Guest View

I owe a note of thanks to the Republicans of Morgan Hill. Santa Clara County was the only one of the four counties of the 11th Congressional District where I defeated Pombo in last June's primary election.

Have you ever encountered one of those annoying people who will bore you to distraction with cute stories about the time she got lost? Perky Pollyanna who took a wrong turn on the way to wherever – and just happened onto this marvelous restaurant where the waiter insisted on serving her all evening with champagne on the house. Or when she stumbled upon the quaintest little antique jewelry store where a fabulous diamond and pearl brooch had just gone on sale – it was such a steal! And all this because she accidentally got lost. 

"You're too stupid to vote."

Many of the responses to my July 11 column about the sadness and sickness of the violence in the Middle East are attempting to label me in inaccurate ways; so I thought this column could help define who I am and what I believe. By doing this I hope we'll keep an ongoing discussion on track, and off personalities.

Where the heck is Al Gore when you need him? 

Maybe your worst job ever was when you were in high school. Or maybe it was during college, or your first professional job. Or, perhaps, you've just retired from it. No matter. The fact is that we've all had jobs that in retrospect make us wince, lament or laugh out loud. Actually, a bad job should be a rite of passage. And, our "bad jobs" should be a learning experience. Bad jobs teach us humility, patience, and fortitude and how to get along with others. Most importantly, they teach us to aspire to something better.

As a columnist I feel I have done a reasonable job when I receive praise and angry responses to the same piece. My column on the Israeli/Palestinian issue was light on facts, but the facts were definitely accurate.

Have you complained about the high cost of houses in Morgan Hill? If you own a home you may be benefiting from the high prices or, at least, feel you are. Unfortunately to benefit from these prices you need to sell your home and move elsewhere. High prices in themselves do not provide any real benefit. The real result of these prices is that our sons and daughters are going to have a much tougher time buying their first home.

Repeat after me… "I love summer. I love heat. I love summer. I love heat. I love…" Oh, for heaven's sake – it's Hot outside!

Frankly, I am getting tired of the political rhetoric that continues to define conflicts over environmental regulation as a property rights issue. That is a sham foisted on us by those who think it their God-given right to make the maximum amount of money at our expense and the politicians, like Richard Pombo, who find this a convenient rallying cry.