To the Editor:

My Republican membership came through a few days ago, this time labeled a “renewal” (which it wasn’t), announcing my appointment to a national committee (along with anyone else who gave a few dollars ) giving me , gratis, a middle initial “D.” and enclosing a plastic membership card.

This all in spite of my reply each year noting that the last time I voted Republican was for the first Bush, and the last time I had been politically active was as a founding member of the Massachusetts Independent Committee for Adlai Stevenson.

This time, though, my dander was up. I had seen the Republicans in Congress play the “tea party” line and refuse to consider compromise. This time the Republican Party turned its back on one of their own, a former senator, a thoughtful middleof the-road man who would make an ideal Secretary of Defense.

I sent my membership application back in an envelope postage paid by the sender, with no contribution, of course, noting that I would support (Eliot) Cutler if he chose to run again.

Richard Chapin
Georgetown