Entries for September 2008

Yes, it is true that Sarah Palin is the first woman to be chosen as a vice president nominee of the Republican Party, but the fact that she is a woman should not be the focus of attention ["The Grand Old Party Find a New Young Voice," September 15-2].

I agree that Sarah Palin doesn't have the experience for the presidency, but there's no indication that, at 72, McCain is not going to live another four years, and she can get the needed experience on the job ["When a Vice President Steps Into the Top Job," September 15-22].

It was a great understatement when Michael Barone wrote in "The Battle of Party Themes" [September 15-22] "neither party has set out its programs clearly (or characterized the other size fairly)."

I dislike being a wet blanket, but I liked the "old" US News & World Reports much more than the "new" one [Editor's Note: "Elections and Objectivity" September 15-22].

Your "objective" approach is colorless, boring, no edge; no fun to read. It's almost like you regard the minds of your readers as adding machines, or calculators, entities that take in information and dispassionately weigh and evaluate it. On that basis, your Editor's Note: "Elections and Objectivity" makes sense, especially the last part—"...sort through the months' worth of facts, impressions, and etc...." I don't think so. It's the other way around. People like to feel things and that's why they read (and vote) in the first place. When you're looking for something to read, try David Hume's An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals. His bottom line was that morals, like beauty, are felt, not perceived, by tastes and sentiments. And separate of that, any political decision, including casting a vote, is a moral decision. It's all a matter of feeling, and not a matter of logic or analysis.

Gregory Guenzel
Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist (retired)
Monroeville , Pa.

"Eyeing the Oil Under the Gulf" [August 18-25], on the promise of offshore drilling, fails to mention the optimistic near future if we drill on the mainland. In addition to the huge ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge, a recent U.S. Geological Survey report describes overwhelming supplies of 3 billion to 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil assessed in North Dakota and Montana's Bakken Formation at 25 times more than a 1995 estimate. Surely, Russia, Venezuela, and OPEC would drastically increase supply to discourage opening of these fields. And, of course, our sorry trade deficit would enjoy major benefit as well.

Burton Trattner
Hamburg , N.J.

"If Congress removed all restrictions on offshore drilling, the impact on global oil prices would be insignificant." What would you have us do? Wait another year or two or 10 to start on a project that will take seven to 10 years to complete? Would that give us results any sooner? You underestimate private enterprise. Eliminate the government red tape, and you might be surprised by the ingenuity of people who know what they are doing and how to accomplish difficult goals.

James W. Phelps
Byers, Colo.

Even if the impact on fuel prices is insignificant, I would rather we spend our fuel dollars on American fuel sources, putting Americans to work and putting our money back into American pockets, than put our money in foreign pockets.

Bob Corliss
Provo , Utah

Keeping undocumented immigrants from higher education only increases the number of illegal immigrants willing to work unskilled, underpaid jobs ["The Crash Course in Citizenship," August 18-25]. For most illegal immigrants, there is no hope of getting out of poverty. The bans some states have passed that keep undocumented students from attending college only hurt American economic growth. The implied argument of not wanting illegal aliens to attend college because of a lack of funding is an excuse. Undocumented students who have spent most of their lives in America overcoming poverty and hardship and still want to get a good education deserve to continue their learning.

Rebecca Greenfield
Age 18
Annapolis , Md.

Our California family hopes for the success of the lawsuit to repeal in-state tuition benefits for children of illegal aliens. A case in point is our grandson. He was born in California and was in high school when his parents moved to an eastern state for business reasons. He applied only to a University of California campus, was accepted, and moved in with us. After his first year, he applied for residency but was refused continually although he is now a full-time employee of UC as well as a student.

Martin J. Weisman
Westlake Village , Calif.

I'm not a "Journalism Critic ...," just an American who belonged to, supported, and worked for the Republican Party for the first 40 years of my life [Editor's Note: "Journalism Critics Wanted," August 18-25]. However, I was appalled to see Editor Brian Kelly's statement: "Historians will sift the Bush legacy for years—as will we—but at this point it's fair to say that the first draft of history will show that he had the fortitude to execute one very tough call, and so far the country's better off for it." You and John McCain may be better off, but the rest of the county is going down the tube thanks to the economic drain caused by this war. From a national security point of view, we are not "safer" but rather much less safe thanks to the Bush administration's irrational decision to attack a Muslim country, thereby triggering a landslide of negative sentiment toward America and sending thousands of additional Muslims flocking to al Qaeda. I read several online news sources daily along with some of the best newsmagazines from around the world. It's safe to say your analysis of this administration and its choice to attack another county is "unique."

Ben Bellus Sr.
Des Moines

Michael Barone's blog, "McCain Has the Advantage Over Obama in Post-Convention Polls," jumped to most viewed on usnews.com with more than 380 comments. A few to follow...

I hope the tide is turning for good! McCain/Palin may have weaknesses, but it beats the unknown. Now I can breathe easier!
—John of OH

John Aloysius Farrell's September 15 blog post, "John McCain's Journey From Maverick to Liar," has garnered about 250 comments. Read a preview here.

John McCain, who would not sell his soul to win his party's nomination, is ready to sell every piece of his soul to win the presidency.
—Politicjock of NJ

What an irresistible invitation, to tell the editor of a respected news magazine what the media have done to change my past high regard for the media to something only slightly above contempt ["Journalism Critics Wanted" August 18-25].