Madam, - Now that the Democratic caucus in Iowa has endorsed Barack Obama, let's hope that the rest of the US will follow suit and so elect a president who will restore our faith in American democracy and use his enormous power for the service of the rest of humanity. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER, NGO Peace Alliance, Dublin 9.
Madam, - In the context of global issues, such as the threat to human life on this planet posed by climate change, is Niall O'Dowd (Opinion & Analysis, January 3rd) for real in arguing for Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy on the basis that he thinks she will be best for one very small, very rich Western democracy? - Yours, etc,
VICTORIA WHITE, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.
Madam, - Niall O'Dowd declares that if Hillary Clinton wins the US presidency "Ireland will be big winners too".
The fact that the rest of the world will continue to lose as she pursues the same global agenda as Bush on behalf of the same corporate interests is not mentioned, presumably because it shouldn't really matter to us.
Once there's a few bob in it for ourselves, sure why wouldn't we be tipping the hat to her with a hearty "Top of the morning, Ma'am"? - Yours, etc,
PAUL GAVAN, Castleconnell, Co Limerick.
Madam, - Niall O'Dowd, in his role as a representative of what is termed "Irish America", insists that the election of Senator Hillary Clinton as US president would be best for Irish interests.
While Mrs Clinton undoubtedly has some noble goals, I am among the many Irish and Irish-American people who found her stubborn refusal to support a ban on partial-birth abortion troubling to say the least.
The US Senate did eventually outlaw - by a bipartisan vote - partial-birth abortion in 2003. Mrs Clinton, of course, voted in favour of continuing the practice of inducing labour in order to carry out an abortion as the woman was giving birth.
There are more important things at stake than the fate of Irish people living illegally in the United States. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KELLY, South Circular Road, Dublin 8.
A chara, - Has anybody else noticed what looks like a silver fáinne on John Edwards's lapel? - Is mise,
DARRAGH BOLLARD, Rush, Co Dublin.