I have been really dismayed of late, reading specious attacks on Cindy Carlisle that are tantamount to the "swift-boating" of a very fine human being and an excellent representative of the people.

I read Lois LaFond's unsubstantiated comments relating to her perception that Ms. Carlisle is "a woman with personal experience of the divisiveness and do-anything-to-win consciousness." No substantiation, just personal invective. Your readers might want to know that Lois LaFond's "personal experience" stems from a lawsuit her husband filed against the Boulder Center for the Visual Arts (now BMOCA) and Cindy Carlisle, who represented the city as chair of its board, for replacing its director. The suit was so bogus it resulted in an attorney's fee award against LaFond's client.

As for Regina Cowle's unconscionable attack on Ms. Carlisle, based upon her not being aware of the facts and dates of the successful lawsuit against CU and defending the women who were the victims of sexual assault, there is an historical sequence which needs to be understood. Cindy was running for regent before her husband became Lisa Simpson's attorney. All Cindy learned, during her candidacy, was that efforts were underway to discuss athletic reforms and avoid a lawsuit; and, further, this information was confidential.

Only after the election, when CU called off the talks, did Lisa sue. Cindy then had a conflict which she immediately disclosed, and asked for direction from university counsel. She was barred from decisions directly about the lawsuit, but could participate in all other matters, including women's safety and athletic reform. She even hired a personal ethics counsel to insure that she acted ethically, without diminishing her effectiveness.

The Denver Post submitted her and her husband's conduct to the state ethics prosecutor, who concluded, "they did everything exactly right". It is of some interest that the very same regents who are being touted as supporting Rollie Heath for state senate are the very same people who supported the moving of the president and 350 jobs from Boulder to Denver; additionally, they were among the staunchest supporters of Dick Tharp and Gary Barnett.

Don Barshay

Boulder

BEYOND ORWELLIAN?

How bitterly, bitterly ironic that John McCain and his campaign continue to digress and deteriorate into a self-parody and caricature of himself circa 1980. He unstably alternates between the inane and the Orwellian (re: Obama playing the race card) and it shows. Awfully frightening to think that THIS dude could even get into power. Whew!

Maybe Barack Obama's B.O. initials should stand for Beyond Orwellian.

Grant D. Cyrus

Boulder

GREED CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY

So, it is becoming evident to all of us that demand for fossil fuels, that source of energy that has polluted the planet more than anything else, is rapidly outpacing supply. What is the sensible solution; use it up even faster, or make it last as long as possible by reducing consumption and developing alternative sources? I have a good idea what Bush, Cheney, and the other Oil Barons wish for. And they have the money and power to sway the majority using misinformation and outright lies to foster ignorance (something they have much experience at).

It just seems evident to me that if we follow the knuckledraggers' path, we will end up like the dinosaurs.Greed does blind people to the obvious truth!

Steven Hargreaves

Boulder

RENEWABLE ENERGY WILL MEAN CHEAP ENERGY

Last Thursday, Former Vice President Al Gore announced his challenge to make America's electricity grid 100% renewable in ten years. His vision to reduce our dependence on oil makes both economic and environmental sense. Increasing production of clean, renewable energy will create jobs, save Americans money, and protect our natural resources.

Vice President Gore also criticized the deeply flawed logic of increasing offshore drilling to reduce gasoline prices. Drilling offshore will not affect gas prices, yet President Bush, Senator McCain, and their allies in Congress continue to promote these failed policies of the past.

While the costs of limited resources rise as they are consumed, demand for renewable energy creates a competitive industry that drives prices down. The answers to our energy problems are also the solutions to our failing economy. If Americans are prepared to demand change from their leaders, they will see results.Rob Van Hyfte

Lakewood

OIL COMPANIES' CAMPAIGN OF DECEPTION

Spectacular, unregulated soaring profits have emboldened both the oil industry and its ravenous investors to carry out yet another campaign of deception. Why invest in technology, public transportation infrastructure and earth-friendly renewable energy, which would lift a huge burden off the middle class, if speculation and market manipulation is a lot easier, quicker, way cheaper and way more lucrative?

Julio Berlingeri

Littleton

DON'T DRILL

Drilling for oil at this time will not have an effect on the price of gasoline and diesel, or at least it shouldn't. It takes time to determine where to drill, extract the oil from ground.

get it to the distillery, and process the crude into gasoline.

The oil companies have many acres of land that has not been drilled.

Pinning our hopes to have oil on extracting it from shale is an irresponsible false hope and it should be dropped from any long range planning. Too much water is required to perfect that process. Water is scarce now. Letting the oil companies buy up water rights would be a travesty.

Right now we should be planning how to have less oil needs.

Alternative sources of energy need to be found, we need to change our lifestyles to be less consumer oriented.

Anne Gerster

Golden

POLIS IS A TRUE LEADER

As I have been canvassing door to door for Jared Polis' s campaign, I have come to a realization. I had no idea how exemplary his record turns out to be. I found out from a teacher tonight that he sends all the new educators a gift from Blue Mountain Arts when they are starting out. Another voter said Jared was on the Board of the Watershed School, someone else said he was on the Board of Eco-cycle. Yet another said they knew him from the League of Conservation Voters at a fund raiser. His family was acknowledged as the sponsor of the 50 year Gala Celebration of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival last night, when I went to hear an eloquent and insightful reading by his brother, Jorian.

Jared is on point in the core issue of resource diversion to Iraq. Funding streams are needed in this country to convert to a renewable energy economy before we have lost critical bridging resources to get there. This will enable basic human services and to be restored and economic stability to return. His plan to get out of Iraq is endorsed by 50 other democratic candidates and 10,000 citizens, covers equitable resolution of complex effects of our intervention there and is ready for prime time January 1.

I think it is noteworthy to reflect on the fact that Jared's experience in the field of education is significant. He sat as Chair of the State Board Of Education in 2000, the first democrat in 30 yrs. From providing access to computers for school kids to starting charter schools with night-time hours , childcare and English as a second language to meet the needs of stressed populations, he has taken on the challenge of needs unmet by preexisting institutions. Lynn Segal

Boulder