The American Spectator

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Bumps on a Blog

7.21.08 @ 12:01AM

WE'RE ALL TERRORISTS NOW
Re: Lawrence Henry's The Making of an Icon:

Mr. Henry wins the award for being the first columnist to explain what us common folks already knew. And now that everyone else knows that the Obamas are on the down-low, I have this simple request of them: STOP IT! Good grief. Have some dignity. Grow up. It's one thing to do it on the playground but for crying out loud! You want to be the most powerful man in the world, but it's the equivalent of catching your parents making out on the couch: you're embarrassed, but mainly for them. And they aren't even doing it right.
-- Andrew J. Macfadyen, M.D.
Omaha, Nebraska

There are several symbols that would fit the Obama campaign better than the fist bump.

It was David Broder who characterized the later stages of the Obama fight for the nomination as especially being retreat. Obama's numerous shifts in position since then have made Broder's choice of word prescient.

Thus, the main symbol for the Obama campaign should be the white flag. Reverend Wright and Father Pfleger won't like the color, but that is further reason to recommend it. And both Reverend Jackson and Ralph Nader have suggested that Obama seems to think that that is his good color.

And the main signifying for the Obama campaign should be executed in the following way: Two people face one another; both raise both hands above their heads; both slap both hands together. It's the High Ten.
-- Richard L.A. Schaefer
Dubuque, Iowa

First, let me be honest. Other than the Spectator and the articles off RCP, I have more or less tuned out this week. I've got to do that from time to time to retain my sanity in an increasing insane world. So I have missed the whole discussion of the "terrorist fist bump." But Mr. Henry does make a good point about the echo bubble of the modern journalism elite. I blame the 24/7 news cycle myself. You've got all this time to fill, and you need all these people to fill that time, and this means you'll have several effects. First, you're bound to go over the same subject matter again and again. Second, you're bound to end up with a few people of lesser talent. And thus you get gravitases and terrorist fist bumps. And this is only the smallest fraction. What's interesting is the total lack of news on Iraq (outside online publications, where I keep up almost daily). Alas, success is not news.

See what I mean about an increasingly insane world? Well, I'll continue to tune out this weekend. The Dark Knight is calling, and I shall honor Ledger's memory by seeing his last performance, hopefully on opening night. I've got books to read and games to play and people with which to converse.

Oh, and I'll continue to give the terrorist fist bump to my friends and co-workers.
-- Charles Campbell
Austin, Texas

DANGEROUSLY CHEESY
Re: Larry Thornberry's Cheetos for Change:

"And each meal should have red, green, yellow foods on the theory that colorful foods are healthier."

I think the Democrats have it right with this one. And now I know what regimen I'll be following in my quest for health:

The M&M Diet! And, of course, in the interests of keeping my weight down, I will not deep-fry them.

Bon Appetit.
-- Steve Biddle
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

OIL HABITAT
Re: Mark Hyman's Republicans Rediscover ANWR:

Letter to the Editor

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Bill Clinton, Abortion, Environment, Books, Constitution, Law, Supreme Court, Iraq, Libertarianism, Immigration, Oil