In the letters in the April 16 City, the Republican view is over-represented. Jim Delaney's diatribe against the "Pelosi gang" was inadvertently hilarious. The concept of a Pelosi gang is itself oxymoronic; her main shortcoming is that she is too nice to the miscreant in the White House, taking impeachment off the table.

The Republican Party, exemplified by Bush, now stands for indifference to the plight of the middle and working classes, inaction in the fate of catastrophes like Katrina, perpetual war linked to imperial expansion, give-aways to the super rich and the corporations, corruption, hypocrisy, and incompetence. The real question is: What sort of person would want to vote Republican?

John Porter's more moderate argument in favor of McCain ignores a number of uncomfortable facts. McCain is interested only in military matters. He would continue to pour billions into the pointless engagement in Iraq. He might very well expand the war to Iran. He has admitted that he knows little about economics. He doesn't see the need for health care reform, or infrastructure repair, or doing anything about the housing crisis or problems in education. He is the mainstream media's pet, with his maverick image, but his campaign is being run by corporate lobbyists. And unlike Obama, who is cool and intelligent, he is apparently a hothead with a foul temper.

Bush has done a lot of damage, and most Americans recognize that we are headed in the wrong direction. McCain would continue in that direction, with minimal changes around the margins. Obama seeks - and in a sense personifies - a major change. This time around, we'll have a real choice - for a change. (Unless Hillary wins.)

BRET RAUSHENBUSH, FARMINGTON