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Thank you for your kind (and unkind) letters from the Canada, America, Mexico and Australia. Mark reads all the letters, but especially enjoys the vicious ones. Drop a line to Mark's Mailbox and if you're chosen to be the one and only Letter of the Week you'll join our roll of winners from four Continents and receive a copy of Mark Steyn From Head To Toe. It would help if you could indicate your city or town, or, at least, your state, province or country. Failing that, your continent or hemisphere would do.
Letter of the Week
REPEAL THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT
This is an idea that you could suggest to the Republicans.
If they try to repeal Jimmy Carter's and Bill Clinton's "Community Reinvestment Act", they can force the Democrats to defend it. The Republicans can then say the bank bailouts won't work while the Democrats' law forces banks to lend to people who can't repay the loans. If the "stimulus" doesn't work, then the Republicans can keep hammering the Democrats over the "Community Reinvestment Act". If the Democrats are eventually forced to repeal or limit it, it'll be obvious who's responsible for the present mess.
Carl Chapman
Australia
Re: Obamateur hour
COMMUNISM HERE WE COME
Oh Lord thank you so much for making me laugh while I'm crying about Collins', Snowe's, and Specter's perfidy.
No one seems to understand what's going on, as we leapfrog Socialism and go straight to Communism.
I know "Communism" sounds extreme, but think about it: Washington is now calling the shots with regards to housing, banking, the auto industry, energy, and soon-to-be-100%-of healthcare.
When our President starts telling the private sector how much it can and cannot pay its CEO's, am I exaggerating?
John Nehmer
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
BARACK THE RED
Obamunism. I hope I'm the first with this. Too bad someone had to come up with it.
Love your work, please keep it up!
Mike Arnold
From the Holy City of Nederland, Texas
OBAMA’S BIGGER PICTURE
What most on the right and all "moderates" fail to recognize is that Obama is following the Cloward-Piven Strategy (see David Horowitz inter alia) to a T.
The friend of Ayers and son of Alinsky knows these spending bills will bankrupt the US. That's the idea. As Lenin said, the way to destroy the bourgeousie is to debauch the currency. Obama is committed to the "transformation" of America into a egalitarian state where everyone is the same, has the same, lives the same.
Obama doesn't believe he's ruining the country. He believes that 1) this is the way to save the country, and 2) America is the cause of most of the conflicts in the world because of our greed. ("White man's greed runs a world in need.")
Neither the Media nor most people will accept the fact that Obama is an ideologue. They think he really wants to be a great President a la FDR -- that's what he's aiming at. But his constant talk of Lincoln is in seeing Lincoln as a transformer of the world, and a guy who had a sacred mission to maintain the union.
Well, Obama has a sacred mission, too. To make everyone equal. Lincoln was willing to kill and main hundreds of thousands, to destroy whole swathes of the South, and commit total war in order to fulfill his holy task.
Obama is no different in wanting to lead America to a Brave New World and social order. Omelets need egg breaking, and Obama doesn't mind. After all, he's never had any of his eggs broken (unless you count his childhood misery and parent issues).
Obama knows that he has only this brief time to transform (wreck) the country before the middle class throw him out, but he's hoping it will be to late by then. The Federal work force, immigrants on welfare, Labor unions, all the people with their hands in the pie will constitute an unassailable majority whose thievery and mobocracy can never be undone.
That's what I think. Obama is not screwing up. He's following the plan. He doesn't care if all his appointees make him look bad. Hs focus is on a bigger picture.
Mark B.
STIMULATED MICE
It appears that the new spending bill borders on faith-based socialism, so I believe we should name it the Socialist Holistic Investment Trust (SH*T). Nevertheless, I may be receiving some benefit from this SH*T, as I live in northern California, and I understand that Comrade Pelosi was able to obtain a large sum of money to save some mice. Luckily, I am also going to receive a generous $13 per week in payroll tax cuts, so I may have just enough money to cover the cost of extra mouse traps (or a cat).
A fellow shipmate on the Pelosi 2006 Sea of Despair cruise
THAT’LL DO NICELY
According to the 2000 census there were 281,421,906 people and 105,480,101 households in America. According to a July 2008 CIA estimate, the population was recently about 303,824,640. Therefore, we can estimate the current number of households as (303,824,640/281,421,906)*105,480,101 = 113,876,898. Therefore, the $787 billion could instead be used to give about $787,000,000,000/113,876,898 = $6,911 to every household in America. Now that would be a stimulus.
Michael J. Twomey
Boston, Massachusetts
MAX OUT AND CASH IN
If Harry Reid had to go into negotiations with Nancy Pelosi and then tries to make a point hoping to make her blink, can she? Just wonderin' I know it is shallow and mean but, what the hell.
An aside, I am telling my darling wife we should get more credit cards and max out the ones we have and if we can get in debt 2 times our annual income it will stimulate us....she ain't buyin' it. ha. We are so screwed.
Doug Nathaniel
Ohio
HE’S SMARTER THAN WE THINK
Why is Obama's political skill so underestimated? When the plans for the stimulus bill were first introduced he went to Ohio to speak about it with factory workers. Now he is going to Indiana (unemployment 8%) and Ft Myers, Florida (foreclosure capital) to explain the details of the plan. The Governor here in Florida has already come out as being a strong supporter of the plan. Obama is working to consolidate a political base including Ohio, Indiana and Florida. Conservatives are far too slow in figuring out that this is a calculated political strategy.
Obama's people have polled this stimulus package backwards and forwards. Obama has decided to stand with the little guy, including small business, against indifferent government and big business. In South Florida the shift to Obama since the election is dramatic. Obama's notion of a hybrid or SUV driving over the cliff it is a political metaphor clear to everyone but conservatives. I think Democrats have skillfully positioned Rush as the driver of the bus. The sheer insanity of the matter is that conservatives are now portrayed as playing politics during a national economic crisis. Obama, on the other hand, has not even stopped campaigning. We have to be a lot smarter than this.
Walter Clare
THE SUMMER STIMULUS
It's interesting with all the discussion on the stimulus package running thru Congress that we don't hear about a stimulus package that was enacted for the American public back in July which was the rapid decline in oil and energy prices. This drop has been an incredible relief to the American public and has had the impact of approximately a $250 billion plus tax cut already implemented and not costing the government a cent only OPEC. Since the msm has a desire to push through the stimulus package, I presume this will be ignored until Obama signs the bill so all credit will flow to his brilliant leadership.
Mark Peters
Publisher
Hydrocarbon Processing
CAP PELOSI’S PLANE
You really make my day!
But I don't hear anyone talking about Nancy Pelosi's plane. It costs the taxpayer a fortune yet few people seem to even know about it. I have read that she has a 200 seat plane, provided by the taxpayers, and that it costs over $5 million per year to take her back and forth to Calif. because she only works 3 days a week.
I would also like to know how much the taxpayers spend on the Presidency - i.e., how much does it all cost - the White House and all its staff, the Presidential staff, the Cabinet and staffs, the limousines, the Air Force Ones, Camp David, parties, etc., etc., etc., including $100 per pound steaks. Shouldn't someone tell us what it all costs? Does the President have the right to limit the compensations of company executives but we don't know how much the entire Presidency costs us?
Joan Sands
Bluffton, South Carolina
THE NEW HOOVER
I have been reading "The Forgotten Man" , a history of the Great Depression, by Amity Shlaes, and it is VERY depressing, as it reads like current events. Obama thinks that he is FDR, but he is just as much like Hoover! Both men felt that doing something would fix things, and Congress generally went along, since there is the political imperative of seeming to do something to help--- most things made it worse, of course.
This book should be required reading!!!
Wally Oliver
Redwood City, California
NEVER RICH ENOUGH
That was an absolutely superb article!
Mike Porter
Re: Stages
CONTROLLING THE KNUCKLEDRAGGERS
I saw your post at The Corner today about the Geert Wilders case. In it, you wrote:
"What was striking to me was that the default position of ‘libera’ members is that the citizenry are knuckledragging neanderthals whose worst instincts can only be restrained by ever more government regulation. I regret to say that, even in the land of the First Amendment, one detects the same barely veiled instincts under the fluffy paternalism of Commissar Barney Frank and others."
I agree that this is a striking attitude. It's not, unfortunately, a surprising one. At least,not to me. Here's why: In the years after World War 2, European philosophers mixed their socialist politics with their revulsion at the destruction wrought during the war. Out of this toxic brew, they created a new philosophy called "postmodernism," which held precisely the position you describe above: the average human is little more than a violent animal with a thin veneer of civilization, and the proper role of government is to keep that inner violence confined by any means necessary. You can see this attitude in the theory of Man as Killer Ape which held sway in anthropology during the 1950s and 1960s. You can see it in the antiwar movement of the 1960s and 1970s. You can also see it in the modern liberal's automatic rejection of any law or right or political position that suggests humans can be trusted with the ability for violence. The end to which that violence is used is irrelevant. The postmodernist sees no difference between a war for conquest and a war of self-defense. It's all violence, all a manifestation of the Killer Within, and it can't be permitted. Any other outcome, even surrender, is preferable to releasing the Killer Within. The only people who can be trusted with power are people who are not natural killers -- which is, of course, the liberals themselves.
A reader
WINGNUT
Since when do act "on your own dime" you Regnery Wingnut Welfare case?
09309u@aol.com
VOICE OF REASON
Thank you for being a voice of reason and courage in these times.
Dave Cox
THE MUNDANITY OF FASCISM
Interesting comment by MS. Terry Downey:
“I hope the remarks you heard from Mr. Steyn, who I'm informed made some disparaging remarks about me, who's never met me, will not have any bearing on my presentation to you or my credibility today. It's unfortunate that he doesn't afford people the freedom of speech that he wants for himself. In any event, I'm not here to talk about him…”
Pardon my American vernacular, but WTF?????? Is she on (f---ing) crack? "Oh, boo-hoo, Mark Steyn won't let me talk at all, boo-hoo-hoo!"
Reading Deborah Gyapong's transcript is like witnessing the bureaucratic mundane-ness of fascism and totalitarianism.
Good that they got a shot across their bow from you. But it sounds like the Canadian taxpayers will be soon forking over more cash to make the whole thing that much more efficient. Onward with the Great Leap Forward!
Mike Huggins
Irvine, California
TRUDEAU’S MONSTER
Mark - It seems rather fitting that this news bit should appear in the Toronto Star on the same day as coverage of your appearance at Queen's Park. I think your readers would be interested in the fate of this man. You may want to link this to your site.
I wish you all the best in your endeavours to remind Canadians of eight centuries of their legal and cultural heritage. As a recent law school graduate, I know full-well that you are up against slavish adherence to a social and political ideology (dare I say it? a national identity) -- namely, Trudeau's Frankenstein Monster of Rights and Freedoms.
Christopher Hynes
CANADA IS 'WAY COOL’
Read your Corner post on Mr. Wilders ban from Britain with usual interest.
Your account of the folks interviewing you during your testimony to Ontario government contrasted nicely with a NPR bit I heard last night concerning an ad campaign for Nova Scotia organized around an entirely fictional cell phone that does everything, from translating your English speech into Farsi, to brewing your morning coffee.
Near the end of the segment, the interviewer (Melissa Block, I believe) gushed "this is one
more bit of evidence... that Canada is way cooler than we are."
"Way cooler." A country that puts people on trial for accurately quoting inconvenient statements of others, that is governed in part by folks who look down their noses at their own constituents is way cooler than the USA? Because one of its provinces uses an ad centered around a sci-fi cell phone? And I thought self-loathing was supposed to be a bad thing....
Take care!
MK
IT’S FOR HIS OWN GOOD
As someone based in London, I can't help feeling you're missing the point of the Wilders ban. So far as I can see, it is being made not on grounds of hate speech but public order -- that they cannot guarantee the public safety if he turns up. So the comparison with letting in odious preachers is not germane at all.Of course, there's still plenty to say because (1) refusing free speech on grounds that it will overturn the civic order has a long and ugly history and (2) it says something of Britain that its government thinks there is a serious risk of civil unrest if Wilders shows up. And (3) its important to debate just how prudent a strategy this is and what the alternatives really are for the state in defending the public square from closure by intimidation - especially when the people being defended are pretty odious, as Wilders certainly appears to be to me. But it's not about banning hate speech. Please don't use my name or publish or quote from this email - just wanted to correct a misapprehension.
Name withheld
DANGEROUS CAUCASIANS
Aren't the Dutch the ones who murdered a homosexual legislator because he was insufficiently tolerant of the insufficiently tolerant (Muslims?) Isn't that the government than ran off a MP because she was insufficiently accepting of the regressive culture of her fellow immigrants? The same Dutch government that is prosecuting a parliamentarian/filmmaker because his movie, in the view of the Prime Minister serves "no purpose other than to offend"?
This is the solid example of how to sensibly run a country?
BTW, in looking up Geert Wilders, I ran into a BBC article worth noting because it implicitly endorses the UK policy of excluding dangerous foreigners.
As long as they're dangerous Caucasian right-wing populist foreigners.
The Home Office said there was a blanket ban on Mr Wilders entering the UK under EU laws enabling member states to exclude someone whose presence could threaten public security.
"The government opposes extremism in all forms," it said in a statement, adding that it had tightened up rules on excluding those engaging in "unacceptable behaviour" in October. "It will stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred, and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country."
That statement makes me wonder if all the angst about gitmo would dissolve if people like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed were set free and replaced with Rush Limbaugh.
Aodhan Hoffman
Re: Hater Montana
HIGHLY OFFENSIVE
Good morning from the Cranberry Republic, the glorious Commonwealth of Taxachusetts. I have just studied the photograph of Cyrus and friends. I think this pre-meditated, staged photo will become a much larger issue than anyone imagined.
I have studied the four youths in the picture, and I and trembling as I attempt to compose this email. Let's start with the youth on the right, in the rear of the group (peach shirt). He is obviously delivering a painful blow to the American Indian (sorry, 1st American) population. His left hand is placed over his mouth and is obviously moving to and fro, as he says, "woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo". This was a common practice I used in my misguided youth, while playing "cowboys and indians", to mimic an 1st American war cry.
His right hand appears to be making the "bunny-ears" gesture at first glance. This may be the case, and is highly offensive to a segment of the population. I'm sure we will be hearing more from The Persons with Rabbit Ears Advocacy Group. However, I believe he is attempting to show that his friend in front (white shirt) is wearing a feathered headband. The youth in the white shirt also appears to be highly intoxicated or stoned out of his mind. I think he is an innocent victim in this, as he is not manipulating his eyes. I suspect he has some 1st American blood and is actually quite intoxicated. The devil in the peach shirt is just delivering a three-pronged insult to his friend and all 1st Americans.
Miss Cyrus is clearly offending her Asian friend, and apparently all persons of Asian descent living in Los Angeles. Has there been any official response from Tokyo, Beijing, or Manilla yet? Surely our troops in South Korea are on high alert now.
Now the Asian youth in the front left of the picture is not innocent, either. He has obviously combed his hair to mimic Rod Blagojevich. This is highly offensive to corrupt Illinois politicians and a large number of American men who were born between 1930 and 1945.
Have the riots started?
Jim Courtney
Re: Pork banned!
STONED
You: A Domino's Pizza outlet has infuriated locals after becoming the first in the country to take pork off the menu and offer only halal food.
Me: Upside. If the pizza's not there in 30 minutes, you get to stone the driver to death.
Raj Chaudhry
ALL AT SEA
I take it they have stopped serving salt pork on Her Majesty's Ships any more, too. Maybe thinking of even banning the references in all the great novels, too.
C. Thomas Ludden
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
HAM ON A MINUTE
As I recall, hamburgers were actually "beefburgers" at New York food joints, circa 50 years ago. It is said that the Jewish population didn't like the thought that the patties might contain ham, a pork product.
Robert Allgeyer
Florida and California
GIVE IT UP
This sort of madness has already invaded the US. I've gone to a few restaurants here in New York and can't get any pork products of any kind due to the religious objections of the owners. Granted, they're kosher delis and restaurants, but the principle is the same.
Give it up. Domino's didn't do this because they were forced to by law, the franchisee did it because of either a) personal beliefs or b) economic reality. Just because you dislike a group of people doesn't mean that businesses shouldn't make policy based on profiting off of them. It's not like they're doing anything harmful, they're just not serving pork.
Mostafa Sabet
NAME CHANGE
England is due for a name change: al-Bion.
Jim Treacher
http://jimtreacher.com
SCARY
Which is a scarier fact about England, that a high-ranking diplomat feels the need to rant about Jews in public, or that you can be arrested for that?
Glen Hoffing
Re: Anger management and Tarped and capped
A BENCHMARK FOR WASHINGTON
Democrats are always demanding BENCHMARKS, remember... ? Iraq had to meet benchmarks. How pompous. Now we have the Democratic President declaring Wall Street execs can't make more than 500 thous.
How about some benchmarks for the dumb-assess in Washington?
BENCHMARK #1--- NO CONGRESS CAN SPEND MORE THAN 1 TRILLION DOLLARS IN
ANY FISCAL YEAR.
Joe Amato
LIMITS
I'm angry the Yankees didn't make the playoffs. I think all major league baseball players should be limited to $500,000
I'm angry that CBS is in third place. All network anchors should be limited to $500,000.
I'm angry that I paid $4.00 to see "Stepbrothers" on Movies on demand and it was terrible. All actors/producers/writers should be limited to $500,000
This is fun.
Mark Morrissey
Albany, New York
BONUS BLUES
As an employee at a Wall St. firm that's received TARP funds, I'm very nervous about the President's proposal to cap executive pay. I work in an operations department where annual bonuses are a normal part of our compensation. These are not big bonuses we're talking about, but still anticipated. While my annual bonus falls well short of the 500K threshold, I can't help but wonder if the next step is to stop bonuses altogether, or to let some government bureaucrat decide who has "earned" their bonus.
Love all your good work.
Jonathan Goldman
SEND THEM TO KINKOS
It is an interesting bubble that "lifer" politicians must live in. While Sen. Frank sees anger at corporate execs, he apparently sees none directed at him and his peers. Congress should be a part-time, telecommuting job. Make them go to Kinkos to do teleconferencing. Maybe some tea will wake Sen. Frank up.
Jason
LOOPHOLES
Since loopholes have become the mainstay for the Obama administration, is there any provision in TARP policy that would prevent a top exec from leaving a company, forming a consulting firm, and then charging his former company millions to right it, while working alongside the new $500K CEO (chief expendable officer)?
Mike Terry
Dallas
JOB PLACEMENT
In the spirit of American ingenuity, what's to keep any aided corporation from hiring some flunky for CEO and paying them the requisite $500k while keeping the real talent in another position just under the CEO (or wherever the line gets drawn)?
Just asking.
Loved you on Rush's show - thanks for all you do,
Frank & Meg
Apex, North Carolina
SEVERANCE FATIGUE
Love your writing -- all of it. On the government meddling in exec pay and the like, consider, too that one problem with severance is that employment law is now so thoroughly skewed that few employers dare to withhold severance because paying the severance is cheaper than paying the lawyers to fight over it.
See further here; not as witty as you would write, but then nothing else is.
Robert
THE GOVERNMENT CHEATS
While the market would draw the talent to those companies with higher salaries, we have to remember that the government cheats - they get to make the rules. Any company doing better than government assisted companies will find legislation of some sort that penalizes them in some way and that aids their "competitors".
Billy Harvey
OFF WITH THEIR PERKS!
Okay, I get it that “when you live under my roof, you live by my rules,” with regard to the executive pay caps for banks that were truly “bailed out.” However, in mid-October Secretary Paulson summoned executives from supposedly healthy institutions to strong-arm them into selling billions in preferred stock to the government. How do the limits apply to them?
Quoth MSNBC:
“Some of the nation¹s largest banks had to be pressured by to participate by Paulson, who wanted healthy institutions that did not necessarily need capital from the government to go first as a way of removing any stigma that might be associated with banks getting bailouts.”
The Wall Street Journal reported it the same way:
“Some of the big banks were unhappy about the government taking equity stakes, but acquiesced under pressure from Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in a meeting Monday.”
Do these execs have to abide by limits? Their banks were healthy, and the secretary strong-armed them to set and example ¬ to take away the stigma of government money. Sounds like extortion to me. But then, it sounded like extortion to me in October, too, so I guess those guys should have known better.
Off with their perks!
Tim Williams
MEASURING EFFICIENCY
Say Ford refuses government funds and does not limit the executive's pay while the other two accept funds and limit pay. Say Ford prospers later. What does that say about the efficiency of capitalist businesses versus that of government ran and regulated enterprises?
Unfortunately, nothing, because Ford self-selected out of the "treatment". Perhaps the factors that made Ford to be able to refuse government assistance are the ones responsible for Ford being more efficient. To measure the effect of compensation caps on the efficiency accurately one needs to administer the treatment randomly: pick two companies and limit their pay and compare them to the other company.
Doru Cojoc
NO CAPS FOR NEW STAFF
How about limiting the executive pay of top executives that were on staff when the bailout money was negotiated and accepted but allow new talent to be hired at any negotiated rate? That would at least have the effect of allowing boards to find new talent to hire without any hindrances. I would expect that any of the effected executives that could would eventually leave for better pastures anyway.
Stuart Hobson
THE REAL MOTIVE
Sorry to be a bit cynical, but give me a break with your reader's quote:
"...these motivators would in turn draw the better engineers, etc., who are drawn to the best leaders."
Bleh! This engineer is drawn to money.
David Sutherland
HEDGE FUND NONSENSE
With all due respect to your Letter of The Week author, the assertion that the TARP was a hedge fund bailout is nonsense.
No TARP money went to hedge funds; an estimated 80-90% of hedge funds will go out of business as a result of the financial crisis. The investment bank that most resembles a hedge fund - Goldman Sachs - wants to return the TARP money it received.
Hedge funds are not leveraged in the sense that banks are: when a hedge fund fails only its investors get burned. There is no “contagion”.
Mark Lake
Re: The Change they Believed In
THE CATHOLIC VOTE
In your post at The Corner headlined, "The Change They Believed In" you forgot someone. Doug Kmiec. Who he said "...was standing squarely in the shoes of the ‘Great Communicator.’” I wonder what went through his mind when he found out Obama reversed the Mexico City policy. He says in this piece on Slate that ‘Barack Obama is a natural for the Catholic vote.’ I guess that was right before he unilaterally decided to export abortions with our money. Having second thoughts there Doug?
Andy Bryant
WE HAD NO IDEA!
I keep a "Oh, I had no idea Obama is going to do that when I voted for him" list of my own. High on that list is Christopher Hitchens who, a week after holding his nose and voting for Obama, wrote a column in Slate deploring Hillary Clinton's selection as Secretary of State. To be fair to Hitchens, not many saw that one coming. But your bunch had every reason to believe Obama was not a centrist. Moreover, the reaction of many of them to reasonable arguments against Obama that now turned prescient ranged from pure BS to accusations of racism or worse.
When are you going to add to your list of useful idiots David "I feel a tingle up my tight when Obama talks about an obscure philosopher while Sarah Palin is a cancer of ignorance on GOP" Brooks to your list? Are you waiting for his apologetic NYT column? That might take a while.
Doru Cojoc
Re: Obama mythology could use some stimulus
‘IMPORTANT WORK’ VS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
And the "superstar-laden lineup" will take another hit if President Obama appoints Kathleen Sebelius to the HHS post. She is the governor who vetoed a bipartisan state bill to stop a well known abortion doctor from performing late term abortions. It turns the fine doctor is a friend and supporter of the Governor, so she wasn't about to let the will of the people interfere with his "important work." She is also the governor who claimed her state was left defenseless after a devastating tornado because the state's national guard troops and equipment had been sent to Iraq by the evil George Bush, a claim that turned out to be false. When her "mistake" was revealed, she simply said she misspoke, with no apology to then President Bush.
What happened to the intelligent, savvy politician with exceptional judgment and inspiring rhetoric? It seems the bipartisan unifier has left the building and the far left liberal with a compliant Congress and media has taken his place. It's going to be a long four years.
Marianne Gaio
WHAT A WHINER
Sadly, we have a President who is a whiner. HE whines because HE can't spend tax payers’ money the way HE wants. He is a person who is used to getting HIS way and doing what HE wants...........because HE can. Now as President HE can certainly do a lot of things because HE can. HE wants what he wants when HE wants. HE whines because America has free speech and HE gets criticized by conservative talk radio hosts. HE whines because some cable shows question some of his decisions. HE whines because American citizens can vote in confidentiality whether to have a union so HE co-sponsors a bill as a Senator to take that right away...this seems UN-AMERICAN to me! HE whines because the U.S. military was having a trial of a terrorist who killed American sailors, so HE stopped it. HE is coming across as an immature WHINER.
Tom Lowe
Puerto Penasco, Mexico
WHAT WOULD OBAMA DO?
I just want to let you know I have thoroughly enjoyed listening the past two days! I checked your website, to see if/where you have a talk show on a daily/weekly basis; apparently not. If you do I want to know about it.
Regarding Obama's handling of Gitmo and security, I would LOVE to make a poster or bumper sticker (and I just might do it) that has a picture of an airplane crashing into the World Trade Center. Above it, "WWOD." Below it, "What Would Obama Do?"
Gary Tayman
AN HONEST MISTAKE?
As an accounting prof, I find it hard to believe Daschle made an honest mistake because of ignorance of tax law.
Ask yourself the following question: Why did Daschle choose to receive a portion of his compensation in the form of a car and driver rather than cash?
One answer: This was a way of getting some "non-taxable" compensation. Second answer: He was working for a limo company which could supply transportation to him at a lower cost than he could purchase it himself.
Rich
OBSEQUIOUS WEASEL
100% agreed. While Reagan and Obama both gained accolades for their ability to speak, Reagan combined his rhetorical skill with independent-mindedness and leadership - a quality Obama wouldn't understand if the good ship Leadership ran him over. He is an obsequious weasel with both fingers in the air trying to figure out how much of the Billy Ayres, Uncle Jeremiah and George Soros program he can get away with.
Ralph Alter
www.rightot.blogspot.com
Re: Nuclear checkout
DIY RADIATION
I have enjoyed your turns of phrase from the first, and your video/radio delivery is the icing on the cake. A few weeks ago, during a guest host stint for Rush, you let fly over the government paperwork for uranium usage at your wordsmith forge. I laughed so much I nearly ran my car off the road.
Have you considered the benefits that uranium might bring to your small business?
1. A uranium microphone would be even more distinctive than the golden one at EIB.
2. Uranium plating (sufficiently enriched) on your office computer keyboards would:
a. glow in the dark
b. feel warm to the touch
3. Items 2(a) and 2(b) would help to save on office lighting and heat; a win-win for energy conservation.
4. The items from (1) and (2) could be easily recycled by the Iranians, doubtless at top dollar prices.
Hmm... This could be the kernel for a global uranium cap-and-trade scheme!
Just a thought. Keep up the good work.
Andrew Tkac
Soon to be an American Kulak
Re: The morning after
WHAT ‘MAGNITUDE’?
Could I comment on your recent corner post regarding a New York Magazine article? The author you quote referred to "the magnitude of Obama's electoral victory and the mandate it ostensibly bestowed." Contrary to what this writer asserts, and what Obama himself asserts (with his "I won" comment, and his constant references to "the people voting for change"), Obama's electoral victory was not particularly large. Even though many reporters called it a "landslide," and like I just mentioned the Democrats reassure themselves they are operating with a resouding mandate, Obama's victory was far from it.
If you look at elections since 1912 (when the total number of electors first rose to 531, close to its current number of 538), Obama's electoral vote total is smaller than 17 other winners. (There's a good chart here. In fact, he has a larger total than only 7 people (including both of G. W. Bush's elections). If you're comparing his total only to G.W. Bush, Obama's count seems rather high. But compared to the electoral votes won by other recent presidents such as Nixon in his second term, both of Reagan's elections, both Clinton's, and George H.W. Bush, Obama has less (and in the case of everyone here except Clinton, much, much less). Even if you look at the popular vote, Obama's margin of victory (7.3%, Wikipedia) was middling.
Of course, those hailing Obama's realigning victory are only comparing him to GW Bush. That they can only remember back eight years is, I imagine, the reason they're Democrats in the first place.
Thanks for taking the time to read this! I bristle whenever I hear Obama refer to the legions who voted for "change" and imply that the vast majority of the country is dewy-eyed with his hope, but I don't think those myths will be dispelled anytime soon.
Sara Harold
GROWN-UPS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
"The first was the smoothness of his transition..."
The "smoothness of his transition" owed something to the gracious gentleman he succeeds, and to the grown-up professionals who made up his staff. No one trashed offices like drunken rock stars tearing up hotel rooms, no one broke all the "Os" off the computer keyboards, no one pulled any of the crap that the Clinton Kiddie Korps did on their way out of town. Even if there had been some impulse to do so, the people involved had too much respect for themselves and the office of the presidency to entertain it as more than a passing fantasy. I somehow doubt Obama's acolytes will acquit themselves as well, when their time comes. Especially if they're shown the door in 2013, instead of at the end of two full terms.
Joe
LEAKS
In case you weren't already aware, I thought you might be interested in a lot of information from Congress made available by Wikileaks. 6,780 reports from the Congressional Research Service on just about anything.
I know, just what you need, more stuff to read. I hope it is of use.
Mike Shafer
WHERE ARE YOU ON “WATERTOWN”?
I'm a huge fan of yours. I'll include some of my posts about that afterwards. But I fault you for not covering what has been overwhelmingly a Philadelphia story about the Sinatra album called Watertown. Two stories. First, Philly DJ Sid Mark, who is in his 80s now and possibly dying.
Second, "Watertown”. A beautiful theme album Sinatra never promoted because he recorded it with a cold. Thanks to Sid Mark, though, we in the Philadelphia area came to love it. Please look into it.
Instapunk on Steyn:
I’m enough of a fan that if you even answered this, I'd be grateful.
Robert
EXPENSIVE ERROR
I thought you would enjoy this story. Here's the Snopes article, which confirms that the internet version going around is mostly factual. Please keep up the good work and stay safe. You're the best writer by far concerning the West's fight (or lack thereof) for survival against the forces of radical Islamic darkness. The world needs you.
Scott Wyler
Florida
CLIMATE CHANGE DELUSION
Here
Dexter Van Zile
CHAMPLAIN STICKER
Your El Rushbo stint was TERRIFIC! Reading the tome “Champlain’s Dream” by David Hacket Fischer.On page 227 there is a jewel of a Champlain quotation at the beginning of the Chapter about “Quebec ¬– The First Permanent Colony 1608-09”: “Those who know the least, shout the loudest.”
Must be a bumper sticker in there somewhere. This year of 2009, we residents of the USSVT, your neighbors, are celebrating the discovery of our lake by Samuel Champlain in 1609. Bring your NH passport so you can return home and visit.
Karin and Bob Hardy
Vergennes, Vermont
PARENTS' RIGHTS DOOMED?
I noticed that NRO has not written about the UN Rights of the Child treaty that is supposed to be ratified this year. Parentalrights.org claims the following:
Since virtually all laws in the U.S. regarding children are state laws, this treaty would negate nearly 100% of existing American family law. Moreover, it would grant the government authority to override parental decisions by applying even to good parents a standard now only used against those convicted of abuse or neglect.
Is this true?
William Chadwick
THE LOGICAL END
Andres Serrano has reached the logical end in his artistic journey; his most recent exhibit is called "SHIT".
Why am I not surprised?
Love your insights. Keep up the good work!
Tom Halvorsen
INCREDIBLE SHRINKING STATISTICS
Remember the outlandish Lancet study finding 650,000+ excess Iraqi deaths attributable to the U.S invasion which was released right before the 2006 midterms?
Oops. See here and here, here and here.
I know the damage has been done and Iraq has largely slipped from the national consciousness as we've turned a loss into a victory, but this is definitely worth all the attention it can get.
Chris Lotz
MORE ACTION, LESS TALK
If there is an argument for less government and real action by the individuals, the present bushfires here in OZ confirm it. While the gov hums and haws over lost property and LIVES, the rest of us peons are doing something about it. Well over 50M raised before the gov still has done squat! Gov's are shiat.
Boston Bruce
Australia
GOOD ENOUGH FOR GITMO
Heard you speaking (on the EIB) about the Baklava you ate at Club Gitmo and thought you might like to try some from the below company. I put this link to Shatila -- Great bakery.
They make the best Baklava that I have ever eaten, they are in Michigan, we are in Texas but we order from them all the time. The Baklava freezes very well and makes great desserts for any gatherings or just for yourself.
Just a tip for you...it is really worth a try!
JoAnne Moriarty
CHANGE YOUR NAME
Because I am a productive American, I am just now getting around to commenting on you opening monologue on Rush's show on Tuesday. I heard you on the way to an appointment and I was laughing so hard my eyes were watering. Hope clients didnt think I was a Roger Federer type.
Only comment.. might change your name (like a lot of foreigners did when they arrived in America) to Stein. Easier to remember as in beer Stein.
Robin Cox
Cypress, Texas
CAN’T DISAGREE WITH AMERICA ALONE
For so long I saw conservatives as wild eyed neocons who would use any excuse real or perceived to strip away citizens rights (Patriot Act). Which is why I was always extremely suspicious of all actions by those people. Then I read your book "America Alone" (I even bought the sucker) and well I can't disagree -- well researched-- well written and well discussed. You make intelligent points without selling the fear that neocons normally try push when discussing these issues. Things like "Well if we aren't able to search every citizen every day then the Islamofacists will sneak out of their cave in Afghanistan and bring down civilization before our eyes!" OMG!
I totally agree that government hacks are far too stupid to run my life (John Oakley Show). I don't need their help.
Terry Johnston
LAST WORD
"Discovered" you the other day while you were guest hosting for that Rush guy. Found you brilliant and thoroughly entertaining. But your Web site has got to go. I feel like I stumbled into an old lady's kitchen on a farm in rural New Hampshire.
Please let me know when I can visit your site without getting the urge to wrap myself in a giant doily.
Dean Ollins
Los Angeles
MARK REPLIES: But I like doilies.
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