Is nation feeling guilt over Bush?

While my parents raised me to be a good Republican, the '60s turned me into a better Democrat. This means I have both red and blue friends, and I took note when in one week, three of my red friends confessed to me with some chagrin that they voted Republican in the last two presidential elections and with some shame that they now felt betrayed by this administration.

When asked, none of them knew whether they would vote for Obama or McCain, although I am sure some pollster knows this chagrined, shame-filled demographic well.

Of more interest to me is the number of these chagrined, shame-filled people there are in the country, and if the number is large, if their collective soul -- in the same way the collective Age of Aquarius soul had an impact in the '60s -- doesn't have something to do with general malaise and anxiety we Americans seem to be feeling both economically and psychologically in the last few years.

SUSAN MYHRE HAYES

ST. LOUIS PARK

State can jumpstart shift to green cars

A possible solution for the auto industry to develop new auto technology is for all local, state and federal government agencies to purchase alternative-fuel vehicles for day-to-day use.

I would think most local government vehicles are driven less than 100-150 miles a day doing their inspections, delivering the mail or day-to-day business.

Take the St. Paul Ford plant, convert it to produce electric Rangers, and have the local, state and federal government buy the vehicles. Support local jobs, support local taxpayers and support the green economy.

Shift the demand to non-traditional vehicles, create jobs and push out a new solution to the push-pull green vehicle debate.

LARRY MCGough

Maple Grove

A draft? McCain said no such thing

To the Aug. 23 letter that read, "I was disappointed to see that the Star Tribune did not report that John McCain is in favor of reinstating the draft": The reason almost no legitimate news source has reported this is because it isn't a valid news item.

The letter referred to a town meeting in Los Cruces, New Mexico, during which a woman made a statement -- at best rambling and at worst incoherent -- lasting one minute 30 seconds. The statement touched on several unrelated subjects and ended with a comment on the draft. McCain said he agreed with her and thanked her for supporting veterans. It seemed a polite way of getting her to stop talking so the meeting could move on.

For the letter writer to take this incident and turn it into, "He told a town meeting this week that he would be willing to do just that (reinstate the draft) when he becomes president," is a gross exaggeration of the facts.

McCain said no such thing. That doesn't seem to matter to the throngs, particularly on the Web, who are racing to put words in McCain's mouth. Those who use this incident for fear mongering also like to omit the fact that it takes an act of Congress, not a presidential whim, to reinstate a draft.

CRYSTAL KELLEY

EDEN PRAIRIE

Waiting for Pohlad to return the favor

As I watch the construction progress on the new, publicly financed Twins stadium, I start to wonder: Shouldn't we, the Hennepin County residents and part owners of this stadium, each get a complimentary game ticket for the 2010 season?

It's the least the County Commission and Twins organization could do for us. It would be a nice "thank you for the money" gesture from them.

Of course, they didn't listen to us when the majority of county residents opposed this funding, so I won't hold my breath for a ticket.

DEAN MCCarty

Golden Valley