The American Spectator

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A Masterful Stroke

9.4.08 @ 12:02AM

(Page 3 of 6)

I am an American woman (Republican) and Gov. Palin needs to know she has the support of many unknown Americans. I would hate to think of her dropping out due to the horrible publicity we're being inundated with today.

We need her!
-- Connie Merritt
Corona, California

You refer to a negotiator without preconditions, and start off by lauding Palin for the new ACES Alaskan oil tax. But her proposed ACES tax was a pale shadow of the final version, very moderate, very minimalist, very respectful, and scheduled to raise only around an additional $800 million even if prices went through the roof. It took the AK legislature's Democrats and some really independent republicans to boost that tax into the 50% overall level delivering some $5 or 6 billion extra.
-- Kevin Burns

Thank you so much for this illuminating article. Murkowski was trying to get the legislature to freeze taxes on the oil companies at 20% for 35 years in violation of our state constitution as one legislature is not allowed to financially bind the next. The corruption was so deep they considered amending our constitution. Additionally, they were pulling the same accounting tricks they used in Iran which could have meant we owed them money on our share of royalty gas. It could have bankrupted our state.
-- Dianne

James P. Lucier omits one salient fact about Joe Biden's foreign relations "experience:" he was dead wrong on one of the most critical issues of the 20th century, standing up to, and eventually defeating, the U.S.S.R. Biden was all for 'detente' and thought Ronald Reagan was 'unnecessarily belligerent."

Since many liberals believe symbolism equals substance, it's not a big stretch to assume they also believe experience, aka longevity, equals competence.
-- Arnold Ahlert
Boca Raton, Florida

Palin is McCain's life raft. Biden is Obama's anchor.
-- David Govett
Davis, California

ST. PAUL IN ST. PAUL
Re: W. James Antle III's What I Saw At the Revolution:

This article by W. James Antle III failed to mention the elephant in the libertarian living room -- namely the selection of Sarah Palin as V.P. nominee. For anyone with eyes to see, with her on the ticket, the Republican Party has already taken a big step in "coming home."

And I dare say, Gov. Palin has achieved much more in reforming government to conservative principles than Ron Paul has. And no, Palin will never satisfy the kook element in the libertarian movement... and that's all to her credit.
-- Peter Skurkiss
Stow, Ohio

Great article.

If you are looking for direction for the movement, marching orders from headquarters, you aren't going to ever hear them. We have the responsibility to figure out how to push ahead in our own way. Leaders in the movement can rally people to their specific causes by example, the quality of their arguments and the level of excitement the generate. This model isn't as good at picking a specific target and reaching it quickly but its much more powerful in the long term.
-- James Hughes

I've read the items that Barry Goldwater, Jr. claimed his father believed in. The sad part is that he and millions of other conservatives actually believe Goldwater also believed in those things. In 1987, when there was a governor in Arizona named Evan Mecham who also believed in those things, what did Barry Goldwater, Sr. do? He helped lead a political lynch mob against Governor Mecham. John McCain applauded when Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declared she "took on the special interests and the old boy network" in her state. What did McCain do when Governor Mecham did the same thing in Arizona? That's right. He joined the lynch mob.

Barry Goldwater was "Mr. Conservative" only when his name was on the ballot. John McCain is no different.

I will never, never, never, ever, vote for him.
-- Michael Skaggs
Murray, Kentucky

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