Editor,

I am a visitor to Oak Harbor and will be here only long enough for necessary repairs to be made to our home in Napa, Calif., as a result of damages from the recent earthquake.

While visiting our daughter, I picked up a copy of the Whidbey News-Times at the Navy Lodge at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and read with interest letters to the editor.

I regret that I did not get to read Mr. Johnston’s letter, but I did read Mr. Stilwell’s letter and wish to commend him for his remarks.

Most of my comments are in response to Mr. Coleman’s letter.

It is beyond my comprehension how anyone can refer to support and opposition to President Barack Obama as “tired and cliché” and “taking away space from more important local issues,” and I refer to Mr. Coleman’s letter of Aug. 27.

I will not enumerate the mistakes, the arrogant obtuseness, lack of leadership, failure of timely action, incompetence, lack of experience and indecision of Obama — we all know by now or should know what they are.

These are facts and not simply my opinion.

Mr. Coleman, if we do not reverse the deleterious effects of our current president on the nation at large, then the “local issues” you seem to be so interested in will ultimately be inconsequential.

I have seen many presidents come and serve their country to the best of their ability.

I am a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and I am 89 years of age and must state that our current president is a dismal failure.

Joe Rodgers

Napa, Calif.