The recent endorsements of Hillary Clinton by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato ("Onorato, Ravenstahl Back Clinton," March 14) have led me to question if they are the dumbest elected officials in Pittsburgh's history. Why? Because their endorsements along with those of Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter have left Pennsylvania without an ally if Barack Obama is elected.

Their endorsement is a slap in the face of the African Americans, the young white Democratic professionals and the much-ignored college community who constitute Mr. Obama's base.

Mr. Ravenstahl, who is fresh off an election where there are still some old Democratic Party insiders who are not happy with his victory, may have placed his future as mayor of Pittsburgh in jeopardy by opening up the next mayoral race to any progressive candidate, Republican or smart Democrat, capable of homing in on the core constituents of Mr. Obama.

I for one voted for Mr. Ravenstahl based on the fact that Mark DeSantis wasn't a serious candidate and that Mr. Ravenstahl, being a young Democrat, would fare better than the years of do-nothing Democratic mayors who preceded him. But make no mistake about it: I will not support any more mayors who expound what I see as the old Pittsburgh -- that it's better to be in charge and poor than to be inclusive and prosper as a city.

Maybe it's time for Democratic professionals, African Americans and college students to pull together and run their own change candidates to once and for all break the bond of the old Democratic Party in Pittsburgh.

WILLIAM FISHER
North Side

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What were Dan Onorato and Luke Ravenstahl thinking when they endorsed Hillary Clinton ("Onorato, Ravenstahl Back Clinton," March 14)?

Mrs. Clinton, of course, has many admirable qualities, but consider the facts: First, she can win the Democratic nomination only by a superdelegate override of an Obama delegate advantage -- a scenario that will splinter the Democratic Party, possibly for decades. Second, having voted to authorize the invasion of Iraq, she lacks Mr. Obama's standing to challenge John McCain's support of a hugely unpopular war.

Third, Mrs. Clinton's penchant for pork-barrel spending (see Kevin Hassett's Oct. 8 analysis on Bloomberg.com) represents a huge disadvantage against Mr. McCain, a longtime opponent of congressional earmarks. Fourth, opposition to another Clinton presidency could well mobilize a largely dispirited Republican Party. Fifth, Mrs. Clinton's reliance on well-heeled donors is likely to compromise her ability to bring about fundamental change. Finally, a Clinton administration would likely polarize Washington and the country, ensuring four more years of partisan gridlock.

Mr. Mayor, Mr. County Executive: Are you thinking about what's best for our party and country, or trading favors with Washington insiders?

ANDREW NORMAN
Point Breeze

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Regarding the March 14 editorial "Jumped or Pushed? Admiral's Exit Means the Loss of Wise Counsel": This was the editorial equivalent of "When did you stop beating your wife?" It allows two and only two possible reasons for Adm. William J. Fallon's resignation.

In my opinion, one should question the validity of any position that utilizes literary tricks to advance its cause.

LARRY DUNCAN
Cranberry

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Regarding Debra DeMartin's March 11 letter ("Why Pussyfoot on the Issue of Cell Phones?"): OK ... I admit it! I am one of those millions of horrible people out there on the road every day speaking and texting on my cell phone.

Sorry, I failed to wave "thank you" because I'm constantly using my phone for both business and a number of volunteer groups I am involved with. Tell ya' what -- if you quit whining, I will give up calling and make the roads safer. But let's do this right. In addition to hands-free calling only, ladies ... no more putting on makeup in the morning during drive time to work. No more fast-food drive-thru's with your drink, burger and fries in one hand. No more cigarettes, CD players or antsy children allowed in the car. Forget the ice cream cones in summer. Lethal injection, stoning or a hanging from the City-County Building if convicted for any of the above!

Here's my suggestion: Instead, why not spend your time coming up with a solution to drugs and shootings in schools, rapists and child-molesters getting off on technicalities and bleeding-heart judges, honoring our men and women in a war that is going nowhere, an abysmal economy, spiraling health care and a Social Security joke? Still whining about my calls and texting in the car?

FRANK J. LO CASTRO
Peters

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A recent missive by a reader appeared to defend mobile cell-phone use, citing the usage of citizens band radios multiple times, as well as changing radio stations and CDs ("About Good Drivers," March 13).

The CB radio craze, although short-lived some 35 years ago, did give rise to the phenomenon of distracted driving. Cartoons depicting drivers too absorbed in conversation to notice that they were driving off a cliff appeared, and they would resurface some years later as cell phones replaced CB radios.

Today, CB radio is, by and large, the domain of truckers, and there is no evidence of their use being a contributing factor in accidents.

Likewise, people have been changing the radio stations on their car radios for more than 50 years, and there is no evidence of this being a contributing factor in accidents. The same is true of eight-track and cassette tapes, the predecessors of the CD.

Cell-phone conversations have the ability to divert our mind's eye from the task at hand, i.e., driving, and focus it on the subject of the conversation.

On another front, police once wrote tickets for having an obstructed view, citing motorists for having tissue boxes on the dashboard and window decals. Today, satellite radios and GPS devices are placed where they obstruct the driver's view. What has changed to permit this practice? It's common practice for drivers to install these devices in such a position as to preclude seeing a small child walking from between parked cars.

DAVE HROMANIK
West Mifflin

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