Iowa Straw Poll

* This is how The Times reported the results of the Iowa straw poll (Aug. 15): “Millionaire publisher Steve Forbes, who spent lavishly in the weeks leading up to the vote, lagged in second with 20.8% of the vote, or 10.5 percentage points behind Bush’s 31.3%. Elizabeth Hanford Dole, the former American Red Cross president whose campaign might have been threatened if she finished poorly, instead may have reinvigorated her effort with a solid third, drawing 14.4% of the vote.”

Just for fun, let’s spin it the other way. “Publisher Steve Forbes drew an astonishing 20.8% of the vote, nipping at the heels of win-early-lose-late front-runner Bush, whose 31% was far below what one would have expected, considering all the money and hype the Texas governor has been getting from his rich cronies and Beltway insiders. Erstwhile competitor Liz Dole, wife of long-time Republican Senate leader and 1996 GOP presidential candidate Robert Dole, finished a pathetic third with 14%. Rumor has it that she is reevaluating the viability of her campaign.”

Think the Manchester Guardian might hire me?

PETER OSBALDESTON

Los Angeles

* Among the many inspiring words issuing forth from the Republican candidates after the Iowa straw poll, I am most intrigued by those of Pat Buchanan and Dan Quayle. They both have raised the issue of who is qualified to make decisions concerning the military and foreign policy for the country, implying that Bill Clinton, of course, is qualified to do neither, and that they are.

Funny, I do not recall either of these gentlemen being involved in these matters, except in an indirect way. Buchanan has never worn a uniform and hates foreigners anyway. Quayle was a do-nothing vice president who served his duty to the country in the Midwest as a member of the National Guard.

Being a member of his generation myself, I recall quite well how difficult it was to get into noncombative branches of the military at that time unless you had some help. Meanwhile, Al Gore was voluntarily wearing an Army uniform in Vietnam and has held an elected office longer than both of these guys combined. Seems like we’re in for 15 months of the same old slash-and-burn rhetoric until the election comes. How depressing.

BOB LOZA

Burbank

* Do you want an outstanding president in 2001? If it’s Bill Bradley versus John McCain, you’ll have one.

RUSS CONNORS

Pismo Beach