I feel I must respond to Bryant Miller’s letter ( “Texas governor is not half-witted,” SN 11/14). Let me say that I am nonpartisan. I voted by process of elimination. I ask that you step away from emotions and analyze Texas Gov. George W. Bush. I have discussed the elections with my professors and I have referred to sources such as Time and Harper’s Magazine.

Harper’s is very critical of Bush, but has evidence to back up its claims. According to Harper’s, Bush has a shaky, maybe even shady, past. Harper’s tells of how Bush barely scraped by academically throughout college and graduate school, and once lost millions of investors’ money, who put their faith in the Bush name. Finally, he was given a puppet position on a board. His financial claim to success was to purchase a part of the Texas Rangers - a deal that was pretty much spoon-fed to him. He has many connections to big business, but he has not really done much himself.

Harper’s also hinted that this same exploitation got him to the governor position. Bottom line: Harper’s presents him as someone who isn’t very intelligent and has been exploited by big business. I am afraid he has been used by big business to get the breaks it desires.

Look to his record in Texas. The environment isn’t so good. Big business really likes him for the breaks it gets. Getting away from his apparent exploitation, Time has an article that says Bush called Nigeria a continent. This may be laughed off as a simple mistake, but he also accused Viktor Chernomyrdin of pocketing International Monetary Fund loans. That kind of brash dialogue scares me. I believe it possible for Bush to create an international incident just because he’s just chatting away.

When Bush favored oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge, I was shocked. The governor believed the sensitive ecosystem can be drilled in environmentally friendly ways. Does he consider the past at all? I know both candidates have made plenty of mistakes. I also know that they will both promise every voter everything he or she wants. So I must say back away from emotions and look to a candidate’s record and avoid putting much credence on campaign promises. Bush’s past is unimpressive and makes me cringe, and I am afraid of what may happen if he makes it into office.

So in conclusion, I hate to call Bush “dumb,” but I feel he hasn’t presented himself to be a capable leader, especially one worthy of leading the strongest nation in the world.

Miller, I am not clear on your claim that Bush will be run by New York and California if the Electoral College is eliminated. Doesn’t that leave it up to the people to select their leader? Don’t you have the confidence in the individual to make a knowledgeable choice? Again I don’t know the “ins” and “outs” of the system, so please enlighten me.

One more thing - keep an eye out for your tax cut. I’ll be amazed if you get what you think is coming to you. Let me say I have nothing against you, I just feel that we are getting empty promises from Bush and Vice President Al Gore. If Bush is somehow elected, make sure he sticks to his word. Raise hell if he doesn’t.

Ben Laimon
physiology junior