The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Life's Disappointments

4.17.08 @ 12:01AM

PRO-LIFE NO MORE
Re: David Mark's Deja Do-Over:

In David Mark's column "Deja Do-Over," he seriously misrepresents the views of freshman U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Beaver County). Although he campaigned as a pro-life candidate, Altmire voted with the abortion industry to provide taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood. According to the National Right to Life Committee PAC, Altmire is only two-for-seven in key pro-life votes during his tenure in the House.

Altmire's systematic misrepresentation of himself as a pro-life candidate was a critical factor in his narrow victory over U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart (R-Allegheny County), who was -- and is -- resolutely pro-life. If she is to reclaim the seat, voters must be shown how Altmire's record belies his public persona. As a longtime reader and supporter, I am profoundly disappointed that TAS would help perpetuate the "pro-life Altmire" myth.
-- David N. Taylor
Carlisle, Pennsylvania

MEN OF ACTION
Re: Paul Chesser's Action Teams Skip the Science:

The special report by your Paul Chesser on "Climate Change Strategies" was very amusing. The Bush Administration as well as many state government have been cowed into accepting the myth of "globaloney warming," pressed by the prestige of Nobel Peace prizes given to the UN panel of government-paid scientists and our own ex-VP Gore. That is the same Nobel Peace Prize Committee that awarded prizes to our ex-president Carter (presently embracing the Hamas leader in Syria) and to the former world terrorist #1 Arafat.

This present myth of "globaloney warming" was preceded some 30-odd years ago by the myth of "globaloney cooling " -- see Newsweek of April 28, 1975. Both myths call for massive government intervention led by government-paid doomsday scientists in the economies of developed countries -- regulation, confiscation, taxation, redistribution, fines, etc. All of these measures would inexorably lead to an enlightened world socialist government. In the meantime no one mentions "The Petition to the Government" (see Internet) that states that human activities have no influence on the global climate and that is signed by over 21,000 scientists and professionals, none of them paid by the government. One should remember that at least 90% of government-paid scientists are in fact rejects of the private enterprise.
-- Marc Jeric
Ph.D., UCLA 1968, and a signer of the above Petition

As Mr. Chesser accurately points out, for those proponents of the anthropogenic global warming farce, er, global climate change farce, it's vital to get the nomenclature exactly right. Admittedly, it's a bit tricky these days, but "climate change" provides just the right nuance, don't you agree? And what better organization to assist in providing this much needed Orwellian climate change lingo and agitprop than the UN. It appears those free spirited, bourgeois hating, flower children of the' 60s have managed to re-invent (one of Al Gore's favorite words) Mao's re-education camps into government sponsored anti- capitalism departments. We will tow the line on curbing fossil fuel energy production for free market growth whether we like it or not.

But as is so apropos of liberalism, as evidenced by our reader friend Mike Roush's letter of today, the laws of unintended consequences play no favorites, even for those anointed apostles of climate change. Hence, the casus belli of the Left, bio fuels, have caused, much to Mr. Roush's dismay, a bit of a sticky situation. Rising inflation and the threat of recession, can be attributed, in part, to higher costs of fuel and food, which are a direct result of government policies that inhibit the production of fossil fuels, while at the same time, demand that we pour food down our gas tanks.

And with an OOPS, that those of us still left with a sense of irony can appreciate, these policies, promulgated by the most well intentioned amongst us, especially in Washington, have had the additional unpleasant consequence of causing food shortages and riots in the 3rd world. Well, as we plebes in fly over country have been saying about these policies, Duh!! So Mike, who woudda thunk it? Actually, we did, but what do we know?
-- A. DiPentima

I suppose I should not be surprised my Governor has joined in, joined us in. I know I am not surprised he stepped in it considering the naming of our climate savior panel. Jim Doyle is an old time Democrat trying to look fresh, but no matter what kind of lipstick is used he's still an old time liberal Democrat who operates largely like a blunt force instrument.
-- Roger Ross
Wisconsin

JIMMY'S MUGABE
Re: George H. Wittman's African Suicide:

The double standard is amazing. The New York Times et al. are outraged because of Robert Mugabe, and yet they leave out one little item. They helped to replace Ian Smith and Rhodesia with Mugabe and Zimbabwe in the first place, and they don't want to be reminded of it. Jimmy Carter has observed elections in dozens of countries, all except one, Zimbabwe. Why? Because he doesn't want to draw notice to the fact he helped get Mugabe in power. Once people went to Rhodesia to see the ruins of Zimbabwe. Today they go to Zimbabwe to see the ruins of Rhodesia. It was the nation that should have been. Perhaps one day it might be again.
-- Michael Skaggs
Murray, Kentucky

Am I the only one who wonders why our so-called paragons of the American civil rights movement, aka Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and even Barack Obama, have had absolutely nothing to say about Mugabe's gross miscarriage of justice?

His thuggery and butchery is no longer limited to ousting white farmers from their lands, gentlemen. He is killing his black opposition leaders, two and counting. Perhaps a word or two in passing.
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

MOTHER KNOWS BEST
Re: Philip Klein's Are Conservatives Out of Touch?:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Education, John McCain, Barack Obama, Protestantism, Abortion, Global Warming, Law, Africa, Communism, Energy