Gov. Wilson’s Performance

In response to “Burned by Scorched Earth Stand,” Dec. 27:

Gov. Wilson and his staff fail to grasp the importance of two crucial factors necessary for effective governing and leadership. One is the ability of the officeholder to inspire confidence among friend and foe alike. The other is his or her performance during a major or even minor crisis. An officeholder may become adept at one and fail at the other, but rare is the mayor, governor or president who has failed at both without losing power.

By both measures, Wilson has failed. At a time when California could use an energetic booster at the top, Wilson, in assessing the state’s serious problems, has counterproductively chosen to emphasize the state’s weaknesses over its many strengths. And his defining moment as a leader--last summer’s costly and unnecessary budget standoff with the Legislature--is hardly an example of leadership.

However, after two years in office, it’s never too late for an officeholder to recover politically. What has Wilson done recently to signal a new direction in his moribund Administration? He puts on his payroll a political adviser nicknamed “Dr. Death,” whose expertise is to unearth unsavory details about political opponents! This action also says a lot about leadership ability.

FRANK J. GARZA

Los Angeles