Paul,

"Will our long national nightmare be over now that the Democrats control Congress? Or do we have to wait another two years before we restore some sanity in our government? Either way, we're in a strange new world after eight years of George W. Bush." Well, six years anyway -- but are you referring to being in 08?

I think the nightmare will change, even in some positive ways, worsen, rather than disappear. I think the nightmare in Iraq now spreads like a contagion to America we finally see the impacts of the war on America.

Perhaps if we've very lucky there'll be some backsliding on the worst of the Patriot Act provisions (as a bargaining chip) but I expect a full-blown constitutional crisis, especially when less than 10% of the population supports the latest surge, or the surge after this one. Bush can't leave Iraq, can't now withdraw troops, and he can't really triangulate the Democrats who will have to oppose the war at least in voice. But let's not overstate that control of Congress of the Democrats simply restrains any worse abuses -- it's not clear how many will be reversed.

And if things gets sticky, and Cheney has to resign because impeachment threatens the president, I predict McCain as VP, then as President, which means it's likely that as things get worse for the GOP in the short run, it improves odds for McCain on '08. It's not as if he'll be battling an anti-war candidate, either Hillary or Biden -- forget about

Obama in '08, there's no way.

So, I have no hopes the nightmare is coming to an end -- just that it will be suspended and I have mixed feelings of how much disgrace gets heaped on Bush. Too much and we have censure, even impeachment -- that means McCain -- or maybe C. Rice as VP. No one we would like!! The best hope for me is for Bush's policies to be disgraced but not the individual -- any more than now. Unless that happens, I am not confident the rightwing revolution can be stopped, even reversed. Let's not confuse the real threat -- it's Karl Rove, Ashcroft types, evangelicals, and frustrated conservatives who will take McCain if they have to -- especially against a Democrat like Clinton with such mixed
attributes.

Robert Becker
Mendocino CA



Good Afternoon,

I've been living in the Tenderloin for 2 years in the Hamilton located on Ofarrell between Leavenworth and Hyde. I read your article regarding the Tenderloin and 2007 being a year that it may turn a corner and thought that you may be on to something.

I've noticed a lot of hip bars popping up in the neighborhood, which usually signals good things to come. Rye, Bourbon & Branch, and The Ambassador have all opened withing the past year or so. And I have noticed that a lot of vacant property has been bought and turned around.

I think the city should move toward truly defining our neighborhood and I think more should be done to spur the microeconomics in the area. A crack house across the street from my building has been cleaned and turned into a Chinese Restaurant, thus turning both sides of the street into an oasis in a area known for ramped drug use and a prolific homeless population.

All in all, the Tenderloin is my home for better or worse (I wish for better but have learn to expect the worst). I do see its silver lining here and have even seen the neighborhood that it can be. I don't expect the Tenderloin to become a Nob Hill or a Pacific Heights neighborhood overnight, but I see its potential and my money says your right; Things will turn around here and the Tenderloin may be the best come back story of San Francisco - one that could rival that of Whitney Houston (hopefully).

Joshan Paybarah



Editor,

Just read about the rewiring of SRO's for cooking, nice idea, but as a single person with little interest in cooking myself, I find I eat better and cheaper by going to our community centre, the Carnegie and buying a ready made meal there. Saves the time of shopping, I have little space to store food and even less for cooking so find I eat best this way. A community kitchen is also a great place to find people to eat with. This may be the best idea instead of making all the rooms so you can cook in them. It is more energy efficient having one kitchen cook up all the meals and in this day and age of energy depletion it is a good idea to spare the system. Also look at all the stoves and fridges that will be required and the cost to the environment to produce them and after they are used to dispose of them in landfills. We need to think ahead at the long term cost of having a kitchen in every SRO. Thank you for letting me have my input.

Colleen Carroll (How are we going to eat when we run out of petroleum? -is my latest book.)

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