The American Spectator

Reader Mail

School's Out

8.6.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 4 of 6)

Now being a Conservative myself, I will not vote for John McCain, I will vote against Barack Obama and a vote for anyone other than McCain is, unfortunately, a vote for Obama. Personally, I have seen nothing in John McCain's background that leads me to believe that he can be relied upon to stand up to a Democratic Congress. And I have seen nothing that would give me any hope that he would champion Conservative principles. However, given Barack Obama's past stands and statements, I can only conclude the he would lead us into a Marxist future if not stopped by the Congress. And with the present Congress, that is highly unlikely.

One thing that must not be forgotten, when discussing TWOT in general and the Iraq Campaign in particular, is that we would not be there at all if the Congress, including a significant number of Democrats, had not voted for our involvement and voted to continue funding that involvement. So President Bush is hardly going it alone, the people are behind him.

I realize that many of your readers are Conservatives. And I realize that those contributors to your publication who wish to further Republican aims and/or stymie Democratic, liberal and socialist agendas realize that the defeat of Barack Obama can only be accomplished by the election of John McCain. But, you will never be able to sell John McCain to the bulk of Conservatives on the basis of his past stands. His actions and positions are largely anathema to them. They view him as what he has demonstrated himself to be, a conservative liberal [left of center] and not someone whom the Republican Party should trust.

Remember this, the 2008 Presidential election is between Barack Obama and the other guy. John McCain is, for all intents and purposes, a non-entity in this election. It is a referendum on Obama, thanks largely to the MSM. What has to be done is to continually remind Conservatives and others that the only way to vote against Obama is to vote for the other guy, John McCain. A vote for Barr or Nader or even Mickey Mouse is simply a vote for Obama. And Conservatives can not afford to stay home either. A vote is necessary in this contest. Bill Clinton won two elections on a plurality, not a majority, because voters simply stayed home. Worth thinking about, wouldn't you say?
-- Michael Tobias

With due respect to Mr. Herschensohn's concerns, this conservative has concluded that the "War on Terror" is irrelevant via-a-vis this election. Senator McCain, the current President and the Democrats have all adamantly refused to secure our southern border, and fully intend to continue leaving it unsecured. So al Qaeda operatives will remain free to stroll into the United States at their leisure, toting WMD components in their backpacks if it strikes their fancy. This being the case, the "War on Terror" being waged in Afghanistan and Iraq is rendered moot, and the efforts (and sometimes lives) of our brave men and women in uniform wasted -- sacrificed on the altar of bipartisan pandering for the Hispanic vote.
-- Thomas C. Wigand
Middletown, Rhode Island

ROCK OF AGES
Re: Mark Gauvreau Judge's The Rap on Hip-Hop:

Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour" or Minne Ripperton's "Lovin' You" will always be more popular than any Hip-Hop. Why? Because they express a joy of existence that Rap complains of. In a similar vein, the EMO scourge of modern rock is all about life being unfair. Gee, when did these teens become so wise? Rock of this sort is so much more enjoyable when the audience is included. Recall the self-deprecating ways the Ramones and The Sex Pistols made as much fun of themselves as they did others. In the end, the most successful pop songs are all about liberty, life, freedom, and having a good time.

As much as rappers preach anarchy, they need their discs to flow through the same uninterrupted supply chain to be sold in music stores. Folks tuning in to the radio on the way to or from work want a reason to feel good. The last thing folks need to hear is more complaining. Especially from junior who's got a recording contract, videos, and is on TV 4 times a week. The consistent whining, sex-laden juvenile lyrics tell serious listeners all they need to know: Look at me! Look at me! Why does Rush Limbaugh work? It gives us pleasure. So does the best pop music.

Most Americans can appreciate the frivolity of Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues or C'mon Everybody because we're included in the fun. Rappers and EMO clowns preach from the outside looking in. Not only do these Rappers and EMO types need some serious parenting, their producers also need some serious psycho-analysis.

Like any consumer, I need a compelling reason to buy something. When a song comes on the radio that I like, I will buy it. If the industry wants to complain about lower earnings statements, don't blame some invisible downloading conspiracy, blame the product.
-- P. Aaron Jones
Huntington Woods, Michigan

I try to be understanding. Born in the 1950s and coming of age at the end of the 1960s. Everyone over 25 hated...HATED...our music -- which was fair. I hated Lawrence Welk and Mitch Miller. I wasn't aware of Elvis or Chuck Berry. I may have liked Rick Nelson. But the first song I really liked was "Walk Right In" by the Rooftop Singers. When they sang the verse "everybody's talkin' 'bout a new way a walkin,'" little did we see what was coming.

When The Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan, my Dad said "#&!!%! You don't want to watch anything like that, do ya?" as he already changed the channel. I said "no" -- which was a bald faced lie. I was riveted. I had never seen anything so electrifying. Three years later, when I actually earned my own money, the very first record I bought was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. All I knew was that it was by The Beatles -- little knowing what it turned out to be.

Since then, I bought records by Hendrix, the Stones, Cream, the Byrds, Traffic and others to numerous to list here. And I loved it. I really loved it. After finishing graduate school, it wasn't quite the same; but I continued to buy what I liked.

I thought it was quite improbable that my children and their generation would like "my" music. I thought every generation was entitled to its own music; but I was shocked to find out they liked it too. Then Rap reared its ugly head.

I try to keep my thoughts to myself. Life's too short and they seem to enjoy it. Yet, I can't help thinking they're being cheated.

Letter to the Editor

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