On rebuilding the GOP

Re "In election's wake, Republicans must work to rebuild the party" (Viewpoints, Nov. 10): House Republican leader John Boehner writes about "vigorously fighting a far-left agenda, that is out of step with the wishes of the vast majority of Americans and, more important, promoting superior Republican alternatives."

Excuse me, isn't that what happened in the eight years of the Bush and Republican agenda, and wasn't red states, including Boehner's, turning blue and more than 50 percent of American people voting for Barack Obama and change signify that they (Republicans) were the party that was out of step with the wishes of the American people? I guess the Republican Party and Boehner just don't get it or are in such a case of shock they aimlessly still cling to their right-wing ideology.

– Gene Martineau, Roseville

Republicans guilty of doublespeak

I cannot help but be struck by Congressman John Boehner's statement of Republican principles: "freedom, opportunity, security and individual liberty." Our recent experience with Republican positions has included: against a woman's freedom of choice, against homosexuals being allowed to wed, against scientific research on stem cells, against trials in a court of law for imprisoned enemy combatants, and for torture of these prisoners, for curtailing personal freedoms of all Americans for our "protection." This is truly doublespeak.

– David Wood, Lincoln

Limbaugh abuses free speech

Two days after a historic election, when the majority of this great country is filled with hope for the first time in eight years, Rush Limbaugh began spewing his hateful venom toward our new President-elect Barack Obama, calling him names and disparaging him.

This is a time when our nation is suffering immense crises, economic and otherwise. However, a majority, now filled with pride and promise, put racial divides in the past and ignored hate-filled ideology to look toward a better future, a future in which to work together, create a better society and solve our critical problems.

Our country believes in the right to free speech. However, Limbaugh abuses that right as he works to divide and weaken our nation through his verbal attacks.

Shut up, Limbaugh! Give our country a chance before you divide it and tear it down.

– Launa Nashlund-Jones, Auburn

A case of selective memory

Re "Sorry, can't just roll over" (Letters, Nov. 10): It has always seemed to me that because of a built-in habit of selective memory, Republicans are in dire need of a periodic memory check.

I remember the painful sense of dread I experienced as I watched our nation poisoned by the endless Republican mantra that "greed is good" under the reign of President Reagan. At that time, this mantra was being systematically and deliberately spread by the Reaganites. Bumper-stickers everywhere declared "He with the most toys, wins" or, "I am spending my children's inheritance." Best-selling books were titled "Swimming With the Sharks" or "Winning Through Intimidation." Conservative greed-mongers regularly visited schools to spread this toxic philosophy to children. I will never forget the look on the children's faces at a school in San Jose where I witnessed this as the children struggled to understand this message so contrary to basic human nature that it had to be carefully taught. Mergers were happening on a daily basis, and profit became our national obsession.

But it was all a big scam to redirect our nation's wealth and power into the hands of the wealthiest minority that owns most of this nation. It worked wonderfully; to them, it is truly "Mission Accomplished."

– Errol Culver, Orangevale

Overreaction to Prop. 8 donation

As a civil libertarian, staunch Democrat, proud liberal and a strong supporter of No on Proposition 8, I am appalled at the reaction to California Musical Theatre artistic director Scott Eckern's donation to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. What he does with his hard-earned money is his business as long it doesn't interfere with his job. I do not understand how someone who has a close working relationship with gays and lesbians can deny them basic human rights; however, I believe the theater workers and gay and lesbian community overreacted by calling for Eckern's resignation.