To the Editor:
Re 'If I Had One Wish' (column, Oct. 4):
I agree with Thomas L. Friedman that the Republican leadership in this country has been divisive, incompetent, a fiasco and generally bad for both the world and the United States (I would add immoral, single-mindedly power-driven, anti-American and unjust).
But if the Democrats win only a one-seat majority in either or both houses of Congress, we will still be in the same situation, since there are always at least a few 'conservative' Democrats who can be persuaded to vote with the G.O.P.
The Republicans are almost monolithic in their voting patterns. And unfortunately, the Karl Rove style of politics has eliminated the middle ground in the G.O.P. The Bush approach does not include compromise.
So, my wish is for a clear Democratic majority in the next Congress to restore both democracy and sanity to our government and country. - Ed Measom Winter Park, Fla., Oct. 4, 2006
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To the Editor:Thomas L. Friedman hopes that Democrats win Congressional elections, but only by 'one seat in each chamber,' so that they will be forced to look for 'bipartisan fixes' to problems like Iraq.
This is an odd wish, given that our most serious problems were caused by Republican mismanagement.
On which issue have the Republicans offered any solution other than fear-mongering and corruption? - Thomas Davidoff Berkeley, Calif., Oct. 4, 2006"