The Dems’ Big Loss
Your Nov. 18 cover package on the recent elections (“Top Gun”) provides an accurate, enlightening look at the reality of the election process in this country–and left me feeling deeply despondent and cynical. The article spoke of a “three-part game plan,” the “political opportunity” post-September 11, the plotting of strategy, extensive polling, " ‘favorability’ ratings" of candidates, fund-raisers’ netting record amounts of cash and coast-to-coast campaigning by the president. The “issues” are massaged and manipulated for the greatest political advantage, and “success” is measured by the number of seats won in Congress. Does anyone remember that the role of government is to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity,” etc.? Can you imagine what wonderful progress could be made if just half of the money, manpower, energy and strategizing de-voted to the business of politics was instead applied to the business of running our government? Is it any wonder that more than half of all eligible voters fail to exercise that precious right? Donna D. Andes Reading, Pa.
The problem with the Democratic Party and the American left is not that they lack leadership and a coherent message. The problem is that they lack an understanding of the American people. Republicans were victorious on Election Day because Americans see a man in the White House they can trust, and they believed him when he endorsed Republican candidates. Trustworthiness was a characteristic sorely lacking in the White House during the last presidency, and until Democrats come to understand that, they will have a hard time winning. Kelly Flanagan State College, Pa.
When Howard Fineman’s story is prefaced with the words “In a historic win, Dubya defied the experts once again…” it makes one wonder what this says about these so-called experts. How many times does an “expert” get to be mistaken before people understand the shallowness of his or her credentials? Mark Perry Bloomington, Ind.
Bush’s success in the election shows that he is good at raising campaign money and politicking. But Americans as a whole are worse off. The economy is in the dumps, and Bush’s popularity is directly related to the continued presence–rather than the demise–of those who are threatening our lives. Our country desperately needs an effective leader who helps average citizens, rather than an effective politician who helps fellow party members and campaign benefactors. Corey Lane San Leandro, Calif.
As a loyal Democrat, I, too, was disheartened by the midterm-election results, but I was even more disheartened by the pessimistic groans–from fellow Democrats, no less–that these results sound-ed the death knell of the party. As a university student who was very involved in the campaigns, I know that there is an enthusiastic generation of young Democrats who cannot wait to take the 2004 elections by storm. We have not lost sight of the progressive social priorities that our party stands for, and we will have our voices heard. The elections did not go our way, but instead of complaining about our recent failures and hinting that may-be the Republicans have got it right, we Democrats should learn from our mistakes and remember the younger generation that still has a lot of fight left in them. Melissa Hyde Iowa City, Iowa
Despite having voted for President Bush, I must be critical of NEWSWEEK’s decision to give him the incredible title of “Top Gun.” As a retired Air Force/Air National Guard, I must emphasize that the title of Top Gun goes to a few fighter pilots who have surpassed all others and attained one of the highest honors given to a U.S. pilot. Knowing that President Bush was able to avoid active duty during the Vietnam era, no one of that time would call him a Top Gun. The title so loosely given to him tarnishes all the unbelievably talented pilots who have earned that title. Philip Rovang Lindenhurst, Ill.
In Anna Quindlen’s Nov. 18 essay, she derides all things Republican in a way that reveals the true reason Democrats are losing steam (“Where Do We Go From Here?” The Last Word). Americans don’t need supercilious Upper West Side New Yorkers lecturing them that the Republican Party’s requirement that members of our society have corresponding rights and responsibilities is equivalent to “indifference to the disenfranchised,” or that voting other than Democratic en-dorses misogynistic, xenophobic, disingenuous empty suits who are jumping at the chance to ruin the environment. Maybe many Americans are tired of those who take away our dollars to spend on projects of little or no value. Many, like myself, worry more about how our kids will afford college than if the store where Quindlen shops has “a nice piece of brisket.” Chuck Wilkinson Bonita, Calif.
I am disgusted by the amount of credit given to President Bush for the recent Republican triumph. While our country sits in an economic recession, experiencing daily threats of war and terrorism, I am appalled that our president spent five days campaigning in 15 states to endorse his fellow Republicans. How much money did taxpayers have to spend for this “whirlwind tour”? Teana Stocco St. Helens, Ore.
The Democrats exercised their perennial practice of shooting themselves in the foot by demonstrating to voters that their candidates stood for one thing, namely, nothing–and that they were for this 100 percent. Mortimer Schwartz Davis, Calif.
Anna Quindlen’s piece on the Democrats’ election loss demonstrates her ability to think clearly and her courage to speak the unadorned truth. If the Democratic leadership could do the same, instead of saying what they imagine voters want to hear–or worse, what they imagine is as inoffensive as possible–maybe more people would vote for them. Democrats are supposed to stand for peace, globalization, helping the poor, civil liberty and reducing barbarisms like the death penalty and easy access to assault weapons. If they don’t have the guts to do that, then I will no longer vote for them. Perhaps Ralph Nader was right after all. Janet Maker Los Angeles, Calif.
According to Jonathan Alter, the Democrats would have carried the day if only their message had been more clearly conveyed (“Dems in the Dumps”). His “failure to communicate” quotation from “Cool Hand Luke” emphasized this. Call me naive, but perhaps there is another possibility the Democrats did so poorly: perhaps their message was heard all too clearly. To use another film quote, maybe there were just too many voters screaming, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.” Tom Frye Laytonsville, Md.
Now that Republicans have control of the government, they can show us how it’s done. Soon government will be smaller, all our taxes will go down and there will be no more wasteful spending, right? Republicans now have the chance to restore our nation’s morality, fix Social Security and rid the world of bad guys as they’ve promised. They have no excuses now that Democrats are out of the way and they are in control. They have been talking the talk; now let’s see them walk the walk. Lesley Warren Raleigh, N.C.
I have another solution for the Democrats. The Democratic National Committee should close its offices for a month and order its staff to travel the country and listen to as many citizens as possible. If the Democrats need a place to start, they can come to my house. L. David Ludwig Washington Crossing, Pa.
I vote almost exclusively Democratic, but I take issue with Anna Quindlen’s black and white portrayal of the Democratic and Republican parties. There is danger in the idea that Democrats only want to do good, while Republicans are only focused on evil. I especially take offense at the description of Massachusetts’ Governor-elect Mitt Romney as “a conservative Republican Mormon from Utah.” As a Mormon and a resident of Massachusetts, I note that there is no mention of the political affiliation of any other politician in Quindlen’s column. Not to mention that Romney is not from Utah (though he lived there for three years while overseeing the 2002 Olympic Organizing Committee) and is considered a moderate by many. I respect Quindlen’s political idealism, but she should avoid political demonizing. Kirse G. May Watertown, Mass.
I believe Americans were voting not for Bush, or necessarily against Democrats, but against obstructionist government. People are fed up with politicians’ playing games to ensure they stay in power at the expense of the rest of us. If Democrats want to win in 2004, they need to show that they are the party that is willing to act on a good idea, even if it would be enacted under a Republican administration. Keith Farrington Andover, Maine
Jonathan Alter advises Democrats to go along with President Bush on the homeland-security bill. But let’s remember that the Democrats lost the election because of their failure to energize their base, and supporting this bill meant engaging in union-bashing and stripping workers of civil-service protections. Caving in to Bush was not the way to go. Reba Shimansky Brooklyn, N.Y.
How did Bush do it? Two words: money and advertising. Will we ever return to substance, or are we hopelessly enmeshed in form? B. Sabonis-Chafee East Windsor, Conn.
In Defense of Early Admissions
It would be a tragedy to eliminate the Early Decision option (“The Early Decision Rebellion,” Nov. 18). My early application got me accepted into one of the country’s top-ranked liberal-arts schools. An average student in high school, I truly believe I would have been rejected by my school, or any other elite college, if I had applied with the regular applicant pool. I saved my family the financial hardship easily accrued by the burdensome college-application process (application fees, travel expenses, interview clothes, etc.) and was given time to enjoy my senior year, while my classmates stressed out until April. Furthermore, my good academic performance in my undergraduate years resulted in my being accepted to an Ivy League graduate school, which subsequently opened every door I’d hoped to walk through. When working ahead to decide on a college in November versus April means gaining a lifetime of opportunities that a top education provides, trust me, the “blues” will be short-lived indeed. Meredith Mucha Dayton, Ohio
With Us or Against Us?
I was stunned by Fareed Zakaria’s Nov. 18 article, “They’re Rooting for America, Too.” Perhaps East Asia’s government officials are pro-American, but as an American teaching English in South Korea, I can assure you that the average citizen is not. Under Bush’s leadership, anti-Americanism has exploded. During the World Cup, hosted by South Korea and Japan, only a handful of brave Americans were rooting for their team. The rest of the audience booed every time an American player touched the ball. Sentiments against U.S. politics are so heated here that we Americans sometimes joke about wearing T shirts with a Canadian flag plastered on the front. I am proud of my country and proud to be American, but it would be folly for us to believe that the world is unquestionably behind us. Sari Fordham Pusan, South Korea
Your American readers should know that Fareed Zakaria is mistaken when he writes that Europeans are against a war with Iraq because they “worry that American foreign policy will succeed.” He explains that, in contrast, East Asians worry about America’s “heavy-handedness in the war,” “unilateralism” and “poor communication with the Islamic world.” As far as I know, my fellow Frenchmen share this view as well. And to think that the Europeans hope for an American failure in Iraq just isn’t the case. Pierre Chan Berstett, France
Fareed Zakaria points out that there are many countries that are cautiously lamenting America’s role as a superpower in the world. Whether it is envy or fear of U.S. domination that yields such criticism, one factor needs to be highlighted in this discussion: the world, for the most part, needs the United States to maintain a sense of order and to keep it safe from patterns of destruction, genocide, poverty and chaos. Imagine Pakistan and India without U.S. intervention. Ash Nasseri Charlotte, N.C.
Viagra Under the Knife
I just read the Nov. 18 Periscope item on the pill-splitting mechanism for Viagra available only on the Internet (“Cutting the Costs”). My husband cut his first 100mg Viagra pill back in March 1999 using a regular pill cutter we purchased in the local drugstore. We probably paid less than $10 for it. People don’t need to spend the money for a Viagra-designed pill splitter when the basic pill cutters work just fine! Name Withheld Belmont, Calif.
A More Recent Trend
Your Nov. 18 Tip Sheet item “Fall Fashion: Bombs Away” notes that Tom Cruise made fashion history with his bomber jacket in the movie “Top Gun” 25 years ago. The movie came out in 1986, which actually makes that 16 years ago. Tracy Holleran Fairfield, Conn.
Everyone Needs a Cuddles
I hope your readers took a moment to enjoy Dan Shaw’s touching and informative article about his guide horse, Cuddles (“Yes, That’s Right, It’s a Seeing-Eye Horse,” My Turn, Nov. 11). I am currently training two therapy dogs and have worked with animals for years. I can fully appreciate the physical, mental and emotional support that animals offer to challenged members of our society by helping them to lead independent lives. Many different types of animals can serve as therapy, guide, search-and-rescue and detection agents–not to mention that there are millions of animals who have no specific chore other than to be wonderful pets and make their owners happier people. I encourage everyone to accept these working teams as one’s state law dictates; you will be glad you did. The experiences I have had with such animal and human teams have greatly enriched my life. Valerie Jones Burley, Ohio
I have just finished reading Dan Shaw’s My Turn article about his seeing-eye horse. After having recently lost a family pet to old age, I understand his reluctance to obtain a guide dog after the loss of his beloved pet dog. How wonderful that Janet and Don Burleson have initiated this valuable experimental program teaming miniature horses with blind people! The image of Cuddles, wearing her little sneakers, guiding Shaw around New York City, brought a smile to my face. I hope the use of guide horses will spread so that others will experience the independence that Shaw is currently enjoying. Joanne Cooke Springfield, Va.
Correction
In our Nov. 18 story “The Real Motown Sound,” we referred to 1950s guitarist Phil Messina. In fact, his name is Joe Messina.
