The American Spectator

Reader Mail

MO' GOVERNMENT, MO' PROBLEMS
Re: Ralph R. Reiland's The Failure of Big Government Conservatism:

When a conservative says he will cut spending, he means cutting the rate of spending growth.

When a liberal says he will cut spending, he means cutting talk of cutting spending.

In recent history, neither party has ever cut spending in absolute terms. It's just something politicians promise to pacify the peasants.
-- David Govett
Davis, California

Big Government always fails but the Republican Party has now become the party of big government. Those two morons, Bush and Rove, who believed they could outbid the Democrats for the votes of the Hispanic peasants who have come to this county illegally must have spent most of their lives on another planet. What they have accomplished is to throw their natural constituency (European Americans) under the bus for a fantasy. Republicans will never outbid Democrats when it comes to giveaways.

It’s a moot point now, the Republican Party is finished and I like many of my friends will be supporting Ron Paul and/or the Constitution party. This party will continue to grow and will attract people from both sides of the aisle who want to see a return to constitutional government, instead of government of the banks, for the banks, and by the banks. I am also supporting the abolition of the Fed and the income tax, both of which are actually illegal, a national sales tax, a triple layer fence on the border, no amnesty for illegal aliens, re-establishment of our industrial base, fair trade instead of free trade, a sharp reduction in legal immigration and reversal of the 1965 immigration act quotas so that most of our immigrants once again come from European countries with skills and cultural back grounds that are compatible with our society, instead of bringing legions of third world immigrants like the Burundians into the country. These people actually spent hours in a reception center intake room because none of them could figure out how to use the door knob.

I would like to point out that we have had the worst leadership in the world for the last 20years and I will be glad to see the end of the Bush presidency. I can only say that as bad as Obama may be, he will certainly be better then the likes of John McLame or any of the other Rockefeller Republicans that control the party. I would like to say as the Republican Party fades slowly into the sunset, “good riddance to bad rubbish.”
-- Paul Martell

CONSERVATISM WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Re: W. James Antle, III's Antisocial Conservatives:

Just a quick note to commend Mr. Antle for this excellent piece.

Keep up the great work.
-- KJ

Indiana Democrats are doing the “Snoopy” dance in the streets because this solidly Republican state finally went “left.” Obama won Indiana by a slim margin; but, no matter how you count it, a win’s a win. In a normal election year, he wouldn’t have had a prayer. But 2008 was not a normal year and Obama was not a typical campaigning Democrat.  Now, after only one election cycle, local pundits are waxing poetic about how Indiana is “maturing” and how it is finally becoming a modern (leftwing) state.

There is no use overlooking the strong appeal of Obama’s star-like quality for most Hoosiers; but there was another factor. Beginning in the early weeks before the Indiana primary, Obama political commercials kept a steady frequent presence on television and radio through the summer. Then the frequency of those commercials increased in the four to six weeks before November 4. One could scarcely turn on television without soon seeing Obama spouting about “change” and “tax cuts for 95% of all Americans.” You would leave to go to the kitchen to get a cool one and return only to find yet another Obama ad waiting for you. Along with these, we received at least two dozen mailings from the Obama campaign at our home.

Most Hoosier Republicans began to wonder when the Party was going to counter the Obama show machine with our own TV/radio/mail messages. “Not to worry,” we were told. Obama was just wasting his money arguing his case when no one was paying attention. “We” were keeping our powder dry for those critical weeks just before Election Day. As it turns out, apparently they meant 2012 or 2016 because it certainly wasn’t this year.

Forget all this trash about losing was the fault of social conservatives -- or just conservatives period. The Republican Party doesn’t fight. The motto of the Democrats is “attack, attack, attack anyday/everyday.” Our by word is not to do anything that would alienate the precious “middle.” Democrats will make toxic accusations against which we will say nothing and thus letting the accusations stand. We act like politics is a regal chess game; but for Democrats it is a blood sport. They are out for the kill.

There is no “middle” in American politics. There is no “middle” that can be softly led to vote for candidates who just happen to be Republican. There are only hearts and minds to be won. The Party must put its message forward in four or five lucid points. (May I suggest such items as “promote limited government,” “up hold low taxes,” “protect American sovereignty,” “advance personal liberty,” “protect innocent life,” or “maintain a strong military”?) And then the Party must fight because they are worth fighting for.