Reader Comments
Issue 115 - September 10, 2008

Editor: Your article on “Judges Ignore the Real Constitution” confirms you as the great demythifyer in the battle between conservatives and the judges. Your emphasis on political science and checks-and-balances is to the point and will allow conservatives to focus on a variety of approaches to the issue as against setting up a straw man. Of course, the latter is easier to battle. In your editorial “Small Government Failure” no doubt the gentlemen you quote are trying to justify even larger government by saying that the immense bureaucracy generated by Bush has failed to deliver. The bigger the problem, the more generalized, the bigger the constituency. Breaking the mega-entitlements into smaller groupings might allow for weaker coalitions of interested parties. Sunset laws could help in making aware the boondoggles of bureaucracy and their control of government if we follow through by enumerating what they are. These aren't solutions, just small strategies to deal with a big problem, Chip away! Carlos E. Chardon

Editor: Your article “Small Government Failure?” may make some sense to some but Star Parker tells Mark Larson that 65% of blacks work for some form of government. Selling government employees on smaller government is like trying to explain rocket science to a person who has the vacuum cleaner going. Al Lemon Grove

Editor: Great to read “Small Government Failure?” I hope the country can hear more from you. Judy N

Editor: As “Small Government Failure?” makes clear, there is nothing conservative happening on the Republican side of things so you really need to report on the Bob Barr campaign. Clay Dalton

Editor: First, I agree with everything you have said in “Small Government Failure?” One thing that is missing is something that hardly anyone talks about. Something that has to be repaired before the Congress can be turned around to return to pre '60's politics. That was when a Democrat was a Democrat and a Republican was a Republican. Today, a Democrat is a Liberal and a Republican is a Democrat. Here is the proof. There are about 52 Democrats in the Senate today.  They are all Liberals. They hardly ever vote with the Republicans on a Republican issue. There are about 48 Republicans in the Senate today and only 33 are Republicans. The other 15 are Republican Rhinos. Liberals in disguise. Even if there were 55 Republicans in the Senate today and 45 Democrats, 15 Republicans Rhinos would vote with the Democrats for a total of 45+15= 60 to keep a clean conservative bill from obtaining cloture to bring the bill to the floor. The Republicans had a majority in the late 90's and you saw what happened!?  They could not pass a bill without all kinds of Liberal spending amendments attached. If we would rid ourselves of the RINO’s then they will not be on the Republican committee's. However, we must vote out all 11 of the Democrats that are running in November too. Then when the Rhinos come up for election (3 this time) we can vote them out and we should be in the majority every election, and over time, obtain our 60 vote majority to vote the “nuclear bill” out to allow majority rule and stop their obstruction. Paul W. Miles

Editor: “Small Government Failure?” and ”Abortion an Issue?” by Sharon Hughes have more in common than one might first think. Much has been made about why women should be allowed to circumvent personal responsibility through the brutality of abortion. The fact is there is a disconnect between those who wish for an abortion status quo and people who believe every child conceived has a right to live. We argue this incessantly because of Roe V Wade, a decision that had no basis in fact, but through judicial tyranny imposed a false freedom, an easy out, for irresponsible people. And now we fight every election for the life of a child we do not know. Unfortunately progressives, liberals and Democrats - even some Republicans are trying to defeat us another way, through the growth of government. Through large government the population finds itself in competition with the government - in commerce, faith-based organizations and the individual. If they cannot change our minds, they will financially force our children into public schools where they can be indoctrinated so that decades from now there will be no religious right. Thought you had or could have freedom under a Democrat controlled government? Think again. Loss of responsibility is also a loss of freedom. Best regards, Lisa Miller

Editor: Regarding ”Abortion an Issue?” by Sharon Hughes, I am pro choice. I am an independent and have been voting Republican all the time. I do share most of the Republican issues but cringe over school prayer and abortion. Yet I vote Republican always but only because the Democrat alternatives give me even greater angst. Please stop calling fetus's babies. They are as much a baby as an Acorn is an Oak tree. Fetuses are not persons, they are potential persons. Believing otherwise is not logic but religious teaching. And that does not belong in a pluralistic society and fosters national division. Just as the Democrat Party had been taken over by the far left, the Republican Party had been taken over by the far right. Neither is where the center of American political interest rests. It was that huge Centrist body that secured McCain's nomination. I am certain that if McCain would select a pro choice VP, he would win. Just as I had swallowed CROW voting for anti-abortion Republicans I would rather vote for a person when you do not know what they believe on the issue. I love Rush, O’Reilly and Sean but now they are all foaming in the mouth over the party possibly choosing a pro-choice VP candidate. People are fed up with all the holy talk. If I wanted to live in a religious society where civil law is the same as religious law I would move to Saudi Arabia. Religion is a personal matter. Leave it as a personal matter. Although President Reagan is deservedly honored, keep in mind his first election victory was not won because of the "moral issues." He won over the disgust that people had with Carter's destructive, socialist economy. Burt Trattner

Editor: Although I champion drilling anywhere possible as does Alan Caruba in “True Energy Security,” some places are easier and less costly.  The Bakken field in Montana is also huge.  The most recent USGS report ( 8/10/08) also has not made the front page of any media.  If this was a sane country, you would think that this disclosure would cause celebration in the streets.  Where can I buy stock in "pitchfork" makers?  When the people find this out, they will be buying them up.  Please get McCain to spread this information. Burt Trattner

Editor: I agree with Alan Caruba in “True Energy Security.” The U.S. must explore and drill our oil resources and expand our refining capacity as quickly as possible. Mike Glynn

Editor: Regarding Dennis Avery’s “Warming Consensus Shattered.” please enter me as one of the plaintiffs in a class action suite against scam artist Al Gore who has made huge profits in the carbon credit racket. Philip S. Allen, Port Hueneme CA