Reader Comments
Issue 108 - May 28, 2008

Editor: I've just seen the new issue of Conservative Battleline Online and read your editorial about Pope Benedict, “Internationalist Pope.” In my humble opinion: brilliant, penetrating, detailed, well-argued--and with a couple of well-dealt and well-deserved blows. What else could one ask for? Simply perfect! Sincerely, Domenico Cammarata

Editor: I've enjoyed yet another issue of your "Conservative Battle Line On line." In regard to your editorial “Internationalist Pope,” however, I will say I was a bit taken aback by the Pope's visit and the comments that he made over the course of his visit. First of all, he does have the right to express his opinions about politics or political matters, whenever he wants. He is only infallible when he is speaking on matters of faith and doctrine. His opinion that we should welcome all immigrants into the U.S., without reservation or hesitation, is a political statement and is fair game for anyone, Catholic or not, to disagree and comment upon. As a citizen of the United States, I have a duty to abide by the laws of the U.S., not the political whims of the Pope or the promulgations of the "world community". Endorsing and welcoming lawbreakers into my country is not an option. We are being invaded en masse by hordes of unscreened, unlawful, and sometimes criminal, persons. These people are a burden on our social security system, our internal defenses and our nation's stability. We are already seeing an increase in instability, thanks to the influx of vicious Hispanic gangs, drug trafficking, etc. The Pope can comment all day long about how we should continue to absorb the masses of the world but I've yet to hear him make a statement on how we continue to exist as a sovereign nation under the present invasion. He should know that no nation can survive under such an assault. The Pope is yet another Globalist, driven by a desire to deconstruct the sovereignty of the U.S. Even though I am a Catholic, I can't endorse such nefarious undertakings. Thanks for ConservativeBattleline. I enjoy it every time it shows up in my emailbox. Respectfully, Tim Close, New Orleans, LA

Editor: In first reading “Internationalist Pope,” I was afraid you were dissing the Pope. It is a very deep column. He IS “awesome.” Diana B

Editor: Your editorial “Internationalist Pope” said: "Everywhere, even in the better societies today, central governments are reaching out in the name of welfare to reduce individual freedom and responsibility. The demand for subsidiarity is a limit to that nearly universal overreach. To friends of liberty, the restatement of that moral right by this important world leader at the very podium of the United Nations itself was worth the entire visit." YES! Someone else on this planet "gets it". Give the author a raise; please. Mufi

Editor: Regarding “Earth Day Riots” by Alan Caruba, for the first time a politician, Senator Kay Hutchison, has nailed-down the stupidity of using food grains and other food crops for biofuels. With the vast resources of known oil available to us, the clean cheap nuclear power and natural gas, and the vast resources of coal, to use food crops for the production of biofuels is a great SIN. The very fact that we can grow enough food to feed a starving world and then divert that food to biofuels allowing people to starve has to be evil. However, even though Senator Hutchison recognizes the problem she still would continue the attempt to create biofuels. Am I missing something here? There is a finite amount of arable land--just what food crop should we stop raising to produce a non-food crop, like grasses. It’s either that or to destroy forests. The fix seems to be so very, very simple to me. Grow grain and other food crops to feed people, and use the more than ample cheaper and cleaner fuels sources such as oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear for power. Sir, Where am I going wrong???? TSGT Uvin A. Clough Jr., USAF, RET.

Editor: Regarding “Climate Myths” by Paul Driessen, all of the solar system is warming due to extra radiation produced by the sun that cosmologists believe is part of a long-term cycle of approximately 1500-3000 years. Mars is warming (polar ice caps really melting), Venus is hotter than ever, Mercury is warming, Saturn's southern hemisphere is warming, Jupiter is warming (has developed a second red-spot storm maybe from warming), and even Pluto, now a planetoid, in the farther reaches of the solar system is warming. Ergo, the earth is also warming. I believe we should conserve (prices are going to do that for us), live frugally (although the "green" celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio go green by buying expensive hybrids and not giving up their private jet flights), and keep as much woodlands and natural spaces as possible--but not to the exclusion of protecting ourselves through homeland exploration and development of energy. Severe energy restrictions will cripple the U.S. economy and as the U.S. goes, so goes the world. Thoughtless programs and legislation could trigger a depression that makes the 1930s look like a walk in the park. Renny Hartmann

Editor: Very good article by John Goodman “Hilary Health, Again.” I don't believe that Hillary can fix health care or anything else for that matter. She wants to fix NAFTA and what has she done, nothing. Talk Talk Talk, that's all it is. Get real Hillary. Pat Anderson

Editor: Regarding Brian Wesbury and Robert Stein’s “Save Dollar—Raise Interest Rates,” if you truly want to have a stable dollar, get rid of the Federal Reserve System and return to the gold and silver system as dictated by the Constitution. Arthur Summers

Editor: At the core of the controversy covered in Daniel Pipes’ article “Obama’s Muslim Childhood?” is what is the truth?? One cannot be a practicing Muslim and not be a Muslim. To be listed as Muslim in school means he was raised and taught the Muslim faith. Listening to his minister, I can't say that I hear the gospel in any messages I've heard replayed. And so I question what he believes when he says he is a Christian. Patricia S. Ivie

Editor: I do appreciate Daniel Pipes’ article “Obama’s Muslim Childhood?” But, I would like to know who does not tell the full truth about themselves when they are running for a government office? Deceit is very common in politics, businesses and personal lives! A very young child has very little to say about the direction of their young life, when parents are determine to raise their children. And, of course that is the American way of family life, freedom to choose within the law of justice. I think your articles should cover the missteps of all public and private officials, and government officials, especially! What missteps has McCain done in his life and Hillary in her life and everyone connected to them. Also, the missteps of our future choice of U.S. Vice Presidents! Once again, thank you for your article. Sincerely, Leo B. Jackson

Editor: If Daniel Pipes’ article “Obama’s Muslim Childhood?” is correct, this guy is a good liar. Keep on exposing him. Please. J. Boyd

Editor: I understand the sensationalism that comes with essays such as Daniel Pipes’ article “Obama’s Muslim Childhood?” but I have yet to hear anyone explain what the big deal would be if, in fact, a presidential candidate was a Muslim. Obviously we know that being a Muslim does not equal being a terrorist just as we know that being a Christian does not mean that one stands with the views of Fred Phelps. I find that articles such as these tend to cheapen an organization such as yours through the failure to explain the initial question it assumes in the first place: why are Muslims unfit for public office? I am honestly curious why this topic of where Sen. Obama attended school when he was a child is constantly raised. It seems like there is much to talk about with all of the remaining presidential candidates. Their childhoods seem largely irrelevant to me. In the future, I'm hoping that a respectable organization such as yours will explore issues of substance rather that topics that are seen to many as pure knee-jerk sensationalism. Again, it only cheapens the intellectual value of the conservative stance. Sincerely, Noah Armstrong

[Editor responds: Actually, Mr. Pipes stated the following in his article: “Obama's having been born and raised a Muslim and having left the faith to become a Christian make him neither more nor less qualified to become president of the United States.]

Editor: Regarding Daniel Pipes’ article “Obama’s Muslim Childhood?” let me open by saying that I am Wiccan (Pagan), and an ordained minister as such. As far as religion goes, and what I have been hearing about Obama, he needs to be totally honest about his religious past. Sure, he may have gone to a mosque with his father as a child (as children, didn't we all go to church (whatever it may be) with our parents?). So what? I would like to think that religious affiliation is a non-issue with respect to the office of the President, but I am afraid if Obama becomes President, Islam, and religious intolerance, may take over this Grand Country of ours. I plan to vote for John McCain for president. Let us hope he chooses a proper running mate. I am afraid that if Obama gets the nomination, Hillary could get the nod for VP, and vice versa. Either way, that would be disastrous for America. Rev. M. Scott Hilton