The American Spectator

Maybe I’m simply too optimistic about such things…an idea that would surprise Mr. Croke considering I, myself, have purchased and played violent video games.
— Kevin Benoit
Calgary, Alberta

Look, I try to be nice, but this time it’s really gone too far. I think your writer Bill Croke owes people an apology. While freedom of speech is all fine and good, he ought to be a man and apologize for this outlandish attack on gamers. I know a large number of them, both young and old. They are all fine, wonderful, and non-violent people. This new trend of blaming everything in the universe on games is getting to the point of discrimination, and as an editor you shouldn’t be allowing this kind of mindless filth on your site. I’m almost 30 years old, I play video games, my parents play video games and my grandmother plays video games. None of us have ever or will ever go “Thrill Killing.” My nephews — 11 and 7 — play video games and there isn’t a violent bone in their bodies. It’s the highest level of insult that this idiot of an author would associate killing animals with video games because it’s always been a long standing opinion that anyone that even hunts for anything other then their food is a worthless waste of air. And calling parents mindless? That’s even worse. He owes people an apology and if he doesn’t provide it, you’ll be damaging your own site, because people will associate it with this troll and abandon it.
— A Very Tired, Angry, and Non-Violent Gamer

A quote from your recent article entitled “Thrill Killing” reads: “Video games are mindless, as are the parents who let their kids play them.”

If your intentions were to publish something insulting to a large group of people on a mass scale, then congratulations, you’ve succeeded. I personally have been insulted by the sweeping generalizations and misleading information provided in your article. The American Spectator has demonstrated ignorant bigotry and should issue a formal apology to all readers.

I do not appreciate being called a “mindless murderer” and thus presented to society at large as such merely for my chosen pastime of playing video games.
— James G.

AS PURE AS THE DRIVEN SLUSH
Re: Jeffrey Lord’s The Tainting of the President-Elect:

I can’t imagine Barack Obama not kibitzing on the choice of his successor in the Senate.  That’s just the way it’s done in the USA.  I’d say he’s being seriously disingenuous over this — just a fancy way to say he’s lying about it.

Of course, this scandal may force Obama, and perhaps Hillary Clinton and other new appointees-to-office to keep their distance from the process.

And at the very least, Governor Blagojevich & Co. have handed the Republicans an issue they can beat the Democrats, and Obama & Associates in particular, over the head with for some time past Inauguration Day…
— Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida

BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU
Re: Quin Hillyer’s Embracing the Oogedy-Boogedy:

Hats off to Quin Hillyer! I only have a few points to add to his fine and timely article.

The “Let’s pretend we’re Democrats” Republicans don’t understand (what should be) the most fundamental rule of campaigning: don’t diss your base. Witness (a) the numerous pleas to McCain not to pick Joe Lieberman as his running mate, and (b) the large crowds attracted by Sarah Palin at campaign rallies. Yes, she had some regrettable moments —exhibit A was her disastrous interview with Katie Couric. But she more than made up for this with a strong debate performance against Joe Biden. And don’t forget, those who most loudly criticized her selection weren’t going to vote for the Republican ticket anyway.

If anything, this last election proves that the Republican Party needs more conservatism, not less. After all, which GOP candidate in the primaries was backed by many of these self-same squishy moderates? Hint: his first name is John, and for a time, he was Chris Mathews’ favorite Republican Senator.

During the debates, he basically echoed Barack Obama on the financial crisis, blaming “corporate greed,” and never touching on lousy policies that led to the $700 billion bailouts (i.e., granting mortgages to people who couldn’t afford it). Neither did McCain clearly articulate or defend his own health-care reform plan. Furthermore, he nevery really touched on the need for good judges, or defending the sanctity of human life and marriage.

And yet, in the aftermath of election 08, the problem is that he was too conservative? Please.