“We need a president to sign this stuff. We don’t need someone to think it up or design it.”

“Pick a Republican with enough working digits to handle a pen to become president of the United States.”

Those are quotes from conservative activist Grover Norquist referring to electing a president who should not think, just sign legislation passed by a conservative Congress.

Norquist would not have allowed Ronald Reagan to be elected, nor would he have been a supporter of Margaret Thatcher. Reagan cut income taxes and at the same time raised the tax rate on dividends to 28 percent — the same as on ordinary income. During his term, he then raised taxes 11 times.

Thatcher cut the income tax and, at the same time, imposed a value added (sales) tax.

Norquist would not allow either of those to happen.

He and his followers would not raise taxes for any reason, including war or to help Americans in case of a disaster.

They claim to have all the answers and only their way will solve the nation’s problems. They are opposed to any compromise.

Sen. Olympia Snowe is retiring in part because of the gridlock that attitude has caused in Washington. I hear that same rhetoric coming from Gov. Paul LePage.

Norquist evidently believes a president is irrelevant in governing and that Congress alone should run the country. Evidently he does not believe in the framework of the Constitution.

Republican rhetoric is about stopping Barack Obama, not improving the country.

Stan Tetenman, Poland