The American Spectator

Ross Kaminsky replies:
I’ve received a couple of comments about my being too optimistic and I certainly take the point. I do believe that the U.S. will always find a way to nominally pay its bills even if it means monetizing our debt and destroying our currency, though I hold some hope that it won’t come to such a bad end for our nation.

I would also note that my intent with the article was not a discussion of how outrageous, ridiculous, even immoral our federal budget is. I and others have done that elsewhere and will do so again all too frequently, I assume. (Friday’s news from the CBO is just the latest fodder.)  Instead my focus was on the left’s view that America’s various governments are not “broke” because America still has some rich people left. Indeed, I was trying to make a moral point almost as much as an economic one.

In the interest of keeping the attention on the outright theft which the left glibly proposes as rational economic policy, I may have come across as more optimistic about the federal budget than I actually am.

WELL-RESPECTED?
Re: Paul Chesser’s Michael Mann Goes to the Zoo:

The latest contribution by Paul Chesser was a bit humorous, and cowardly.  In it, Paul included quotes from some of his “climate pals” who attacked a well-respected climate scientist (Mike Mann).

I am always struck with a bout of indigestion when someone prints quotes from their “pals” yet decides not to give the names of those “pals.” Hey Paul, do they even exist? Are your friends courageous enough to make attacks but not courageous enough to have their names attached to those attacks?  Cloaking your “pals” in anonymity is embarrassing, and cowardly…. Sort of like a school-yard bully that challenges someone to a brawl but then doesn’t show up at the appointed hour. 

Frankly, I expect higher standards from contributors at The American Spectator.

Oh… by the way… you can use my name.  I actually stand by my words.
— Dr. John Abraham
Associate Professor
University of St. Thomas
School of Engineering

DEFUND NOW
Re: The Prowler’s Hands Off the Obamacare Slush Fund:

Defunding Obamacare will not only be good politics, but it will help bring down the deficit now and save our health care system later.  Republicans promised to defund this abysmal policy and they must do it.  They should link it to legislation the Democrats desperately want and are afraid to kill. By appearing to be squeamish the House leadership is hurting itself in the polls which means it is hurting the Republican brand in the run up to 2012. Defund, repeal and replace.
— Michael Tomlinson
Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

UNDERSTANDING DANIELS
Re: Philip Klein’s Scapegoating Mitch Daniels:

Your article on Mitch Daniels is right on the mark. I called Rush Limbaugh several weeks ago to defend Mitch Daniels because his “truce” is about priorities and realities not philosophy. Had I made it on air (held on for 1 hour and 45 minutes only to be told I would be called back the next day and wasn’t), I would have pointed out President Reagan’s switch from being a “pro-abortion” governor to being a “pro-life” President — in words only.

Mitch Daniels may be a bit too honest to run for President but, if he won, we would have an honest, true conservative who would achieve more fiscally, socially, and from a national security standpoint all while paying the bills in the mean time. 

Too bad!
— John L. Sorg
Indianapolis, Indiana

WISEACRES
Re: James B. Brinton’s A Great White Fleet for the 21st Century: