George W. Bush

* Re “Bush: Answers and Trust,” editorial, Aug. 24: I was unable to find the Pandora’s Box law in any federal publication. So unless you can find some other law that forces Gov. George W. Bush to go back beyond 25 years, he can leave it right where it is. I’m satisfied with his answer and so are approximately 80% of the American people. The only people that seemingly want to hear more about this is the country’s vast left-wing conspiracy, the press.

WARREN H. RAABE

South Gate

* Cheers to Bush and his refusal to answer these absurd questions about his past that are clearly aimed at embarrassing him on his march to the Republican presidential nomination (“Gov. Bush Denies Illegal Drug Use in Last 25 Years,” Aug. 20).

As a traditionally Democrat-leaning voter, I probably won’t be in his camp in 2000, but I’m on his side on this one. When are the media sharks and the desperate also-rans going to get it? Most of us don’t care what a candidate did with his free time during years past. Private lives should be kept private, and I applaud Bush for attempting to put an end to the sinister Inquisition-like tactics that brought our country to an all-time low last year.

SEAN MOYNIHAN

West Los Angeles

* Am I hearing the same George Bush who put Karla Faye Tucker to death, though she proclaimed she had learned the lesson from her past mistakes and now she was a better person, saying he made mistakes in the past but he learned the lesson, so we should elect him as the president? No chance. As he suggested, if one doesn’t like it, better cast a vote for someone else. Yes, I certainly will do so.

TOSH IGARASHI

Cerritos

* Has the American system of justice changed? Evidently Bush is guilty of using cocaine until proven innocent.

NANCY J. THOMPSON

Irvine

* This whole go-round with Bush and his possible drug use underscores the hypocrisy of the war on drugs. It is my understanding that it is illegal to use drugs, just as tax evasion is illegal in this country. The only difference between Bush and the thousands incarcerated for drug use is that he didn’t get caught.

This double standard might indicate that it is time to decriminalize drug use and concentrate our resources on education and rehabilitation.

NAN LEWIS

Los Angeles

* Now that we know Snow White is not coming from Texas, George will have to revert to policies and defending the actions of a Republican Congress.

PIERCE J. MULLALY

Sun City

* If Bush believes he can achieve absolution by stating, “I made mistakes in the past,” why won’t he allow me to make mistakes today?

MICHAEL DAVIDSON

Long Beach

* I would like to comment on the lovely compliment paid to Bush by cartoonist Paul Conrad (Aug. 19). He depicted Bush “morphing” into our great former President Ronald Reagan. If this is indeed true, Bush definitely has my vote in the 2000 presidential election. Thanks for enlightening me, Conrad!

KAREN SHIETZE

Pomona