Anti Democratic

I am compelled to point out what your editorial "Cast System" (Aug. 18) failed to mention about the Democratic Party platform. As I recall, there was no debate at the Democratic convention on the abortion issue whatsoever. We Republicans find that more than just "unbecoming." It's more like undemocratic. Once again, your pro-Democrat, anti-democratic bias is polluting the minds of your readers. MARK DENNY Tustin

Only sleepwalkers and fanatics slide through life without reconsidering their values and philosophical outlook. Still, I never expected to be challenged quite so fundamentally by a writer of vampire stories and bisexual erotica. Enter Anne Rice, the 68-year-old author of bestselling novels about the sexy undead and, pseudonymously, of various sadomasochistic-inflected tales. Since returning to her girlhood Catholicism more than a decade ago, she's also written a string of devotional volumes and "a spiritual confession" that might best be characterized as rhapsodic.

Live Aid concert organizer Bob Geldof, after blasting the media for getting in the way of world understanding, has urged the creation of a global broadcast university. "It is essential that people be given access to information on matters that influence them," the Irish musician-composer told a Saturday gathering of international broadcasters in Atlanta. Calling television "a hindrance to understanding" and "the single worst anti-democratic force in the world today." Geldorf told the broadcasters that the mass media concentrates on images, quick interviews and controversy at the expense of improving understanding.

With little fanfare, President Obama on Wednesday signed an executive order that was the basis of a deal struck with anti-abortion House Democrats, whose votes were crucial to passing the landmark healthcare overhaul. Obama, coming off a day on which he made full use of White House pageantry to sign the healthcare bill, took a conspicuously low-key approach. No news photographers or reporters were allowed into the signing ceremony in the Oval Office. Nor did the White House circulate a statement confirming that it took place.

Re "Hungary on the brink," Opinion, Oct. 7 One wonders about Andras Gollner's impartiality when he labels Hungary's opposition Fidesz party as dangerously anti-democratic. He conveniently sidesteps the harsh truth revealed in the leaked tape recording in which Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admits that his party had publicly lied about its financial mismanagement of the country to win the election. Despite the outrage and spontaneous demonstrations that this provoked across the country, Gyurcsany not only refuses to resign, but the Stalin-era style constitution makes it practically impossible to remove him from office.

Brosnahan certainly let out all of the stops. He apparently subscribes to the Chestnut Theory of writing--lard your work with enough references to famous people, preferably dead, and famous aphorisms, also preferably dead or dying, and you won't have to think in a straight line or produce a coherent argument. I think the theory is that any piece that refers to Chief Justice John Marshall, Sen. Sam Ervin (D-N.C.) and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in approximately three or four breaths of each other can't be all bad. The only real sour point was the reference to Uganda.

I am outraged at the subhead of "Racism Debate Flares in Israel" (July 9): "Plan to ban sale of land to Arab citizens hits at heart of the controversy over Zionism versus democracy." The implication is that Israeli democrats are not Zionists, and that Zionists are not democrats. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and his Labor Party are against passing this law. Peres and Labor are unquestionably democrats, and most unquestionably are Zionists--those who favor Israel as a Jewish state.

Re "Obama swiftly sets course," Jan. 22 In just a few days, President Obama has reversed anti-democratic Bush administration policies by banning torture, ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay and secret prisons, reopening presidential records, reviving the Freedom of Information of Act, promoting governmental transparency and restricting the influence of lobbyists. It's as if Superman circled the world, reversing time, to revive his first love. This time, democracy. Bob Ladendorf Los Angeles :: Obama jump-starts his presidency by announcing the closing of Guantanamo just two days after he warned killers and terrorists, "we will defeat you."

Re "Hollywood Trio Endorses Governor," Aug. 5 Just say it isn't so. It is utterly unbelievable that Democrats Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Haim Saban have endorsed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for reelection. Would you ever hear of three Republicans endorsing a Democrat -- never! One of the reasons given for their support is the governor's plan to fund schools. I guess these moguls missed the governor's actions a year ago when he withheld more than $2 billion from the state's schools.

Re "Hamas Makes Major Inroad in Balloting," Jan. 26 The U.S. and Israel would be missing a bet if they continue to ignore the reality of the Hamas victory. After extolling the virtues of a democratically held election, to now impose definitional preconditions on acceptance of that election is hypocritical. Such focus on micro-minutia was never applied against Japan following World War II, nor against England following its birthing of Israel, nor is it being followed now in dealing with individual Iraqis who had a bloody hand in the anti-democratic history under Saddam Hussein.

Re "Obama swiftly sets course," Jan. 22 In just a few days, President Obama has reversed anti-democratic Bush administration policies by banning torture, ordering the closing of Guantanamo Bay and secret prisons, reopening presidential records, reviving the Freedom of Information of Act, promoting governmental transparency and restricting the influence of lobbyists. It's as if Superman circled the world, reversing time, to revive his first love. This time, democracy. Bob Ladendorf Los Angeles :: Obama jump-starts his presidency by announcing the closing of Guantanamo just two days after he warned killers and terrorists, "we will defeat you."

Re "Hungary on the brink," Opinion, Oct. 7 One wonders about Andras Gollner's impartiality when he labels Hungary's opposition Fidesz party as dangerously anti-democratic. He conveniently sidesteps the harsh truth revealed in the leaked tape recording in which Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admits that his party had publicly lied about its financial mismanagement of the country to win the election. Despite the outrage and spontaneous demonstrations that this provoked across the country, Gyurcsany not only refuses to resign, but the Stalin-era style constitution makes it practically impossible to remove him from office.

Re "Hollywood Trio Endorses Governor," Aug. 5 Just say it isn't so. It is utterly unbelievable that Democrats Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Haim Saban have endorsed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for reelection. Would you ever hear of three Republicans endorsing a Democrat -- never! One of the reasons given for their support is the governor's plan to fund schools. I guess these moguls missed the governor's actions a year ago when he withheld more than $2 billion from the state's schools.

Re "Hamas Makes Major Inroad in Balloting," Jan. 26 The U.S. and Israel would be missing a bet if they continue to ignore the reality of the Hamas victory. After extolling the virtues of a democratically held election, to now impose definitional preconditions on acceptance of that election is hypocritical. Such focus on micro-minutia was never applied against Japan following World War II, nor against England following its birthing of Israel, nor is it being followed now in dealing with individual Iraqis who had a bloody hand in the anti-democratic history under Saddam Hussein.

I am outraged at the subhead of "Racism Debate Flares in Israel" (July 9): "Plan to ban sale of land to Arab citizens hits at heart of the controversy over Zionism versus democracy." The implication is that Israeli democrats are not Zionists, and that Zionists are not democrats. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and his Labor Party are against passing this law. Peres and Labor are unquestionably democrats, and most unquestionably are Zionists--those who favor Israel as a Jewish state.

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin is a popular leader. He's been tough on rebellious Chechnya, making Russians proud of their military might. Pensioners are getting their checks again, and the economy is looking up. That counts with most Russians for whom the collapse of the Soviet Union meant uncertainty and poverty.

The country's strongest anti-Communist force said Wednesday that it is quitting the coalition government, a move likely to cause the collapse of the government and early elections. With the departure of the Democratic Party, the governing coalition is now almost exclusively made up of the renamed Communists, the Socialists. An all-Socialist government fell last June because of massive strikes and protests.

An apparently spontaneous uprising of masses of Haitians against roving gangs of anti-democratic terrorists left at least four people dead Wednesday and dramatically altered the campaign atmosphere of presidential and National Assembly elections--Haiti's first in 30 years--scheduled for Sunday.

Opponents of the massive Playa Vista development near Marina del Rey were thwarted Friday in an attempt to appeal an initial city approval of the project when they learned that the appeal would cost them $64,000. Apiece. State Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), the city of Santa Monica and the homeowners group Friends of Sunset Park were told that the fees are required under a Los Angeles city ordinance approved this spring.

I am compelled to point out what your editorial "Cast System" (Aug. 18) failed to mention about the Democratic Party platform. As I recall, there was no debate at the Democratic convention on the abortion issue whatsoever. We Republicans find that more than just "unbecoming." It's more like undemocratic. Once again, your pro-Democrat, anti-democratic bias is polluting the minds of your readers. MARK DENNY Tustin