The International Writers Magazine: Readers Letters: Reality Check

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READERS RESPONSES to James Campion's Column: October 14th 2007

Ahhhh, we wasted no time hoping back on the fence and making light of and/or perpetuating the skewed, criminally out of focus stereotypes of those in power (Lindsey Lohan excluded). (WHILE WE WERE AWAY (September edition)
At least you had the good sense to qualify your recriminations of the current oafs in charge by saying past oafs were no less oafish, but can you really compare an Alberto Gonzales (8 fed prosecutor firings, no little Cuban boys ripped from their families and sent back to PR, no attacks on any Texas religious compounds resulting in the deaths of 80 some people, wrongfully accusing/prosecuting a private citizen for an Olympics bombing he didn't commit) with oh say a Janet Reno (96 fed prosecutor firings, Elian Gonzalez, Waco, and Richard Jewell)? Was James Carville any less of a bullying nut case than Karl Rove?

As you start your second decade I have to point out yet again that your column's whole view is based on the poisoned trough with which the mainstream media ladles out its version of news to the masses. A media whose party affiliation slams the likes of Larry Craig but dares not investigate how many hand/blowjobs Barney Frank may or may not have given in an airport bathroom, or why Hillary continues the Clintonian tradition of accepting illegal campaign funds while at the same time screaming for campaign finance reform. So hazah to another 10 years of fence sitting and regurgitation!
Ken Eustace

Mr. Campion,
I also think Lindsey Lohan is a genius. She is one of the more truly interesting human catastrophes around, because, as you state quite hilariously, it is not all that alarming. I think much of the exploitation of young and stupid and wild stars is a result of this asinine "culture war" all these tight-ass button-downs are always weeping about -- as if every generation since the dawn of civilization has not had its lion's share of half-wit, rich and loony freaks who live for good times and drunken revelry. I think the only reason we know about these people's uninteresting exploits is we are either trying to celebrate them as some kind of envy exercise or we need to moralize the planet to death.
The young and the rich are going to likely be crazed, as we would all be given half the chance and the cash.
Thanks again for never preaching, but calling out those who think it their duty.
Sherry Feinstein

Brilliant. I particularly like your take on Barry Bonds: the reminder that steroids weren't illegal when he was juicing, and the inherent cheating factors of baseball. After all, cheating is the national pasttime, and the winners are those of us who don't get caught--or have a Get Out Of Jail Free card. We do root for the underdog--but only when he wins, by any means necessary. As for Rove, yup, the seeds of his failure are his mistaking his gritty job for some fabled, mythical quest. Self-delusion is the new fatal flaw in what historians will analyze as the art form to be known as American Tragedy. Your characterization of Alberto "Fredo" Gonzales ("the embattled attorney general looked more like a character out of a Lewis Carroll tea party") is spot on. Speaking of resemblances to Carroll's works, note the attached engraving from Carroll's epic poem, The Hunting of the Snark. Here's an excerpt that I think sums up Rove's quest for a permanent Republican Majority, and his ultimate fate:
They sought it with thimbles, they sought it with care;
They pursued it with forks and hope;
They threatened its life with a railway-share;
They charmed it with smiles and soap.

"But oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day,
If your Snark be a Boojum! For then
You will softly and suddenly vanish away,
And never be met with again!"

"It's a Snark!" was the sound that first came to their ears,
And seemed almost too good to be true.
Then followed a torrent of laughter and cheers:
Then the ominous words "It's a Boo-"
Then, silence.

In the midst of the word he was trying to say
In the midst of his laughter and glee
He had softly and suddenly vanished away
For the Snark was a Boojum, you see.
Brad Morrison

James,
Anyone with a minute of basic military education can tell you that Iran was ALWAYS the goal. (FOUR CORNER PETRAEUS -- Issue: 9/19/07) Make no mistake about it. I found it strange that while the fight was predominantly in the north and around Baghdad, there was a heavy armored presence by the Iranian border. Knowing that American offensive military doctrine is air superiority and bombing, artillery to soften whatever is left and then finally infantry supported by armored (or as they call it mechanized infantry) moves in to mop up any remaining resistance.
We have 2 battle groups out in the Gulf which means there are 2 aircraft carriers out there chock full of F/A-18 Hornets. So with fighter aircraft in the gulf, infantry in heavy concentration and armored on the border, everything is in place for the move on Iran. The only question is when.
Bill Roberts

Let's see JC... Bush, Cheney, Turd, Blossom, and their special interests cabals dismissed Gen. Eric Shinseki, Colin Powell, Paul Eaton, Jon Baptiste, Anthony Zinni, Wesley Walker, Asbrazid, Casey, Pace, Spider Marks, and numerous veteran military generals or special force personal retiring who spoke their mind since insubordination to the Decider In Chief is not healthy for long a military career. Bushies cleverly nominated Petraeus and sold the general to congress and the public. Do you think he would differ from the Bush Doctrine and their political cronies all jumping a sinking ship, including press public spin-doctor and faux news commentator, Tony Snow before the end of the Bush "error" in DC? Four Corner Petraeus is mimicking and taking the political "cover-up" heat for the Bushies' legacy in the White House. Move over Harding, Hoover and Nixon.
Hapa 1234

Send your letter To: realitycheck@jamescampion.com
Mass Media Democracy
James Campion
The entire planet is televised, web-cammed, You-Tubed, Google-Earthed, camera-phoned, amateur-videoed, and 24-hour cable networked. We're being watched.
Four Corner Petraeus
James Campion
In a staggering eighth Oval Office address since the beginning of military action in Iraq, the president went on to list further benchmarks for a "return on success" set to unfurl in March 2008
Pot and Kettle Revelations
James Campion
Why does Idaho Senator Larry Craig have to resign? Tell me. You can't and he doesn't.
Ten Years of Reflections
James Campion Pt 11
'Know this, as long as this nation is at war the truth can no longer be considered an absolute
Decayed at the Desk
James Campion
10 Years Of Treachery & Mockery
This is not a job description or any kind of reasonable vocation, it is a lifestyle, no, a malady, no, more like a virus one accepts to live with...
The Blame Game
Powerless Senate Debuts Finger-Pointing Show
James Campion
Now that the latest surge of U.S. troops to Iraq has reduced our boy president to a cold-blooded murderer,



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