Bush Protest

* Some people have called me unpatriotic because I plan to go to the protest rally on Inauguration Day and join others to protest not only the “appointed” George W. Bush presidency but America’s pathetic and unequal voting system. However, I feel I am being very patriotic in rallying against a situation that goes against everything a democratic America stands for.

I realize that Bush will be sworn in on Jan. 20, but to sit home and do nothing when I fervently believe he was selected and not elected makes a mockery of my citizenship in this great country. To ignore the fact that thousands of precincts, mostly in poor areas, have antiquated voting machines that do not register all the votes unless they are manually counted makes a mockery of America’s reason for being.

I am not so much protesting Bush the man, for he probably is a decent person, but am loudly protesting how Bush acquired the presidency. And what my Republican friends don’t realize is that Jan. 20 is the first day of my four-year protest.

MARK JAMSEN

Huntington Beach

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I have been a longtime admirer of Paul Conrad’s work, but on Jan. 3 he crossed the line. To depict a KKK member as part of Bush’s Cabinet is an outrage against not only President-elect Bush and his Cabinet choices but against all Americans. There is not one shred of evidence that any of the proposed Cabinet nominees are racists, let alone Bush!

It is, in fact, the most diverse Cabinet ever proposed by any president-elect in history, including three women, one of them Hispanic; two black males, including the appointment of one to the most senior Cabinet post of secretary of State; an Arab American and a Japanese American.

ERNEST SALOMON

Santa Barbara

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Re “Team Could Overwhelm Bush’s Agenda,” news analysis, Jan. 3: Let me get this straight. Bush has an experienced, qualified Cabinet staff, therefore he cannot succeed. Yeah!

TOM BIRKE

Garden Grove

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Re “Democrats to Get Senate’s Reins for a 17-Day Trot,” Dec. 31: It seems the Democrats don’t realize they’ve been outwitted, not outvoted. The Supreme Court opened the gates to roll in the Bush/Cabinet Trojan horse. And while the Democrats are still eyeing it as moderately friendly, the most powerful warrior of all--John Ashcroft--is preparing to emerge and return the judicial favor with conservative maneuvers that could cripple U.S. progress in civil and women’s rights for decades. The Senate Democrats should fire one silver bullet before Jan. 20, killing the confirmation of Ashcroft before they are unwittingly outwitted once again.

TONI MORGAN

Manhattan Beach

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Republicans have complained bitterly, time and again, that President Clinton stole their issues. Why?

If Bush were to steal our issues of choice, gun control, the environment and improved public schools, I’d be absolutely delighted.

Since the country is divided 50-50, here’s the solution: Let Bush steal our agenda, run with it, score a touchdown, and we’ll gladly applaud--and even reelect--him.

V.F. SABL

Los Angeles