Colin Powell

What a savvy man Gen. Colin Powell is. He belted out a beautifully crafted political speech with unerring timing and aplomb (Aug. 13). He spread the balm of good fellowship, all the while flaunting his liberality on several sensitive issues, yet wowing the delegates with the best is yet to come, free enterprise, land of opportunity and the other chestnuts which work just as well on Democrats or Republicans.

Except for a scattering of boos when he professed to be pro-choice, he had the delegates eating out of his hand, oblivious to the fact that he is an unreconstructed liberal. His conservative position on keeping America militarily strong brooks no surprise; he is after all a career soldier. That and his support for welfare reform will get applause in Chicago as well as San Diego, no matter who promotes it.

I think he’s running for president in 2000. In the unlikely event that he succeeds, he will have wrestled Republicans into the 20th century just as the battered old girl is about to give up the ghost.

JULIO VIVAS

Newport Beach

I used to have great admiration and respect for Gen. Powell, but no more. It totally baffles me how he could stand on that podium in San Diego, looking out over that sea of rich, white, male Republican faces, and not comprehend that their primary purpose in tolerating his presence there was to serve as a politically utilitarian token.

ROBERT S. COUGHLIN

Rancho Palos Verdes

Powell, John McCain, Susan Molinari. The Republicans have got some pretty good Democrats.

KEN GALE

Santa Monica

Six weeks ago Powell stated that he would vote for Bob Dole but would not actively campaign.

On Aug. 20 a Colin Powell look-alike shared the platform with Dole and Jack Kemp at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Louisville, Ky. Oh! It really was Powell.

Just shows that anyone has the right to change their mind, especially if the position of secretary of state is dangled in front of him.

MAX E. QUIGLEY