The American Spectator

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The New Wilsonians

2.23.05 @ 12:01AM

BAD TIME FOR GONZO
Re: Jed Babbin's Dubya Goes Euro-Stroking:

Given the recent tragic passing of Hunter S. Thompson, there is only one phrase I can think of that's fully descriptive of the almost palpable paranoia in Secretary Babbin's piece.

Gonzo neoconservatism.
-- Martin Kelly
Glasgow, Scotland

Jed Babbin left the most important reason President Bush wasted time in Europe: domestic consumption. The President offers an olive branch and probably more in the future. The branch gets mulched and President Bush can claim he tried. His overtures might claim some political victories which will add to his efforts to soften the Republican Party image that took a beating these last couple of years in time for the 2008 feel good elections. The effect is to neuter loser Kerry and contender Mrs. Clinton because they will be very vocal when they kick off their 2008 presidential runs. The Democrats will whine about how the President has not done enough and claim it was their idea all along to mend fences, but they will come off as they have been for years: unreasonable and childish. The Dean machine will see to that.
-- Diamon Sforza
San Diego, California

WHO'S NEXT?
Re: Tina Norwood's letter (under "Retire That Ad") in Reader Mail's Straight From the Heart:

Wow Tina! This administration hates the military? Better check your medication!
-- Greg Goff
Casper, Wyoming

Regarding your advertisement, since pulled, for USA Next:

"Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" Joseph Welch to Sen. Joseph McCarthy, June 9, 1954.
-- J. N. Webb
Nashville, Tennessee

CONCORD GRAPES
Re: William Tucker's Democratic Moderates in Exile:

William Tucker's article, "Democratic Moderates in Exile," rests on an embarrassingly poor appreciation of the budget deficit. There is no need to view Bush's deficit crisis as the result of an untenable level of Social Security claims. After all, money is fungible within the budget. Why not blame foolish programs and policies like SDI and agricultural subsidies that cost hundreds of billions and make the country (and the world) worse off. And if you must blame anti-poverty programs, why not finger Medicare (whose extension seems to cost more every month just from putting new OMB accountants on the case)? Tucker's attempt to blame Democrats for the deficit crisis accordingly rings hollow. Democrats have opposed such wasteful spending consistently, but have been overridden by the loose-walleted GOP majority. (Does anybody at your outfit remember the Clinton surplus?)

Meanwhile, Tucker's cheap-shot at Dean is also misguided. Dean has better Concord Coalition credentials than 90% of the Republicans on the Hill (probably 98% if you take away the New England, blue state GOP contingent). His accurate criticisms of the costly and unnecessary Iraq War may have earned him the permanent ire of the Right Wing Press, but he is essentially a New England moderate cut from the Tsongas-Rudman cloth. Those who adhere to the Concord Coalition's ideals should root (or pray, if that's more one's approach) for Dean's success.
-- David Simon
New Haven, Connecticut

THE NEW BIG SPENDER
Re: Patrick O'Hannigan's What I'd Say:

A pop singer's portrait on the ten-dollar bill? That's just silly. Ronald Reagan belongs on the face of the tenner, and a nice Western landscape belongs on the back.

Alexander Hamilton, despite his many contributions, nevertheless was a man who died because he lost a gunfight. Hardly the sort we want America's youth to emulate.
-- Doug Welty
Arlington, Virginia

I'm sure you recall that Woodrow Wilson was, in fact, pictured on a bill: the $100,000 bill, only used between Fed Banks in the early 20th century.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Trade, Economics, Business, Social Security, Constitution, Law, Military, Iraq, Conservatism, Neoconservatism, Medicare