GOP shows little character at convention

The GOP has made this convention all about "character." Predictably, they have refused to provide voters with any policy details beyond simplistic bromides on drilling, nuclear energy and maintaining the illegal occupation of Iraq until "victory" magically materializes out of that nation's smoldering ruins.

The fact that drilling will take 5-30 years to have an impact is ignored, as are the massive government subsidies necessary to develop nuclear power (Republicans conveniently misplace their "free market" ideals when it comes to corporate welfare). The GOP obfuscates the issues by invoking McCain's heroic military service, which we all of course honor. They cite the so-called "surge" as proof of his judgment. Yet they de-emphasize the role McCain played as a member of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq in promoting this war of aggression, erroneously linking Saddam Hussein to 9/11, WMD and even the anthrax scare.

Meanwhile Obama was speaking out against the war when such views were unpopular with the war-giddy mainstream media and many frightened Americans. Now it turns out Obama was right. The war has cost $800 billion, left 30,509 U.S. soldiers injured and some 4,142 dead. It has left between 50,000 and 600,000 Iraqi civilians dead, some 2.25 million internally displaced and another 2.1 million externally. And all this because of manipulated intelligence and a president who makes decisions with his "gut" (the same organ Rudy Giuliani recently praised as McCain's center of command). I submit that we've had enough of gut-based politics.

The past eight years have shown Republican guts to be incompetent and bellicose leaders. We deserve policies based on facts, careful deliberation and respect for all people. McCain and the Republicans could have demonstrated this in St. Paul. Instead we got Obama-bashing, hollow rhetoric, and derisive laughter. This is character?

Charles Tyler

Wheaton