MAILBAG:

When I announced my candidacy for the office of the president of the United States (POTUS) in the pages of the Daily Pilot a couple of months back, I think I may have been a little too explicit in terms of what I would do if elected.

I learned that lesson by watching at least a thousand mind-numbing televised presidential debates. I’ve learned I should have been much more vague in terms of what I’d do if my fellow citizens choose to elect me come November. I’ve learned I should have engaged in lofty platitudes, replete with soaring rhetoric, never getting too specific on anything. That stated, and with your kind permission, I’d like to ask you to disregard my previous platform and promises and take this opportunity to recast my candidacy for POTUS with the following speech. So here goes:

“My friends, and you are my friends, mine is the candidacy of hope. And of change. I’m not the candidate of yesterday. I’m the candidate of tomorrow. I’m not going to look back on failed times, but rather look ahead to the glory that real change will bring.

“We are not a collection of blue states. We’re not a collection of red states. Rather, we are the United States. We possess the will, the talent and the resolve to change America from what it is and has been to what it ought to be.

“And I’ve been hoping for change all of my life. In fact, what I’ve done more than any other thing is to hope for change. Change you can count on. And I’m hopeful that that change will bring real hope into your lives. Not just partial change. Not even major change. I’m talking about complete and total, unmitigated change. And not just hope. I’m talking about changeful hope. Hope that transcends change. Hope that will enable each and every American to realize his or her potential destiny. A rescue from the mire of misfortune and circumstance and into the bright shining light of opportunity! Change. Change is good. It’s good to be for change. And for hope. Please join with me in the pursuit of both.”

And so my friends, today I humbly ask for your vote. Write me in come November, and I’ll guarantee hopeful change for all Americans.

CHUCK CASSITY

Costa Mesa

JWA could honor father of O.C. aviation

As we remember, John Wayne had a terminal named after him, not the entire airport.

We must remember Eddie Martin, father of Orange County Aviation back in the 1920s, founded this county’s airport, taught thousands how to fly on an open field part of the Irvine Ranch and helped start today’s local enthusiasm for flight!

Our suggestion is that the airport be named Orange County Eddie Martin Airport, as it should have been years ago, or Orange County Irvine Airport since the land belonged to them.

You have lots of terminals, so you may name one Glenn Martin Terminal (an aviator who broke a flight record leaving from Balboa who also manufactured planes in Santa Ana), Howard Hughes Terminal or Charles Lindbergh Terminal (both flew out of there).

If you must throw in Hollywood stars: John Wayne Terminal, Buddy Ebsen Terminal, Humphrey Bogart Terminal and so on!

Happy flying!

GAY WASSALL-KELLY AND BILL KELLY

Newport Beach