A Republican Victory
Your Nov. 18 cover package (“Top Gun,” U.S. Affairs) provided an accurate, enlightening look at the reality of the election process in America–and left me feeling deeply despondent and cynical. “Issues” are massaged and manipulated for the greatest political advantage, and “success” is measured by the number of seats won in Congress. Surely the role of government is to “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity”? Imagine what progress could be made if just half the money, manpower, energy and strategizing devoted to the business of politics were instead applied to the business of running our government. No wonder more than half of all eligible U.S. voters fail to exercise that precious right. Donna D. Andes Reading, Pennsylvania
The problem with the Democratic Party and the American left is not that they lack leadership and a coherent message but that they lack an understanding of the people. Republicans won because Americans see a man in the White House they can trust; they believed him when he endorsed Republican candidates. Trustworthiness was a characteristic sorely lacking in the last presidency, and until Democrats understand that, they’ll have a hard time winning. Kelly Flanagan State College, Pennsylvania
Bush’s success in the elections shows that he is good at raising campaign money and politicking. But Americans are worse off. The economy is in the dumps, and Bush’s popularity is directly related to the continued presence–rather than the demise–of those who are threatening our lives. America desperately needs an effective leader who helps average citizens, rather than an effective politician who helps fellow party members and campaign benefactors. Corey Lane San Leandro, California
As a loyal Democrat, I was disheartened by the midterm-election results, but even more so by the pessimistic groans–from fellow Democrats, no less–that these results sounded the death knell of the party. As a university student, I know that there is an enthusiastic generation of young Democrats who cannot wait to take the 2004 elections by storm. We have not lost sight of the progressive social priorities that our party stands for, and we will have our voices heard. We need to learn from our mistakes and remember that the younger generation still has a lot of fight left in them. Melissa Hyde Iowa City, Iowa
I’m disgusted by the credit given to President Bush for the Republican triumph. While the country sits in an economic recession, experiencing daily threats of war and terrorism, I’m appalled that the president spent five days in 15 states endorsing other Republicans. How much money did taxpayers have to spend for this “whirlwind tour”? Teana Stocco St. Helens, Oregon
Democrats shot themselves in the foot by demonstrating to voters that their candidates stood for one thing–nothing–and that they were for this 100 percent. Mortimer Schwartz Davis, California
I voted for President Bush, but as a retired Air Force/Air National Guardsman, I’m critical of your having given him the incredible title of Top Gun. That title goes to a few fighter pilots who have surpassed all others and attained one of the highest honors given to a U.S. pilot. Knowing that President Bush was able to avoid active duty during the Vietnam era, no one would call him a Top Gun. The title given to him so loosely tarnishes all the unbelievably talented pilots who have earned that title. Philip Rovang Lindenhurst, Illinois
Since the Republicans now have control of the government, they can show us how it is done. Government will be smaller, our taxes will go down and there will be no more wasteful spending, right? Republicans now have an opportunity to restore our nation’s morality, fix Social Security and rid the world of bad guys as they’ve promised. They have no excuses now that Democrats are out of the way and they’re in control. They have been talking the talk; now let’s see them walk the walk. Lesley Warren Raleigh, North Carolina
Americans were voting not for Bush, or necessarily against Democrats, but against obstructionist government. People are fed up with politicians’ playing games to ensure they stay in power at the expense of the rest of us. If Democrats want to win in 2004, they need to show that they are the party that is willing to act on a good idea, even if it’s enacted under a Republican administration. Keith Farrington Andover, Maine
Jonathan Alter advises Democrats to go along with President Bush on the homeland security bill. But the Democrats lost the elections because of their failure to energize their base, and supporting this bill would have meant engaging in union-bashing and stripping workers of civil-service protections. Caving in to Bush was not the way to go. Reba Shimansky Brooklyn, New York
How did Bush do it? Two words: money and advertising. Will we ever return to substance, or are we hopelessly enmeshed in form? B. Sabonis-Chafee East Windsor, Connecticut
