The American Spectator

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Never Ending Swansong

4.24.08 @ 12:01AM

YES IT GOES ON AND ON, MY FRIEND
Re: Philip Klein's The Democrats' Quagmire:

Though I rarely disagree with Mr. Klein, in this case I do.

We know two things about democrats. They do nothing very well and they lack any kind of courage. Their primary process proves the former and the latter will be proved by their choice of Barack Obama as their candidate.
-- Jay Molyneaux

It would appear that the Iraq Surrender Party is having a difficult time choosing a designated driver to take them over the cliff this year. Too bad. For the political party with the most undemocratic method of selecting a candidate, perhaps they should tear a page from the New Jersey play book and run Al Gore, who would appear to be their only viable candidate. Such fun and entertainment we haven't seen since George "I'm 1000 per-cent behind Tom Eagleton" McGovern and "Come Clean for Gene" McCarthy. Hopefully they will riot in the streets of Denver to complete the "Back to the Future" scenario they seem so hell bent on re-enacting. Isn't Ward Churchill nearby? Surely Bill Ayers can afford the bus ticket. One can only hope.
-- Patrick Slamon

For those enamored with Obama it must come as a shock that the new age messiah's popularity is limited to effete white liberals, African-Americans and college students with minimal real world experience. For those who correctly recognized him as an enemy to traditional values, patriotism, economic growth, the 2d Amendment, national defense, tax payers and common sense Obama's drubbing in PA was good news. Considering he is the second coming of Jimmy Carter one can only hope that not only will the contentious Democrat primary continue to chip away at his phony facade, but it dooms his chances in November if he does become the Democrat's anointed savior. I bet there are some old time Democrat pols wishing that party bosses in smoke filled rooms told Democrats who their nominee would be considering what the current primary system has wrought.
-- Michael Tomlinson

According to Philip Klein, "For superdelegates to nominate (Hillary Clinton) would not only alienate black voters who make up the party's most loyal voting group, but turn off a new generation of young voters that has been inspired by Obama."

Two points: First, alienating black voters is not a big problem. They are the "bridesmaid" ethnic group. Hispanics are the new "bride," being numerically larger than to blacks--and far more loyal to Mrs. Clinton than Mr. Obama. Second, when has the so-called "young voter" ever showed up at the election booth in respectable numbers? The answer is never.

Still think Obama's a winner?
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

It appears after the Penn. primary loss of Obama that he may have a drinking problem. You see he has not won an election in two months. The last time that he did was in the state of Wisconsin in February. Is it a coincidence that this week the National Survey of Drug use and Health placed the Badger state at the top of the list of percentage of drunk drivers on the roads. You see it does matter who drinks and votes. Maybe he should have FREE drinks for everyone before the polls opened.
-- Jared Harold
Naples, Florida

AND THEY'LL CONTINUE SINGING IT FOREVER, JUST BECAUSE
Re: G. Tracy Mehan, III's Earth Day: Corporate Edition:

While reading this article I was reminded of a story that appeared several days ago on the front page of our local paper. It detailed that some of the park and public land clean-up work that has traditionally been done by young people in the form of summer employment is not going to be done this summer because the Park Department cannot afford to pay the salaries. The story, only in the final paragraph on the jump page, barely mentioned that a large part of the reason for this situation is the increase in the minimum wage. It seems that this increase has priced the young workers out of the market.

At the risk of sounding like an "I told you so," I was motivated to comment on this to some of my colleagues (fellow high school teachers) who are agonizing about whether to vote Clinton or Obama. I smilingly reminded them of my previous opposition to the increase in the minimum wage, and, in fact, my opposition to having a minimum wage at all. They looked at me as though I had just nailed a thesis up on the cathedral door. It wasn't (according to them) the higher minimum wage that deep sixed the jobs, it was the low budget of the Park Department. It seems that the whole problem could be solved by INCREASING that budget so that the youths could be hired.

It is this kind of disconnect from reality that always frustrates me when I talk to liberals. I guess that their minds just refuse to go in straight lines from problems to causes to solutions. I shut up after this exchange because I knew that suggesting that the market set the wage for employees would be anathema to these people. What to do, what to do!
-- Joseph Baum
Garrettsville, Ohio

QUEER EYE FOR THAT PUTIN GUY
Re: George H. Wittman's Profiling Putin:

While at the Russian Customs Academy in St. Petersburg, the director of the academy showed me a picture of Russian dignitaries present when Customs moved into the new "old" building. On the stage was a rumpled and badly dressed Putin, at the time, I was told, an official within the St. Petersburg government. Contrast that photo image with the "new" Putin and one has to wonder who took Putin behind the Russian equivalent of the "Red Door"? Some makeover in more ways than one! Judo instructs one in how to use your opponents strength against him through balance and leverage. It would seem that Putin also understands how to use your opponent's weaknesses against him, hence the power politics when it comes to Russian gas and oil exports. Putin will continue to be an interesting "study" for some time to come. Excellent "profile."
-- W. Meehan
Oakton, Virginia

Letter to the Editor

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