea is that everyone could bring extra water for those who run out quickly and that we could share ideas for great water cannons. Maybe the Eagle city Web page could make a page for ideas about water cannons.

ELI KING, Boise