The American Spectator

Reader Mail

In the Trenches

8.5.02 @ 12:01AM

DAVISSED
Re: George Neumayr's Resisting the Anti-Business Riptide:

I find it exceedingly disappointing that I reside in a state where 45% of any poll wishes to allow Gray Davis another term as governor. I think it's time I moved to a remote island in the Caribbean.
-- Dan Swogger
Southern California

TRENCH WARMER
Re: Enemy Central's The Bills Come Due:

Too bad Billy boy wasn't in the trenches when they came across the Saigon River during Tet in 1969. I always will wonder which unfortunate poor white boy or person of color without political connections took our future President's place in the draft -- and whether he was a casualty or came back whole. Ah well, Alec/Billy Baldwin should play that part in a TV mini-series... with Jane Fonda as the love interest...?
-- Mike Horn
LTC, Military Intelligence
US Army, retired
Tracy, CA

It's probably true what Clinton said. After all, short of major tectonic movements during his lifetime, Iraq will never cross the Jordan River. He might as well have said "if Hawaii attaches to Mexico." Of course, if Iraqi troops crossed the Jordan (probably even less likely, when you compare the two armies), Clinton will have promised nothing.

Of course, there is the possibility that Iraq, having obtained massive new weapon shipments from China, and having a new set of soldiers who can move forward as well as to the rear, might invade Israel and annex some of its territory, in which it could be said that Iraq had, indeed crossed the Jordan. In which case our former coward in chief would undoubtedly have one of his servants dig a trench so he could grab a rifle (nothing said about actually picking it up) and jump into said trench....

Which leaves the "fight" part -- undoubtedly the hardest one for him. But since he's already called himself a fighter, in the context of political races ... he may be able, by his own definitions, to meet this requirement as well.
-- unsigned
Chapel Hill, NC

I didn't see all of that HBO puff piece on Lyndon Johnson recently, but didn't it portray [EOW winner] Bill Moyers as a whiny, sniveling, lackey?
-- Greg Barnard
Franklin, TN

DINNER ENTERTAINMENT
Re: Lawrence Henry's History vs. Hollywood: A Beautiful Mind:

Thank you for the inspiring article "History vs. Hollywood: A Beautiful Mind." It is beyond comprehension the length critics will go to in the attempt to distinguish themselves as articulate naysayers on almost any subject. Is it not obvious that movies are designed to entertain, that they are fantasies, pictures drawn by discerning hands simply to entertain, not enlighten or educate the public.(which is what documentaries are for)?

I own and operate a small inn, where we serve our guests a prix-fixe menu every evening. One evening my very talented chef served sea scallops, perfectly pink in the middle. They were delicious to me and to a few of my quests. However, most of the guests were horrified to find any fish served pink in the middle. While discussing this unfortunate incident with my chef, I was informed that regardless of the diners' objection, this was the proper way to serve scallops. I replied then as I do now, "It is not our job to educate the public in the proper way to eat scallops. It is our job to delight the public with the quality of our food."

For the cold hard facts read the book; to be entertained go to the movies.
-- Elle Haynes
Mendocino, CA

WHO YOU CALLING CRAZY?
Re: Jerry Carter's The Crazy Congressman:

Somehow Zioncheck and Traficant, crazy as they may be, seem less crazy than the "in control types" that are able to maintain their demeanor in the madhouse commonly known as the U.S. Congress.
-- Tom Golding

DEAN DOME COME
Re: The Prowler's Dean's List:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Transportation, Business, Hollywood, Movies, Law, Military, Iraq, Russia, Israel