Conservative forum

Human Events, Apr 9, 2001

A Little Learning A Dangerous Thing

I recently read a book by David Barton titled Original Intent. Anyone interested in the controversy regarding separation of state and church would benefit from reading this book.

That is not why I am writing, however. I was taken by a quotation from the 1830s that the author included in this final chapter and which I believe explains why liberalism prospers today.

"A demagogue would like a people half educated; enough to read what he says but not enough to know whether it is true or not." (The Common School Almanac, New York: The American Common School Society, 1839, page 1).

Substitute "liberal" for "demagogue" and you have the cornerstone for today's liberalism.

-Thomas P. McGraw

Pensacola, Fla.

Liberals Shocked, Felon Took Ottoman

Thank you, Ann Coulter, for that stupendous article, "Liberals Shocked: Felon Took Ottoman" (February 19), on the hypocrisy and thievery of the Clintons, the lowest and most despicable occupants ever in our White House-and on the hypocrisy and arrogance of their crow-eating defenders, now so busy shifting to the winning side.

We mean Sen. Pat Leahy (D.-Vt.) with his holier-than-thou charge of "prosecutorial zealotry" against the House impeachment managers; Sen. Arlen Spector (R.-Pa.) with his silly use of Scottish law in the U.S. impeachment trial; Sen. Paul Wellstone (D.-Minn.) in charging "the House overreached" in impeaching Clinton; columnist David Broder for calling the evidence "shaky" in Clinton's obstruction of justice. There are others, since the in-your-face Clinton pardon of 17-year fugitive Marc Rich, now admitting that the Clintons can't be trusted-for example, Margaret Carlson of Time magazine; the New York Times; the Washington Post; the Economist; columnist Mary McGrory; Sen. Joe Biden (D.-Del.) and the all-wise, never-silent Congressmen Barney Frank (D.-Mass.), Chris Shays (R.-Conn.) and Major Owens (D.-N.Y.).

So, what was wrong with these know-it-alls three years ago when Independent Counsel Ken Starr laid it all out, chapter and verse? They were chicken! Afraid of smears from the Clinton-gotten FBI files.

Ann, you forgot one group-the voters who put the Clintons in power, wanting peace, prosperity and fat pocketbooks. They got it, along with sleaze, adultery, lies, cheating, stonewalling, greed and whatever else would advance Clinton power.

Let's not forget James Carville and Paul Begala, two of the ugliest and meanest liars ever.

Now, with Hillary's entanglements in most of this trickery and with Big Media forced to admit it, Bill and Hillary may be on the way out-except for the yet-to-be discovered scandals.

-Capt. G. Russell Evans (Ret., USCG)

Norfolk, Va.

Absolute Power And Republicans

Thanks to HUMAN EVENTS for excerpts of David Limbaugh's book, Absolute Power [March 12, page 12]. Now that the sordid details of Clinton-Gore-Reno's abuse and corruption of Justice have been exposed, perhaps HUMAN EVENTS/Limbaugh may balance the exposure by uncovering and revealing the role played by the Republicans.

It would be interesting to learn why Sen. Fred Thompson's (R.-Tenn.) probe of the campaign finance scandal failed to produced anything of significance and why Congressman Dan Burton (R.-Ind.) never followed through on the threat to initiate contempt proceedings against the White House. It would also be interesting to know what the relationship was between Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R.-Ky.) office and Maria Hsia, and between Elaine Chao and John Huang.

The Republicans cannot be exonerated of corruption in the matter of Chinese campaign contributions until a thorough investigation has been conducted by the Department of Justice. Failure of the Republicans (who now hold all three branches of government) to pursue the matter will only validate that corruption exists in both political parties.

David Limbaugh, HUMAN EVENTS and other media should pursue Republican corruption as rabidly as they have pursued the Clinton/Gore/Reno coverup. The coverup was not just to hide the illegal Chinese contributions to the Democrat Party, and any Republicans accepting Chinese contributions should also be exposed.

-Julia F. Thompson

Stevensville, Md.

Getting Good Look At John McCain

It's obvious to many of us in the hustings that John McCain has always been interest-- ed in only one thing-John McCain. Forget the hero status, this man actually thought he could win the primary by dissing the very party faithfuls, who put Republicans in office. Was it his own stupidity and arrogance or that of Mike Murphy, his erstwhile partner in poltical crime? No matter which, the two egos seemed made for each other. (With three major defeats in this last cycle, I think Murphy's political capital as a consultant, like the economy, has tanked.)

I think putting campaign finance reform on the agenda sooner rather than later (despite the downturn on Wall Street) was one of Trent Lotts' few strokes of genius. We're not only getting this topic out of the way, but everyone gets a good look at the good senator. The picture isn't pretty, but when it comes to John McCain, what else is new?