GOP debate and the Reagan legacy

Re “Differences emerge as Republicans debate,” May 4

During the Republican presidential debate, Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado said that it would be the greatest day in our country’s history if Roe vs. Wade were overturned.

What a sad commentary on the man’s thinking. To think that reversing Roe vs. Wade would be an end to abortions is not very smart.

But when you think about the greatest day in our country’s history, how about an end to the Iraq war? How about if our country found a way to cure all cancers? The day Americans have representatives in government that care about us, instead of just standing on soapboxes, will be the greatest in U.S. history.

JAY KIMBROUGH

Irvine

*

The Times’ article left out one important development: Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson said that businesses should be able to fire employees simply for being gay.

The fact that someone who wants to lead our country in the 21st century espouses such backward and bigoted views speaks volumes for him and the GOP.

CHAD JONES

Granada Hills

*

Midway through the debate, I learned that Ronald Reagan should be nominated for sainthood, women’s rights should be negated, war would be perpetual and evolution is an interesting myth. I then turned on a rerun of “Hollywood Squares,” which was more entertaining and a lot more informative.

JACK KENNA

Whittier

*

I had a laugh-out-loud moment during the Republican debate when one of the candidates referred to the GOP as a “big tent” party.

Apparently the irony of standing with nine other candidates, all men, all white, all over age 50, was completely lost on him. I wish I could remember who said it, but they all looked the same to me.

M.J. JOHNSON

San Luis Obispo

*

Re “Schwarzenegger loses this round,” May 4

It is too bad Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was told by his presidential-aspirant colleagues that they would never allow him to run.

I always thought that when I became a citizen at age 8 -- after coming to America when I was 1 year old under refugee status -- that I would be equal in rights and privileges to any other American. Then I read the Constitution and found that I was barred from ever dreaming about the highest office in the land.

I could fight and die for this country but never lead it. I guess “foreigners” will always be second-class citizens.

CHANDA CHOUN

North Haven, Conn.

*

Re “Paging Reagan,” editorial, May 4

Your editorial sent me searching for a Times article that ran Nov. 8, 1992, by writer James Risen:

“The statistics are staggering: Since Ronald Reagan first took office, the budget deficit has more than tripled, from $79 billion in 1981 to $290 billion today, while total government debt held by the public has soared from less than $800 billion to more than $3 trillion.

“The nation has been mortgaged. In 1981, government debt equaled 25% of gross domestic product, the nation’s total output of goods and services; today it is more than half. Now, 3.5% of GDP, roughly $200 billion, goes just to pay the annual interest on the federal debt.”

The Reagan legacy?

PIERCE J. MULLALY

Sun City