The American Spectator

NO EXCUSE FOR SOCIALISTS
Re: Mark Tooley’s William Jennings Bryan Redux:

Mark Tooley’s exposition of Mr. Campolo’s politics is right on. I would only suggest that “the modern welfare state that Campolo acclaims” not only does not ensure human justice (perhaps not even mercy), it makes a mockery of human justice. Socialism, at its root, is immoral. Hence, humans caught in the vise of socialism or a welfare state are invariably, less free, materially impoverished (and not just the recipients), spiritually diminished, and shorn of self-respect (by design of the rulers). You could look it up.
— P.A. Melita
Charlottesville, Virginia

Tony Campolo can claim to be opposed to abortion all he wants but those are “words, just words,” and meaningless ones at that, when one examines his actions.  He continuously actively campaigns to elect those who keep abortion legal, even to the point of supporting the candidate who voted against the Illinois Infant Born Alive Protection Act. The only person Tony Campolo is fooling is himself.

As for his recent OpEd on Darwinism, unless I’ve misunderstood Mr. Tooley’s presentation of Mr. Campolo position it seems to me that Campolo is only targeting the portions of Darwin’s views that are inconsistent with Campolo’s own liberal ones.  Campolo is right that there is an “…infinite qualitative difference between the most highly developed ape and each…human being.”  But Darwin’s theory is either correct or it is not and Campolo seems not to want its scientific basis challenged, but rather, only its “ethical implications.”

Thus, in the same way that Campolo picks and chooses which passages of the Bible to believe, it seems that he is applying the same methodology to Darwin’s tome. As he must, incidentally, given his beliefs. Or, to put it more bluntly, for someone of Campolo’s beliefs the Bible can’t be left alone if it is to be believed and Darwin’s theory can’t be left alone for it must be believed.
— R. Trotter
Arlington, Virginia

I like the recent Campolo article. Very good!
— David Bartlett 

OPPORTUNITY WASTED
Re: J.T. Young’s The Search for Crisis Leadership:

The paradox of crisis leadership: the false leader seeks fame while the true leader seeks the proper answer and both are sought by the people, but few can tell the difference between the two. (“Give us Barabus.”)

True leaders don’t seek to take opportunity of crisis, as one of The One’s acolytes has preached. True leaders seek to do what is right and good based on core principles. They do not look for credit, reward or titles; the rewards may come to them because they are their due. False leaders are ostensibly all about the people and the causes, but appearances are chimera. The poseurs love to hear their names called and images adored. They are all about ego and self-gratification/ glorification. How can the people know a real leader when one is before them? Just as a tree is known by its fruits, so a leader can be known by his labors.

The Left has long said G.W. Bush will be judged harshly by history. In time, history will also have its say on his successor.
— Ira M. Kessel
Rochester, New York

HOPEFULLY IT WILL PERISH FROM THE EARTH
Re: Jeffrey Lord’s Obama’s LBJ Syndrome:

People of the government, by the government, and for the government.
— David Govett
Davis, California

OUTSTRIPPED OMNI
Re: Eric Peters’s Safety Inefficiency:

Sorry guys, I owned a base-model, four-speed, 1981 Dodge Omni (actually the Plymouth version — the same car). My Omni/Horizon of sainted memory was a great little car but NEVER got more than 43 mpg on the highway before it finally expired of a blown head gasket and terminal case of the rattles at the age of seven with 150,000 miles on the odometer. In 1997 I purchased a basic, four-speed GM Saturn, which was a few hundred pounds heavier, had a two liter engine, a button on the dash to disconnect the AC compressor when it wasn’t in use and two air bags. At 184,000 the little beast still gets me 40 mpg on the road and is a much more solid, quieter, and safer car than the Omni ever was.