GIVING HIM THE BUSINESS
Re: Robert M.
Goldberg’s What
I Saw at the Health Care Revolution:
What I saw at a recent “town hall” meeting of my
long-time-serving congressman was the same display of anger and
concern about government takeover of our lives. There was also a
lot of agitation about how the Democrats and the president have
ridiculed and spoken maliciously of Americans who disagree with
whatever Obamacare is.
There were lots of boos, sometimes prolonged, but very few
heckles. At times, the congressman combatively fell back on the
tired old Democrat-Obama “blame Bush and Republicans” mantra. At
times, too many times, it seemed to me he was not really there to
listen, but simply to insist that the president and Congress do
know best, not we who hire them.
In fact, early in that Monday-morning meeting — which had to be
moved outside of the building because the small room would not
accommodate all who wanted to attend — the congressman declared,
“I’ve been in this business for 33 years.” To wit, a
late-20-ish-early-30-ish man behind me yelled back, “It’s not a
business, it’s service.”
Therein lies, I think, the growing compound fracture between
Congress, the presidency and the rest of America: The two former
do not understand that they serve us.
For what it’s worth, too, most of the crowd seemed to reject the
incredible and accelerated overreach we’ve seen with the Obama
administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress. And more
than a few Baby Boomers, or those just behind or just in front in
age, with whom I chatted said they think there’s coming a time
when things may spill or may have to spill into the streets — if
the Congress does not honor what Americans are saying now.
Finally, in an exchange with the congressman, I mentioned that
many of us are upset about how the president and Congress are
attempting to ramrod healthcare “reform” through legislation. He
immediately said that such attempts at reform weren’t new, that
it’d been started over 20 years ago, blah-blah-blah.
I countered that he knew, that we all knew, that had the House
passed H.R. 3200 or whatever before the current August recess, he
and I and the crowd would not be attending his “town hall.” As I
recall, he did not answer.
Nor did he respond when I suggested that there appears to be no
government program, of any sort, about which Congress has ever
overestimated the real costs.
Oh, yes, when queried about whether we could have the same
healthcare option Congress has or if he would use what could be
available to the hoi polloi, he flippantly avoided any answer by
saying that everyone would have a choice.
Yes, we will: It’ll be at the ballot
boxes in 2010 and 2012.
— C. Kenna Amos Jr.
Princeton, West
Virginia
PALINISM BY PROXY
Re: Quin Hillyer’s
Death Panels by Proxy:
Forgive me, Quin. I’m having a chuckle at your expense. First, I
confess, I read the blog before responding. You sure know how to
stir the coals. And while I’m not a journalist, allow me to offer
a little friendly advice: don’t begin such a fine article by
attempting to frame an intellectual discussion with what could
even conceivably pass for an ad hominem attack of a polarizing
personality like Sarah Palin. Given the times we live in and the
nature of the debate, it isn’t worth it when the alternatives
would suffice. Just sayin’!
Ooga booga!
— Mike Showalter
Austin, Texas
In responding to Quin Hillyer’s piece, a number of readers took
exception with his comments about Sarah Palin. Why? Sarah Palin
by characterizing Obama’s end of life counseling as “death
panels” opened and enlivened the debate. That Hillyer and other
conservatives are not comfortable with Palin’s use of the term
“death panels” is irrelevant. This is not a fight about semantics
it is a battle against Obama and the Democrats’ scheme to take
over health care thus making it less efficient, less effective,
costlier and deadlier.
Like many conservatives, I was pleased with her selection as
McCain’s running mate, angered at her treatment by the national
press and their political masters and mystified by her
resignation (one wonders if she were a man would she still have a
chance in politics after that bizarre decision).
If Sarah Palin has a future in national politics beyond being an
inspiring figure or political lightening rod she’s going to have
to prove to many a doubting Thomas that she has the intestinal
fortitude to handle the rough and tumble world of politics and
the hateful bitterness of our leftist adversaries and their
stooges in the media. On this issue the jury is still out. But
one thing is certain she and Hillyer are right about Obama’s plan
for America’s health care — it’s a bad deal for everyone.
— Michael Tomlinson
Jacksonville, North Carolina
INGLORIOUS FOOLS
Re: James Bowman’s
Tarantino’s Band of Bastards:
Remember how the western movie gradually slipped from some
grounding in the facts of the era, back when people could still
remember the era portrayed (say, the silent era through the
thirties), then moved into studies of character and action that
were often vague about place and time (up through the fifties and
into the television western), then wound up coming to an end with
movies where anything could happen with utter disregard for
history and geography, the “spaghetti” westerns and the end of it
all in Blazing Saddles?
I suppose World War II movies are now moving into Stage Three.
The veterans who fought and the people who lived through it —
they’re leaving us. The people who made the first round of
movies, during and after the war — also gone. Now the crowd who
think they can set something there and have anything happen —
they’re making these things.
Meanwhile, one can only come up with a simple rule-of-thumb: if
anything in the movie promos brings up the name “Tarantino,” stay
away. Especially if the title is misspelled.
— Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida
Unfortunately, Tarantino’s mockery of the real horror of Hitler’s
attempt to annihilate the Jews goes a long way to diminishing the
real horror and to give aid and comfort to Holocaust deniers and
those whose lives are informed by virulent and not-so-virulent
anti-Semitism. That the mostly Jewish hierarchy in the
film-making world bankrolls his glorification of pointless
violence and perversion of real history is shameful and
disgusting.
— Laney Bormel
Parkton, Maryland
SPINNING SERVICE
Re: Matthew Vadum’s Obama’s
Plan to Desecrate 9/11:
Incredible spin… in reality liberal, conservative and
apolitical community organizations support the concept of a
National Day of Service on September 11th.
Having a National Day of Service will not alter the historical
significance or meaning of that horrific day. It is a way for
citizens to become involved in their communities and to continue
the rebuilding process.
— Arnie
Many thanks Matthew Vadum for the article. More bad news of our
current affairs, but news indeed.
Having just got back from New York City yesterday, seeing Ground
Zero Saturday for myself, this article is disturbing. Disturbing
because our POTUS and his underhanded, anti-American effort to
reshape our thinking, our lives is disgusting. Really, there is
no word which can adequately describe my disdain for our current
“CHANGE” in government. I, along with so many others, am sickened
by obvious power hungry leadership. How long must this continue
in our beloved free U.S.A? Is there any way true American’s can
join and impeach or dismiss him from office? There are so many
offensives staring him in the face, yet he remains. It continues
to be a sad day.
Oh, and yes, I am not a racist. Sunday I worshiped at Brooklyn
Tabernacle in Brooklyn, NY with a multitude of various races and
cultural backgrounds. It was refreshing to be a part of a group
of people where color did not matter. It was inspiring to worship
God together in a FREE country. It is apparent
our current government leadership is on a course to abolish so
many freedoms and hide behind the racist card. Just want to
express, as far as I’m concerned, he’s barking up the wrong tree.
Many of us are not racist.
We need more individuals like you to help get America back. Is
there a way to get it back? Is it through conservative media? I
am one small voice who is truly tired of our politically liberal
and immoral mess we’ve allowed ourselves to be submerged.
With sincere thanks. I encourage you to keep printing
truth.
—Dorinda
For seven years I held a 9/11 memorial service at the fairgrounds
to commemorate the first responders that serve us 24/7 and our
veterans. The community eventually did not support it with the
turnout needed to make it financially stable. Apathy, I guess. I
would like to say the President and his minions will desecrate
that day if they turn the only reason for making it a national
day of remembrance into anything other than a day to give thanks
to our first responders — that is not often done in this nation.
A time when we can say thank you to the firemen, policemen,
veterans, search and rescue folk, ambulance attendants, and all
those others that are there for us 24/7. We need to remind the
nation that this day be saved for that purpose only and let Obama
have his day of service another time and not rape the meaning of
9/11 for his own uses and those of the people that would turn our
nation and freedoms into a farce by reducing the Constitution to
a pile of shredded paper and ideals.
— Judith Mathat
Placerville, California
BRINGING DOWN THE HYPOCRISY
Re: Ken Blackwell & Ken Klukowski’s
Freedom of Conscience for Pro-Life Taxpayers:
Is this not the very same Left, who wish to force right to life
doctors to performing abortions, that has assured that every
citizen has the right to be a conscientious objector whenever the
country needs protection from enemies foreign or domestic?
Consistency on all matters may be the hobgoblin of little minds,
but this hypocrisy is mind boggling.
Our Dear Leader’s health care plan is teetering. Let’s all give
it a good hard push from the right and bring it down for
good.
— I.M. Kessel
STILL INALIENABLE
Re: Peter Ferrara’s Catch
Me If You Can:
Catching up on my reading, and came across your article, Mr.
Ferrara.
There is no set of circumstances, such as that presented by the
proponents of nationalized healthcare, which can serve as a
legitimate basis for such an extension of power over the American
people.
If one believes in a right which requires the power of taxation
to exist, as is the case with the advocates of nationalized
healthcare, you’re a statist, which is the foundation of tyranny.
For this reason, we challenged a king’s claim that he had a right
to rule over us, and formed the whole basis for the American
Revolution. And, it is the reason why the megalomaniacs in
Congress and the White House lie and dissemble in their attempt
to control us.
As Jefferson put it, rights are inalienable, that is, incapable
of being transferred or surrendered. They existed long before
they were acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence, or
enumerated in the Bill of Rights, and they do not depend upon the
capriciousness of our leaders, or the confiscation of another
man’s property under the pretense of taxation.
If only of the American people understood more of what is being
planned for them.
— Mike Showalter
Austin, Texas
PLAYING BY THEIR OWN RULES
Re: Daniel J. Flynn’s
Ted Kennedy’s Last Will and Testament:
It appears always that the Democrats, as well as their liberal
and leftist allies, never seem to grasp that the rules apply to
them. So does Ted Kennedy’s opportunistic request surprise
anyone? C’mon.
— C. Kenna Amos Jr.
