Powell’s Speech at GOP Convention

* Re “General’s Call for Inclusion Excites GOP,” Aug. 13:

What a fascinating spectacle it is to see the Republican wolf gleefully changing before our eyes into the sheep’s costume brought by Gen. Colin Powell! For what else is his beautiful Isaiah-like “vision of a party embracing,” as your reporters so well phrased it, “minorities and the poor, promoting a federal government both activist and limited, and welcoming proponents of affirmative action and abortion rights as well as their opponents”?

PHILIP WALKER

Santa Barbara

* Dole-Kemp sounds good; however, I would have preferred Kemp-Powell. Adding Jack Kemp to the ticket makes me want to go out and vote (twice maybe).

I’ve always felt Kemp was a true conservative. A free-enterprise believer. A less-is-better type of man (government, that is). A jock with a brain, and, to his credit, Kemp has a heart. His stand on Prop. 187 was commendable, as unpopular as it was. Kemp is sort of Ayn Rand meets Cesar Chavez.

I also agree that cutting taxes and offering tax incentives is the way to stimulate production. Having been a CPA and a banker for many years, I have seen what entrepreneurs can do when the burden of high taxes is lessened.

RUDOLPH F. SILVA

Brea

* If the Republicans were as tolerant and all-inclusive as they claim to be, they would have:

* Selected Powell for their vice presidential nominee.

* Let Pat Buchanan speak at the convention.

* Let Gov. Pete Wilson and Gov. William Weld express their views to the convention.

They aren’t, and they didn’t. Judge them by their actions, not by their words.

FREDERICK T. MASON

Fullerton

* In the dictionary of the Republican convention, the word “divisive” is pronounced “inclusive.”

JACK NIDES

Santa Monica

* No amount of choreography or semantical acrobatics can alter the narrow, mean-spirited and exclusionary platform which has been adopted by the Republican Party.

Hopefully, the American voters are savvy enough to recognize this disparity as disingenuous at best. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the compassion displayed for an ailing Ronald Reagan could also be extended to women, ethnic minorities, immigrants, gays, lesbians and the poor?

WILLIAM J. BOYLAN

Long Beach

* I really found Newt Gingrich’s “beach volleyball” speech to the convention inspiring (Aug. 14). After sifting through the symbolism, I’ve concluded, huh?

NORA BARSUK

Glendale

* Both Bob Dole and Bill Clinton are offering tax cuts or credits to sway voters in the 1996 presidential election. Dole is proposing an across-the-board 15% income tax reduction, a $500-per-child tax credit and a capital gains tax cut. Clinton has countered with a proposed $1,500 tax credit for college tuition.

How do these two proposals stack up? The Clinton plan certainly sounds nice on the surface, but for many of us who have young children, college is still many years into the future. If I merely invest the savings from the Dole plan, I will build up a substantial college fund by the time my 6-year-old reaches college age. The capital gains tax cut will further boost my savings by allowing more of my investment to grow without a large annual tax bite.

In truth, there is no comparison. The Dole-Kemp plan allows me to save thousands of dollars for college expenses. The Clinton plan would merely provide a paltry tax credit when, and only when, I actually pay for tuition. It does nothing to help me save for college in the meantime.

RON DENHAAN

Mission Viejo