Wanted: Candidates Who Don’t Follow the Herd

Re “White House Rivals Running on Empty,” Opinion, Jan. 25: William M. Arkin likens the major Democratic candidates to a herd of dairy cows, unthinkingly falling in behind establishment assumptions about the world. I don’t think his unflattering assessment holds water. The Democratic candidates are in touch with reality. Arkin apparently is not. The reality is President Bush has convinced the American people that now that we have beaten the commies, we must set our sights on “terrorists.” It’s the American people who, like dairy cows, have unthinkingly fallen for a false picture painted by Bush. Now any realistic opponent to Bush has to follow the herd, as the public is thoroughly cowed.

Tom Neuhaus

San Luis Obispo

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Arkin’s piece lamenting the Democratic candidates’ lack of vision on foreign policy would ring absolutely true -- that is, if there weren’t a candidate arguing daily for just those ideals Arkin espouses. That candidate is Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich. He supports cutting the defense budget, getting the United Nations in and the U.S. out of Iraq, nuclear disarmament and an end to perpetual war. I suppose Arkin doesn’t mention him because he’s not a frontrunner. If Arkin were talking about “electability,” however defined, that would be one thing. But it is absurd to talk about issues and then not mention the one candidate who supports every one of them.

John McCormack

Los Angeles

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Thanks for the fascinating front-page piece on Kucinich (Jan. 23). What a guy! If only more of America knew his story of poverty and his absolute honesty, integrity and commitment to the working people. He is arguably the most ethical and courageous of the Democratic candidates. He is also probably the most spiritual leader to seek the White House since Abraham Lincoln. I have no doubt he will be president of the United States before he is done. The people will ultimately demand it. Keep an eye on him.

Dick Larson

Glendale

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New Hampshire schoolteacher Yvonne Howard says she’s able to support Sens. John F. Kerry or John Edwards despite their votes in favor of the invasion of Iraq because she thinks “they were misled” (Jan. 24). I find little comfort in the idea that they allowed themselves to be snookered by the likes of Bush. I’m going to stick with the candidate who was smart enough to see through the lies that led us to war. Personality quirks or not, I’m voting for Howard Dean.

Keleigh Hardie

Tarzana