Bush’s Remark

According to Gov. George Bush, the event that changed his life was when he accepted Jesus Christ in his heart and, as such, he is a born-again Christian. To me, the measure of a man is how he speaks or conducts himself both in public and in private. After speaking of himself as a good husband, a good father and a good Christian, his remark to Dick Cheney (thinking the mike was off), “There’s Adam Clymer, major league a------ from the New York Times,” tells me that he is not the person I want leading our country (Sept. 5).

After all, as he has said, we are trying to restore dignity to the office of the president.

FRED L. MERRILL

Inglewood

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A private, profane comment by Bush to Cheney was picked up by a microphone. It was not intended for public consumption but the media jumped on it. Bush’s mistake was not realizing that there is no privacy or respect of privacy when the media are around. Sadly enough, The Times and other papers have picked up this nonstory. For shame!

SELBY JESSUP

Los Angeles

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I see that Bush is well on his way to restoring dignity to the White House. For the first time in the history of this nation, the presidential debates will need a censor.

MICHAEL HORN

Pinon Hills

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Al Gore did the right thing in not accepting to appear on those three debates with Bush (Sept. 4). The debates were going to be aired on networks that not all people had access to, and thus Bush was limiting the amount of people that would watch their debate. Bush argued that Gore had previously made a commitment to appear at the three debates and said that the next president should stick to his commitments.

However, as I see it, if the president makes a commitment to do something and later arrives at the conclusion that it is not the best thing for the American people, the president has the right and duty to break that commitment. The debates should take place on networks that all people have access to, so that they can get to know the candidates better.

HENRY CASTILLO

Van Nuys

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Gore is lying to the public about his refusal to debate Bush the way Bush has offered. To be blunt, he does not want to be on “Meet the Press” because he is scared of Tim Russert, who pinned him to the wall the last time Gore was on his show. Gore does not dare debate Bush unless it is on his terms.

I hope that Bush refuses to debate him, because Gore is only trying to get a format and interviewers who are sympathetic to him. He wants a forum where he can continue to lie to the American public and get away with it.

ALLAN L. GRIFFITH

Glendale

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Bush’s handlers are real smart. They have convinced him to reject two of the nationally broadcast TV debates proposed by the bipartisan commission that have been a tradition since 1988.

The Bush camp is doing this with good reason. They are sticking to their election strategy of adhering to the old adage, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut than to open it and remove all doubts.”

SAM CASTELO

Irvine