An Open Letter to Dennis Hastert
 
Doug Pascover Santa Clarita, CA 91387 June 12, 2006 The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert Speaker United States House of Representatives Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your ASK AMERICA Nationwide Policy Survey for 2006, and thank you for your consideration. You were correct in identifying me as a loyal supporter of conservative causes but not entirely correct in identifying me as a fool. This is, in fact, the second time you have sent such a survey. The last time, in 2004, I responded to the survey in as honest a manner as the bias and grammar in the questions allowed, enclosed a check and returned the survey having requested that you fulfill your promise to return the survey results. I have every confidence that when St. Peter enumerates your sins, your failure to keep your word on the survey report will be overlooked. This year, however, I believe I would rather answer the survey in letter form as I’ve grown weary of you in particular and the Republican Party in general trying to spin debate as an alternative to getting on your jobs and earning a portion of your salaries. Consider this letter an open one to be published on my website, http://web.mac.com/dpascover/iWeb/Prattle/The%20Prattler/The%20Prattler.html, Here are the opinions of one conservative American on the weighty matters you ask about in your survey: War On Terrorism: Of course I support the president in his efforts to wipe out terrorism worldwide even if this war goes on for many years. I do not, however, support the case that success in reducing terrorism can be accomplished better without accountability from Congress than with. Nor do I support the maintenance of failed and failing policies to avoid a confession that the war has not been fought competently or wisely. Homeland Security: Honestly, terrorism against the United States worries me a lot less than the betrayal by the Republican Party in Washington DC of most of the principles I supported. I’ll forgive any explosion I survive but I’m a lot less charitable about a big, expensive, intrusive Government, sensitive to encroachments on its authority and mindless of its duties and purpose. Economy: My confidence in America’s economy is based primarily on entrepreneurial spirit and the freedom we enjoy to pursue our ambitions without fear of undue scrutiny or intervention by the Government. The growth of Government during the period of Republican rule poses a far greater risk to our economy than even a significant tax increase. Stay off my telephone until I call. Social Security/Medicare: I’m with you for the most part, although Medicare Part D has been Katrina with less telegenic corpses. Try accomplishing something here and you’ll get some applause. I bet you’ll enjoy it, too. Health Care: I have fine health insurance and I see to it my parents do too. The number one risk to my health is watching the United States Congress, under leadership I helped elect talking about Democrats after 6 years of unified Republican Government, The Republic Party is solely responsible for the listless, sorry, baffled, unadmired, misdirected, poor-complected, corrupt, callous and confused state of our Federal Government. You want continued support? Fix the problem. Education: It’s hard to imagine education fostering future leaders with the current ones acting like schoolchildren. National Defense: You asked about the Missile Defense Shield proposal. I commend you on your powers of recall and imagination. Clearly your students were the lucky ones. Foreign Affairs: You ask our endorsement of President Bush’ statement that “The United Nations will never dictate U.S. foreign policy” and of course, I hope that’s correct but at the rate we’ve spent our international credibility only to find that we are not capable of unilaterally preventing future crises, I am concerned for diminishing our national security and sovereignty by our own initiative. Immigration: I support secure borders, the guest worker program, the path to citizenship and a massive liberalization of immigration policy as the only program likely to succeed in ending illegal immigration. Put Sensenbrenner in charge of the Capitol parking lots for awhile. If Tancredo speaks Spanish he can help. Supreme Court: I’m not sure why you’re asking about the Supreme Court. Are you planning a run for the Senate? Spending and Regulation: You have five questions in spending and regulation. You know the answers to all five and have neglected each throughout your time as Speaker. If you had used the word “Democrat” in any one of these I would have written a $500 check to the DNC before completing this survey. General Issues: You ask “Does the national news media accurately report the news without liberal bias?” I respond that if George Bush and Karl Rove wrote the headlines and articles themselves you’d blame liberal media bias for the misspellings. Get on your job. Finally, in the post-script, you refer to “the Democrats constantly working to slow down, undermine and effectively immobilize the Bush Administration and implementation of our Republican goals....” Rejoice, friend, for what the enemy seeks is beyond the powers of men. That which is not done cannot be undone. Sincerely yours, Doug Pascover The Prattler Wordbook TREASON, n. The sudden recollection of another devotion. TREASURE, v,t. To love as a raven loves. TREASURY, n. The national collection of foreign wealth. TREAT, v.t. To grace with a kindness that serves to remind us of favors we’d done in the past TREAT, n. The failure of an incumbent. TREEHOUSE, n. An outbuilding in which children gather to provide a moral example to Congress, plus there’s usually enough rope. http://web.mac.com/dpascover/iWeb/Prattle/The%20Prattler/The%20Prattler.htmlshapeimage_2_link_0
Saturday, June 17, 2006
From the collection of Richard Samuel West / Periodyssey.http://www.periodyssey.com/private/press.htmshapeimage_5_link_0