I was delighted to see yesterday's excellently reasoned Collegian editorial arguing against the confirmation of John Ashcroft of Missouri as U.S. attorney general, especially next to Roy Wilkinson's letter denouncing those who disagree with Ashcroft's nomination.

I am one of those "left-wing liberals" the apparent "right-wing conservative" Wilkinson seems so worried about.

While Ashcroft may well be a good man, a good Christian, and a good choice for the job under other circumstances, he is the wrong choice for the job at the moment.

President-elect Bush has much to prove to the many people who did not vote for him and who feel that his right to hold office is tenuous.

He will not gain our trust and respect by giving a job as important as U.S. attorney general to someone so far away from the political center.

This is not a partisan argument.

If Vice President Al Gore had won in the U.S. Supreme Court, a staunchly liberal candidate would be just as inappropriate of a nominee as John Ashcroft is now.

The President-elect's challenge right now is to choose strong candidates for his government who will also appeal to the greatest number of Americans.

His choice of Colin Powell as secretary of state is a good example.

As to the rather offensively-phrased question of Janet Reno's "Waco Welcome Wagon," people of all political backgrounds were shocked at the actions of the government in this situation.

What redeemed Reno in many people's eyes was that she quickly assumed responsibility for the disaster.

I'd actually rather like to see what would happen if Mr. Bush asked her to be his attorney general.