PARSKY PRIZE
Re: George Neumayr’s The
California Dead:
Over the summer, George Neumayr blamed Bill Simon’s campaign
problems on liberal bias in the California media. Now he is blaming
Simon’s defeat on something he calls “liberal Republicans.” This is
typical of the political immaturity of the far-right of California
Republicans.
George, I have some news for you. There are virtually no
liberals in the Republican party. There are many moderate
Republicans; for instance, there are legions of people who vote
Republican because they are fiscally conservative but are basically
pro-choice on abortion. Such people are not liberals; they just
aren’t doctrinaire far-right conservatives.
There are lots of similarly-minded people who do not
automatically vote Republican — these are the “independents,” the
“swing voters,” and they have to be motivated to come to the polls
and vote our way. Simon’s failed to project himself as a serious,
effective candidate to “swing voters” and that is why he lost.
California is now a thoroughly liberal state. How else can you
explain voters approving every single bond measure ($20 billion
worth) during a time of gaping state budget deficits? So, my fellow
California Republicans, remember the lesson of Bill Simon during
the primary in March 2006. Vote for the Republican who can persuade
the “swing voters” in the general election. It was as plain as the
nose on your face this last March that Bill Simon was not up to
that job.
— Tim Bacon
Wrightwood, CA
George Neumayr replies: Where were all
those “legions” of moderate Republicans in the primary when Richard
Riordan lost to Bill Simon by 18 points?
GRANHOLM FOR PRESIDENT
Re: Enemy Central’s Major
Regroupings:
There’s another solution to this problem — annex Canada, making
all ex-Canucks eligible. Well, at least the ones born in North
America.
— H. Koenig
Nancy Pelosi as EOW? She will probably turn out to be a good friend
of ours, in an indirect way. She should fill the role of Minority
Leader quite well…for many years.
— Ted Angell
WYOMING DIVIDE
Re: Bill Croke’s
What Happened in Al Simpson’s Wyoming:
It saddens me greatly to hear that the GOP lost its hold on the
Wyoming governor’s mansion. I spent my adolescence in the Cowboy
State and living there as a teenager helped me become the
conservative that I am today.
Also, I am a former KTWO-TV employee and from my experience
there management and the bulk of its workforce is a very nervous
(and very left-wing) bunch. Many of them (who shall remain
nameless) take much pleasure at taking shots at conservatives and
the GOP on and off camera.
Alas, a well done piece.
— Tyler M. Kimball
Reno, NV
THE ONE AND ONLY
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.’s Lords
of Innovation:
Does anyone understand Democrats better than Bob Tyrrell? Long
before Don Imus — in a speech to the Washington press corps —
likened Carville, Reno, Shalala, Reich, Achtenburg, and the other
Clinton Democrats to the alien bar denizens in Star Wars,
Tyrrell wrote The Liberal Crack-Up, in which he chronicled
the lives of the passingly strange Democrats of the Carter era.
This classic book, which may be out of print, was an epiphany —
opening my eyes that these creatures had escaped from their
Brigadoon liberal village (heretofore I believed the regular
Democrats lifted the spell on them and allowed their appearance
only each four years in the a.m. hours of Democratic national
conventions) and were abroad in the great world. In his book,
Tyrrell recognized that they —- Cuomo, Abzug, Carter himself and
others — were essentially evildoers , but as only he can also
limned how ridiculous they were. I gave copies of The Liberal
Crack-Up to my sons when they were of political age and will
do it again for my newly minted grandson, Nathaniel Wheatley Stiyer
— just 10 days old.
— J. R. Wheatley
JEFFORDS LUBED
RE: Re: Jeremy Lott’s Crocodile
Tears:
Jeremy Lott hit the nail on the head! I especially liked the
comment, “and one lone idiot from Vermont.” I guess we won’t see
the esteemed Independent from Vermont chairing any committees.
— Wm. Mark Cosby
Raleigh, NC
What Democrat issues? They have no issues other than individual
politicians hanging on to their personal power.
Social Security? Nothing. Even the most economically ignorant
voter grasps the problems with Social Security. Left unchanged,
either FICA tax will have to take most of a workers
paycheck or those who have already paid into the system will get
nothing in return. Democrats plainly demonstrated that they wanted
do to nothing to Social Security. How many voters want
most of their wages taxed? How many voters want no
benefit? How is it theirissue?
Blacks? How many election cycles can pass where Democrats say
“vote for us we’re the only hope” then do absolutely nothing for
race relations? Carl McCall, black candidate, DNC pulls all the
funds for a grudge match between white guys. (Who was the black
Georgia guy wanting to be head of the DNC?) Sorry, we want white
‘ole Terry in there pulling strings. What have Democrats
ever done for race relations? Is there a black Senator?
Did Clinton have any meaningful black cabinet members? By
the way, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor are not
token positions given for pandering’s sake.
Economy? We all watched Democrats “talk down” the economy after
the Enron collapse. (Note to Daschle: are we all so stupid that
we’ll forget Gene Sperling lambasting GWB for “talking down the
economy” in early 2001 only to watch every senior Democrat “talk
down” the economy only a year later?) Democrats were gleeful to
trash everyone’s savings plans — Republican and Democrat voters
alike — every way they could. All designed for a few big lies and
an election. What were the voters supposed to vote for? A glorious
return of the Carter/Mondale years of double digit inflation, 70%
marginal tax rates, gas rationing and embarrassing international
incidents?
Prescription drugs? There was a prescription drug plan passed by
the Republican House, waiting for the Senate to pass and
“conference.” The Democrat controlled Senate did nothing.
Again hoping to lie and deceive before an election.
The Democrats of the early 21st century have absolutely nothing
to offer voters. Nothing. The party is run by the Clintons. The
Clintons, undeniably, operate on lies and deceit. Bill’s bold faced
lies are now legend. Hillary changed her last name to “!” in 2000
— at least until the election was over. When they’re not lying,
they’re screwing their friends — ask Carl McCall.
So there’s the Democrat voters choice. The “new” Democrat of
lies, deceit and betrayal, or the old Democrat (who between the
Nobel prize and Senate races were boldly on display) of inflation,
taxes, rationing and international debacles.
Let the pundits whine. We’re not a stupid as they think.
— Howard Wimbrow
Ocean City, MD
UNDER SUSPICION
Re: David Hogberg’s The
Shocking Third Rail of Election 2002 :
You suggest that “exit poll results [are] increasingly
suspect…” My view is exactly the opposite, that they are accurate
and reliably predictive. It is my view that in 2000, the Voting
News Service (VNS) declared Gore the winner in Florida more than
three hours before their data supported such a claim to persuade
the shallow Californians that they should cast a vote for the
winner rather than a protest for Nader. VNS got caught lying about
the timing and wiggled out by claiming “mistake.” Similarly, on
Tuesday, it is my view that the very early VNS returns (with
methodology vastly improved from 2000) demonstrated a clear
landslide for the Republicans and, rather than influencing the
Californians with news of this disaster, elected to fold and not do
damage to their candidates on the left coast. Thus, it is not the
polls that are suspect but the poll takers.
— unsigned
GLOAT CENTRAL
What Providence has bestowed on us today! After reading Ben Stein’s
comments on the E! site sent me on a little curiosity trip and led
me right to you! I misses you all since the AS went
silent, and now it is back with a bonus! Bravo to you all, and now
with the Republicans in power, look forward to your lampooning of
the wallowing Liberal elite! Vive le Prowler!
— Greg McAtee
Pittsburgh, PA
