NADER COSTS
Re: Jay D. Homnick's Nader
Parties in Florida:
With respect to Jay Homnick's musings on Florida 2000: His argument seems to be that every one of Ralph Nader's 94,000 voters would have stayed home had Ralph not been on the ballot? Please... That Nader vote is sufficiently large relative to W's final victory margin (537) that it is not plausible that Ralphie did not cost Gore the election, thank God. It thus is obvious that Gore would not have lost by 537 but for Ralph. Given that, we now can talk about the early networks calls for Gore and mistaken reports of voting booth closure in the Panhandle. We can talk about vote fraud in New Mexico. The last-minute dirty trick with respect to W's DUI. Lots and lots of things could have been different, and W still would have won. But the narrow argument that Nader cost Gore no votes in Florida is preposterous.
By the way, the Dems/leftists nurtured Nader, encouraged Nader,
suckled Nader, etc. for decades precisely because his eternal lies
served their political ends. For them now to blame Nader for their
problems and to pursue every possible strategy to keep him off the
various state ballots is hypocrisy crass even by lib/left
standards.
-- Benjamin Zycher
Agoura Hills, California
EDWARDS ON THE TABLE
Re: William Tucker's Gone
Missing:
Politicians from both parties often express their willingness to "fight" for causes they deem worthy. You can gain a lot of insight paying attention to who they want to fight.
When Kerry/Edwards, and Democrats in general, refer to fighting, they wish to lead a faction of Americans perceived "victims" in battle against other Americans perceived "enemies," such as pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, insurance companies, doctors, HMOs.
When Bush/Cheney, and Republicans in general, refer to fighting, they wish to lead all Americans in battle against America's real enemies before we become victims.
And Bush gets rapped for being the divisive candidate. Go
figure.
-- Paul Schlick
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Where's Edwards? I noticed last night that his book, "Four Trials,"
is on the deep discount rack at Barnes and Noble for $4.99.
-- Teddy Crider
Apex, North Carolina
SPEARS HEADED
Re: Sheila Monaghan's Britney
Blowback:
Kudos to Sheila for telling us exactly what we as parents of young girls need to read. Brittany's exploits as a young adult may seem just a little "freaky" to her, but her behavior is nothing that I want my children to emulate.
Great job, Sheila!
-- K. Lewis
South Carolina
I enjoyed your article about Britney Spears, but I disagree with you on one point: America's young ladies do not need role models in cleats.
The female sports activities that I have seen in America, such as soccer, are very political and usually are connected to radical feminism.
Everyone wants America's young women to be happy, but in order
for that to happen they need role models that are neither
licentious nor Marxist.
-- Ron Liebermann