The American Spectator

STYLE POINTS
Re: Mark Tooley’s Nothing to Hide:

Thanks to Mark Tooley for this piece, which is completely accurate, “fair and balanced ” — not things one encounters all that often, where Churchill is concerned.

I thought ”Into the Storm” brilliant, and observed that, if the “naked encounter ” wasn’t quite as depicted in the film, it was so well done as to be forgivable by all but the worst pedants…
— Richard M. Langworth CBE
Editor, The Churchill Centre

RIGHT-WING NINJAS NEEDED
Re: Quin Hillyer’s After the Tea Parties:

One major problem Republicans have is that Americans are bombarded with a flood of information, so even the most outrageous statement or behavior by a Democrat fades from memory all too soon.

Were Republicans computer-savvy, they would create a Web site that tracks these egregious faux-pas of Democrats. The home page would be a list of names (links), each of which pointed to a person, for example, David Letterman. Clicking on the link would take the user to his page, which contains a suitably revelatory photo and a chronological list of the instances of his grinning malevolence, with annotations.

Particular attention should be paid to potential future Democrat candidates for high office.

Though such a site would be an invaluable registry for several reasons, perhaps Republican computer geeks aren’t up to the task.
— David Govett
Davis, California

Wow, Quin! What a piece! Here I was in the midst of a sentimental journey, missing the old days of TAS Reader Mail, the pithy points of Elaine Kyle, the pugnacious tomes of Ken Shreve, the piquant prose of Diane Smith, the back and forth, head to head, one on one, and you go and let loose a whirlwind of hope! Well, why not? A mere 3 years ago, our greatest foreign affairs worry, Iraq, and our greatest domestic concern, the upcoming election. We were amply motivated, though by a seemingly unmotivated president. It was that  ”vision thing ” again, a familial disorder since, well, you know. Still, we had hope, and faith in the body politic, to see through the loquacious, unconscious fog from the other side.

Yes, November came, not once, but twice, and the hounds of Hell were let loose. And, yes, it’s been tempting to linger in the depths of despair amidst the drone of the left’s siren song. But, not you! And, now, not me! Not after encouraging news like this! Not on your life! I’m hitting the pavement, looking for new talent, someone who can sing our hit tune, someone who knows that the best way to confront death is to live, someone who can turn an argument against, into a sales point for, someone who won’t be, who can’t be, intimidated into silence, someone who knows the difference between hope for victory and hope for hope’s sake, between change for the better and change for the worse, someone who hasn’t forgotten why this country matters. They are out there, lots of them, they just need our help.

Quin, you’ve illustrated exactly why I miss Elaine, Ken, and Diane, my inspirational trio of TAS Reader Mail heroes. You’ve captured their spirit. And, while I’d give anything to see a comment in the Reader Mail from just one of them about our unhappy times and why we shouldn’t just give up, I think we all know why. Thanks, buddy!
— Mike Showalter
Austin, Texas

NO ONE TO SPEAK TO
Re: Jeremy Lott’s Who Speaks for the GOP? Who Cares?

I was a Democrat early in life. After my time in Viet Nam, watching LBJ kill my friends and comrades because he cared not a whit about the young men he sent to fight a war he was unwilling to win, I became a Republican. Unfortunately, with Bush the first, the party began to lose its way. Higher taxes became acceptable and even desirable. Wars once again were to be fought but not won, and the lazy became the most celebrated portion of our society. Under Bush two we ran up huge deficits and spent money on ever-expanding social welfare programs, none of which do what they are supposed to do. Wars again became timid things. No violence, please. Then with John McCain the transformation became complete. The only difference between Republicans and Democratic candidates was the color of their skin.

So, no, I don’t care who speaks for the Republican Party anymore, because it doesn’t exist. This country is being led down the same road by its two political parties. Soon — very soon — America will be completely in the control of the federal government; we will have only one political party. Voting won’t be a right, it will be an obligation. We will have one candidate, one party, and the voices of dissent will be silenced by the crack of a rifle. Our closest allies will be Cuba, Venezuela and Iran.

Viva La revolucion!
— Jay Molyneaux
North Carolina