Specter and the New Political Landscape

Re “Judicial Remarks Stir Conservatives,” Nov. 5: Those on the evangelical right are starting their crusade already. Their first target is Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.). In speaking his mind on judicial appointments, he committed the faux pas of voicing his ideas, and now these pro-life groups are trying to prevent his becoming the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

I wonder if these “pro-life” groups will also make sure that these judges who are antiabortion are also anti-death penalty and also antiwar? If not, then where is the consistency in their belief system?

Stephen Hariton

Westlake Village

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Re the Nov. 9 Michael Ramirez editorial cartoon: Bravo to Ramirez for capturing the cannibalization of the Republican Party in his cartoon depicting Marines preparing to remove Sen. Specter. Social conservatives, who no longer have the “far-left” Democrats to vanquish, are now looking for enemies in anyone a little more left than themselves.

Soon we might hear from one far-right-wing zealot to another, “It’s just you, me and God against the world, and sometimes I’m not so sure about you!”

Jeff Webster

Huntington Beach

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The Ramirez cartoon depicting U.S. Marines poised at Specter’s door with guns drawn is the most offensive commentary I have ever witnessed in a mainstream publication. Using military force to remove a democratically elected official is un-American and tantamount to advocating a military coup.

Paul Lewin

Santa Monica

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I re-registered as a Democrat last summer after several years. I thought, with the specter of four more years of George W. Bush, the Democrats would listen to their base and work to defend the environment, abortion rights and fight against corporate monopoly, bigotry and the indefensible invasion of a sovereign country. The imminent selection of right-wing extremist Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as Senate minority leader is a slap in the face to the ideals of the Democratic Party.

I am urging Democrats to denounce and leave the party if that selection takes place. Republicans won by supporting their base; let them have the extremists. Democrats won’t win by pandering to people’s lower instincts, but by standing strong for healthy environments, decent wages, universal healthcare.

Pat Davis

Woodland Hills

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Reality check from Louisiana to California. Don’t believe the Bush propaganda. Louisiana, like many other “red states,” is not a Republican state. Until David Vitter’s election to the U.S. Senate last week, Democrats controlled all but one of our statewide elected offices.

So how did Vitter become the first Republican senator from Louisiana since Reconstruction? First of all, he asked Bush not to campaign for him. Second, he ran on Democratic issues, vowing to fight the big drug companies and protect Social Security at all costs. Third, he aggressively insisted that he would be independent and break ranks with his party leadership when he saw fit.

So “blue state” Democrats, don’t get discouraged! The Republicans are not as all-powerful in the red states as they would have you believe.

Carlos Luis Zervigon

New Orleans