The American Spectator

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Ode to Al

11.8.07 @ 12:05AM

RESORATION HARDWARE
Re: Lisa Fabrizio's Restore Al Gore:

GREEN GURU GORE

The frighteningly frantic Al Gore can be seen
Jetting around the world painting it green.
The fossil fuels used to carry this guru
Might kill a rain forest, if his words were really true.

Of this teller of tales, this dreamer of fantasy,
One might ask the question, "But why on earth can't he see
The world of serious historic climatology?"
Science requires nothing less from him than apology.

To seize on a topic and make it one's own
In order to ascend a political throne,
Is nothing new. It has been used before,
Even by the insatiable Mr. Gore.

But now as he seeks support far and wide,
One has to admit there might be another side.
Many a researcher and history buff,
With educated background, has had enough

Of this worn out, used up discredited theory
And has with this blathering grown ever more weary.
The time has gone, the time is wrong
To use this to frighten a gullible throng.

Hanging onto something that can be discredited
Hasn't the substantial clout he once bet it did.
-- Mimi Evans Winship

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS
Re: Ralph R. Reiland's Unbridled Judicial Arrogance:

First, Justice William O. Douglas should not be held up as infallible on anything. History has taught us that, at least.

In the Douglas quotation presented, Douglas was correct in some respect. "It is our attitude toward free thought and free expression that will determine our fate." "There must be no limit on the range of temperate discussion and no limits on thought." "No censor must preside at our assemblies." But he was dead wrong when he wrote "No subject must be taboo."

We are watching our culture disintegrate before our eyes faster than has ever happened in history for exactly that reason -- intemperate unlimited expression of unlimited thoughts.

The specific problem is that in a situation combining unlimited thought with unlimited expression, with no taboos and no censors, the result can only be that "temperate discussion" becomes impossible.

Second, Justice Hugo L. Black should not be held up as infallible on anything either. History has taught us that as well.

Where he's wrong in the quotation presented is that "the Press" has gone far -- unconscionably far -- beyond "baring the secrets of government and informing the people," and concentrates on uninhibited bias in reporting, preaching their own political messages, and assassinating character, all to achieve political ends.

Letter to the Editor

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