Real change

I would first like to say how impressed I was with Sarah Palin's speech Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention. She was charming and engaging and I feel that everyone watching was given a good look at who this candidate really is.

Mrs. Palin has added something wonderful to the McCain ticket and it's hard to believe there are some who doubt this. Democrats, with their constant whining about change, are now given the opportunity to see it firsthand.

Those on the left and people who are undecided who think Barack Obama may be the "clear choice" because of his "good judgment" should pay attention to the facts of this election instead of the hype. Sarah Palin and John McCain are the obvious choice if what you want is real change.

EMILY LAU
Ross

Bush-like blather

It was all I could do to keep my dinner down while watching the Republican National Convention on Wednesday evening.

Having to endure the entire cast of characters and then Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin tell us how much they love freedom, while those of us watching at home are painfully aware of the continuing destruction of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution at the hands of the Bush administration, was appalling.

Are things really going so great for the bottom 90 percent of this country that you want more of the same? If you think these two are game-changers, you are not paying attention.

ELAINE ROTH SMITH
Lawrence

Belittling activists

According to the Republican convention speeches of Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin, the job of community organizer is something to be mocked and belittled. They are obviously unaware of the powerful role that local organizing has played in our country's history. Every significant change in America was started by a small group of local activists -- from the colonies' move toward independence, to the abolition of slavery, to the fights for women's suffrage and civil rights, and even the recent neo-conservative movement.

John McCain's surrogates seek to discredit these grass-roots contributions, while hypocritically touting their own "small-town" virtues. I will gladly choose Barack Obama's community-based experience over the misguided, corporate-friendly "executive experience" of Mr. McCain and crew.

JOAN STEVENSON
Point Breeze

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