Reader Mail
Unreasonable People
Refueling the Airbus. Lacking Nobelity. Mark Foley. Marco Rubio. Plus more.
(Page 2 of 3)
A prize for peace has a wonderful ring.
You can win it without doing anything.
The less you do, the more they’ll woo you.
It’s a sort of vacant Norwegian voodoo.
The once fierce Vikings have calmed way down
And donned a more professorial gown.
If you bow low enough, they’ll raise you up,
Even if you’re a never done anything pup.
The slap on the back’s now a pat on the head.
Your bended knee’s what they look for instead.
The gracious teleprompter can supply every word.
Still the unworthy recipient’s made to look absurd.
So keep a sharp eye, if you get my drift,
And beware of Norsemen bearing a gift.
— Mimi Evans Winship
WORD GAMES
Re: Brooke M. Goldstein’s
Can Hamas Make Sesame Street Sweet?:
Ms. Goldstein, possibly in the interest of being polite and diplomatic, uses the term “teach” and its variant verb tenses, to describe the purpose of “Shara’a Simsim,” and this may well be the intent of that particular show, but it is misapplied to the general offering for children by Hamas TV and Al-Aqsa TV. What they offer children (and those of the unquestioning mindset of a child) is indoctrination. By using the word teaching, Ms. Goldstein implies legitimacy to the methods of sharing information and ideology which does not exist.
Aristotle demanded as much from the students as he did the teacher. The teacher offered information but it was the students’ responsibility to reflect on the validity of the words. The test of a true teacher is that his charges can come to think independently; often the students will come to the same rational conclusion, but other times, the teacher and student can disagree peacefully. With indoctrination, only one method and one answer exists: that of the nominal “teacher.” This is true for Maoist, Marxist, Stalinist, Nazi or any other doctrinaire philosophy. No reflection is required on the part of the student. In fact, it is openly (and often brutally) discouraged. When Palestinians disagree with Hamas or Islamic Jihad, they know a midnight knock on the door is not far behind.
Language is a precise instrument that is often used in a sloppy
manner. Ms. Goldstein offered a very insightful (and frightening)
analysis of Hamas TV and Al-Aqsa TV. Being precise in her
language would have made for an even clearer understanding.
— I.M. Kessel
THE KILLERS
Re: Ralph R. Reiland’s
Obama’s Job-Killing Agenda:
How true, Mr. Reiland, how true!
First, Obama and his community organizing social engineers have no idea about how a real economy works. They see only the pies in the sky of socialism and expanded government control over everything. They are killing jobs because, for them, it’s government that creates wealth, not jobs in manufacturing, mining, and agriculture.
Second, Obama and his social engineers have no desire to learn how a real economy works. They already believe that they know it all.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (24) | Leave a comment
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Paul DeSisto| 10.13.09 @ 10:14AM
Re: M. Tomlinson's comment about the NJ governor's race: The far-left New Jersey Star Ledger on Sunday endorsed Daggett, the 3rd party candidate. Their main rational was that the NJ Democrats are corrupt (very true), and the NJ Republicans incompetent (problematic). Frankly, I believe the paper endorsed Daggett to take votes away from Christie, to help Corzine. This may seem cynical, but given the Star-Ledger's track record of slavish support of all things and people Democrat it is a reasonable position.
Paul DeSisto
Cedar Grove, NJ
A. Brooks| 10.13.09 @ 8:45PM
"By the way, I appreciate the positive-thinking, prophetic statement that "when Obama leaves office in 2013." That's predicated, though, on whether we have elections in 2012, isn't it?"
I repost this as it sums up my view of Obama:
You are making the same mistake in underestimating Obama that I did in underestimating Clinton. Not only was Clinton reelected, but his Veep ran for POTUS in 2000, and his wife is today SecState. I want to be a conservative, not a chump-on-wheels.
besides, opposition, as I will be repeating for the next 7 years, to Clinton is what fueled the economy from January '93- Nov '94 (Gingrich).
George Hanshaw| 10.13.09 @ 2:12PM
Quin Hillyer's assertion that
Airbus never cheated on THIS project, .... is very interesting. Since it is clear that they DID cheat on the A330 (The WTO has already ruled upon this) and Airbus is proposing the A330 for its candidate aircraft, his assertion would seem to wrong on the face of it. Or perhaps he is just asserting that they have not yet cheated on this most recent RFP which, since no bids have yet been called for, is self-evidently true - if irrelevant.
His assertion that
benefits of splitting the (buy between both contractors) can be substantial is ludicrous to anyone who is aware of the costs of operating government equipment. Each different aircraft requires its own parts supply line - depot maintenance arrangement - aircrew and maintenance personnel training systems - and this is well known to all operators.
I understand that every columnist can't be all-knowing, but we could forgive Mr. Hillyer's abysmal ignorance a little easier if he were less arrogant and more willing to learn from the expertise of others in areas where he appears particularly weak.
Etiquette Man| 10.14.09 @ 12:27AM
Hear, hear, Mr. Hanshaw!
This is not an isolated incident, unfortunately.
Mr. Hilyer rarely lets facts interfere with the pursuit of his predetermined conclusions. When his instincts are right--i.e. when his conclusions can be inferred from other evidence, if not the evidence he offers--one is tempted to pass over his faulty reasoning in silence in order not to seem to be attacking a thesis with which one agrees.
In the current case, however, both his conclusion and the evidence adduced in support are faulty.
You are quite right to call him on it, forcefully. Mr. Hilyer's powerful intellect is limited principally by a certain inelegant and reflexive rigidity.
Alan Brooks| 10.13.09 @ 8:43PM
"By the way, I appreciate the positive-thinking, prophetic statement that "when Obama leaves office in 2013." That's predicated, though, on whether we have elections in 2012, isn't it?"
You are making the same mistake in underestimating Obama that I did in underestimating Clinton. Not only was Clinton reelected, but his Veep ran for POTUS in 2000, and his wife is today SecState. I want to be a conservative, not a chump-on-wheels.
besides, opposition, as I will be repeating for the next 7 years, to Clinton is what fueled the economy from January '93- Nov '94
Unsigned| 10.13.09 @ 9:53PM
Reader Mail
Unreasonable People
Re: Quin Hillyer's Pentagon in the Tanker:
And Comments by George Landrith, President
Frontiers of Freedom
Before I comment on remarks by the author(s) I feel the need to disclose my own prior involvement with JPATS procurement as well as family employed by Northrop.
Personal experience with the procurement process has permanently affected my thought process. I will now and forevermore look upon governance and question what bureaucratic and political considerations (or worse - i.e., illegal activities ) outside the outlined contract bid request, entered in to the decision making process.
15 - KC-X Aerial Refueling Tanker Aircraft
Solicitation Number: FA8625-07-R-6470
Based on publicly available information I have concluded that the Boeing Aircraft Proposal is the best replacement for the KC-135. I arrived at this conclusion with great ease and completely disagree with the notion of a split contract. Normally a defense of opinion would be offered at this juncture. However - what leaps out at me - Is how quickly I concluded that the Boeing 767 was the better replacement for the KC135 and yet Mr. Hillyer is so dramatically Pro-EADS. I am left with more questions about Mr. Hillyer’s motives than about the contest itself. I do not wish to infer, intone or slander but the gulf is really wide. To protect my own family member from ridicule; I will leave this post unsigned. Mr. Hillyer you are welcome to Email me your thoughts directly. Given that I must provide an email address to post this comment.
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CHOPPERGIRL | 10.20.09 @ 12:26AM
We don't need any more war machines. This million dollar pork barrel crap ends up rotting out in the desert in ten years after it becomes obsolete. The only purpose an aerial tanker has is to refuel bombers and fighters while still in the air. Bombers and fighters have been proven to KILL PEOPLE. They are dangerous, expensive, and need to be outlawed.
I can think of a million BETTER things to spend millions of dollars on than a fleet of flying gas stations.
www.us-bapeoutlet.com | 4.5.10 @ 9:29PM
www.us-bapeoutlet.com