President Clinton

William Schneider (Opinion, Jan. 30) asserts, “Clintonism defines the new center in American politics.” A realistic examination of Bill Clinton’s method shows that what Clintonism defines is deception. Clinton lays claim to things that are not his political property, the biggest of which is his deception in claiming the political center after running up a $350-billion tab in new spending during his State of the Union address. It is also deception when Clinton uses as a lifeboat for his scandal-plagued presidency the state of the economy or balanced budgets. This month when Clinton celebrates America’s record-long economic expansion, Clinton’s own OMB will be quietly admitting that this expansion began in April 1991 to produce a record-breaking time span.

Will Clinton invite former President George Bush to share in the ceremonies? Or will Clinton stick with the fantasy that he got the economy moving again nearly two years before assuming the presidency, just as he balanced the national budget without the Republican Congress that dragged him kicking and screaming into finally signing one in 1996?

MICHAEL D. ALEX

Redondo Beach

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I was mesmerized by the president’s speech (Jan. 28). There isn’t a single presidential hopeful who can compare with him. Not one!

BARBARA S. HERMAN

Los Angeles

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I was appalled at President Clinton’s plan for requiring gun owners to be licensed. He’s supposed to be a law school graduate. Doesn’t he know we already have a license? It’s called the 2nd Amendment.

R.L. CARPENTER

Huntington Beach