Letters

The Democratic Contenders

The selection of John Edwards as his running mate is the first truly significant step by John Kerry in his uninspired run for the presidency. DAVID BAGNARD Garden Valley, Idaho

By choosing North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his vice-presidential candidate, John Kerry has shown he has the sharp judgment needed to be our President [July 19]. Kerry's military experience combined with Edwards' background as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the joint House and Senate committee investigating 9/11 is just the right mix we need to protect our land, our people and our future. Kerry has some wonderful plans to improve this nation, and Edwards has the speaking ability to get those ideas across. Edwards is one of us. MELANIE A. RUSH Port Chester, N.Y.

I totally disagree with your portrayal of Edwards as "the Natural" choice to be Kerry's running mate. My pick for the natural person to hold high elective office is President George W. Bush. He is not afraid to lead and make tough decisions. Edwards depends on his good looks and smooth speaking for support; Bush sticks to his principles. I will always back a candidate who has true values and stands by them. That is why I will be voting for Bush again this November. DOUG LE MAHIEU Pella, Iowa

Before putting Senator Edwards on a pedestal, please look at what he has not done for the citizens of North Carolina. He has been occupied with running for President for the past three years. TIME should take a poll of North Carolinians and learn their true feelings for Edwards. Each state is supposed to be represented by two Senators in Congress. While Edwards is out campaigning, North Carolina has only one--Republican Elizabeth Dole. CHARLES E. DEES Washington, N.C.

The choice of Edwards is like a breath of spring. His good looks bring back memories of President John F. Kennedy. Is it possible that we could once again experience Camelot? The race between Kerry and Bush could be decided by the two V.P. candidates. Edwards is young, charismatic, intelligent and ambitious and is from a working-class family; Dick Cheney comes across as old, stodgy, curmudgeonly and boring. His health is a real negative. Keep in mind that the Vice President is just a heartbeat away from the Oval Office. Now, who do you want in the presidential line of succession--Edwards, who is trim and fit, or Cheney? McCONNELL SANDERS Los Molinos, Calif.

How can Kerry or Bush understand what life is like for the middle class? When was the last time either of them had to search under the sofa cushions for milk money? I have an idea that would really help jump-start the economy: instead of spending all those campaign contributions on stupid ads that no one pays attention to, why not send part of the money to every registered voter? We could try to pay off our debts and get the economy moving upward. SUZANNE PONTIUS West Alexandria, Ohio

The Bush campaign attack machine claims that Edwards doesn't have the experience to be Vice President. But it was Cheney's vaunted experience in foreign affairs that helped push Bush over the edge in his pre-emptive attack on Iraq. And today, thanks to Cheney's influence, the U.S. has a dismally low standing in the court of world opinion. I'll take a critical and judicious thinker like Edwards anytime over Cheney. BOB MADGIC Anderson, Calif.

Free to Be Afraid

I wonder whether President Bush has read your article "Living with the Fear," about how a Baghdad family copes with daily terror, violence and suffering [July 19]. I would like the President to understand the kind of "freedom" the war has brought to Iraqis. I was devastated to read how tragically day-to-day life has deteriorated since the fall of Saddam Hussein. JUDY WEINTRAUB New York City

Bush continues to proclaim, without apology, that despite flawed intelligence about Iraq, the world is safer and the Iraqi people are free because of his pre-emptive war. Contrary to Bush's unbridled optimism, not everything is coming up roses. It's more like skunk cabbage. In Baghdad people live in fear in their homes, electricity is available only intermittently, vaccines are in short supply, and kidnapping for ransom happens every day. Yes, Saddam has been captured, and his people are liberated but, sadly, only for a violent free-for-all. CELINE E. RIEDEL Avon Lake, Ohio

Framing the Debate

In "The President's Real Enemy" [July 19], columnist Joe Klein argued that, Kerry's candidacy aside, the true challenge Bush faces in the coming election is the war in Iraq. Bush is well aware of it. In his stump speeches, he claims that we are better off without Saddam. But if we really wanted to rid the world of deadly villains, shouldn't we have concentrated on the perpetrators of genocide in the Sudan? Or on North Korea, which is working to develop nuclear weapons? ED STEINHAUS Westminster, Calif.

Kudos to Klein for identifying the two opponents that Bush is facing in the campaign: John Kerry and reality. Kerry's reasoning on the issues is thoughtful and responsible, but the media rarely provide time or space for his carefully thought-out views. Please stop underestimating Americans' attention span. We can and will listen to reason when it's presented to us. In fact, we're starving for it. PEGGY HARRIS St. James City, Fla.