October 12, 2003

Dear Editor,

This writer found the letter of Reverend Sandie Richards most interesting -- particularly her comments about Arnold Schwarzenegger and sexual harassment. ("LETTERS: Who is We and Get a Grip, Kip," October 5, 2003)

While I don't condone his behavior, the good Reverend would carry much greater moral authority (it doesn't just come with the title) if a single reference by her in condemnation of former President Clinton could be found in the past five years.

While I thought about an appropriate response, Bloomberg columnist and noted author Micheal Lewis upstaged me in a recent column, to wit:

"The episode raises an obvious question: How is Arnold worse than Bill Clinton? The women's groups, Gray Davis, the left-leaning editorial pages -- al the people so disturbed by Arnold's behavior said as little as possible during Clinton's sex scandals. Why are they now so upset?"

" We appear to have a new rule in politics: a male Democrat can grope all he wants (Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broddick - not anonymous ladies). A male Republican gropes at his peril. But with this bizarre new rule comes a bizarre new system of incentives. The effect won't be to drive gropers out of politics, it will be to drive them into the Democratic party. Thus, gropers will drift into the arms of the women who say they most loath them..."

This writer hopes the good Reverend and her sisters in politics enjoys their new political brothers.

Kip Dellinger
West Los Angeles

October 8, 2003

Dear Editor:

Former Rent Control Board commissioner, Bruria Finkel is entitled to her opinions ("Letters: Condescending Words," October 6, 2003) but her negative rant on Governor-elect, Schwarzenegger is exactly why many voters rejected the "puke politics" of the ultra left and voted for the man in the first place.

She hints at anti-Semitism by bringing up the now discredited Hitler allegations. Schwarzenegger is not an anti-Semite.

She predicts the future by prognosticating that "Schwarzenegger will sell us down the river for Enron," apparently not aware that Enron went bankrupt and is out of business. Never mind that the statement is just ridiculous to begin with.

Besides wasn't it really Governor Gray Davis who really "sold us down the river" to Enron and the other power manipulators and put the recall into motion to begin with?

Bruria continues to play "fast and loose" with rumors, lies and innuendo. She refers to the 11th hour accusations by a handful of Democrats, union workers and inveterate publicity whores such as attorney Gloria Allred of improper behavior around woman.

Bruria must know for a fact that these incidents really happened and weren't just "put up" or she wouldn't have passed judgment on Schwarzenegger as "immoral."

Most disturbing is the racially tinged comment that the "hard to pronounce" Schwarzenegger name means "a black Niger" in German. What's your point, Bruria?

Bruria is right on one count. "There is no place for stupidity in this community." That's except for embarrassing letters to the editor by Bruria Finkle in The Lookout.

Bill Bauer
Santa Monica

October 8, 2003

Dear Editor,

Bruria, Bruria, get a grip! I didn't vote for him either. I think using the recall in this way is a bad idea. I'm concerned about Arnold's real agenda, which is unknown at this point.

I don't like his associates, i.e. the great folks who brought us energy deregulation -- Pete Wilson's gang, including the guys behind the Arnold Juggernaut (who also helped reelect Boris Yeltsin). But simmer down. Let's see what happens.

By the way, what does Bruria Finkel mean in your native language?

Alison Wentworth