The American Spectator

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When Mitt Romney proposed to cut the UMass budget, ex- Speaker Bulger, and then UMass Chancellor, rose to the occasion. The proposed cut was 5%, but UMass en masse rose to protest the effort. Faculty, administrators, 'activists,' and students were mobilized and descended on the Capitol at Beacon Hill. William Bulger vowed to fight for education and freedom, after all, his special clout and skills were why UMass gave him the job after his resignation for the Speakership.

But Mitt Romney earned his money in private equity, and he knew Bulger well enough. He offered a seven-figure retirement package to old Billy to sign off on what amount to, in the world of business, paper clip money cuts -- even at 10%, UMass’s bloated budget could afford the cuts. The drama ended. Billy B. "took the package." UMass took the cuts. By Bay State political standards, a thing of beauty...it almost made me want to vote for Mitt.
-- Christopher Roberts
Brattleboro, Vermont

THE END OF HISTORY IN VIETNAM
Re: George H. Wittman's Road Back to Pork Chop Hill:

It's important to recall that the DPRK was rolled back up the peninsula almost as fast as they had rolled down it until China entered on the side of the North. With a repeat performance by China extremely unlikely, an attack on the ROK would be far more likely to ensure destruction than survival of the Kim dynasty. My bet is that they are still just playing the extortion game.
-- Ned Schrems

HOLY SEE THAT AND RAISE YOU AN INTERNATIONAL CONFRONTATION
Re: Rev. Michael P. Orsi's Washington and Rome:

What on earth does Fr. Orsi mean by attempts "to elide Vatican and U.S. policy"? Does he perhaps mean align?

George Weigel is a fine fellow and, I think, quite reliable on American involvement in Iraq, but I agree with Fr. Orsi that Mr. Franco has a better grasp of the Holy See's attitude in the area of foreign policy. The Vatican supports or opposes U.S. policy for reasons it feels are good and proper. For instance, the Holy See put together an alliance that included many Muslim countries in order to oppose an international pro-abortion initiative of the Clinton administration. I am certain that the Obama administration will present similar occasions in the future.
-- John F. Eros
Charlottesville, Virginia

TOO MUCH MAVERICK

John McCain keeps talking about "reaching across the aisle" to get things done. Well, if just writing laws were getting things done, that may work, provided people don't stretch so far they leave their principles behind. But the chief executive of a state or country does not write the laws, although he may have an input, including the power of the veto. The chief executive carries out policy and enforces the laws.

There is no aisle in the Oval Office as far as I know. There is a desk, some chairs, and maybe a sofa bed, depending on the administration, but the Oval Office is not a legislature. It is where executive decisions are taken and policy is set and initiated.

The President may reach out to members of the opposition, but someone who wants to be known primarily for reaching across the aisle should be a church usher.
-- Pat Gooley

TOO CATHOLIC FOR NOTRE DAME
Re: Joseph Lawler's The Salvaging of Notre Dame:

I graduated from Notre Dame with honors in 1973 with a degree in economics. I have an MBA from Michigan, a law degree from St Louis University with honors, and a master of laws in tax from Washington University. I have over 30 years experience in business and law. I'd love to teach at Notre Dame, but I'm a conservative, practicing Catholic with four children, and I've been married for 33 years to the same woman. I'd be welcomed like the Bubonic Plague at Notre Dame. And I'd love to debate Jenkins or any of his faculty.

St Louis University is Catholic in name only, but Notre Dame was a place I had more hope in. Not anymore.
-- Jim McNichols '73