Letters - Letter to the Editor

National Review, Sept 16, 2002

-- As Sen. Bob Smith's former press secretary, I can't say I was susurprised to see Bernadette Malone's anti-Smith article ("Smith vs. Sununu," Sept. 2) in NR. Your wonkish and establishment-type magazine never really understood what makes Sen. Smith and his supporters tick.

I was also disappointed, but again not surprised, to see how much the young NR editors apparently care what the polls say. I'm sure that Rockefeller Republican Warren Rudman would poll very well against Jeanne Shaheen, but does that make him right? And since when does NR butt in to Republican primaries, especially when the ideological differences are supposedly so slight?

One thing I learned as a press secretary is that if certain journalists and movement Republicans don't get stroked just so, then they think that a senator "has done very little" behind the scenes.

New Hampshire's roadsides are littered with the remains of those who underestimated Bob Smith. I would hope that after Sen. Smith sends John Sununu back to the private sector, NR would help Sen. Smith in his re- election fight as much as you have tried to hurt him in the primary.

Karen M. Hickey

Alexandria, Va.

-- In his City Desk column of Sept. 2, Richard Brookhiser states: "Dogs by contrast have neither pride, nor shame, nor awareness of playing a role in society."

While I respect Mr. Brookhiser's valid reasoning against the anthropomorphic portrayal of dogs, he is guilty of generalization and downplays the legitimate role certain breeds play in society.

My German shepherd protects my property and my family. Day and night, it notifies my wife and me of persons coming near our home. This protective gene is inbred, as is the dog's concept of service.

So, Mr. Brookhiser, I agree: NYC must be tough on dogs and people alike. But for those of us in rural and suburban areas, as well as those in law enforcement and the military, our working-class dogs provide us service that no other animal is capable of.

Jim Settembre

Lake Worth, Fla.

-- I must take exception to "School Choice, Not an Echo" by John J. MiMiller (July 29). If vouchers are allowed, several things will happen:

Headmasters will relax entrance standards for fear of lawsuits by the intellectually unqualified; liberals will use whatever clout they have to push the separation-of-church-and-state theory to get religion out of private schools; liberals will also examine private-school textbooks and try to replace history and science with politically correct garbage; and remedial classes will have to be instituted to accommodate voucher students. So if people want school choice, let them choose among public schools, forcing them to compete for students, raise their standards, and hire the best teachers, those who can inspire their students to perform.

I hope other conservatives will rethink their position on this issue and do everything in their power to stop vouchers from destroying our private schools.

Elizabeth R. Dickinson

Newport News, Va.

-- In The Week (Sept. 2), you criticize Dick Armey's stance on Iraq, anand sum up by saying, "Conservatives have looked to Armey for leadership on a great many things over the years, but we expect that very few are going to follow his lead this time."

Does that mean that he will most likely find himself an Armey of One?

Mike Martel

Bristol, R.I.