Since it was George Senior's sellout to Reagan that turned me from a slightly right leaning Independent into a fervent and registered Democrat, I note with irony (and embarrassment) that George W. was born in my original hometown of New Haven, Conn. and that the Bush family compound lies just a few short miles from my new hometown of Kennebunk. I am "from away" and will never be a true Mainer like Kendall, but I am really appreciating his short and to the point comments in this and other threads.

In this complicated world we must consider who will do the least damage, and that, in my opinion, is Gore. Though he has many shortcomings, he has promised to make campaign financing reform a top priority. This alone should elect the man, because without it we have nothing. We complain about the lack of choice, and refuse to change the system that is bringing about that lack.

I was originally skeptical that the drunk driving arrest had relevancy, but am becoming convinced that it has. It is truly criminal behavior and could have resulted in a terrible tragedy, a la Ted Kennedy. By his own admission, even this didn't slow down the drinking until 1986. We're not talking about a kid here.

I guess I am angriest about the hypocrisy that this shows. For years Republicans like Gingrich and Hyde have been preaching the integrity issue only to have their own feet of clay betray them. W. apparently learned nothing from their mistakes.

I cannot trust this man. I do not want his finger on the button. I do not want the NRA boasting about working directly out of the Oval Office. I do not like the Texas "kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out" approach to criminal justice. I do not want him giving away the recent and projected surpluses to the ultra rich before we start to pay off the National Debt. I do not want his big oil cronies writing the environmental laws and making the rest of country look like Texas. I do not want fundamentalists running the Supreme Court and gutting civil rights for those who don't fit their standards. I do not want to be governed by "compassionate- conservatives" that can make the leap from "right to life" to the death penalty and easy access to Uzis.

I will vote for Gore and urge others to do the same. Nader may be a good man, and I wish we had an electoral system that would give him an honest chance. But we don't, and I cannot risk casting a vote that will put Bush closer to the White House.