Change will happen

Re “The empty promise,” Opinion, Jan. 13

Timothy Noah correctly states that this year’s Democratic Party slogan -- “change” -- is not new to American politics.

However, he failed to mention one of the more obvious campaigns in which that word was used.

Noah says that the term went out of fashion after Thomas E. Dewey used it in 1944, and that John F. Kennedy used a euphemism (“Let’s get America moving again”) in 1960, but he fails to note that the campaign slogan for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1952 campaign was “It’s time for a change.”

Jerry Freedman

Los Angeles

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Noah doesn’t get it. He managed to write more than 900 words about the political context of the word “change” without once mentioning President Bush or Vice President Dick Cheney.

Let me make it simple for Noah: “Change” means no more Bush and Cheney.

Rhys Thomas

Van Nuys

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Word of the week: change. Campaigning politicians are quick to sling it when delivering speeches. Dueling commentators ask what it means exactly. There are fierce opinions and much dialogue about change. There are even predictions about what Americans can expect with change.

Here’s the answer: On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009, there will be a new president sitting in the Oval Office. Now that’s change.

Terri Nolan

San Clemente