The American Spectator

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8.7.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 5 of 5)

UNDERSTANDING GROVER
Re: Peter Ferrara's Understanding American Politics:

Because of Peter Ferrara's article, I plan to read Grover Norquist's book, Leave Us Alone.

According to Mr. Norquist, there are two coalitions competing for political dominance -- "The Takings Coalition and the Leave Us Alone coalition." The "Takings Coalition is the heart and soul of the
Democrat party" and the "Leave Us Alone Coalition is the heart and soul of the Republican Party, whether actual Republican leaders understand that or not."

Not having read the book, I must admit that I am skeptical of Mr. Norquist's analysis. It appears to me that both political parties have a huge interest in "money, power and control." Hyperbolically, while the Democrats prefer taxing and spending, the Republicans prefer spending and charging, leaving the day of reckoning to the future. Democrats prefer straight welfare; Republicans favor corporate welfare. Democrats like trail lawyers; Republicans like contractor likes KBR and Blackwater.

But here's the real kicker: Everyone understands that the hired guns for anyone seeking a government handout are lobbyists. Who labored harder to empower lobbyists than former Republican representative Tom DeLay in his K-Street Project? How does building a powerful lobbying machine seeking money from the government lead to smaller, more efficient government, especially given the fact that lobbyists are writing the legislation?

Concerning the religious right, a member of the Leave Us Alone coalition, I read this: "But doesn't the "religious right" want to legislate morality, and impose their values on others? How can they be part of a Leave Us Alone Coalition? Norquist explains, "The 'religious right' is best understood as a parents' rights movement that fears state interference in the family..." For those members of the religious right for whom this is true, the Terry Schiavo fiasco must have been disconcerting. But, more to the point, is there anyone who really believes that Pat Robertson are James Dobson are uninterested in imposing their values on society?

Mr. Norquist presents members of the Leave Us Alone coalition and the GOP as victims. Members of the religious right are victims of the secular left. Gun owners are victims of those who would trash the Second Amendment and everyone, of course, is a victim of gays and their agenda. Democrats favor minorities and women as victims. Whatever else can be said, both parties truly cherish their respective victims.

Most interesting was the description of Mr. Norquist's Wednesday meetings. Having long been impressed by the Right's ability to disseminate talking points and to stay on message, I now appreciate how important Grover Norquist is to the process. I wish he were as successful in getting rid of the AMT.
-- Mike Roush

IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL
Re: Mike Dooley's letter (under "Rock of Ages") in Reader Mail's School's Out:

I laughed out loud when I read Mr. Dooley's letter about his musical journey.

I remember watching the Beatles on Ed Sullivan -- my father generously allowed the whole thing to play through even if he didn't appreciate it.

Then in 1967, I was in Greece visiting family, and we were listening to Armed Forces Radio (back when we still had a base in Greece). The first song I heard that hit me upside the head was "Windy." And like Mr. Dooley, I followed what I liked over the years. Only thing is, I did like older stuff and loved classical music -- my degree is in music.

And so I grew up, got married, had children and somehow, they all love "my" music and older. They manage to pick contemporary stuff that I enjoy as well. If we were doing those silly "intersection" diagrams we used to do, our intersections would be huge, while the spots where we don't agree would be pretty small. My son's first musical love was doowop -- go figure. My oldest daughter has her degree in music -- specializing in voice and opera.

All to say that my youngest daughter volunteered at my job this last week. She was stuck up in a file room purging charts and had her iPod going. Meanwhile, Mom is working and listening to an "oldies" station. When she came down for a break, I told her she could change the station. She said, no, she liked what was playing and then proceeded to sing along word for word.

She stopped, saying "Is it a bad thing that I know the words to these songs better than the stuff they play now?"

I smiled and said, "No." She's starting sound production school in September.
-- Anastasia Mather
Staten Island, New York

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