October 13, 2003

In The Running
Well, it seems as if one half of Michael Wolff’s presidential-dream-team prophecy has come true: Wesley Clark has joined the race [“Dream Team,” September 22]. I doubt, however, that with Clark it’s going to be “purely a vice-presidential deal,” as Mr. Wolff claims. As is becoming clear from the various media portrayals of him, General Clark is a ferociously ambitious and competitive man who has never been content with mere runner-up status.
—William Gray, San Francisco, Calif.

Takedown To Tragedy
Indulging in the “fantasy” of a “takedown strategy” that will render George W. Bush “toast,” Michael Wolff carefully lays out his best-case scenario: “On the present course, 1,000 Americans will be dead in Iraq by the next election.” Until American troops began dying in such exciting numbers, Wolff laments, the only hope for Democrats was to “pray that the economy was going into the crapper, that the double-dip recession was going to be real and painful.” And while I agree that the Bush administration suffers from hubris and recklessness, I cannot share the perspective of those on the left who seem to welcome death and chaos in Iraq, if only it will hurt the president.
—Chris Bray, Los Angeles, Calif.

Dennis The Menace
I am writing to protest the characterization of Representative Dennis Kucinich as an “entertainment-value” candidate in Michael Wolff’s “Dream Team.” I fail to understand why a candidate who has held political office for nearly a decade, and who has a long history as a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, should be summarily dismissed in the same article that lauds two candidates who have less than half a decade of elected-office experience between the two of them.
—Barbara Simerka, Yonkers, N.Y.

Take It From A Creep
I laughed out loud at Donald Trump’s warning to Chelsea Clinton to avoid “creepy guys” [“Intelligencer: Enter, Chelsea,” by Amy Larocca, September 22]. With his bizarre dyed hair, wicked eyebrows, and constant womanizing, he’s the poster child for creepy guys.
—Elizabeth Atchison, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Bi-Curious?
Regarding the confusion concerning Alec Baldwin’s sexual orientation [“Intelligencer: Homo Imbibicus?,” by Deborah Schoeneman, September 22]: Alec, who claimed he is “gay, except for the sex-with-men part,” is obviously a fabulous butch lesbian. I am sure there is no dearth of women who would volunteer to investigate this subject thoroughly.
—Sheri Clemons, Manhattan

Separation Anxiety
The novel kind of trial separation described by Amy Sohn in “The Long Goodbye” [“Naked City,” September 22] strikes me as confused and unhealthy. The wife, Allison, claims her life is now “as interesting as it was when I was 21.” And yet there’s a big difference between feeling 21 and acting 21. And what about the kids? Do they have to accompany their parents on their emotional whirlwind tour? Can we please stop the Bruce-and-Demi syndrome?
—Susan Borowick, Brooklyn

Image Issues
I’d like to offer one point of clarification regarding the distribution of the money raised from the licensing of the famous ground-zero firefighter flag-raising photo [“How 9/11 Changed Us,” September 15]. All proceeds are divided 50-50 between the North Jersey Media Group Disaster Relief Fund (www.groundzerospirit.org), a charity established to assist grieving northern New Jersey residents who are still suffering the effects of September 11; and the Bravest Fund (www.thebravestfund.com), dedicated to benefiting members of the FDNY, NYPD, EMS, and Port Authority Police who suffer career-ending injuries or death and are not covered by existing benefit programs. Since 9/11, we have received so many calls from firefighters and police officers with legal questions about their injuries that we set up a toll-free number: 877-HERO-LAW.
—Bill Kelly, Manhattan

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