As a political independent, well-educated, active duty military officer with service both in the U.S. Army (enlisted) and the U.S. Coast Guard totaling 20 years, I honor and respect Senator McCain for the sacrifices he has made throughout military and political life. However, the buck stops there!

I’ve subscribed to the Manassas Journal Messenger since I went to college in 1971. I’m very concerned with the merger that is about to occur and the coverage of events in Manassas. My concern was accentuated with the Sept. 13 paper.

“FDR’s Bad Deal”, first published in The (Waynesboro) News Virginian, lacks factual balance.

Great front page story about the 81- year-old man traveling across the country, promoting his choice for president.

Gas prices must be further reduced by a commitment to drilling as well as alternative energy.

I remember some nine years ago, then governor Bush ran on a platform of bipartisanship and touted the fact that both he and the Democrats had worked together to make the government of Texas successful.

It is clear that the Democrats are making a calculated political gambit in the period running up to the presidential election.

Regarding Sandi Teets’ comment in her Oct. 2 letter to the editor, I would point out that when Senator Obama said “Jim” during the presidential debate, he was speaking to Jim Lehrer, the moderator; and the word “orgy” can also be interpreted to mean: “Excessive indulgence in a specific activity.”

The newspaper’s letter to the editor section had a letter by Terrence D. Lekites entitled “Write-in candidate gives his platform.” 

Generally speaking, human beings don’t have the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others or altruistic behavior.

Reading one of John Merli’s columns (“For swift boats in ‘08, rough seas,” from Sept. 18), I kept waiting for the payoff.

If you are a true Christian and believe that abortion and same sex marriage is a sin you will be held accountable before God himself on how you vote in November.

I have never written a letter to editor but I felt that this issue was too important to stay quiet.

About 25 or 30 years ago my car stalled in flash flood waters from the Potomac River near the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. After a few minutes, water came into the passenger compartment of my vehicle.

It’s been a quiet month in Lake Montclairva.

Here is my solution to the crisis we find ourselves in.

Like many Americans I tuned in last Friday night to watch the presidential debate. 

On Sept. 18, Gerry Connolly and Keith Fimian, candidates for the House of Representatives from the 11th Congressional District, held a debate at the Montclair Country Club under the auspices of the Committee of 100.  Gerry Connolly won.

Unless I missed it, the Potomac News and MJM should go ahead and endorse Obama/Biden; be open with your liberal bias.

The origin of Democratic economic policies lies in the writings of English aristocrats who wished to prevent the collapse of capitalism in the 1930’s.

As Congressional negotiators work through a tragic financial crisis fueled by corporate greed, they also suggest eliminating the golden parachutes for CEO’s that take money right out of the stockholders pocket. I support this.

Liberal activist Elena Schlossberg-Kunkel was described as “an opponent of illegal immigration enforcement” by the Washington Post (Immigration Law’s Drafter Named to County Panel, 9/18).

I must offer a strong rebuttal to the Sept. 28 letter from Robert Lang, who suggested that Congressional candidate and Fairfax County Board Chairman Gerry Connolly is running with the wrong priorities.

It is admirable that Joan Howell and her daughters are proud that a woman is on the national Republican ticket (Letter to editor Saturday, Sept. 27).

What is the federal government doing bailing out banks that made questionable loans? How is bad debt now going to be “good” in a few years?

Mass transportation riders of Northern Virginia unite! Let your voices be heard!

One night, I listened to two talk show hosts discussing the election and where candidates stood on the economy, the war, abortion, taxes and other burning issues.

I’d been away and was eager to get home, you know, so I could catch up on things needing to be, well, caught up on. Like checking the junk mail. I wasn’t disappointed, I’d received 10 slick and glossy, full color, super-sized postcards from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

While our shared taste in homes or jobs brings us together, I sometimes think it is odd how neighbors can be so different.

His acceptance speech notwithstanding, McCain’s campaign to date has demonstrated little to ensure that he has any chance or intention of limiting the partisan rancor that has plagued Washington (and America) for the last eight years.