Democrats need to back a winning candidate: Clark

Democrats need to backa winning candidate: Clark
EDITOR:
A writer in The Vindicator on Jan. 6 stated that "[Howard] Dean will not appoint the likes of Ashcroft or Rumsfeld as secretaries, or of Supreme Court justices like Scalia or Thomas." I agree fully with that assessment since, in the letter writer's own words, "he may lose, as predicted by most of the pundits, polls and leaders of the Democratic Party." One can hardly appoint secretaries or nominate Supreme Court justices when one is not president of the Unites States.
My question to the writer and to all Dean supporters is this: Why are you supporting somebody who is probably going to lose the election? In my opinion, winning the election would most likely do more for the Democratic Party and the country than all of Howard Dean's rhetoric. You can't help the country change directions by guaranteeing that the same leaders will be in office for the next four years. Isn't the reason a party fields a candidate is to win the election?
Wesley Clark "opposed the Iraq war from the beginning" as well. In addition, he has the r & eacute;sum & eacute; to be a potentially excellent president. He served our country for 34 years in the military, after graduating first in his class at West Point. He's a Rhodes Scholar and holds an advanced degree in economics. He has leadership experience and a great deal of integrity. And if you do the research on his candidacy, you will see that he has plans to address the problems, both domestic and foreign, that our country presently faces. I want a president who looks toward the future of the United States and has ideas on how to make that future brighter and more secure. Wes Clark fulfills those requirements.
In addition to what he can bring to the office of president, Clark has a realistic chance to win the election. In addition to winning all of the states that the Democrats won in 2000, this year's candidate will have to win enough additional states to make up for the loss of seven electoral votes from those "blue" states because of the changes in representation as a result of the census. I believe Clark can retain all of the states that Gore won and can also definitely win Arkansas and West Virginia, both of which Gore lost. That would total 271 electoral votes, with 270 needed to win. I think he also has a realistic chance to win Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Ohio, and maybe even Louisiana (OK, I'll admit that last one's a long shot).
I think it's time for the Democratic Party to shed its new label of "those people who love to lose elections" and get behind a candidate who's an asset to our party and to our country, in addition to possessing the ability to win the election.
MARY F. SMITH
Brookfield
Youngstown can play a partin promoting peace in world
EDITOR:
I was born and reared in Youngstown. I am living in Columbus. I read The Vindicator daily online. I was thrilled to read about Michael Stacchiotti's wanting to become an ambassador to Great Britain.
Our daughter, Jessica, was chosen by People to People to be an ambassador to France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain the summer of 2003. She did a home stay with a family in Germany. We gave them gifts of a book about Ohio and a throw that celebrates the Buckeyes football team's being No. 1 in the nation. They sent us pictures and an update on their family for Christmas. We keep in touch by e-mail. We hope to meet in Florida next summer and enjoy our families together.
& quot;You must be the change you wish to see in the world. & quot;
-- Gandhi.
& quot;We cannot light another's path without brightening our own. & quot;
-- Ben Sweetland.
These two quotes describe what Michael will learn on his trip. Youngstown, please support Michael in this venture because this is helping a young person become a global person of peace. This trip does more to promote world peace and understanding than war or words of threat can ever do. This summer Jessica and her dad, Jesse, are going to Mexico to build homes, so People to People is all about people.
Let peace and understanding continue in 2004.
DIANNA LYNN GAMBLE
Columbus