Dick Cheney on GOP Ticket

* Ronald Brownstein’s July 26 news analysis, “Bush Pick an Asset Only if They Win,” suggests that George W. Bush made a poor selection for his running mate because Dick Cheney doesn’t bring a large dowry of votes from some section of the country that will assure a Republican victory in November.

He goes on to quote a Republican senator as saying, “When you look at it from the perspective of the positions he’s held, from White House chief of staff to secretary of Defense, there are very few Americans who are more qualified” to step in as president if needed.

In my opinion, a presidential candidate who selects his vice president on the basis of his qualifications and ability to serve when needed, instead of selecting one based on what he brings to the table in the way of electoral votes, is the kind of president this country needs. If that is taking a risk, then I applaud Bush for his decision.

If and when a vice president is asked to take the helm of the nation, I doubt that Brownstein will be featured on the front page recalling how many votes he brought to the election in 2000.

CLINE C. DUFF

Fullerton

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* The first word that came to my mind with Bush’s announcement of Cheney to be his VP candidate is “arrogant.” The spinmeisters can use all the words they want, but the reality is that the Bush-Cheney ticket is composed of two Texas oil millionaires who are anti-choice, anti-environment, right-wing conservatives.

A high-level Republican has already been quoted calling the ticket “my father’s Oldsmobile.” My father’s Oldsmobile was a large gas guzzler with lots of chrome, too much power, soft steering and difficulty maneuvering in tight spaces. That was fine in the ‘60s but certainly isn’t what we need now.

BARRY GREENFIELD

West Hollywood