The American Spectator : Spring Ahead

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Spring Ahead

By Lisa Fabrizio on 4.1.09 @ 6:06AM

You can fool voters -- and readers -- only some of the time.

(Please refrain from following links until reading the note at the end of this piece.)

They say it's always darkest just before the dawn and that every cloud has a silver lining. It's often easy to brush these old saws off in a world as dark and dreary as ours has been since last November. But Spring, like hope, still springs eternal and as we enter the vernal equinox, the ice in our winter of discontent may be thawing just a bit.

The good news started rolling in slowly last week when Arlen Specter, of all people, stood in the schoolhouse door of the Card Check Bill, saying that he would vote against the insidious legislation that would spread union membership like the plague. Specter is undoubtedly reeling from the one-two punch of backlash against his support for the Stimulus Package and primary opponent Pat Toomey's ascendance in the polls. But whatever the reason, his newfound courage is a breath of fresh Spring air.

The next show of intestinal fortitude came from over 100 scientists who, sponsored by the Cato Institute, placed a full-page ad in major newspapers telling Barack Obama: "Mr. President, your characterization of the scientific facts regarding climate change and the degree of certainty informing the scientific debate is simply incorrect." On the heels of this came news that those across the Atlantic may be rethinking their views on climate change, with the European Union agreeing to convene new hearings on the subject.

At a recent meeting of the International Conference on Climate Change, Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, questioned the rationale of acting radically and hastily on the basis of junk science: "Should we give preference to future generations and not to the people living in undeveloped countries today? My answer is no." Eduard Nemchek, spokesman for the EU, whose rotating presidency is currently in Czech hands said, "When proposed by Europeans and couched in the language of compassion, serious weight must be given to alternative opinions."

Also making news -- though you'd hardly notice it because of the gag order on the current Vice President -- was Joe Biden and his comments to the Lackawanna County Hibernian Club last week. Given that it was a private function and not a single reporter is assigned to cover him, he felt free to remark that maybe Tim Geithner was not the best man to head the Treasury Department: "I mean, sheesh! Compared to this guy, George W. Bush looks like a Harvard MBA!...Huh?"

And speaking of the Crimson, a shocking report comes from a research scientist from Harvard, of all places, who has agreed with Pope Benedict XVI that condoms are not the cure for AIDS in Africa. "The Pope is correct," said Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project. He went on to state what, up until a few decades ago, would have been painfully obvious; "The best and latest empirical evidence indeed shows that reduction in multiple and concurrent sexual partners is the most important single behavior change associated with reduction in HIV-infection rates."

In more good news from the Tiber, Nancy Pelosi disclosed for the first time, the details of her meeting with the Holy Father in Rome and revealed her Lenten commitment to return to a real and full communion with the Church. "I have decided, with the help of my spiritual advisor, Father Luther Martin, to commission a House panel investigating this 'Natural Law' the Holy Father spoke about and whether or not it has any bearing on American history. After all," she said, "Lent is a special time for reflection and atonement."

And speaking of reflection, John McCain, ever vigilant in his quest to clean up election laws, has proposed a bipartisan panel of his own to investigate the lack of oversight on Congressional Banking Oversight Committees. "Just as Russ Feingold and I teamed up to enact legislation to keep dirty PAC money out of our hands, it is now vital that we keep TARP and other funds from winding up in our campaign coffers, and it's my pleasure to announce that my good friend Chris Dodd will head this investigation."

And finally folks, the best news of all. Left-wingers in this country have finally admitted that Rush Limbaugh is an unconquerable force and that they should cease to demonize him and his followers. A liberal commentator at the Huffington Post has advised his brethren to Wave the White Flag in the Limbaugh War, saying that the attention given Rush by the Obama Administration has enabled him "in a perverse way [to] paint himself as a credible and thoughtful political critic." As opposed, say, to those at HuffPost?

Note: You might have caught on by now that some of these quotes are April Fool's gags. But, without following the links, can you guess which ones?

About the Author

Lisa Fabrizio is a columnist who hails from Connecticut (mailbox@lisafab.com).

Letter to the Editor View all comments (45) | Leave a comment

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 7:12AM

Lisa Fabrizio should keep in mind that the CATO Institute isn't a scientific organization and that it's funding coming from the tabacco, coal, oil and auto industries. Needless to say, seeking scientific advice from such people is about as pointless as seeking for a non-token minority in the Republican party leadership.

As far as waving the white flag on Rush Limbaugh: No, it isn't going to happen. Rush Limbaugh is a big fat representative of everything which is wrong with the Republican party.

That the Republican party is wedded to Talk Radio demonstrates that the Republicans are stuck in a time-warp to the past. AM Radio should have died a long time ago.

Sons and Daughters of Death| 4.1.09 @ 7:29AM

Rush Limbaugh panders to the Nazi side of the Republican Party, and AIPAC, the CFR, Kill all Muslims as they did with the RED INDIANS, and the KKK who has found jobs as Racist Police Officers. The Arms industry sending their sons and daughters to die, for foreign Oil. The Republican Party is dead, they take money from Bankers, and complain that they should not be bailed out, while holding their hand out for some of the money.

David Gonzalez| 4.1.09 @ 7:35AM

Once again, Mr. Mathews reminds us that liberals are devoid of humor---which, likely, explains his hatred of Rush Limbaugh.

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 7:57AM

Hello David Gonzalez,

* "Once again, Mr. Mathews reminds us that liberals are devoid of humor---which, likely, explains his hatred of Rush Limbaugh. "

Spreading uneducated lies and irrational fear and racism & bigotry of all sorts isn't at all humorous ... except to a dittohead drone.

Wicked Dickie| 4.1.09 @ 8:04AM

If it matters, Ms. Fabrizio, the only one you got me on was the EUnuchs agreeing to look into the Globaloney Fraud. I keep hoping and dare I say it, praying that somebody or some Body will stand athwart the world-wide phantasy, tax increasing job-killer shouting "stop".

Bram| 4.1.09 @ 8:14AM

I heard Obama plans to honor all his campaign promises.

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 8:16AM

Hello Wicked Dixie,

You have disproven the myth of an educated conservative! If conservatives spent as much time reading as they spent listening to talk radio perhaps they would know how to spell ...

Ed N.| 4.1.09 @ 8:18AM

Uh oh...Sons and Daughters of Death is onto us...Next week's book burning is cancelled, dittoheads. I repeat, next week's book burning cancelled.

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 8:32AM

Hello Ed,

Conservatives don't need to burn books because conservatives don't read books. Talk radio was invented for a reason.

Jeff| 4.1.09 @ 8:43AM

Hello David,

You appear to be a trobuled soul - get some help!

PS There is probably a church right around the corner.

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 8:46AM

Hello Jeff,

* "PS There is probably a church right around the corner. "

Of course ... all the troubles souls are at church. The conservative party is nothing more than a bunch of troubled souls begging God for solace from the misery of life and hoping for Heaven in a pathetic, miserable futile manner.

Religion is an opiate for the masses ... so conservatives must keep on clinging to their guns & religion.

Jeff| 4.1.09 @ 8:52AM

David,

I correct myself - you are a troubled soul!

P. Aaron| 4.1.09 @ 8:56AM

Mr. Mathews is looking for a fight. Yet he's the one projecting onto others here his feelings regarding those that disagree with him. Mathews is grasping, reaching for anything including typographical errors in order to prove his infinite superiority on ALL levels. So get on with it and part the water already!

We're just here minding our own business enjoying The Spectator.

None of us need to prove anything to you Mr. Mathews, whether we read, listen to & enjoy Limbaugh or whatever. If you had a worthy argument, you would lead with that rather than your small thoughts.

Your mind seems made up, so beat it & leave us alone.

John| 4.1.09 @ 9:26AM

David, "I know you are but what I'm I?"

Remember that childhood response? I think from here on out, that's all you deserve for your infantile rants.

Anthony| 4.1.09 @ 9:57AM

Well, speaking of things that are neither funny nor an April Fool's joke, did you read that all charges will be dropped against Sen. Stevens, due to prosecutorial misconduct?
The Bush justice department, in the name of the "new tone", allowed leftist justice department hacks to run roughshod over Stevens, just prior to the election, don't you know, and managed to get him removed from office and replaced by a Dem. Now, all charges will be dropped, but the new senator is still a Dem. Another job well done by the leftists, with the help of George Bush. How many fronts must we conservatives fight??

Ed N.| 4.1.09 @ 10:03AM

From David Mathews:
"Conservatives don't need to burn books because conservatives don't read books."

Wow, Mr. Mathews. Okay, read this next part slowly: we burn books so OTHERS cannot read them. Let me repeat that: we burn books so OTHERS cannot read them.

Why am I explaining this to you, Mr. Mathews? Because I care. No, really, I do! Folks, I think Mr. Mathews needs a hug. Everybody on the count of three...

Wicked Dickie| 4.1.09 @ 10:31AM

Ah, Mr. M.: It is apparent you are a liberal as: a) You have no sense of humor, b) You have no interest in the truth, c) You have no shame, d) You have no coherent argument so, you resort to name calling or similar subterfuge. In short, you need to get a life and stop bothering the adults.

1Freeman| 4.1.09 @ 10:54AM

So let me get this straight: Dave Mathews is the old Jeramiah?

This troll just started posting in massive waves in the last few days.

What happened, Dave? Did you get fired from your job and are now trolling thew web to stop the boredom? Once the fast food chains loose interest in you you are pretty much sunk.

Dont feed the troll. His thoughts are so... well not really thoughts at really. B-uh-bye.

David Govett| 4.1.09 @ 11:29AM

"November fools" is more like it.

Thomas| 4.1.09 @ 11:46AM

Come on, folks. Times are tough. Being a liberal troll was probably the only job the Mr. Mathews could get on short notice. But for multiple posts, he should limit the verbiage and settle for the tried and true liberal come-back of "oh, yeah?"

Big Leo| 4.1.09 @ 11:54AM

DM is lecturing on spelling and spelled the evil weed "tabaco"? Of course, he's too young to smoke, so we'll let it pass.

Sigh . . . for decades, the Pew Memorial Trust and other polls have shown that conservatives and people who have an active religious faith are happier and better adjusted. Church attendees are more likely to read books. And conservative books are usually on top of the best seller list. A college graduate is slightly more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat. A high school dropout is more likely to be a Democrat than a Republican. And so on. In short, we're happier, better read (or we wouldn't be reading American Spectator, hardly a trailer trash must read) and so on.

I don't need to cite polls to show that many libbies are disgruntled, self-hating nihilists. We have Dave to show us that.

atlarge| 4.1.09 @ 11:59AM

David,

Does your mother know your using her computer again? Bad, bad boy...shouldn't you be in school?

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 12:27PM

Hello Big Leo,

* "Sigh . . . for decades, the Pew Memorial Trust and other polls have shown that conservatives and people who have an active religious faith are happier and better adjusted."

I can tell ... observe all of these happy conservatives!

Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter are so very happy, too! Glenn Beck is a happy man, too!

You are deluded about a great many things, Big Leo.

* "Church attendees are more likely to read books. And conservative books are usually on top of the best seller list. A college graduate is slightly more likely to be a Republican than a Democrat. A high school dropout is more likely to be a Democrat than a Republican. And so on. In short, we're happier, better read (or we wouldn't be reading American Spectator, hardly a trailer trash must read) and so on. "

You say all these things in a futile attempt to complement yourself but the reality is ... Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh and George W. Bush aren't exactly intellectuals nor are they at all happy and they all have addictive disorders indicating an extremely unhealthy, unhappy personality.

Conservativism is politics for the uneducated. Fundamentalism is religion for the uneducated.

Big Leo| 4.1.09 @ 12:56PM

Dave, you are the one who comes across as desperate and unhappy. And I'm truly sorry for you.

I have to go with my own personal experience of conservatives and people of faith, as well as the Pew, Barna, and other polls. My personal experience and research that conservatives are happier, better educated, and more well read doesn't mean that there aren't happy, educated liberals. I am sure that you are not one of them, however. Now, go find some actual scientifically conducted polls or studies that support your ideas. You won't be able to because they don't exist.

Marc Jeric| 4.1.09 @ 12:59PM

David Mathews must be an elderly union goon steeped in the Communist Manifesto - full of hate and, when called on it, resorting to invective. We normal people, or as the far left call us rightwingers, are well read, we know and appreciate classical music and great literature, and some of us are refugees from communist hell with perfect knowledge about loud and ignorant creeps such as DM.

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 1:01PM

Hello Big Leo,

* "I have to go with my own personal experience of conservatives and people of faith, as well as the Pew, Barna, and other polls. My personal experience and research that conservatives are happier, better educated, and more well read doesn't mean that there aren't happy, educated liberals. I am sure that you are not one of them, however. Now, go find some actual scientifically conducted polls or studies that support your ideas. You won't be able to because they don't exist. "

I've visited fundamentalist churches and spoken to many conservative extremist fundamentalists such as yourself and must observe that such people aren't either healthy or happy or well informed about anything (including the Bible).

You can continue to deluded yourself as much as you wish ... What Would Rush Limbauigh Do?

David Mathews| 4.1.09 @ 1:02PM

Hello Marc Jeric,

* "David Mathews must be an elderly union goon steeped in the Communist Manifesto - full of hate and, when called on it, resorting to invective. We normal people, or as the far left call us rightwingers, are well read, we know and appreciate classical music and great literature, and some of us are refugees from communist hell with perfect knowledge about loud and ignorant creeps such as DM. "

Boo hoo hoo ... aren't you an unhappy person, Marc Jeric?

Capitalists sure love to live in a sewer of their own pollution, don't they? Capitalists eat, drink and breathe toxins twenty four hours a day in order to honor their god mammon!

John| 4.1.09 @ 1:21PM

Davey, "I know you are, but what am I?

Rick| 4.1.09 @ 1:31PM

Mr. Matthew's comments say a lot more about him than they dothan conservatives, Republicans, libertarians, and readers of "American Spectator." Come on, guys! Ignore him.! Quit trading insults. Simply comment on the article. Mr. Matthew is trying to pick a fight, and many of you are giving it to him. Please don't stoop to his level. Mr. Matthew's comments are all the rope he needs to hang himself. Don't turn these blogs into some written version of "Crossfire." The left is devoid of ideas and time-proven philosophy, unlike liberterianism and conservatism, so please don't detract from that fact by engaging in the same kind of vitrolic trash talk that Mr. Matthews and his fellow travelers on the left spew out. Just the facts and issues, please!

Big Leo| 4.1.09 @ 2:11PM

My father always told me that the goal of government was to make everyone either employed by them, dependent on them, or afraid of them. I've managed to avoid the first two, but that third one is coming all too true now. Talk about the audacity of hopelessness! I had hoped that the realities of the economic situation and the limitations of what government could actually do about the economy would limit Obama's program to some kind of moderate liberalism. I confess that I was wrong. There is apparently no limit to his hubris. Every week when I think he has reached the limits of what is possible to collectivize the economy, he outdoes himself with some new outrage. 'Guiding' the appointments of board members to GM? I'm speechless.

Bob| 4.1.09 @ 2:36PM

Sons and Daughters of Death - time for a little fact check my dear. The Dems are collecting a lot more loot than the Repubs from the bankers & Wall Street in recent years.

Dave| 4.1.09 @ 3:10PM

Conservatives don't read books? Isn't Mark Levin's new book Liberty and Tyranny a #1 bestseller?

I guess liberals must be buying it.

Better yet, I guess this Mathews dolt is another glue-sniffing Huffington Post addict.

Big Leo| 4.1.09 @ 3:27PM

We all know that conservative books are often at the top of best seller lists. I guess we're buying them by the case to build bunkers. DM is always calling conservatives illiterates but he never actually shows any signs of reading a book.

By the way, a recent college study stated that people who regularly listen to Rush Limbaugh have more basic knowledge of current events than people who listen to PBS. Since I listen to PBS more (better music), I'd better make some time for Rush to stay better informed.

Doplar| 4.1.09 @ 3:44PM

ALERT: psycopath Dave seen blogging at AS.

Michael Tomlinson| 4.1.09 @ 4:51PM

The ongoing unconstitutional and illegal Obamanation of desolations that is ongoing in the US makes the Czech Republic look like a safe haven for business, science and freedom.

Dave Lincoln| 4.1.09 @ 4:58PM

Dave Matthews is a computer program, people! Just look at his replies to your posts. You are wasting your time arguing against a computer script. Please, stop.

(I didn't believe this for a while, but I know, and these posts had to be wiped off another site on Seattle politics once they figured it out. The script is apparently written by a nut-case who is worried about sea level rise in Florida, but not motivated enought to buy a place at the new predicted sea level (yeah, like we know). It's easier to just wrtie the script and mess up comments at Spectator.org., so he sleeps pretty well - while the script runs and puts out the same asinine statements time and again)

Check it out.

Lu Dumak| 4.1.09 @ 5:47PM

As a Coservative with many Conservative friends, who ALL red books. A few books that I have read in the last few months I will list for Mr. Mattews. Liberty and Tyranny, Atlas Shrugged, The Forgotten Man, Guilty, America: The Worlds Last Best Hope, Liberal Facism plus many books by Kenneth Timmerman, David Horowitz, R.Miniter to name a few authors. There are many more books I have read over many years but the list is to long to write. My many friends are also avid readers. Evidently you have not read anything except Marx,Engle and the Communist Manifesto

Dai Alanye| 4.1.09 @ 10:19PM

It would appear that English is not David Mathews' first language. Ignoring issues of style and logic, here are the more notable errors he/she/it has made in spelling and grammar so far on this thread.

"…and that *it's* funding coming from the *tabacco*…"
"Of course ... all the *troubles* souls are at church."
"You say all these things in a futile attempt to *complement* yourself…"
"You can continue to *deluded* yourself…"

I'm pointing these out in an undoubtedly futile attempt to deal with my unhappiness.

Klaus Eisenberg| 4.1.09 @ 10:39PM

A Word of Explanation

It has recently been brought to my attention that a member of this rehabilitation community has been posting to your blog site in an not altogether welcome manner. This, I regret to inform those who have raised the issue, is an unforeseen consequence of an experimental revision of a basic treatment protocol for some of our patients who have profound difficulties with conventional societal conventions and disciplines.

The treatment protocol revision provided selected patients with access to the internet in order to study their ability to constructively interact with exterior reality in a virtual manner. While evaluation of this protocol modification has still not provided enough essential data to validate its underlying premise it has resulted in encouraging results in areas of reduced need for aggressive medication and physical restraint to prevent self-destructive conduct.

It is problematical that any of the subjects of this revised protocol will return to the general population any time soon but with continued progress in the study and treatment of their generally hostile and anti-social proclivities there may, indeed, be some hope for the future of other individuals so afflicted.

We realize that their intrusion on these web sites can be discomforting and we try, within the limits imposed by our limited staff and resources, to achieve accumulation of useful data without unduly aggravating those who unknowingly have been assisting in this important project.

Your understanding and tolerance of these obviously unwelcome comments to your website are, and will be, deeply appreciated since they are in the interest of helping these unfortunate individuals and others who may be similarly afflicted in the future.

Sincerely,

Klaus Eisenberg, MD
Director of External Affairs
Marymoor Clinic

Tony in Central PA| 4.2.09 @ 9:14AM

Back to the original article. It reminds me of something I have heard more than once - - that Biden and Pelosi are the two best insurance policies a President ever had against assassination.

danfromatlanta| 4.3.09 @ 12:56PM

I love to see liberal idiots like David Matthews rely on paraphrasing commie catch phrases such as "religion is the opiate of the people"! That shows exactly from where he comes philosophically. Liberals and liberalism are responsible for EVERY problem we currently have in the USA, the solution of which is the opposite of liberalism, namely conservatism!