Nov. 2 -- a scary day

Dear Editor:

Election Day 2010 falls two days after Halloween, our most scary holiday. This is very appropriate because this is a very scary election.

The Republicans have gone from being the party of progressives like Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, William H. Taft, and Gerald R. Ford to being the party of Sarah Palin, Carl Paladino, Christine O'Donnell, Rand Paul, and other "tea partiers." The "tea party" crowd, if they seize power, threaten to dismantle what is left of the New Deal, Fair Deal, Square Deal, New Frontier, Great Society and other social programs that over the years have received wide support from both Democrats and Republicans.

The Democrats, on the other hand, are just as scary as the Republicans. Instead of running on the many accomplishments of President Obama, they are running away from them. This president has brought hope to millions of uninsured people with his health care reform, he has brought home the combat troops from Iraq, appointed two outstanding Supreme Court Justices, and offers acceptance and tolerance to all Americans in nearly every speech he gives.

If the old-time Republicans like Goldwater, Hoover, Agnew, Nixon, and Reagan were alive, I believe they would be appalled at what has become of the Republican Party. And likewise, if the old-time Democrats like Humphrey, Stevenson, Muskie, Henry Jackson, and Frank Church, were still around they would be shocked at the unwillingness of the Democrats to put up a fight against their opponents who are using only negativity without substance in their campaigns.

Even the first Bush had "Points of Light" he gave out to people who helped people. Ronald Reagan, one I still admire, even though I am no longer a conservative Republican, offered Morning in America and a Shining City on the Hill. If the politicians of 2010 don't change their agenda and attitude pretty quickly, we will wake up two days after Halloween with Midnight in America and a House of Horrors on the Lower Side of Town.

Sincerely

David Shipp

Nevada