The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Making Sense of It All

2.5.04 @ 12:00AM

THE NEW JOURNALISM
Re: The Washington Prowler's What's To Like?:

I read your piece on how unlikable John Kerry was and I found it interesting that not one person used to demonstrate Kerry's alleged miserable personality and alleged slacker work ethic were willing to be named. Did you really talk to any staffers -- either one of his or of Senator Edwards? Or did you simply make up this whole story? Without names it is impossible to find out if your magazine truly talked to anyone. A cynical reader like myself sees stories such as that one as a propagandist use of your pages to attack a candidate who might be able to unseat the president. Finding sources willing to put their names on their opinions used to be, and should be again, a basic practice of Journalism.
-- Elisa Cohen
Denver, Colorado

SUPER UNDERSTANDING
Re: Andrew Simmons's Weakling Afternoon in San Fran:

This was a wonderful article. Very well written, I was able to clearly picture the zany scenes the author describes. It was wonderful to read something about the Super Bowl this year that was actually about football, rather than cultural decline.

I am another person who also rejected the idea of rejecting football, but my perspective is a little different from Mr. Simmons'. When I was growing up my dad watched football all weekend, this drove my mother nuts. What my mother failed to understand was that there was nothing else on TV that was worth watching. My mother never really understood TV, and it was pretty primitive back in the 1960s, I think she'd like it a lot more today. Well, being daddy's girl, of course, I took his side, and therefore I was never one of those women who "hate" football.

I never understood the game until a few years ago. My daughter was old enough to play outside by herself, and I found myself spending many Sunday afternoons with her dad, one eye on the football game, and one checking out the window. After three years spent this way I suddenly realized I understood football. It happened effortlessly, and unnoticed until comprehension was suddenly complete. It was such an amazing mental event that I actually remember the exact moment it happened, it seems to me it must be what Buddhist enlightenment is like.

So I would tell Mr. Simmons there is hope for his friends. Being there and being open, with that combination, amazing things can happen.
-- Jessica O'Connor
Bayonne, New Jersey

BETTER THAN AARON BROWN
Re: Shawn Macomber's Nomentum:

I just want to let you know that I thoroughly enjoy Shawn's coverage of the primaries. He is obviously very knowledgeable about the candidates and his sense of humor keeps things in perspective. I hope he continues to cover the election.
-- Brian Peavey
Merrimac, Massachusetts

There are many of us who remember how Lieberman's flip-flop on the Senate floor helped save Clinton's backside during the Lewinsky scandal. Also his flip-flops to get on the ticket with Gore. School vouchers was one and maybe abortion another.

It's always satisfying when these guys get their just deserts even if it's for the wrong reasons.

Now let us worry about a Kerry-Edwards ticket. Dippy women will vote for them because they are good looking and dippy veterans because Kerry got a medal.
-- Annette Cwik

HALF-LIFE
Re: Reid Collins's Toiletbowl XXXVIII:

Mr. Collins was right in his assessment of the halftime show. However I thought he was a trifle harsh on the commercials and failed to recognize a "Zorch" for what it was.
-- Jim Hickey
Tampa, Florida

With articles such as the ones that Mr. Collins writes, I can easily see why is no longer with CBS and CNN.
-- Ivan S. White
Las Cruces, New Mexico

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