A GOP WHITE HOUSE AGAIN?

I am so glad I'm not a Republican these days. There was a time when the GOP had some honorable leaders. I admired John V. Lindsay as mayor of New York and former CA state senator Marion Bergeson. I voted for both of them.

Mrs. Bergeson ran the most responsive political office I ever covered, in my 12 years as a newspaper reporter. As far as I found, she was totally honest, totally reliable and always did the right thing.

Needless to say, that is rare now.

Of course Lindsay switched parties to the Democrats, but when I lived in NYC, he was a Republican.

Every four years, I look over the pack of possible GOP presidential candidates, to see if there is anyone I can respect and support.

But this year? Jesus.

Mitt Romney comes closest. He has a sterling record. Made a lot of money as a business leader. Saved the Winter Olympics financially. Was a great governor of Massachusetts, signing into law near-universal health coverage.

Aye, there's the rub. The GOP hates anybody who helps the poor.

You can't help the poor, Mitt, didn't you know that? You have to be a selfish, overbearing, rabid, right-wing asshole, like Donald Trump, to be a favorite of the GOP.

What is Donald Trump known for? Firing people on TV? Boy, that takes a lot of leadership, doesn't it? His business went bankrupt in 1992. He is a high living, high flying, fast talking bullshitter. Apparently he only cares about money, fame and power, the worst American values.

Why in the world would anyone vote for him?

A Newsweek poll published in the Feb. 28 issue estimates that Romney could almost beat President Obama, at 49% to 47%, and Trump could come almost as close, at 43-41.

God save us. If Donald Trump became president, he sure as hell wouldn't.

I could almost support Romney, if he had been more steady in the wind rather than blowing with those political winds. I don't admire a flip-flopper.

But if the GOP had any brains, it would pick Mitt. At least he is competent, if not consistent.

Copyright 2011, Roger R. Angle

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT

Dear President Obama,

During the last presidential election, in 2008, I was an Obama telephone volunteer (in Los Angeles, on Motor Avenue). When we finished instruction, our trainer said, "Let's go change the world."

I still choke up when I say it. We were excited, thrilled, and charged up with the possibilities, and with our role in history. We dared hope for a better world. About 200 of us made, they told us, some 30,000 phone calls that morning, many of us on our own cell phones.

Apparently we didn't make as much difference as we thought. We helped you get elected. But where is that change?

Please stand up and do the right thing on healthcare (Medicare for all), on Iraq and Afghanistan (should have been police actions), on Latin America (combat drugs by legalizing them, controlling them, and shutting down the profit system; stop supporting dictators) and on the economy (get the Wall Street foxes out of the government henhouse).

If you don't, I may leave the Democratic Party and join the Greens. I believe thousands of Democrats may do the same. I would hate to jump ship. I've been a lifelong Democrat, and I believe in basic Democratic values.

Please, Mr. President, show some courage.
Let’s see that change we believed in.

Thank you.
Respectfully,
Roger R. Angle