Reader Mail
Paying Dues
All the Kennedys’ men. The day of service. Unpolite heroics. Plus more.
TOO TOLERANT
Re: William
Tucker’s
Ted Kennedy: Man of the 1930s:
William Tucker’s comment that Ted Kennedy “paid his dues” for
Chappaquiddick because he was never elected president is the
single most grotesque thing I have ever read in The American
Spectator.
— Glen Hoffing
Shamong, New Jersey
“During the funeral there was endless mention of the poor, the downtrodden, the homeless, the dispossessed, the excluded, the gay….”
Senator Kennedy was a large man with large appetites and bounded
empathy. Before the humanness of a young lass with child could
even crystallize in his mind, his heart would go out to the man
who impregnated her.
— Dan Martin
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A while back I read a story about Joe Kennedy Junior. As I recall, just before he was to leave on the secret mission that killed him, somebody said to him, “I hope your insurance is paid up.”
Joe Junior promptly replied, “Nobody in my family needs insurance.”
It bothered me that this man’s brother was sitting in the Senate,
deciding that everybody else needed insurance. That bothers
me no more, but now it’s “win one for him.”
— Robert Nowall
Cape Coral, Florida
CHIPS ON THE SHOULDER
Re: James Srodes
A Long Shot: One-Term Obama:
Obama will be one and done.
That’s not a long shot proposition.
He is the second coming of James Earl Carter.
His charm will not be able to compete with higher taxes (which will be on our doorsteps shortly), back-breaking inflation (it’s coming) and staggering deficits (they are already here).
The Democrats will pay a huge price at the polls for these problems next November, particularly if some conservative citizen legislators (as opposed to career political hacks) run on Republican Congressional tickets.
In 2010 and 2012 we will see “throw-the-bums-out” legislative
cycles which will make 1980 and 1994 pale by comparison.
— Chris Hall
There has always been a pretty simple side of human nature whereby the fans will put up with just about anything — as long as the team is winning. Abraham Lincoln knew that and it drove many of his actions — he sacked generals like McClellan who would not fight and Pope who were beaten when they did. Lincoln kept Grant despite his detractors, saying “I need this man — he fights.” When told of scuttlebutt about Grant’s drinking, he said “find out what he drinks and send a barrel to every general in the army.” Lincoln wanted to win and he was not squeamish about how he did it.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (62) | Leave a comment
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Alan Brooks| 9.2.09 @ 11:22AM
"In 2010 and 2012 we will see "throw-the-bums-out" legislative cycles which will make 1980 and 1994 pale by comparison.
-- Chris Hall "
2010 will see another Gingrich, a Speaker Moonbeam, elected. But I'll wager a dime to every donut Obama will be re-elected. You are underestimating him even more than you did Clinton way back in the day. Obama is a solid family man. and he's lowballing his cards.
I wont fall for attacks on Obama; he's a winner and that is all that counts in a Darwinist world.
Fool me once shame on the GOP
fool me twice, shame on me
btw, Ted didn't need wings to get to heaven, he flew there on coke.
("Brooks, enough with the cocaine jokes!")
Alan Brooks| 9.2.09 @ 11:51AM
You dont really take politics at face value, do you?
Obama will abandon cap and trade, heathcare, after a Gingrich is elected in november of next year. Then he'll move to the right until november
2012.
btw, Ted's coke spoon set off the metal detector at the Pearly Gate.
("oh, Brooks")
Alan Brooks| 9.2.09 @ 11:54AM
the customs officer at the Pearly Gate was set to examine Ted's luggage, but he was told Ted has diplomatic immunity.
David Govett| 9.2.09 @ 12:04PM
Those who predict that voters will throw out incompetent (not to mention dangerous) politicians underestimate the gullibility of many American voters, whose attitude is be that, while other politicians may warrant removal, mine is giving me what I want. Gimme. Gimme. Gimme. That's the credo of many--and at present the majority of--Americans, sad to say.
Alan Brooks| 9.2.09 @ 3:16PM
Very few want their grandparents to get cut off.
Then Gran and Gramps lose out on a second car, a trip to Aruba.
Rory| 9.2.09 @ 9:30PM
Stalin was a good family man, too. Doesn't mean I want him to be president.
Daisy| 9.2.09 @ 9:38PM
Mr. Petrina, great letter--thank you!
I couldn't agree more. Why must Republicans ALWAYS bring a knife to a gun fight? No wonder we are in so much trouble.
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while other politicians may warrant removal, mine is giving me what I want. Gimme. Gimme. Gimme.
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alberf| 11.6.09 @ 2:46AM
Obama will abandon cap and trade, heathcare, after a Gingrich is elected in november of next year. Then he'll move to the right until november
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