Davis’ Hiring of Consultants

Re “Davis Sharpens Attack on Bush Energy Plan,� May 19: It is very clear that Gov. Gray Davis has one major political goal: running for president of the United States. His recent hiring of two--not one--political aides, to be paid for by the taxpayers at a monthly rate more than double the salary of the governor, means that Davis has decided that the California taxpayer will pay through the nose to support this goal.

These consultants are not experts in the energy area, which is the biggest problem facing California today, but are experienced spin doctors brought in to try to improve the diving image of Davis. I have no problem with the governor bringing in these men at his own expense, but for the taxpayer to foot the bill is bordering on criminal.

Jack Bendar

Pacific Palisades

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Is anyone as outraged as I am over Davis hiring, at California taxpayers’ expense, damage-control experts to cover his lack of energy policy leadership? The fee of $30,000 per month is outrageous and is an insult to citizens. If Davis feels that he needs consultants to save his image, they should be paid from his campaign treasure chest and not by California taxpayers.

David Anderson

Mission Viejo

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Davis is obeying Rule No.1 for all politicians: When things are going badly, first find a scapegoat. Davis has the power generating companies. But, as Pogo said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.� If Davis and his cronies in the Legislature had the courage to allow retail electricity prices to rise, businesses and individuals would have a financial incentive to conserve.

If Davis and his cronies had had the wisdom to foresee the huge capacity shortfall looming, perhaps California wouldn’t have wasted the last decade without bringing even one new power plant online. And now, the best he can come up with is to beg Washington for help?

Mark Wallace

Los Angeles

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Re “California Left Twisting in the Political Wind,� Opinion, May 20: As a native Californian who escaped in 1994, I would recommend coming to South Dakota, where there’s plenty of inexpensive power, great schools, fresh air, open spaces, a low cost of living and normal people, but most of you are just too damned stupid and self-centered to figure out that neither the state government nor federal government will tell you to wear a heavy coat in the winter and stay inside during a blizzard. You’d have to figure that out for yourselves. Too bad. No; actually, it’s good.

Ken Russell

Arlington, S.D.