Reader Comments
Issue 134 - June 24, 2009

Editor: I loved your article on “War Advice.” It is very perceptive. It provides excellent insight into the role human nature plays in a nation's foreign policy. So much of what is wrong with liberalism can be traced to its refusal to acknowledge the fallen nature of mankind, including themselves. Bill Sizemore, president, Oregon Taxpayers United

Editor: Thanks for the comprehensive treatment of Angelo Codevilla’s book “Advice To War Presidents” and some of the issues it addresses. Particularly now, for "our people," the too-prevalent rah-rah patriotism needs to be supplanted by a parade of books and commentaries posing facts and hard choices ... sentiment being so dangerous. JC

Editor: Wow! Thank you for the review of my book, “Advice To War Presidents”. You really plumbed its depths. Angelo Codevilla

Editor: The “advice” I and thousands of people would like to know is about a few things that we can never get straight answers for.  One is why does the government never make other countries pay us back for the money we have let them have, instead of giving them more? Then we have to do without for our families because the government does not have the guts to do it but only yell that social security is going broke and also SSI.  Two is why do they not tap our own oil wells instead of sending all this money to other countries for what we have right here at home? Patricia Taylor

Editor: I must disagree with Stanislav Mishkin’s “Pravda Mourns U.S. Capitalism.” American Capitalism Has Not Passed Away! What's passed away are the brainwashed, dumbed-downed, mindless and clueless humans who did not listen to Noah, Ronald Regan, Rush Limbaugh, and every hard working American who hates hand outs and freebies, compliments of the new American government that still believes socialism will work. God has given them their last opportunity to prove themselves wrong! Never should this disgraceful display of leadership ever be allowed to rear it's stupid head ever again! Prepare for the worst, but I will put my trust and faith in MY Living God who overrides these Foolish people! Sorry I’ve seen them before; they are deteriorating as we speak. Bob Spiers

Editor: I cannot believe this is happening, the comments by Stanislav Mishkin in the communist newspaper, “Pravda Mourns U.S. Capitalism.” Bob Dunevant, Reidsville NC

Editor: Contrary to Stanislav Mishkin’s “Pravda Mourns U.S. Capitalism,” the US Lion will roar again when the cubs learn to grow up. Don't underestimate the US. Its roar will make you deaf if you wake it up. Beware of this respite, as we will awake from this slumber, and take our seat at the head of the jungle. Mick Streeter

Editor: I have to agree with Erick Erickson’s “Defund NSRC on Rubio.” I am a 77 year old native Florida Republican. I for one do no not plan to vote for Crist in the primary. I am very fearful for this country. The way things are changing in such a very short period of time is frightening to say the least. I want someone that will stand up for the constitution. When I saw him stand up with Obama a few months back that did it for me. Betty West

Editor: Regarding Erick Erickson’s “Defund NSRC on Rubio,” I have already defunded them and have also defunded the Congressional committee. After the McCain debacle and the way they are ripping Sara Palin I want nothing to do with them. Ray Miller

Editor: Erick Erickson’s “Defund NSRC on Rubio” is correct. We need to start a new party. These guy don't get it. Joseph R. Zaffino

Editor: Kudos to Erick Erickson. I am a Florida Republican (maybe not anymore) who will vote in the primary for anyone but Governor Christ. The governor has shown no conservative initiative during his tenure. He has accepted stimulus money for the state, not curtailed spending, and expressed his intent to back amnesty for illegal aliens if elected to the Senate. He does not represent conservative values. We need someone who has the courage to speak to conservative values and issues--and then act on them. Governor Christ is not that person. CK

Editor: Thanks to Erick Erickson’s “Defund NSRC on Rubio” for the heads up on the NRSC issue. I concur. Ed Dost, Port Angeles, WA

Editor: How right Erick Erickson is in his “Defund NSRC on Rubio.” I remember Sen. Lindsay Graham saying we will never turn over the Republican Party to conservatives.  So......it is high time all conservatives and people who want to follow the Constitution to start or join another party because we clearly cannot stop the Republicans from playing the same game they have always played.  Too bad it is exactly like the Democrats full of corruption, personal greed and appetite for power. Glenn Beck says they are each a wing of the same bird - both pushing Progressivism. Outrageous!! Here in West Palm Beach and I believe across the country we are holding another Tea Party on July 4 and then there is the march on DC - September 12th. Texas, as you know, has an active moment for secession which may be our last best hope. Thanks for all you are doing for this country. Sincerely, Gloria Biermann

Editor: I noticed in “Defund NSRC on Rubio” written by Erick Erickson. In the title it reads NSRC and in the article it is NRSC, but never says what the acronym stands for. Proper writing says the writer will use the full (proper) name at first mentioned (with the acronym) and may use the acronym thereafter. Thank you for all you do for the American people. Leota Tucker [Editor: The correct name is National Republican Senatorial Committee.]

Editor: Regarding Brent Bozell’s “President’s Media Sycophants,” Fox news should run a two hour special on how the media has and continues to be part of this vast conspiracy to dupe the American public into thinking that Obama is something other than a strange, covert, dishonest socialist that has plans to destroy their country and the freedoms, of which they have been so blessed and others have died for. It sickens me and the media needs to be taken to task for their deception, dishonest and bold effort to destroy our country through misinformation and marketing for the socialist party. One can see now why the world of academia has worked so hard to dumb down the American public and we now have an entire generation of slobbering idiots that are naïve and easily manipulated with untrue sound bites broadcasted by the dishonest media. I pray for them that they will at some point wake up and smell the socialist pigs that are laughing at them behind the scenes. May God watch over our country in this most difficult time, Denny Marino, Scottsdale, AZ

Editor: I have just come across a commentary entitled, "What's Not Wrong with Health Care in the U.S.," written by Roger Stark, M.D. Dr. Stark is a retired surgeon and health care policy analyst with the Washington Policy Center, a non-partisan independent policy research center in Seattle (www.washingtonpolicy.org) This commentary is an outstanding article which lends some very serious credibility to John Goodman’s “Obama Health Inevitable?” He gives six talking points used by pro-nationalized health care advocates to further their agenda. After careful research, Dr. Stark, very plainly breaks down every single argument used by liberals and pro-nationalized health care groups, including some of the talking points Obama used when addressing the AMA, This is done in a totally non-partisan way, as it should be, just using the facts of his research. One huge step towards efficiency would be to force those with annual incomes of over $170,000 to pay for their own insurance. This by itself would save hundreds on billions over the years. Another big step forward would be to remove non-U.S. citizens from receiving taxpayer funded health care. Ed Dost, Port Angeles, WA

Editor: Regarding, “ Cap-and-Trade Costs” by William W. Beach, David Kreutzer, Ph.D., Karen Campbell, Ph.D. and Ben Lieberman, t he problem is the environmental extremists rule the roost. And remember that it is a “crisis” (as is every other thing that happens) and thus a czar is needed to take care of us sheeple. Ed Watson

Editor: Hello, I'm writing this email in response to an article posted on your website titled: “Terrible Biofuels” by Dennis Avery. I agree with his points concerning corn-based ethanol and emphasis on oil and natural gas resources. I'm in favor of more drilling and new technologies that can better exploit hydrocarbon natural resources. I'm also in favor of greater use of nuclear power. However, I believe Mr. Avery didn't fully explore the biofuel options currently available. He focused only on corn-based ethanol. Right now, companies have developed a process of making ethanol from cellulose (inedible parts of plants). This means that ethanol can be made from non-food feedstock, like switchgrass. Land that is unsuitable for growing food crops could be used to grow plants of this nature. There's also algae-based fuel. Algae can produce fully refined petroleum products within their cells. All that is needed is to extract the product itself (what is leftover can be used as fertilizer). If we used algae fuel to supply all of our transportation needs, it would only take up 1/7th of the land we use to grow corn. And this land can be in areas unsuited for growing food crops. Research is making these options cheaper and viable every day. I fully oppose subsidizing the fuel/energy from these sources, but I support subsidizing research in these fields. There's also an incredible strategic advantage in being able to grow your own fuel. If the U.S. should have its supply lines cut off due to some international dispute, we could still make our own energy. Also, let's say a terrorist takes out a power station that supplies a military base or a hospital with energy. If the base or hospital were to have solar panels as a backup or supplemental supply, work could go on as normal. Over-reliance on a grid is a huge weakness. So, I believe that Mr. Avery didn't give due credit to the full options of biofuels out there. I agree that corn ethanol (or any food-based biofuel) has too many disadvantages. But there are more promising biofuels out there that have the potential to reduce our energy costs and make us less reliant on other nations that are potentially hostile to us. Ryan Palaniuk

Editor: The moral decline that is destroying America as we know it has nothing to do with the sex or crime outlined in Michael Medved’s “Irreversible Moral Decline?” It is, rather, the symptoms of social immaturity, e.g. the expectation of immediate gratification, failure to assume responsibility, acquiescence to government control, ignorance of cause-and-effect relationships, and consideration of today as if there were no tomorrow. And it may well be irreversible. Barry E Lerner

Editor: Regarding David Keene’s “State-Directed Economy,” the President is a poor businessman, irresponsible in his spending and bankrupting this country. Todd Gibbs

Editor: Why is there not a call to March on Washington by the Conservatives? We are ready! Patricia Mills