Centrist Politicians

Re “Action at Center of Political Stage,” editorial, Nov. 28:

There you go again. Now you editorialize about the prospect of a “third-party” presidential candidate to be anointed by “seven prominent politicians.” Beware of making yourselves look silly one more time.

It is not news when professional politicians describe themselves as “centrists,” profess an interest in good government and proclaim that they alone stand for such principles. Unfortunately, it is also not news when the press swallows this story whole.

Before you get too glassy-eyed about this non-event, I recommend that you contemplate the last time the press invented a “principled” middle-of-the-road candidate. Or perhaps you don’t remember John Anderson.

DEREK HUNT

Newport Beach

Wait a minute. I don’t get it. Seven moderate politicians, Bill Bradley, Paul Tsongas and Lowell Weicker among them, point up room for a centrist third party in 1996. They want fiscal conservatism, social liberalism, enthusiasm for political reform and environmental protection and an internationalist orientation reflected in support for free trade and active military engagement abroad.

Sounds like Bill Clinton to me.

J.J. HORSMAN

Laguna Beach

A “sensible” centrist run by candidate Weicker or Bradley in 1996 would do to President Clinton’s chances what Ross Perot did to President Bush’s in 1992.

Same dynamics, different redundancy.

FREYA SMALLWOOD