Reader Comments

Editor: I am thoroughly enjoying your new edition of ConservativeBattleline, headed by “Iraq Vote Maps Partition.” It seems to me that disenchantment with Bush has come out in the open and proves that he is now a complete lame duck president. On the other hand, Federal prosecutor Fitzgerald is out of control due to the Justice Department letting him change the original focus of the indictment. Congratulations, Tim Sullivan

Editor: Your editorial on the Iraq vote is oversimplified and doesn't even skim the surface concerning alliances/loyalty of Iraqis. It hits the nail on the head with corruption, but doesn't adequately reflect inroads with Sunnis. The last sentence sounds like an excuse for inaction.  The fact that some Sunnis did vote for the constitution shows potential.  Corruption is the mode here, and it strangles a lot, but it is no different from any human situation, imperfect and demanding a whole hell of a lot of work ... and - God bless them - lives.  This struggle here isn't entirely about the Iraqi's backwardness, but it is unfortunately linked to dealing with it, because our ability to establish security here is a demonstration of our might to those nations that believe they can harbor/finance terrorism without repercussion. An Army captain in Tikrit

Editor: I find it hard to accept your conclusion that the vote for the Iraqi Constitution indicates partition. If this was of any substance, an Associated Press that has conducted a major campaign against the war in Iraq would have it over all the headlines of major American newspapers. Sorry, JNS [Editor: You may be right but the fact they got their facts so wrong on the preliminary vote totals probably explains their low profile on the matter.]

Editor: I thank ACU for its wise support of the very reason the Republican Party has been given its majority in Congress, to limit government. David Keene article and your editorial supporting the Republican Study Committee stalwarts in insisting on offsets cuts to Katrina spending is right on target. Is there mass amnesia at work in the GOP? I keep getting almost weekly fundraising letters from the RNC and yet watching the reckless spending by men we look to for wise leadership. I cannot respond to those requests. I do not suffer fools gladly. IJ

Editor: Keep up the good work on ConservativeBattleline. It seems that more conservatives are finally showing some courage. We can always use the company, better late than never. JC

Editor: Thanks for stance you are taking on trying to CUT all of this spending that is going on. Why not do as we have done before? In times like this We need to do the right thing! We as family are required to cut spending when we get in a "crunch" Why not the government? ALL of them do the same. We cannot afford more taxes for "PORK-BARREL" STUFF! Again, thanks for what you are doing. We are praying that God will guide you. LG

Editor: Paul Weyrich's excellent advice should turn conservatives to the works of Willmoore Kendall -- The Conservative Affirmation, Contra Mundum -- and Georgetown's Professor George Carey who has been writing recently on the principle of subsidiarity, which counsels the same thing. Paul brings to mind (Tim) Wheeler's Law: "The way to get rid of corruption in high places is to get rid of the high places." Programs devolved to the state and local level are far less prone to waste and abuse than those run from a distant capital in Washington, DC -- provided of course the provided of course there is an aggressive Fourth Estate (newspapers) keeping the politicos honest. Jameson Campaigne, Ottawa, Illinois

Editor: I have really enjoyed reading your commentaries both on Harriet Miers and most particularly on the Iraq war which has proven disastrous not only for our national security interests, but for the future prospects of the GOP majority, something I have written on in past articles. 2006 is shaping up to be a bad election year for Republicans, but if the President can galvanize conservatives by nominating one of our own to the remaining Supreme Court vacancy and provoking a fight with the liberal Democrats in the Senate, then conservatives will be energized going into next fall’s elections. If that happens, then we may be able to stave off Democrat attempts to retake the House of Representatives and for them to begin impeachment inquiries against Bush over his mismanagement of the war and related issues. Best regards, David Pyne, Vice President, Mountain-West Region, National Federation of Republican Assemblies [Editor: Since President Bush took the first step in nominating a real conservative and the Democrats have jumped at the bait, we shall soon see whether the rest follows as you predict it!]