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• Saturday, October 4, 2008 07:45 PM

  Republican Leadership Tends to Ruin the Country

  After the flap about Biden claiming that FDR went on "television" to reassure Americans during the Great Depression, I did some very basic research and discovered what is surely known by many people more informed than myself: The Great Depression occurred at the end of nearly 10 years of Republicans in the White House. It was, of course, FDR, a Democrat, who charted a course out of that horrible mess.

  Fast forward 80 years and we have what none dare call the makings of another depression and, again, it comes at the end of nearly 8 years of a Republican in the White House. Bush II is apparently more efficient, and less competent, then the combination of Presidents Harding, Coolidge and Hoover.

  The analysis of who controlled Congress during these various administrations complicates the picture slightly, but competent Democratic leadership in the White House can accomplish great things even with an intractable and/or "do nothing" Republican Congress; look at what Clinton was able to do. Alternately, I Republican president can wreak havoc even with a Democratically ruled Congress.

  This pattern would seem to present an opportunity for Democrats running this fall in their efforts to bring their cases to the American people, perhaps in the form of a TV ad or talking points for Obama surrogates. The greatest good for the greatest number is always accomplished with Democratic leadership.

  A concerned American,

  Alex Kirby

  —Alex Kirby Read Alex Kirby's other letters
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