The American Spectator

Reader Mail

THE DAVIDIAN BRANCH
Re: Daniel J. Flynn's Dead Wrong:

Is not "big government conservative" an oxymoron?
-- Reid Bogie
Waterbury, Connecticut

For reasons best left to the department of political forensics, many so-called conservatives are turning yellow just as the battle heats up. Given our age's disdain for authority, absolutes, and principles, that's hardly surprising, but the curious amalgam of politics they would install in conservatism's place reflects the veneer-thin depth of their thinking.

If fiscal restraint, individual responsibility, the protection of human life, support for the 2nd Amendment and a robust military, and an abiding believe in American exceptionalism, are unpalatable to the likes of Frum, the left will certainly welcome him as the latest intellectual quisling, and exploit him for their own political designs.

As for Rush, he's certainly not the head of the party, he's just a consistent conservative soldier beloved by 20 million Americans each week.
-- Phil Mella

David Frum has just bought into near life-time employment as the "house conservative" on any show most conservatives won't watch, read, or listen to. He will always be introduced as a "conservative, former speech-writer of..." and thus ostensibly represent the from the left's media angle, a prevailing conservative view.

Unlike REAL conservatives who earn their stripes every day pointing out liberal hypocrisies, and fight off the misinformation launched against them, Frum has settled into a what can be described as near a 'government job' as one can obtain, while having to do none of the heavy lifting.

While all about us are losing work, Frum has glommed onto the media gray train. But who'll be listening? He'll get a few cling-on's here & there. But his days of earning integrity are over.
-- P. Aaron Jones
Michigan

GOOD NEWS FOR CHRIS REEVE
Re: Andrew Cline's Obama's Stem-Cell Diktat:

"The work that we will do when John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve will get up out of that wheelchair and walk again." That statement has been attributed to John Edwards.

But this John was consigned to the wilderness, preparing the way for the one who was to follow. And now I'm so excited, I half expect Barack Obama to summon Mr. Reeve from the grave.

Obama's soaring rhetoric just about had me sold on the notion of vivisecting embryos for their stem cells, then it all crashes to Earth with his claim that "with proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided." Right.
-- Dan Martin
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Democrats have never been shy about wielding their power. When in power, Republicans would force Democrats to accept compromise and Democrats force Republicans to take it or leave it. I always thought that some day people will realize things were not so bad under Bush, aside from the period of upward spiraling oil prices and the massive banking industry collapse (both due to policies of the Democrats and the apparent inability of Republicans to change those policies). While we worry about how long it will take to undo the damage done by this administration Obama and company are demonstrating the ease with which it can undo the policies of the Bush administration.

Now the shocked and surprised Europeans are realizing after seeing Obammessiah's version of U.S. foreign policy that this isn't what they voted for either (Recall polls there showed Europeans voted overwhelmingly for Obama). Even the collation that makes up the Democrat Party is showing cracks within the antiwar and gay rights movements as they realize that the bedside manner of Mr. Hope n' Change does not comport with his campaign rhetoric. And we're only in the first quarter of the first year of 'The One's' first term. Yikes!
-- John Nelson
Hebron, Connecticut

The One states, "Now, this order is an important step in advancing the cause of science in America. But let's be clear: Promoting science isn't just about providing resources -- it's also about protecting free and open inquiry. It's about letting scientists like those who are here today do their jobs, free from manipulation or coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient -- especially when it's inconvenient. It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda -- and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."