Reader Mail
Freedom Falling
Defending freedom from the dangers of big government. Defending property rights and the Bush Doctrine. Michael Jackson and Jim Brown.
(Page 2 of 2)
In response to the latest "Enemy Central" article, here
is a different view of Jim Brown. It might even have something to
the liking of a conservative or libertarian.
--David Bartlett
SARAH WINKS
Running around, with knickers twisted,
Pounding on Sarah. They can’t resist it..
Righties and Lefties, Pundits and Press
They think they’ve beaten her. Nevertheless,
They’ve done themselves in. Here’s this for a starter,
They’ve given us what we love most. A Martyr!
-- Mimi Evans Winship
DEFENDING THE BUSH DOCTRINE
Re: Peter Ferrara's
The Bush Doctrine Is Still Working:
President Bush II was not a naive man; he was an optimist. The moronic mainstream media enjoy repeating the trope that Republican presidents are less than the brightest crayons in the Crayola box as Senator's Kerry's intelligence was a major selling point for many pundits, but he displayed no more intellectual prowess, nor was he any less gaffe prone, than W. Further, if the same flawed policies were the products of a Kerry administration, the pronouncements of the press would have been much more forgiving. That is not to say that Bush did not make numerous mistakes and miscalculations in his foreign policies; he did, but his core beliefs were based on an assumption that all humanity would follow their better angels if given the chance. This belief flies in the face of history, but Bush did state Jesus Christ was the philosopher he followed most closely. President Bush, for all his faults, was a patriotic leader who clearly loved and honored his country.
President Obama is not naive either. He is quite the opposite of naive. The One is highly cynical and manipulative. He has spoken from the center and pushed America hard to the left. The Titan of the Teleprompter repeatedly used this weapon of mass distraction, the teleprompter, to apologize for America on foreign soil. I might be of another generation, but I was taught that family issues were to be kept with the house and not put on the street. For reasons that will keep historical psychologist busy for years, Obama feels the need to be applauded by the world. Unlike Bush, Obama puts the adoration of the world ahead of the interests of America.
Bush was highly (and often correctly) criticized for seeing the world unrealistically. The press has been slow to make the same pronouncement of Obama. Bush may have seen the world through rose colored glasses, and this did lead to dire consequence, the Democratic messiah sees the world only through the rearview mirror: color, not character, is the main defining characteristic of a person (e.g. Sotomayer and affirmative action); bi-lateral disarmament ignoring the reality of a multi-national nuclear arms club) and a Keynesians stimulus package reminiscent of FDR's New Deal. The consequences for Obama's backwards looking views will make the consequences of the Bush years seem as light as the dust on a fairy's wings.
One lasting and positive legacy of the Bush years is The Bush
Doctrine. Naive or not, it has helped transform the Middle East.
One shudders at the thought of what might be Obama's legacy for
the world.
--I.M. Kessel
NOT THRILLED
Re: Mark Goldblatt's The
Jackson Trajectory:
I can't see that the great joy Michael Jackson brought to
millions in any way balances the great pain he brought to a
few.
--Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida
Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) | Leave a comment
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carol hellman| 7.10.09 @ 11:39AM
Well, how clever. I wonder how many of your readers have fallen for Kessel's trick: he sometime signs "Ira Kessel" and sometimes "I.M. Kessel" hoping no one will notice.
You really do need to hire him as a columnist or limit the number of his letters. He must get published 6-8 times per week. He must not have a life...
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 1:47PM
Ms. Hellman,
Good morning.
Thank you for enjoying my writing enough to recommend my joining the TAS writing staff. I would be highly honored to join such an astute, erudite, patriotic and dynamic team of writers.
To answer your pique, if I do understand your concern, the editor(s) of the Reader Mail column printed a post that is highly similar to the one from yesterday. The duplication is a first and is easily understood: I read and edit my posts before I send them in, but I sometimes I send them in and find reason for dissatisfaction; I then send in the corrected copy marked with notation that the post is a corrected copy. Such was the case with the letter posted yesterday and today. A faux pas easily forgiven? Or is the issue a deeper one than I deduce?
Regarding the use of my signature, my writing name is IMKessel, but when I initially wrote to this fine forum, I used my full name. Recently, I decided to use my non de plume, but TAS, follows strict protocols of letters and etiquette, included the periods between my initials. Neither Spectator nor I ever deceived anyone with my postings. In no issue did I use more than one name.
I am taking time out of my life, and yes, I do have one, to point out that writing can be a hobby. Many find writing to be laborious and boring, but I find great enjoyment in words, reading, speaking, hearing and writing them. Possibly writing is not a hobby you enjoy. So be it. But as you are free (for now – with The One and a Democratic congress foisting an ever growing nanny state on us, I am highly concerned how long any of us will be truly free – ) to pursue your own free time activities. Of course, you will have a little more free time if you refrain from criticizing others for enjoying their lives.
As for the amount of posts I have printed each week, the number varies. I assure you not every post I submit is used. The ones that are posted have met the criteria and standards of the editorial staff. Some people enjoying my writings. Others do not. Personally, I greatly enjoy reading the Reader Mail. Bev Gunn, A.C. Santore, Mike Dooley and M.E. Winship are among my faves.
As long as the editors find my post acceptable for the Reader Mail, I will submit my posts. I will continue to believe that some people enjoy my posts until I have strong evidence to the contrary.
Please enjoy your day.
I.M. Kessel (Or Ira M. Kesssel or IMKessel)
P.S. As my students say, stop the hatin’.
Mimi Winship| 7.10.09 @ 5:40PM
I am delighted to be named one of I.M. Kessel's faves.
Thank you!
Mimi Winship
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 7:14PM
Ms. W,
You have a biting wit and a wonderful sense of rhyme. What's not to enjoy?
I often find myself smiling after reading your posts.
Ira
Alan Brooks| 7.10.09 @ 9:06PM
Ira's posts are sanity in an increasingly dystopian world.
but he cannot reform the school system from within, anymore than Serpico could do inside the NYPD.
Alan Brooks| 7.10.09 @ 9:10PM
not to damn Ira with faint praise, he is the Boswell of AS
however, isn't there a college he could teach at rather than the diploma-mill that is the skool sistem?
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 11:50PM
Mr. Brooks,
Alan, if I may.
I am looking into colleges, but they too often are choked with PC protocols.
If you find any comfort in this, my administration continues to look for ways to railroad me. I don't fit the mold.
And thanks for the kind words.
Ira
IMKessel| 7.10.09 @ 11:52PM
P.S. Boswell is more than praise enough.
Alan Brooks| 7.11.09 @ 7:28PM
then we'll dispense with the praise and move on to say I think you see that brave new world is here; it isn't 'out there' someplace. it is at home, in "schools", etc,
and it is now not later, burgeoning.
and BNW is an optimistic description of 'it', BNW the book was pleasant however empty the lives it described were. the trade off is quantity over quality, that is to say more schools that teach 'less',
or shall we say more scholastic calories but less moral fibre.
Alan Brooks| 7.11.09 @ 7:30PM
if that, even ;)
Angel| 7.12.09 @ 10:11PM
Dang, Alan--I've never read such lucidity from you! Kudos to Ira for bringing it forth.
Thank you, Mr. Kessel for your consistent excellence.
IMKessel| 7.12.09 @ 10:57PM
Angel,
Thank you for your words of support.
To paraphrase Tennessee Williams, "I have always counted on the kindness of angels."
I will sleep well knowing one has set his/her eyes on me.
With angels, I never stand on formality. Ira, please.
Angel| 7.12.09 @ 11:25PM
You sweet thing, you!
Sorry, I just couldn't resist.
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