Letters

Four More Years
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, Washington, U.S.

Thank god our president was re-elected. 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, Florida, U.S.

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, Georgia, U.S.

Hands-On Heroism
Time's reporting on what I did during the election season suggested that I was such a Kerry partisan that I "grappled with a heckling Dean supporter at a Kerry rally in New Hampshire" [Nov. 15]. This was no doubt in reference to a January incident in which I helped two Dean security people escort a heckler from a Dean event. The heckler had been screaming and throwing elbows for quite some time when I stepped in to help. The manager of the Palace Theater said I was a hero for preventing the situation from getting out of control, and two weeks later I was honored to be presented with the key to the city of Manchester by Mayor Robert Baines.
Al Franken
New York City

Now Hiring: Dem Strategists
In "What Happens to the Losing Team?" [Nov. 15], Democratic Leadership Council president Bruce Reed said, "We can't let George Bush define our future." It wasn't Bush who was defining the Democratic Party. I voted as much against Michael Moore, French President Jacques Chirac, the U.N., the élitist media, stuck-up Hollywood and MoveOn.org as for Bush. The single issue for me was the war on terrorism (which in my opinion does include Iraq). Maybe the Democratic Party should start to choose its friends a little better.
Robert P. Rosetta
Plainsboro, New Jersey, U.S.

Dining with the Devil Columnist Andrew Sullivan's "Let's Have a Truce" [Nov. 15] urged both parties to put the election behind them and work together. We have a President, however, who has alienated half of this country and most of the rest of the world by his irresponsible actions. Asking those who are sickened by Bush's past four years to declare a truce is like asking a fundamentalist Christian to have lunch with the devil. It's not going to happen.
Richard Moberg
Philadelphia

Sullivan tells us we should get over it and support Bush because in wartime we owe him a second chance. Excuse me? Why are we in wartime, and who put us there? As an American citizen, I owe Bush nothing.
Lola Falstad Seattle

Counting All the Moral Votes
In a remarkable display of naiveté, 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, Florida, U.S.

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, Massachusetts, U.S.

Fasten Your Seat Belts
In "The Uniter vs. The Divider" [Nov. 15], columnist Joe Klein stated that "rational political discourse may no longer be possible," in part because of "the Limbaughs and Drudges and Hannitys who proselytized for Bush during the endless election season." Klein neglected to acknowledge the equal number of loudmouths on the left who proselytized for Kerry. Al Franken, Chris Matthews and Michael Moore are just as responsible, if not more so, for the lack of reasoned discussion in the U.S.
Kelly Gallagher
Regina, Canada

The Whole World Watched
The world stared in disbelief at the election results [Nov. 15]. Bush lied to Americans and the rest of the world at the U.N. about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. He did nothing to prevent the 9/11 disaster, even after he was warned of an attack. He then failed to catch and kill the most important terrorist who attacked the U.S. He tells Americans that freedom is on the march. Meanwhile, Iraqi cities are uncontrolled, hostages are beheaded, and bombs explode almost daily because of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's ill-conceived military planning. The U.S. budget deficit is exploding. Bush has diminished individual rights in the U.S. And we are told he was re-elected because Americans trust his morals and he makes them feel safer. As the Americans say: "Go figure."
Pierre de Villiers
Johannesburg

This election proves what most of the world has known for a while: the U.S. has become a country of uneducated, fundamentalist Christian fools who choose to be misled and driven into debt by a crazy cowboy. The U.S. has lost any legitimacy to be the sole world power. Russia, Europe, Japan, China and Brazil should join together to make sure that this irresponsible President does not get away with ruining our planet any more than he and his Administration already have. Even though we are not allowed to vote for the best candidate for President, we can exercise some power by letting our money do the talking — by not buying American products — and by requiring Americans to have a visa to visit any place in the rest of the world.
Ruud Steenhuisen
Amsterdam

Europeans went to bed hoping for a better tomorrow and woke up realizing that their dream had lasted only a few hours. I cannot understand how Americans can entrust Bush with four more years in power. Such a victory on the European continent would be unthinkable.
Jorge Silva
Fânzeres, Portugal

Bush's actions in Iraq have proved bin Laden's charge that the U.S. is trying to conquer Islamic lands. Bush's aggressive, unilateralist foreign policy and blinkered support for Israel have made him hated throughout the Middle East. His presidency has provided plenty of recruitment material for al-Qaeda. Four more years will doubtless provide more. Yes, bin Laden knew exactly what he was doing when he released that videotape. And his efforts paid off.
Lorna Forse
Manchester, England