The American Spectator

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Taking Stands

6.4.03 @ 12:01AM

IN TYSON'S CORNER:
Re: jimi izrael's Saving Mike Tyson:

Finally, someone in the media has compassion. I've often hoped for the same thing jimi relates in his last two sentences.
-- Stephanie Dreher
Tampa, FL

GRAY SKIES
Re: George Neumayr's Total Recall:

Good article but once again the Republicans will find a way to blow this opportunity. Bill Simon lost by 340,000 votes; 2.6 million registered Republicans didn't even bother to show up! I'm no dummy, but the California GOP gets what it deserves. Thanks.
-- C.W.

I thought David Horowitz hit the problem on the head. Why bail out the Democratic Party and hurt the Republicans by recalling Gray Davis? If Davis is recalled, then the Dems would probably end up with the governorship, giving them a leg up on the next full term. And the Republicans can't get too involved in the mess without getting an awful lot of mud on themselves. Why not let the Dems wallow in their own problems?
-- Chip Conway

George Neumayr replies:
I see Chip Conway's point. This could backfire for the Republicans. But should political calculations determine whether or not a corrupt governor is removed from office? Should Republicans say, "It is good politics for us to let a corrupt governor continue to ruin the state. That way we will win next time around"?

SECURITY AGAINST LEAKS
Re: Jed Babbin's Press Freedom Requires Press Responsibility:

Agreed. Jed's suggestions make sense. But my real question is: Are we going to find any WMD? Was our intelligence flawed? Or was it merely outdated? Or, are we gonna dig up what the left says never existed? Hope so. What does Mr. Babbin have to say? I'm curious, 'cause I've based some of my opinions on what he's written in his columns.
-- Al Markel
San Francisco, CA

Mr. Babbin, Jed, Sir: What were you smoking when you wrote the column? It had to be among the best, most potent available.

First, government at all levels has been singularly unsuccessful in positively identifying leakers. Have you ever heard of "Deep Throat"? And Jed, can we get real here? The press will never, ever cooperate by helping to reveal its own sources. Forget the practical effect of such cooperation. This is an absolute article of faith within the media and the only absolute sin that they recognize. Since you recommend against jail time for reporters, they have zero incentive to identify the leakers.

You talk of reporters determining if airing a story will benefit "our enemies." Whose enemies, the government or the press? In many, if not most, incidences they are their own most dedicated enemies, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend. A very large bloc of the press of today do not even consider themselves American citizens unless it involves one of their own benefits or rights. They consider themselves world or global citizens, whatever that means.

Just exactly what authority is going to force the various media entities to cooperate and enter into these contracts? None of them will give up the "Right of the Scoop" voluntarily. And a written contract, please. I want some of what you are smoking. Oh yeah, I sure can see the N.Y. Times or L.A. Times or Washington Post willingly entering into a contract with the Washington Times or National Review or (shudder) Drudge.

Now lets see, the U.S. Supreme Court is going to allow the DoD to set up a censorship board and give it legally binding authority over public media information dissemination. And let us see who would be on this "Board." From the retired section we could have Walter Cronkite and Ted Turner. They would be great at voting to withhold Bush Administration secrets from the public. They could be joined in the active journalists category by Howell Raines and Dan Rather and Peter Jennings and "Pinch" Sulzberger. Sure we can get a two-thirds vote from that bunch to withhold CIA data on the prospects of covertly assisting regime change in Iran by George Bush and Don Rumsfeld.

Mr. Babbin, Sir, is this an excerpt from Chapter 1 of your next novel? Do I need a pipe or cigarette papers to share some of your "weed" and does it have to be inhaled? Gee, Toto, lets see where this funny looking yellow road goes. This is a humor column, right? Please Jed, for your family's sake, get counseling. You seem to be a good guy, take two aspirins, drink plenty of liquids, and get bed rest. The doctor will call you in the morning.
-- Ken Shreve
New Hampshire

Jed Babbin replies:
Ken Shreve's response is, in a very strange way, encouraging. My drug of choice is scotch whiskey, and I assure him I had very little of it while writing the column. Perhaps too little. The issue is not drug-induced unreality, but how can we solve an intractable problem that has grown far too serious to ignore.

Letter to the Editor

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