A muddled political landscape

Re “Losers, left and right,” Opinion, Aug. 27

I’ve lived under 13 U.S. presidents. Some were great, some were OK, and a couple were not so good! During the 79 years I’ve been hanging around, I had the good fortune to visit 44 countries -- some for a week, some for a month, some for a year or more. I tell you this to provide a point of reference for my comments.

As I compare America’s image overseas during my travels with America’s actions overseas during the last six years, I am saddened. Yes, we made errors in the past, but I fear that this current series of poor management and deeds is unprecedented.

I hope the world understands that many Americans feel we are on the wrong track, were misled and lied to. To quote a famous phrase, “We shall return.” We shall return as a nation of compassion, trying to help countries without destroying and killing, and using the tools of honest diplomacy.

BOB SCHLESINGER

Professor Emeritus

San Diego State University

La Mesa

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Conservatives complain that the Bush administration has abandoned small-government principles (they might also complain about states’ rights, individual privacy, etc.). Communism also promised small government -- a withering away of the state and a social utopia -- only to become a brutal, totalitarian system once communists got into power. I think Jonathan Chait misses the point. The promises sound good, but President Bush is what modern conservatism looks like when they win.

ERNESTO GOMEZ

Crestline, Calif.

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Chait is using the wrong criteria to evaluate the success of the Republican resurgence. The conservative think tanks, fundraising networks, publications, talk show hosts and other propaganda organs have been highly successful in reaching a moderate voter base and convincing voters that their fortunes are better served by the Republican Party. Now the Democrats must crank up their institutions to ask the important questions on what has drawn these voters away and, without compromising their core values, how the Democratic Party can win them back. Certainly the stunning failures of the Bush administration have shaken the loyalty of some of its staunchest supporters. But the Democrats will not regain power if they only dwell on the Bush failures and fail to offer more attractive alternatives to middle America.

BOB COWAN

Santa Monica