Letters

The

American people have spoken, and they want President Bush, a man of moral and ethical integrity, to continue to lead them [Nov. 15]. Compassionate conservatives clearly won the day. In spite of two years of constant partisan attacks on the President, the electorate wasn't fooled. They know when they see a strong leader. The American people gave the President more Republicans in Congress and the largest popular vote any President has received, which amounts to a governing mandate that will create a stronger U.S.--at home and abroad.
WILLIS PAPILLION
Silverdale, Wash.

I have always been proud to be an American. But after seeing this nation choose Bush for another four years despite all he has done to endanger our health, prosperity and reputation, I am embarrassed and frightened to be an American.
VIRGINIA PASQUARELLI
Roswell, Ga.

LATEST COVER STORY Mind & Body Happiness Jan. 17, 2004 Past Issues Tsunami Jan. 10, 2004 ----------------- Person of the Year Jan. 3, 2004 ----------------- Secrets of the Nativity Dec. 13, 2004 ----------------- The Stealth Killer Dec. 6, 2004 ----------------- Coolest Inventions Nov. 29, 2004 ----------------- Battle for Fallujah Nov. 22, 2004 ----------------- Four More Years Nov. 15, 2004 ----------------- The Joy Of Sox Nov. 8, 2004 ----------------- The Morning After Nov. 1, 2004 ----------------- The God Gene Oct. 25, 2004 ----------------- The Vote Battle Oct. 18, 2004 ----------------- Visions of Tomorrow Oct. 11, 2004 ----------------- The Tragedy of Sudan Oct. 4, 2004 ----------------- CBS Controversy Sept. 27, 2004 ----------------- America's Border Sept. 20, 2004 ----------------- Struggle Within Islam Sept. 13, 2004 ----------------- World of George Bush Sept. 6, 2004 -----------------   SPECIAL REPORTS  Coolest Video Games 2004  Coolest Inventions  Wireless Society  Cool Tech 2004 PHOTOS AND GRAPHICS  At The Epicenter  Paths to Pleasure  Quotes of the Week  This Week's Gadget  Cartoons of the Week More graphics >> More photos >> MORE STORIES Advisor: Rove Warrior The Bushes: Family Dynasty Klein: Benneton Ad Presidency More Stories >> CNN.com: Latest News

Thank God our President was re-lected. I worked very hard on his campaign and was proud to be part of his team. This country truly needs a man of faith who stands by his promises.
LINDA POSTEL
West Palm Beach, Fla.

The Republicans have managed to tap into and hijack some mainstream parts of the American ethos and claim them as their own. While some have called the election proof that the American people can be trusted in their decisions, I recall James Madison's words from the Federalist papers, "Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm."
COLONEL KEES RIETSEMA, U.S.A.F. (Ret.)
Cave Creek, Ariz.

Iny my suburban area of Ohio, what we liked was Bush's determination to take action to protect the U.S. from enemies who are certainly not ambivalent in their hatred of us. Kerry's insistence that he had plans for everything, even though he couldn't explain any of them, just seemed like too much high-and-mighty wind without substance. Most people chose Bush's clearly expressed agenda instead of taking a chance on a Senator with a rather weak track record.
AMY T. BIDWELL
Plain City, Ohio

I now believe that Bush is a brilliant man. He persuaded many of my fellow Ohioans to vote against themselves not just once but a second time as well.
ADAM MICHAEL ROSENBERG
Cincinnati, Ohio

Counting All the Moral Votes

In a remarkable display of naivete, a  majority of Americans voted for Bush, thinking they were voting for moral values [Nov. 15]. They have instead elected a duplicitous group of war profiteers whose only interest is self-interest. The Republican juggernaut has seized control of all three branches of government. Religious conservatives will dictate how we live our lives. Toll the bells, my fellow citizens: democracy is dead in America.
FRANCINE PASETTI
Tampa, Fla.

I sorely wanted to vote for Kerry but voted for Bush because I could not, as a matter of conscience, vote for someone with Kerry's attitude toward abortion. I am not alone among silenced pro-life Democrats and other social conservatives who have gone unnoticed.
JIMMY QUACH
Cambridge, Mass.

Many voters failed to consider the morality of a pre-emptive military action that has resulted in the death of thousands of Iraqi civilians. It's wrong to label people as unpatriotic or lacking in traditional values because they are just as saddened by those foreign deaths as they are by the lives lost on 9/11 and American military casualties. The term morality and all that it connotes should not be cheapened into a political device.
JOHN MILLER
Baltimore, Md.