What real power does a president have? I contend that his choice of Supreme Court justice bears immeasurable weight.

Every so often, we have the chance to vote for new leadership that can make a difference. With Tom Perriello, we have that chance this year.

I have grave doubts about Barack Obama’s core principles and values.

After reading the letter to the editor about church voting in the Oct. 25 Daily Progress, I felt compelled to put more context around the quotes

To the supporters of hope, tolerance and post-partisanship

In the mailbox recently I found a copy of a fear-mongering DVD called “Obsession,” probably destined for an independent voter.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Being upset with the current economic situation, I wanted to find out who was responsible. It appears to me that the Community Reinves-tment Act signed by President Carter in 1977 is the root cause of the current global economic crisis. This act encouraged banks to loan mortgage money to people with lower incomes, therefore with a higher risk of default.

Lynchburg and Danville are absolutely right. The Charlottesville MPO needs to return the $50 million in taxpayer money it’s held for the past 18 years, or build the bypass.

Sen. Barack Obama says that Gov. Sarah Palin does not have the experience to lead this country if something should happen to Sen. John McCain, and I agree. On the other hand, Sen. Joe Biden said earlier this year that Obama does not have the experience to lead this country. So who do we trust?

We in the 5th District have the opportunity to help send two respected and proven men to Congress. Former Gov. Mark War-ner’s record of fiscal responsibility and ability to work across the aisle are such that he has even won the backing of two former Republican leaders of the Virginia legislature.

Charlottesville City Council is struggling to determine just how much housing help is needed — and where it should be directed — as it looks to allocate $1.4 million for affordable housing.

I try to be an informed voter, and, as a taxpaying citizen of the 5th Congressional District, find myself outraged that the elected congressman of our district will not participate in a debate forum for the his whole district to see (“No TV debate for 5th candidates,” Daily Progress, Oct. 7).

Like a half dozen other neighbors on Holkham Drive off Owens-ville Road, we had our “Obama for President” yard signs stolen recently.

Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” When something does not seem to make sense, I follow Yogi’s advice and take a look at it.

Here’s yet another government agency debacle — and this one will blow your mind.

It was with utter disbelief that I heard a recent radio endorsement from Sen. Jim Webb about Barack Obama protecting our Second Amendment rights.

As the presidential campaign nears the finish line, I find myself thinking about the 1962 musical “The Music Man.”

Remember in our youth when our parents and teachers told us: It’s how we deal with adversity and acclaim that reveals our character and has a profound influence on our interactions with others.

A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows a reduction from 9,940 deaths in 1978 to a 30-year low of 5,156 in 2006.

Buildings washed to rubble. People sleeping in cars outside the ruined wreckage of their mud-filled, waterlogged homes. For Dan Matthews, the harsh reality of Hurricane Ike hammered home some valuable lessons.

Because China lies, people die – and the rest of the world are sharing the same pain of the lack of free information as a result.

The trouble with Barack Obama’s plan is that people believe it’s all about equal material possession regardless of the ethos that went toward obtaining them.

Barack Obama’s plan, and the Democratic plan, is to continue to keep minorities a slave to the system through handouts in the form of free housing, food vouchers, substandard public schools and other government freebies.

In recent years a number of products from China have been contaminated: pet food, toothpaste, children’s toys and now milk products.

The place of your wallet in the economy is very important; of even greater importance is your liberty.

Virgil Goode’s television ads are certainly the most despicable I have seen in a very long lifetime.

In choosing his running mate, Sen. John McCain bypassed some of the most-qualified, best-known public figures from his own party for Sarah Palin, the least qualified and the least known.

A letter from an Albemarle County couple on Oct. 22 (“Obama’s liberal morality found to be lacking,” The Daily Progress) gives the opinion that Barack Obama is not a fit leader for our country because of his stand on abortion and gay rights.

While others are analyzing the short- and long-term impacts of the financial crisis, let’s take a look at a philosophical dimension of the problem, as raised by University of Virginia professor David Leblang.