Letters: Candidates rush to the right
Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney addresses a political speech at Gilchrist Metal Fabricating in Hudson, New Hampshire, on January 9, 2012. New Hampshire will hold its Republican primary on January 10, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images) Credit: Getty/EMMANUEL DUNAND
I find it comical that the Republican candidates are arguing among themselves as to who is the most conservative, and at the same time perplexed as to why "mainstream" Newt Gingrich was rising for a while in GOP polls ["Election 2012," News, Jan. 1]. I wonder if they are also noticing that President Barack Obama beats every candidate except Mitt Romney in recent polls. Could it be that the country is not interested in the conservative ideology?
Over 2 million more citizens have access to health care under Obama, and Massachusetts is ranked as the state with the highest percentage of insured (Texas is last). Massachusetts has a flat 5.3 percent income tax and contends with one of the lowest budget deficits in the country; Texas, albeit a much larger state, contends with one of the highest budget deficits.
Maybe it is time for the Republican candidates to start targeting mainstream America if they want to have a chance at beating Obama.
Christopher Forte, Eaton's Neck
In listening to the anti-science blather from the political hustings, I remain amazed by the degree to which entirely too many candidates are so willing to appeal to fear and ignorance.
It's one thing to be skeptical about some scientific speculations such as dark matter, string theory, parallel universes and additional dimensions. But when it comes to outright denial of physical phenomena that directly affect our viability as a species or that may hurt the quality of life for ourselves and our children, such anti-scientific demagoguery should raise caution flags.
Refuting global warming evidence, or threats to clean air and water, or halting research that could lead to disease prevention or control, or reversing laws and practices that will ensure conservation of land and natural resources, or ignoring the potentially disastrous consequences of uncontrolled drilling and hydrofracking -- these are pernicious and destructive ideas and practices that must be identified and challenged for what they are: shortsighted and dangerous.
Frank Young, Freeport
President Barack Obama may be only the second Democratic president to lose re-election in modern history. His lack of leadership has turned off the impressive coalition that gave him victory in 2008.
Obama ran on "change." What he has failed to comprehend is that change was never defined as leading from the rear. Change to the American people did not alter their expectation that a president would have the chutzpah to stand and fight for his ideas, ideals and programs.
Obama mistakenly believed his mandate was to become the nation's community leader. He failed to understand the hatred by the right for his presidency, which ended any hope to find common ground or compromise.
Obama supporters have become apathetic to his re-election. In the end, Obama's last hope may be a Republican opponent who is far less appealing than staying the course.
Mitt Romney seems the safe bet, though he has never won the hearts of the Republican base. Newt Gingrich as the irascible chameleon may yet steal the hearts of primary voters, taking the nomination and causing the Republican establishment apoplexy.
Edward Horn, Baldwin
