I liked Ike..

[bigrun]

Not many in today's GOP are much like Ike.


Editor, Times-Dispatch.

As we approach the March 28 anniversary of President Dwight Eisenhower's death, I am reminded of an honorable man whose policy decisions were based on common sense. Today's Republicans bear little resemblance to the 34th president.

Eisenhower, an immensely popular Republican president, launched the Interstate Highway System — the most expensive taxpayer-funded project in our history. Eisenhower rightly viewed the massive project as vital to our nation's economic future. Today's Republicans would dismiss such a project as socialist-inspired government waste.

Eisenhower also resisted a knee-jerk response when Soviet troops rolled into Hungary in 1956 to put down an anti-communist, democratic revolt. He knew that Eastern Europe was not in our sphere of influence and not vital to national security. Contrast that with today's trigger-happy Republicans who believe countries in the heart of Islam can be manipulated through military action to align with our interests.

Finally, in Eisenhower's retirement speech the former five-star general warned that, "In the councils of government we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." Today's Republicans would view such language as unpatriotic while they routinely cave to the very negative influences of which Eisenhower warned.

In the future, I will be voting for the most Eisenhower-like candidates for president — and the irony is, they won't be Republicans.