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Leadership vs. Loyalty

What a brilliant piece Michael Duffy wrote on Rudolph Giuliani and his loyalty to Bernard Kerik [Nov. 26]. Duffy's snapshot provided one of the most concise and intriguing portraits of a political animal that I have ever read. He truly captured Giuliani through the prism of his relationship with Kerik, possibly his closest ally. And the statement made by an operative from a rival campaign on Rudy's pitch--"I'm not a nice guy. But the people you fear, fear me"--was so articulate a description it gave me pause.

CARL A. HULBERT BELLINGHAM, WASH.

Duffy gave a thumbnail sketch of Kerik's unpleasant youth and more recent adventures and skewed them into shadowy misadventures, thus trivializing the man's merits and suggesting that what he ultimately did for his city and country was insignificant and self-serving. The intent to mask the story as a critical essay on loyalty--well, it just didn't make the stretch. Ripping Kerik through Giuliani and Giuliani through Kerik is a trite and wearisome pastime, isn't it?

CHRIS MCLOUGHLIN, ATLANTA

So the moralizing Pat Robertson endorsed moral family man Rudolph Giuliani. It's a match made in heaven. Giuliani's supposed family values are questionable, not just because of his three marriages, and not just because second wife Donna Hanover only learned she was being dumped from a televised press conference Rudy was giving. While Hanover and their kids were still living at Gracie Mansion, he asked Judith Nathan, his mistress at the time, to move in with them. A judge finally had to intervene and bar Nathan from the place. Despite the indecent manner in which Giuliani treated his family, the professional moralists in the Republican Party--like Robertson--will vote for him.

ARLENE PHILOMENA NEW YORK CITY

Bolton's Strategy

I was dumbstruck by the incongruity of former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton's replies to readers' questions [Nov. 26]. Since he has been our emissary to the world, I would expect him to be an intelligent and capable man. But his comments were like those of an actor promoting a new movie (of course, he's promoting his new book). It is inconceivable that a diplomat would believe the simplistic and readily disprovable worldviews he expressed. On the other hand, such opinions will sell books, presumably to Bolton's financial and political gain. My spirits are raised only by the possibility that peacemakers may one day receive their due rewards.

MICHAEL BUSH, PORT ORANGE, FLA.

Bolton said if the U.S. were ever to use military force against Iran, the nation would "need to make it clear to the people of Iran that this is not aimed against them." Does he suggest sending that message before Iranian people are maimed and killed--or after?

NEIL MCKENTY, MONTREAL

The Bhutto Deal Goes Bust

In shutting down private TV channels and detaining opposition political leaders and protesting lawyers, the dictatorial President Pervez Musharraf has purged the basic human rights of a civilized society [Nov. 26]. His bloodless coup that overthrew Nawaz Sharif's government in 1999 was welcomed by many citizens, but now the general has lost support. There is dissatisfaction among the masses because of Musharraf's actions, especially his ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. In desperately trying to hold on to power, Musharraf is making a joke of democracy.

SYED ARIF REHMAN, KARACHI

You pointed out that since Pakistan is a key ally in the fight against terrorism, the Bush Administration deems the regime worthy of continued funding despite Musharraf's unconstitutional actions. This reminds me of how the U.S. backed South American dictators in the name of preventing the spread of communism. Allowing democracy to be revoked does not bode well for U.S. policies in the region, and it is only a matter of time before this ally withers from lack of popular support. Defeating communism required the cooperation of governments; defeating terrorism will require the cooperation of people.

JITESH LAXMAN, TORONTO

Twice elected and twice disgraced, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile and was in cahoots with Musharraf in hopes of again becoming Prime Minister. Musharraf even agreed to drop corruption charges against her. But the plan has backfired, and Bhutto is now deriding Musharraf and proclaiming slogans of democracy. The opportunistic Benazir Bhutto doesn't care one hoot about Pakistan. She is only hungry for power.

LOCHAN BAKSHI, EDMONTON, ALTA.

Prosperity in the Pulpit

Senator Chick Grassley's investigation of multimillion-dollar ministries does raise First Amendment issues, but they're easy to deal with [Nov. 26]. While the government can't investigate whether Prosperity gospel is good theology, it must act upon probable cause if it believes that commercial activity is being conducted under the guise of religion. Otherwise, Ford Motor Co. could simply rename itself the Church of Our Ford and decline to pay taxes and comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act.

CHARLIE ROSENBERG, MILWAUKEE

These preachers should read James 1: 11, "For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away."

DANIEL LANGE, ESCANABA, MICH.

Sinclair Lewis' novel Elmer Gantry, written 80 years ago, still has relevance. Like Minister Gantry, today's televangelists are con artists who profit by selling God to their gullible followers. Gantry had no shame, and neither do these people.

ROY DAVID LOGAN, ANAHEIM, CALIF.

At a Loss for Words

It's very strange that comedians such as Jay Leno, Dave Letterman and Conan O'Brien are "forced" to air reruns during the TV- and movie-writers strike [Nov. 19]. Didn't they get their start in show biz by writing their own material? I guess they're just too rich now--or too blase--to go back to their roots. Seems a shame, doesn't it?

RAY MOORE, LITTLE ROCK, ARK.

The intransigence of the powerful studios reminds me of studio honcho Jack Warner's alleged declaration that his staff writers were "schmucks with Underwoods." Considering that dismissal, he probably thought of Mozart as a schmuck with a piano. It might also be fair to say that Mr. Warner was just a schmuck with a Rolodex, which is much easier to operate than a piano or even--land sake's alive!--an Underwood.

PAUL SCOTT, WOODLAND HILLS, CALIF.

Perhaps while the writers are on strike, one of the TV networks could air a new reality show called So You Think You Can Write? The show could feature aspiring writers competing to come up with the winning script, which would then be used as the basis for an actual network series. Who knows, the show might produce scripts that are better than those currently used by the networks.

STEPHEN V. GILMORE, CHARLOTTE, N.C.

LETTER FROM A CITIZEN ACTIVIST

BUT NOT A DROP TO DRINK?

I can tell you more about the litany of Georgia's self-inflicted water woes [Nov. 26]. The urbanization (officially known as "revitalization") of Jekyll Island, a barrier-island state park, is moving forward under a full head of steam. Plans include a new convention center, shopping center, hotels, condos, cottages and time-shares.The influx of thousands of visitors will undoubtedly overtax the current water allotment from the Floridan Aquifer. To meet increasing water requirements, Governor Sonny Perdue had better spend more time praying to bring down a deluge of biblical proportions.

FRANK MIRASOLA, President Jekyll Island Citizens Association JEKYLL ISLAND, GA.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

The Nov. 26 article about a Senate investigation into the finances of Prosperity gospel televangelists referred mistakenly to a 2006 letter from the IRS confirming the Joyce Meyer Ministry's tax-exempt status. While the IRS reviewed the ministry's activities from 2004 to '06, it sent its letter of confirmation in October 2007.