To the editor: The correct answer to the question “Who won the debate?” It should be the American people. (“Vance and Walz are polite, with some jabs, in VP debate,” Oct. 1)
The vice presidential debate between Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz was characterized more by political differences (and even some occasional similarities) discussed in a civil manner than by personal attacks and outrageously false statements, although some of them did run for office. I wanted to verify the facts.
With this debate, voters had the opportunity to learn more about where the candidates would take this country and judge the extent to which each side's policy positions align or are out of step with their own values. That's what elections are for.
But political differences aside, the clearest difference between the two parties became quite evident when one debate participant couldn't give a direct answer to this simple question: Who won the 2020 election? That continued reluctance to be honest with the public about a key fact should guide voters in their choice.
Shel Erlich, Santa Monica
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To the editor: In a spelling bee, you must spell the word you are given.
First you repeat the word. You can then ask specific questions to clarify the word. And lastly, you have to spell the word they give you.
You can't spell another word. Or start a speech about where (or if) you've heard the word used before. Or throw any other comment about the word and your relationship with it.
If the debates were conducted in this way, the candidates would have to repeat the question asked. The candidate may ask specific questions to clarify the issue. But in a specific period of time, the candidate would have to answer the question asked.
Or go sit down.
Catherine Cate, Irvine
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To the editor: As someone who spent most of my adult life in Minnesota, I'd like to discuss some of the “Nice Minnesota” that Walz supposedly showed too much of during the debate.
If Walz didn't perform as well against Vance's polished, opinion-transforming ways, it might be because he had been too prepared to recite policies and figures and not be so much the auto repair coach-professor that he is at heart. .
Was he too nice? Maybe. But one of the best aspects of Minnesota Nice is the unwillingness to gut someone just for the thrill of drawing blood without presenting any reasonable, logical case for doing so.
I think the entire wildly divided nation could use a lot more Minnesota Nice. Maybe more casserole recipes too.
Maria Stanik, Tucson
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To the editor: In October 2017, Vance gave a lecture at Pepperdine University, focusing on his best-selling memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” Like columnist LZ Granderson, “I appreciated his voice and his perspective,” even though I disagreed with him.
After reading Vance's book, I was struck by the impact that service in the Marine Corps had on Vance and asked him how important the Marines had been to him. He said that if he hadn't joined the Marine Corps, he would have died of an overdose or been in prison.
The core values of the Marine Corps and Navy are honor, courage and commitment. How sad that Vance has abandoned these values in his timely and unbridled support of Donald Trump. The former president personifies the opposite of the values Vance once believed in.
Dan Caldwell, Malibu
The writer, a US Navy veteran, is professor emeritus of political science at Pepperdine University.
