PRESIDENT ROUTED IN MAIL POLL

The nays have it in a poll assessing President Bill Clinton: 219 readers said they disapprove of the president's job performance while only 48 said they approve in a poll conducted last week through the Southeast Missourian's editorial page.

The unscientific, mail-in poll was based on an editorial cartoon by Dick Wright published in last Sunday's Southeast Missourian.

Wright is a cartoonist for the Providence, R.I., Journal-Bulletin, and his work is syndicated in newspapers around the country.

Readers were asked to select a dapper Bill Clinton if they approved or a cigar-smoking slob if they disapproved of the job the president is doing.

Though no space was made available on the cartoon for written explanations, many respondents felt simply checking the appropriate box wasn't enough. They were compelled to write comments about their choice. Two readers even wrote letters detailing their positions: one in favor, one opposed.

"I'm from the old school," wrote the Clinton supporter. "When a president is elected, I think the country should respect him/her and the Congress should at least assist him/her, at least some of the time.

"Everyone wants the country's problems solved, but they certainly don't want to contribute anything."

The letter-writer who disapproved of the president wrote: "He needs a new calculator. The budget numbers just don't add up with whatever he uses now." The writer added: "If he were serious about deficit reduction, he would cut spending now, not in five years."

A handful of people mailed in ballots but didn't check either box. Perhaps that means they are undecided?

One respondent's negative vote extended past the president. "Also our arrogant Congress," the reader noted.

A husband and wife team were split in the polling. She approved; he disapproved.

One person who disapproved of the president apologized for casting the negative vote with a small "sorry" written on the ballot.

Some wrote brief explanations of what they didn't like. "Too much social giveaways, among other things," wrote one. "Horrible job," wrote another.

But many resorted to name-calling: "Rotten, stinking," "Marxist-socialist," "P.S. He just lies too much," "He is terrible," and "He's still slick Willy to me" were among the written comments.

Those supporting the president defended their votes.

"We should have seen cutting back years ago," wrote one Clinton supporter.

Another wrote: "Give him a break. A little over six months is not a lot of time to straighten out 12 years of Republican doom."

Another wrote: "You Republicans sure are sore losers."