Brian from Pennsylvania, perhaps hate is the wrong word. Recall Nancy Pelosi’s firm and eloquent response to the misplacement of the word at a Washngton news conference, December 5. “Have concerns” maybe?

Any inconsistencies (and changes of position) on Pete Buttigieg’s behalf may be addressed by questioning him and simple debate — after all, you just want an answer, yes? To me, it is not necessarily a negative quality in a person (and in this case a candidate) that views on issues are modified along a (campaign) journey. On the contrary, for a candidate to have an identical understanding before and after 12 months of touring the country and speaking with thousands of people, would be suspect to me. It would suggest that they have not learnt anything from the experience — have not grown.

That growth in a candidate is important to my choice — that they have a degree of flexibility in response to a forever changing world. It is most essential that a candidate has a vision, can describe it and say why it is a good one. While possible paths to accomplish the vision are needed, detailed plans formulated as a candidate have the danger of being presumptuous because the full body of information, people and resources are not available (you would not expect bags full of solutions from a prospective employee at a job interview, but rather that they demonstrate the skill and imagination to perform once employed).

I presume you prefer another candidate to Pete Buttigieg. I say, continue your questioning of Pete and all the others as this will make them all better choices for us all.