The American Spectator

br> Boulder, Colorado /p> p> Your editorial is perfect. Thank you. br> — Martin N. Tirrell br> Lisbon, New Hampshire /p> p> I subscribe to the Spectator and enjoy the website. I liked your recent essay on Kerry’s debate performance, but I think that saying “Kerry lacks [a conscience]” is an unfair criticism. I don’t like Kerry much and won’t vote for him, but a man without a conscience is a monster, and such a charge should not be made lightly. br> — Vivek Rao /p> p> Yes, it’s true. President Bush did far better in this second debate after his somewhat understated performance in the first, however, in light of the revealing Mark Halperin memo to his ABC news people, it will be difficult to determine this from the reports of the main stream media. It seems that, according to Halperin, it is ABC’s responsibility to help the unwashed electorate “evaluate” the worthiness of both candidates. I guess that this would be all right if it were done by ABC doing what they are supposed to do - - that is, giving objective information to the public and allowing them to make up their own minds. Not ABC! It is their job to let Mr. Kerry’s exaggerations and misstatements go because they are less harmful than those of President Bush, so they are to be soft pedaled while President Bush’s are to be highlighted. This is what passes for news reporting. And now the best part. This fellow is so arrogant, stupid, ignorant, unconcerned, (check one) that he writes a memo to his staff, laying out this course of action. Move over CBS. br> —