Conventions Are Over; Debate Is Just Beginning

According to the Republican convention speakers, we need George W. Bush because of his ability to fight terrorism. The truth is that after our attacks on Al Qaeda strongholds in Afghanistan with the free world’s support, we have followed a policy that has made nobody happier than Osama bin Laden. Our actions in Iraq, which offered no imminent threat to us, lost us the support of most of the free world, increased Bin Laden’s recruitment of dissidents, has increased the number of acts of terrorism in the world and is bankrupting our economy at home.

George W. doesn’t seem to know or remember who the terrorists are, which makes it very difficult to fight them.

George Ives

Los Angeles

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Sept. 11 is a tragedy that happened to all Americans, not just Republicans. Any party or politician should be ashamed to use 9/11 for political advantage, particularly Bush, whose response to this tragedy was to attack a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.

Billions of dollars are being wasted in Iraq that could be used in the war on terrorism. The people who planned and executed 9/11 are sitting in their caves planning more attacks while we waste time and lives foundering in a war that has nothing to do with terrorism.

Ken Warren

Alta Loma

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Until recently, I had been a registered Democrat for all of my voting life. Due to the party’s ultraliberal leanings over the last few years, I am no more.

I will not register as a Republican because the ultraconservatives in their party, like the ultraliberals of the Democrats, have too much influence. I am now declining to state, and I will vote for Bush simply because the thought of Sen. John F. Kerry in charge while the terrorists make their plans scares the hell out of me.

I do not agree with some of what Bush has done and what he wants to do, but having the most liberal senator in America as the president truly frightens me. Once again, it’s the lesser of the two evils. I wish Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was running.

Bill Horwitz

Riverside

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Re the president’s speech: It is amazing! When Bush speaks, you can hardly see Dick Cheney’s lips move.

Albert Jakobsen

Arcadia

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I see the Republicans have taken their “compassionate conservatism” banner out of the closet, where it’s been collecting dust since the 2000 election, and are once again waving it madly. And in the interest of flaunting tolerance and moderation, they’ve temporarily stuffed the neocons and religious extremists into the same closet, from which they’ll certainly emerge on Nov. 3.

After almost four years of excoriating the values of moderates, the party has suddenly opened its arms to embrace voters of every persuasion, even pro-choice and gay-marriage advocates. Of course, they’ve disowned their biggest supporters, like Enron and Halliburton. And while they tout Bush’s Rube Goldberg plan that’s supposed to save money for seniors’ medications -- a plan that would help only a handful of people -- no one is likely to mention his decree that forbids importing or seeking group discounts for pharmaceuticals.

Neither party is above hypocrisy and cynicism, but this year the Republicans should win the gold medal.

Dan Chasman

Laguna Woods

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War is peace. Democrats speak “true lies.” Iraq is a “catastrophic success.” I kept waiting for someone to say, “We have always been at war with Eurasia.” Sorry, Mr. Orwell, I guess you were 20 years early.

Bob Mueller

Newport Beach

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Let’s see. Kerry served bullets in Vietnam, Bush served Beer in ‘Bama. Kerry killed Viet Cong, Bush killed kegs. Who da man? Who would you want next to you in a foxhole or a firefight?

Marc Keenberg

Oxnard

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I don’t know whether it’s his centrist rhetoric geared toward the undecided and swing states or just his personal style. But unless Democratic nominee Kerry gets pumped up and passionate about liberal and Democratic issues pretty darn soon, he’s going to lull his support base to sleep and too many people will snooze right through Nov. 2. And nobody, not even Snoop Dogg, Bill Clinton or Barack Obama, will snap them out of it.

Wendy Tigerman

Los Angeles