Keeping to my policy of putting any extended e-mail exchange on my blog so it reaches a wider audience, I share this one from this evening. It begins with my receipt of this:
Mr. Warthen,
I would like to know whyThe State has not ran anything as far as I know, regarding NY Governor Elliott Spitzer’s decision to demand that illegal immigrants be issued NY drivers licenses? I have noticed that The State ran several articles about a variety of other issues in NY but seemed to have chosen to ignore a major story in which the governor is suing defiant DMV employees who have refused to issue the licenses and they in turn are suing him for alledgedly breaking federal law and a possible recall could even be in the works.I for one believe that since his decision could directly impact not only NY residents but the entire nation since the illegals could obtain a "valid" license in NY and exchange it for a "valid" SC license. It also has the potential for massive voter fraud since it is connected with "motor voter" states which I do believe SC is one. It is also important because a potential Presidential candidate and Senator from NY , Hillary Clinton, has been conspicuously quiet on this matter and the public should be made aware of her stance on this very important issue.
Remember, "homeland security?" (LOL) Well, what about it Mr. Warthen?
I responded as follows:
Well, first of all, you’re asking the wrong guy. I have zero, zip, nada to do with what appears in The State‘s news pages.
Second, in spite of that, I’ll venture a guess as to why precious news hole wouldn’t be devoted to this: This Spitzer guy is the governor of New York, and we’re in South Carolina. I appreciate your effort to draw a line of relevance to S.C., but compared to all the stuff that affects S.C. directly that it would be good to have more news on, it seems thin.
Third, since like all such inquiries, this is no doubt one of those ridiculous "you’re suppressing news in accordance with your political views on the matter" things, I should tell you that personally, I don’t have an opinion on the matter. I say that despite having thought about it a great deal back when I was a member of the S.C. Hispanic Leadership Council. I can see the advantage of having a way to keep track of an "underground" portion of our population, but I can also see the disadvantages of issuing such licenses. One thing I DID decide: Anybody who quickly arrives at a clear preference on this issue is somebody who isn’t thinking.
Fourth, there’s no way on Earth I or anyone else could suppress news of this. I just started working out again the last couple of days, which means I’ve been exposed to Cable TV down in our gym (I don’t have it at home). Both nights, I heard some doofus named Lou Dobbs who would not shut up about this. To him, it seemed to be the only thing worth talking about in the known universe. I say "doofus" because he had an uncanny ability to respond to anything anybody else said in a way that lowered the intellectual tenor of the discussion another notch or two. His main mode of communication seemed to be the repetition of childishly unimaginative insults and name-calling, mostly aimed at Spitzer for being a spoiled rich boy or some such. Even for TV, it was remarkable.
Finally, as I do with all such extended responses, I’m going to post this one on my blog. If you’d like to respond, please do so there.
More from our gentle reader, Dwight Arrington (who seems to have some aversion to commenting on the blog, and keeps sending me e-mails):
Truth be told, I don’t so much think of him as a "doofus;" the word that initially came to mind was "idiot," and I changed it because I figure I trash the TV cowboys enough, and I thought I’d be a little kinder and gentler.
Anyway, this was my response to our correspondent:
FYI, the really childish portion of the clip is almost 4 minutes in. That’s what I had remembered most clearly…
Well Mr. Warthen, if Mr. Dobb’s response was on the level of a third-grader, what description would you use assign the governors actions – maybe that of Al Capone?
(Posted for Mr. Arrington by Brad.)
I’ve posted your comment for you on my blog, which is where I have such discussions…