Your Turn to Endorse

Today's American election is in good hands if readers who responded to "Your Turn to Endorse!" Oct. 29, are any indication. Many thanks to all who rushed to typewriters, fax machines, e-mail, and even pen-and-ink to fill in the blanks of a do-it-yourself editorial.

The qualities you value in a president are worth noting by all the candidates. Indeed, after describing them, one of you concluded that such a candidate was "not running." Another said "no candidate deserves your vote" but settled for President Clinton, who might "profit by his experience of the past four years." A third said: "Abraham Lincoln more truly fits the candidate description" but to be realistic, "the issue of trust throws our votes to Bob Dole."

The following sampling omits some repetition - but also a lot of the wit and wisdom you shared. We start with the candidate who received the most endorsements. The underlined portions are the words you filled in.

Krueger for Dole!

IT is a family responsibility to choose a candidate in the most unfocused election of the 20th century. Times as precious as these call for leaders ready to stand against the platitudes and offer a vision of hope. They must have a shrewd grasp of honesty, a compassionate sense of justice, and an unswerving love. They must be beholden to no one except god. They must surround themselves with ideas of the highest caliber. They must not only advocate the values of home, community, and nation but embody them for all the nation's less-advantaged. They must be pure in personal relations and wise as confucius in the international realm. They must never stoop to deal-making or be too proud to apologize among the populace. When they move-their-lips, you can build on what they promise. They show their deepest reverence by what they produce, not by what they mouth. On this basis, one candidate deserves your vote on Nov. 5, and that candidate - the next president of the United States! - is bob dole.

Caryl W. Krueger

Escondido, Calif.

Palmerton for Clinton!

It is a serious responsibility to choose a candidate in the last election of the 20th century. Times as disturbing as these call for leaders ready to stand against division and polarization and offer a vision of harmony. They must have a shrewd grasp of the problems we face, a compassionate sense of humor, and an unswerving commitment to the common good. They must be beholden to no one except the working people who pay their salaries, but they must keep in mind the children, the poor, and the disenfranchised. They must surround themselves with others of the highest commitment to the common good. They must not only advocate the values of love, service, and humility but embody them for all the nation's people. They must be forthright in their relations and able to balance conflicting ideals in the international realm. They must never stoop to name-calling or be too proud to mingle among the common people. When they speak, you should be able to understand what they say. They show their deepest motives by what they do, not by what they are accused of. On this basis, i'm going to vote for bill clinton.

Barbara Palmerton

Quincy, Calif.

Kuhnses for Perot!

It is a citizen's responsibility to choose a candidate in the most pivotal election of the 20th century. Times as crucial as these call for leaders ready to stand against the status quo and offer a vision of clarity of things as they truly are. They must have a shrewd grasp of the national debt and its implications, past and future, a compassionate sense of helping american citizens who are unable to help themselves, and an unswerving loyalty to the constitution of the united states. They must be beholden to no one except god. They must surround themselves with knowledgeable advisers and staffers of the highest integrity. They must not only advocate the values of morals, freedom, and education but embody them for all the nation's policies and peoples. They must be thoroughly knowledgeable in foreign relations and courageous as a leader in the international realm. They must never stoop to big-money buyouts or be too proud to correct a mistake that may have been made among the complexities of being president. When they make promises, you can depend on what they say. They show their deepest deserving by what they stand for, not by what they otherwise might be persuaded to fall for. On this basis, one candidate deserves your vote on Nov. 5, and that candidate - the next president of the United States! (i wish) - is ross perot.

Roberta and Roger J. Kuhns

Lincoln, Mass.

Moeller for Nader!

It is a citizen's responsibility to choose a candidate in the most money-driven election of the 20th century. Times as critical as these call for leaders ready to stand against the reactionary haters and offer a vision of responsible caring. They must have a shrewd grasp of power politics, a compassionate sense of service, and an unswerving honesty. They must be beholden to no one except the electorate. They must surround themselves with advisers of the highest integrity. They must not only advocate the values of democracy, equality, and responsibility but embody them for all the nation's people. They must be tolerantly firm in foreign relations and generous as a leader in the national realm. They must never stoop to bigotry and plausible deniability or be too proud to walk among the poorest. When they speak, you can understand and depend on what they mean to say. They show their deepest motives by what they do, not by what they say. On this basis, one candidate deserves your vote on Nov. 5, and that candidate - the next president of the United States! - is ralph nader.

Don K. Moelle

Kelseyville, Calif.

Write-Ins?

It is a multitasking responsibility to choose a candidate in the most electronic election of the 20th century.... [Leaders] must have a shrewd grasp of band-width, a compassionate sense of Windows, and an unswerving mouse. They show their deepest humor by what they e-mail, not by what they fax.... And that candidate ... is bill gates.

Lucy Bair

It is a right near impossible responsibility to choose a candidate in the most lastest election of the 20th century. Times as lonely as these call for leaders ready to stand against the sodie fountain.... And that candidate ... is mr. elvis presley.

William C. Muffett

Times as confusing as these call for leaders ready to stand against the chaos and offer a vision of tranquillity.... And that candidate ... is socrates.

Anonymous

[Leaders] must be prudent in foreign relations and wise as an owl in the domestic realm.... And that candidate ... is st. michael the archangel.

Cathleen L. Curry

Elk Point, S. D.

From Dole Endorsers

They must never stoop to racism or robbing peter to pay paul or be too proud to live among the poorest and most dependent or the richest and most independent.

Mary M. Jones

Yazoo City, Mo.

They must have a shrewd grasp of the issues facing average working families - not wealthy, not poor - the one-third that actually work and pay the bills,...

Diane Yates

San Mateo, Calif.

From Clinton Endorsers

They must have a ... compassionate sense of women's equality and religious freedom, and an unswerving love for god, man, and country.

Anonymous

They must have a shrewd grasp of issues, a compassionate sense of service, and an unswerving commitment to the american people. They must be beholden to no one except their constituents.

Betty Hubbell

Falmouth, Mass.