Newt Gingrich

Re “Gingrich Wins Reelection as House Speaker,” Jan. 8:

The vote should convince us all that there are nine honest Republicans in the house. The rest at best condone lying and cheating. You wonder how they get elected with morals like that.

What a coup for the Christian Coalition--there should be great rejoicing that they now support and are supported by a self-acknowledged liar and tax cheat!

GEORGE L. LIDDLE SR.

Sun City

* Newt is back, for his second term as speaker. Now the House of Representatives can get on with its business of trimming spending growth in Medicare and Social Security, removing any remaining entitlement programs. The elimination of payments to alcoholics and drug addicts drew no response, no attack. This little decision will save some $2 billion in 1997.

Newt’s challenge is to achieve the balanced budget while he is in power, namely the next two years. It can be done; it must.

ROBERT MILLER

Huntington Beach

* Once again Congress has helped us to understand and appreciate the ethical standards of those trying to tell the rest of us how to run our lives. And once again it took the Republican leadership to show us the light. Aren’t we lucky?

Congratulations Newt, the people in Georgia who elected you deserve you. The rest of us don’t.

ROBERT W. HOMAN

Manhattan Beach

* Is it a commentary on life in America to have both the president and the No. 3 in line being investigated at the same time, and both for ethics violations?

ROBERT J. BANNING

Pasadena

* Wouldn’t you suppose if Gingrich was smart enough to teach a college course, he’d be smart enough to know that nonprofits can’t be used to fund clearly political activities?

JOAN MEIJER

Los Angeles

* OK! Now I get it! Ethics are only important if it’s the other party.

MARY CASE