I believe we are putting the cart before the horse with all these presidential candidates waffling on the issues. We have to guess where they stand and listen to them skirt around the issues to get elected.

We are doing it backwards. We should establish by national vote what we want done in Iran, Afghanistan, on national health insurance, illegal immigration, and so on. When we decide what we want, we should find the candidates who will do what the people want.

If they don 't do what we wanted, we should have the right to expel them and get someone else who will do our will.

By the people and for the people. Are you kidding? It 's whatever makes the party look good so they can boast about it in the next election.

Now when they get into office they spend our money on what they want, usually hiding behind national security or their national good, and we end up without health care and losing our children and grandchildren in incursions we should never have been in.

We didn 't learn in Korea, we took a bath in Vietnam, and now we are sending our children into areas where no one can get along and committing suicide is religious.

It 's time for us to tell the candidates what we want rather than have to guess what they will do when elected.

-- Karl Schwenk, Madison

'Clowns' overlook McCain's assets

Bill Wineke's Friday column referred to all the presidential candidates as "clowns " in comparing the assassinations in Pakistan with those in America. What a lapse in judgment.

The clowns in America today are the people who are not looking at the proven, experienced leaders able to step into the presidency the moment they are sworn in. The clowns are those who do not know America 's history and are willing to vote for someone with no track record or life experience that 's trained them for the presidency.

The clowns are the media representatives who would rather report on the horse race aspect of the election than the stands men like Sen. John McCain have taken.

McCain is the most qualified person to run for president since the 2000 election. (Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd are serious men as well.) As a Naval aviator, McCain risked his life during the Vietnam war. His many years as a POW proved his strong mental and physical abilities. During his career in the Senate he proved to be an able leader who reached across the aisle to work with Democrats on major issues.

As a candidate for president, he has firm stands on the important issues facing America today -- stands that may not always be popular, but are principled and that is what counts.

Sen. McCain is no clown. He is the one person tested under fire who has the best understanding of the issues to be our next commander in chief.

-- James D. Curtin, Madison

Where 's coverage of Dennis Kucinich?

There appears to be a lack of coverage of one of the Democrat hopefuls for president -- Dennis Kucinich. While much has been said about Obama and Hillary and even Al Gore, there is little mention of the man who has the courage to stand up to both Republicans and Democrats.

His ideas have addressed two of the most urgent issues facing America: a national not-for-profit, single-payer health insurance plan and a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. He was the only member of Congress to not vote for war and his protection of civil liberties and rights puts him foremost in honoring the Constitution.

Being appointed chairman for the domestic policy sub-committee of government oversight demonstrates the respect he commands from his colleagues. It is time for the media to acknowledge the integrity and genius of this fine candidate.

-- Rich Zietko, Madison