The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Credit Where It's Due

9.12.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 5 of 5)

Bill Clinton was elected to his first term, in 1992, because George H.W. Bush reneged on his promise of no new taxes and large numbers of conservative voters stayed home. In 1996, it was even worse. The Dole/Kemp ticket was so unattractive to conservative voters that less than 1/2 of the U.S. electorate even bothered to vote. If Bob Dole had a Sarah Palin on the ticket, he may have won the White House. But he didn't and he lost. Now my point is that Sarah Palin, while seemingly all that any Conservative could want, is the Vice Presidential candidate in this election. If the McCain/Palin ticket is victorious, she will not inhabit the Oval Office for at least the next four years, unless something untoward happens to John McCain. It is worth noting here, that Governor Palin is even less the people's choice than is John McCain. She was appointed to her position by John McCain so that he would have a reasonable chance at victory by attracting conservative voters to the polls. Why the Republican party makes no attempt to nominate a truly conservative candidate is beyond me. When they run someone who is even mildly conservative, they win. So, perhaps, the Party should think about going to closed primaries and nominating the peoples choice. If they wish to win, that is.

As to who I would find to be a viable candidate, how about Governor Palin? She apparently has as much executive experience as Romney, Giuliani and Huckabee. More than Thompson, Paul, Tancredo and McCain. And apparently none of their baggage. And to top it all off, she is at least as conservative as any of those who ran for the Republican nomination. Why did she not run? The mechanics of becoming a viable Presidential candidate would take too long to discuss and would be boring in the extreme.

So, as one political science major to another, let me merely repeat that voters should know for whom they are voting and Governor Palin is not the top of her ticket, John McCain is. And a John McCain Presidency is what we will get if the McCain/Palin ticket is elected. This is, of course, far superior to an Obama presidency, no matter who his VP is. But it is of passing importance.
-- Michael Tobias

SALLY'S CRONIES
Re: Kate Shaw's letter (under "A Goose Girl, That's Who") in Reader Mail's Palin on a Pedestal:

Kate Shaw drew the perfect comparison. And if you wish to mortally wound, quote Dorothy Parker in the comparison. I recall a story of a friend pointing out to Dorothy that another was "always kind to her inferiors," the demure Miss P. asked "Where does she find them?"

I place Sally Quinn in a select sorority of women headed by the Cosmo Mouseburger, Helen Gurley Brown -- (Round heels Required.) Not too long ago Baba Wawa, claimed in her aptly named "Audition" to be first runner-up in the One Night Stands Division, judging from the many notches on her bedpost..

I just recalled another of Dorothy's quotes. Arriving late at a Halloween party she asked what they were all gathered around a big tub of water doing. They said "Ducking for apples." To which the droll Dorothy replied "Except for one letter, that could be the story of my life." Quick wit, huh?

Dorothy Parker and the Algonquin Club were a lively group.
-- Diane Smith

MORE LIKE A LOWER BOUND
Re: Stephen Zierak's letter (under "Ten Things I Hate About You") in Reader Mail's Palin on a Pedestal:

There are only ten reasons not to be voting for John McCain? I wrote a rough draft of a book why Americans should not vote for John McCain and I stopped at 62 pages. One of the reasons being the only reason McCain went into politics is because he couldn't get promoted to admiral because of his past non-POW record and behavior. My manuscript is in my file cabinet waiting just in case there is an opposition candidate against McCain four years from now.
-- Michael Skaggs
Murray, Kentucky

"Blanking" the line on a presidential voting form is the same as voting for The One. Not voting for McCain, as bad as he may or may not be, is a vote for The Messiah. If The One is elected, that after four years the proposition that the United States would exist as a democratic, free nation is debatable.

Not worth the risk Stephen, thank you very much.
-- Craig Sarver
Seattle, Washington

STORYTELLING
Re: Mike Dooley's letter (under "Apocalypse Hypothetical") in Reader Mail's Palin on a Pedestal:

I loved Mike Dooley's story. This is indeed an interesting world to live in (e.g. the Russians are back, and they are playing for keeps). It would be better if human mistakes and sins were not so deadly and so costly.

By the way, my Georgia Army National Guard Brigade, with me along, is heading for Afghanistan early next year.
-- David Shoup
Dublin, Georgia

ENCORE
Re: Jeffrey Lord's Who is Sally Quinn?:

Absolutely Brilliant! Please pass on my congratulations to Mr. Lord for his research and workmanship in putting together such a piece. I forwarded it to everyone in my family and many friends.
-- Carl DeCaspers
Tipton, Pennsylvania

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Trade, John McCain, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton, Mainstream Media, Television, Business, Islam, Abortion, Hollywood, Law, Military, Iraq, Russia, NATO, Africa, Alaska, Oil