The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Once Is Enough

8.22.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 6)

Was strolling down Atlantica, past the Copacabana Palace in Rio, a lot of the construction for the PanAm Games was in the Leme neighborhood, but then there was this ridiculous stage, lighting, support tents and associated crap cluttering up the beach, all awaiting the concert that night. And, parked on the corner of Rua Fernando Mendes, 8, 9 or maybe even 10 shiny, gas-guzzling V-8 powered Mercedes-Benz limos, each sporting the highly impressive "Live Earth VIP" designation -- not a Prius in sight! Imagine that.

Now, one or two? Uh, maybe. Perhaps. But aren't these the presumed Carpooler types who'd do 'most anything to save a gallon -- or even a litre?

Sure, I snapped a couple pictures as proof, and got a nasty, nasty look from one of the nattily attired suits overseeing the (presumed) spectacle, while gnashing his teeth with appropriate angst -- then went on my way, shaking my head at the gross hypocrisy Al Gore had wrought.

As to the music that night? Can't say what happened there on the beach; after a stop at the Allegro Bistro on Ribeiro, caught some more great jazz/bossa-nova at the Vinicius Show Bar in Ipanema, right across the street from the site where Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes were inspired to write the fabled "Girl From Ipanema." But, never fear, I walked the whole distance, not to Save any Planet, but 'cause walking's terrific in Rio!
-- frost

I've always believed that "the shortest path between two points is a straight line." Having said that, while being fully committed to helping the DNCC's party planners achieve a quicker pathway along the desired Green Brick Road at their Denver convention, I offer a simple suggestion: Rather than placing all the food vendors under a twenty-page-list of culinary restrictions for the serving p.c. approved munchies, all they'd really need do is park a truck-load of pre-pre-made tuna sandwiches out in Colorado's noonday Sun (say) four or five days before the main buffet is served, and chances are better than 60/40 they'll all be a politically correct hue of Al Gore Green by the time that first scoop of macaroni salad is served.

Hey, don't thank me. I get the Food Channel on basic cable.
-- Dave Starich
Elk Grove, California

THER OWN WORDS
Re: Robert VerBruggen's Fast and Loose:

Original intent: Since Madison and Hamilton actually penned the document, what did they have to say about firearm ownership?

Hamilton, in a portion of one of his run-on sentences: "If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense which is paramount to all forms of self-defense..."

To which Madison seconded, "The advantage of being armed, which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...form a barrier against the enterprises of ambition."

Jefferson piled on, "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves from tyranny in government."

The Founders without exception knew the opinions of Burke very well. "To secure any degree of sobriety in the propositions made by the leaders in any public assembly, they ought to respect, in some degree perhaps to fear, those whom they conduct."

The Left hates the true understanding of the 2nd amendment because they see themselves as absolute rulers, and an armed citizenry as a threat. It is.

It was Madison himself who appointed Joseph Story to the Supreme Court, and this is a man who also is very clear. "The right of the citizen to keep and bear arms has justly been considered as the paladin of the liberties of the republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpations and arbitrary powers of the rulers; and will generally, even if they are not successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."

Neither did the Founders ignore smaller concerns. John Adams, "Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion...in private self-defense."

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