What Republicans must do to regain trust of Americans

I recently read the commentary authored by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) (“Lessons learned: Republicans returning to our core principles,” July 26).

It is good what the House Republican Caucus is doing so far. According to Mr. Boehner, the House GOP is stopping tax increases and helping to reduce government spending by uniting against earmarks.

I also appreciate the House Republicans efforts’ to keep the Fairness Doctrine dead and to help secure the release of the imprisoned Border Patrol officers. However the House Republicans must take bolder and more far-reaching steps to regain, one, the trust of the Republican rank-and-file; two, the American people; and three, the majority in the House.

First, the leadership of House Republicans must promise the American people that they will use all methods to secure the borders of the United States. This includes building a wall or fence, hiring more Border Patrol agents, building more holding facilities, using more National Guardsmen, using manned and unmanned aircraft and empowering state and local law enforcement to confirm the citizenship of suspected illegal immigrants.

Second, the House Republicans must enhance their tax-cutting efforts by abolishing the alternative minimum tax and the estate tax, also known as the death tax. The income tax must be made flat and the working people must be allowed to keep the money they earn. Only when money is kept in the hands of the people who earn it can people be free. …

Third, the House Republicans must demonstrate commitment to reducing the size and scope of the federal government. …

-From Scott Hollenbeck, Westminster, Md.

Clyburn is ‘crazy about’ Richardson

In his Aug. 1 article “Dem presidential candidates court Clyburn” regarding the proclaimed neutrality of House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) in the Democratic presidential race, Jonathan E. Kaplan should have asked Clyburn to address the following quotation from Clyburn in U.S. News & World Report, Feb. 25, 2007: “I’m crazy about Bill Richardson.”

– From Jonathan Strong, Washington, D.C.

Where did they go, if not to Iraq?

I humbly suggest that your readers would like it if you follow up the article “‘Have you been to Iraq?’ — 76 sens. say they have” (Aug. 1) with an article entitled “Where did the senators who have never been to Iraq go instead of Iraq?”
Enquiring readers want to know. At least I do anyway.

– From Shawn Loy, Austin, Ind.