In "Conservatism
and the Spirit of Reform" (op-ed, June 19), Peter Berkowitz gives a
list of energetic and effective Republican office-holders who are "in
the process of recovering reform as a conservative virtue": Governors
Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels, Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour and Rep. Paul
Ryan. Conspicuously absent from this list are the three national
Republican leaders: John Boehner (House), Mitch McConnell (Senate) and
Michael Steele (Republican Party chairman).
Many Republicans are
hoping for congressional gains this fall comparable to those of 1994.
But in 1994 the party's leadership produced the Contract With America,
while this year's leaders justifiably fail to make Mr. Berkowitz's list.
That contrast should worry any Republican who hopes for a repeat of
1994 this November.
John M. Ellis
Soquel, Calif.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 