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You will notice stealing the issue is exactly what Bush has done in Florida. I'm surprised Carl Hiaassen hasn't written a column about it yet; I guess praising Bush is something very tough for him to do.

I wonder if oil leases are not more valuable in a state where future drilling is restricted? This could actually aid his oil interests.

I believe in the basic concept of respecting the will of the people on this issue. The people in California and Florida are against oil drilling; people in Texas and Alaska want it. Seems to me drilling should be discouraged in states that hate it and encouraged in states where it provides more benefits than costs.

This isn't a big issue for me - I remember when I lived in Santa Barbara and had a peek of the ocean view, I actually liked seeing the winking lights of the oil rigs out on the ocean. At the same time, I respect that a majority of the state is against drilling, and this will probably help Simon overall.

Better to have a good governor than a venal one; that's my bottom line here.

These are issues I care about but don't know a whole lot about. Carry_Okie's explanation re the offshore drilling was something I'd never heard before. I do know that our beaches are incredibly polluted with sewage. They shouldn't be dumping grounds. When people get hepatitis, influenza and the like from going swimming or surfing, we've got a serious problem. When people are afraid to walk barefoot on the beach because they risk stepping on a dirty syringe, we've got a problem. It's in our face now. I can't drive down the freeway without seeing garbage lying everywhere.

I live in an agricultural area where valuable farmland is being swallowed up to make way for new homes for people fleeing the metro areas. There is not enough water and structural support in place to support this kind of growth. Add to that people drink bottled or filtered water here because they don't want to be exposed to leftover pesticides seeping into the drinking water. The concerns are endless, and I think we've reached the point where we have to pay attention.