Political Harmony
David Gergen's editorial "Getting Out of the Bunker" [November 28] hit the nail right on the head. Unfortunately for us and for the country, I don't believe that the leaders of either party have the intestinal fortitude to admit how badly they are dividing the country. Both parties are more concerned with their own objectives than with working together to solve our real problems. If the press put as much emphasis on this problem as it does on what it perceives to be news, then maybe politicians would listen.
BILL SPENCER
Litchfield, N.H.
I believe Gergen has it wrong about President Bush and his leadership. It's not that Bush hasn't led, but the Democrats haven't cooperated or offered any constructive ideas. Instead, they have done everything in their power to destroy Bush's presidency. It has been said that when conviction runs deep, courage rises to sustain it. That epitomizes our president. Bush leads by conviction, not by polls.
BYRON LINDAMAN
Ogilvie, Minn.
Screening Pitfalls
As a recently retired Captain for a major U.S. airline and former federal flight deck officer, I am amazed and saddened that the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration have illustrated, once again, that they just don't get it ["The Things They Carry," December 12]. The newly announced airport screening procedures, touted as a relaxation of restrictions and designed to streamline the check-in process, allowing screeners more time to search for truly dangerous contraband, will have the opposite effect. Now, rather than looking for all scissors, screwdrivers, and the like, the screeners will have to stop and assess each item found to ensure it doesn't exceed the maximum allowed length.
SCOTT D. HEFREN
New Richmond, Ohio
Clarification: In "Santa's Nano Helpers" [December 19], the Web address for Spice Appeal should have been spice-appeal.com (with a hyphen).
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