RNC protests

Take a good look at the Star Tribune's Tuesday front page showing left-wing demonstrators, some of whom rioted, destroyed personal property and threw rocks at RNC convention goers. These people are attempting to interrupt a democratic process.

Folks, these are radicals.

LARRY LIMBOCKER, MANHATTAN, KAN.;

RNC ALTERNATE DELEGATE

• • •

To all the St. Paul RNC protesters: What are you trying to prove? Destroying buildings and blocking innocent people trying to commute in traffic is no way to demonstrate your thoughts on the important issues affecting us today. You yell at and harass the police for crushing your rights or taking away your freedom, but in fact these are the people who make it possible for you to protest.

JOHN MOEN, EDEN PRAIRIE

As someone who participated as a peaceful protester in Monday's demonstration against the RNC, I was shocked by the show of force and intimidation in the streets of St. Paul. I found myself wishing that the Bush administration had provided our troops in Iraq with the same protective armor that I saw being worn by the police. Apparently it is more important to protect politicians and lobbyists from citizens exercising their First Amendment right than it is to protect those people actually in harm's way.

MARK SEERUP, ST. LOUIS PARK

Missing from all the discussion around Sarah Palin's perceived lack of readiness to sit in high office is one critical point -- Sarah Palin is a leader. In her nearly two years as Alaska's governor, she took on the state's powerful oil and gas industry and challenged wasteful spending by wielding the line item veto more than any governor in the state's history.

As a leader, she walks the walk. She doesn't just support Second Amendment rights, she is a lifelong NRA member. She backed up her prolife stance by knowingly giving birth to a Down syndrome child. She supports the war in Iraq knowing full well that her own son is preparing to stand in harm's way there.

JIM MEXDORF, EDEN PRAIRIE

As a hockey mom, I'm thrilled that John McCain has given me hope that I could be a future leader of the United States. But as a recruiter, I find it contrary to the facts to say that Sarah Palin's résumé equals Barack Obama's.

Up until 18 months ago, Palin's résumé was indistinguishable from those of millions of Americans: mediocre student, PTA mom, hunter, hockey mom, antichoice, mayor of a small town (7,000). The only point on Palin's résumé that distinguishes her is her 18 months as governor of 670,000 people.

To the contrary, Obama's résumé is impressive and distinguished: top of his class at Harvard Law School, civic leader, civil rights attorney, constitutional law professor, state senator for eight years, U.S. senator, Veterans Affairs committee, foreign relations committee.

ANDREA MYERS, ST. PAUL

•••

JAMES GOODWIN, APPLE VALLEY

The front-page headlines on the protesters at the Republican National Convention overshadowed a bigger story. Control of the once-chaotic Anbar Province in Iraq was turned over to the Iraqi government. Once a terrorist haven, it is now a place where the people can live, work and play in safety, and American troops can begin to leave. It is clearly the result of the troop surge recommended by our generals, supported by Sen. John McCain, and opposed by Sens. Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

One candidate saw a path forward that meant success for both our country and the Iraqi people, and he used his position to help get it done. In doing so, he did not play partisan politics but was critical of the Bush administration and the way that the war was being run. This historic transfer of power in Anbar has shown that John McCain was right to do so.

BRIAN VANCE, MAPLEWOOD

With great interest we read the Aug. 29 Letter of the Day voicing concerns with ticket prices in the new Twins ballpark. Simply put, the Minnesota Twins share the desire to ensure that "ordinary fans and their children" are not priced out of seeing the Twins play. With current ticket prices well below other local professional sports venues, as well as the Major League Baseball average, the Twins organization has a proud history of providing some of the region's most affordable family entertainment.

DAVE ST. PETER, MINNEAPOLIS;