'What Bush Got Right': Most readers used our cover story as an occasion to complain all the more about what Bush didn't get right. "You spent four pages on what he might have done right. Can we expect a phonebook-size follow-up of 'What Bush Got Wrong'?" one asked. Another said all Bush got right was "not exercising the full range of his incompetence during his second term. Let's hope the enormous damage he's done can be repaired by our new president and our country's resilience."
On 'But I Did Everything Right!': "The DNA evidence in Sharon Begley's parenting article reduces the art of breast-feeding to the utilitarian function of raising a child's IQ and discounts the social, emotional and physical gains breast-feeding provides to mother and child."
Laura Kalmes
Madison, Wis.
The President
'
s Second Term
Throughout Fareed Zakaria's article "What Bush Got Right" (Aug. 17/ Aug. 25), he lists the president's disastrous failures and then suggests that our next president must carefully consider the few grudging changes George W. Bush made during the last two years of his presidency. Are these reparative measures what Zakaria means by "What Bush Got Right"? Now is no time to grant Bush credit for intelligent moves. The world knows that his record remains one of ignorance, obstinacy, failure and missed opportunities. Our country will take years to recover.
David Hendrickson
Fresno, Calif.
Why is NEWSWEEK attempting to put a last-minute spit-shine on the legacy of the worst president in the nation's history? Do you really believe that a few hours spent playing patty-cake with Kim Jong Il and Vladimir Putin could redeem the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, or the destruction of our esteem among other nations, or the creation of a deficit that will take generations to resolve or, above all, the rape of our Constitution and our civil liberties?
Edward Fagen
Middlebury, Vt.
While George W. Bush has made mistakes, his good decisions deserve more credit than most Americans give him. Bush was right when he began to rid our society of infanticide by signing the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. He can also be credited with cutting income taxes, ridding us of the ridiculous marriage penalty and giving seniors better prescription-drug benefits. And in the debates of 2000, he called for more oil drilling in our own country, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Steve James
Camillus, N.Y.
When I saw the Aug. 17/Aug. 25 cover, I wondered why NEWSWEEK would need a double issue to report on "What Bush Got Right." Inside I found a four-page article (out of 70 pages), representing about 6 percent of the entire issue. I think that's perfect. George W. Bush did get about 6 percent of his administration's policies right.
Ron Zager
Webster Groves, Mo.
Is Bush allowing himself to be influenced by the views of his cabinet, Congress and the rest of the planet? Has he learned from those with greater understanding that arrogance and bluster are insufficient as a foreign policy? Has he realized he can't really see into the soul of a world-class adversary and that simplistic gut feelings, intuition and muscle pale in the face of the immense complexities of world leadership? Have his far too recent changes in policy been inspired by an enlightened worldview and concern for humanity, or are they a pathetic attempt to salvage his legacy? January can't come soon enough.
John Thomsen
Los Gatos, Calif.
Taking Away Our Parents
'
Car Keys
I was grateful to see the article "Time to Hang Up the Keys" (TIP SHEET, Aug. 17/Aug. 25). Six years ago I was walking in a crosswalk with a WALK SIGN when I was hit from behind by a car and then run over by a second car. The drivers were 76 and 78, and both said they couldn't see me. In a matter of seconds my life was permanently changed. I am no longer able to work or do most daily activities. I believe people's keys should be taken away before they have become a hazard to themselves and others, and this decision should be made by the DMV, not a concerned family member. All drivers should be tested annually for night blindness and reaction time starting at the age of 65.
Deborah Watts
Burke, Va.
Moms Should Know Best
Whatever happened to children who just eat what their mothers put on the table? The key words in the article "Fussy Kid, Flustered Mom" (TIP SHEET, Aug. 17/Aug. 25) were: "her mother has to prepare a special dish just for her." With all that attention showered on a child, it's no wonder she refuses to eat. Pampering children solves nothing and doesn't prepare them for life. Stop letting children dictate what's for dinner, serve nutritious foods, and when they are hungry enough they will eat and learn a valuable lesson.
Martha Naglieri
East Quogue, N.Y.
I was and still am a picky eater. I used to fold my vegetables inside napkins, feed them to the puppy or down them with milk as if they were pills. When my son was born I was determined he wouldn't share my fate. Unfortunately, he spat out his first taste of strained peas and pushed the spoon away. But I discovered that babies will eat almost anything if they put it into their mouths themselves. I poured a big spoonful of peas directly on his high-chair tray, and he gleefully played with his food and put his hands in his mouth repeatedly. After he seemed content enough with the taste, I fed him the rest with a spoon. I did the same with other foods, and all it took was a few messy meals before he was never a picky eater again.
Linda Kelly
Takoma Park, Md.
Editor
'
s Note
Due to a production error, some parts of last week's fall arts preview were not printed. Please go to NEWSWEEK.com for the complete package. We apologize for the mistake and the inconvenience.