To the editor:

Newt Gingrich asserts himself as “the conservative alternative” to Mitt Romney and savior of society. Meanwhile, he supports or opposes the individual mandate on health insurance as he perceives the advantage of each position at a given time. Rick Santorum also asserts himself as a savior of conservative ideals having voted for the U.S. Patriot Act, which was good at the time. Likewise Jon Huntsman, Rick Perry, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann all have claimed to be the one who can pull the sword from the stone and make sure Big Government “works for the people.” Did I forget Ron Paul? Why not, if you listen to the mainstream media (Fox included) he doesn’t: (choose your option) a) exist, or b) have a snowball’s chance …

The last conservative president was Calvin Coolidge. Reagan had some conservative tendencies as did JFK, but they were progressives in the TR mode.

So what was Coolidge’s foreign policy achievement? He told the Secretary of War to pull out the troops occupying Mexico. These were troops sent in by President Wilson in various locations beginning in 1913. During his tenure, American industry reached previously unparalleled highs. His one mistake was naming Herbert Hoover as Commerce secretary, which resulted in regulated communications.

So when listening to the 2012 conservatives, think about what they are saying about the amount of interference in people’s lives, unsustainable growth of government, interference in the affairs of other countries, and outright war. And don’t bother listening to Dr. Paul; choose a) or b) for your reason.