GOP Candidates

On Nov. 22 Jean Pasco wrote about the same debate that I watched on C-SPAN. Thank you! Some reporters saw no-show George W. Bush as the center of attention. Pasco and most others saw four sincere candidates discuss Social Security, health care, judicial nominees, troop deployment, Russia, China, the U.S. role in the world and gun control.

The final question from the host was, “What would you say to George Bush if he were here?” Alan Keyes’ response was the best crowd pleaser. He would not speak to Bush, but to the people of America. He stated that the election is about talking to the voters, not about talking to other candidates.

The American voter’s need for honest, open discussion of important issues was the “center of attention” at this debate, not an absentee candidate.

BARBARA VICKROY

Escondido

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How politically correct, how virtuous it is that the four Republican presidential hopefuls debating in Arizona have named Jesus Christ--unanimously--as their role model. By his absence, Bush (or is it his speech writers?) missed a splendid occasion to join this spontaneous and spiritual baring of souls.

Orrin Hatch can solemnly state that the Republican Party “would be dead” if John McCain’s campaign finance reform bill passed. Why? Because the shakedown money from all those wealthy Republicans is critical for voter registration and turnout drives.

JUNE MAGUIRE

Mission Viejo

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Your Nov. 20 article on Bush’s much-anticipated foreign policy speech stated that he “spent weeks preparing for it.” It appeared to me that his preparation obviously did not include reading it before giving it. He could not get through a single paragraph without stumbling or mangling a word. And no, I’m not referring to multi-syllable names of foreign leaders either.

As for his attack on President Clinton’s dealings with China, what else is new? All leading presidential candidates protest too much, e.g. John Kennedy in 1960, Barry Goldwater in 1964, Richard Nixon in 1968 and Clinton himself in 1992. The empty suit lives.

SAUL DAVIS

Studio City