Vast Right Wing Conspiracy

Re "Listen to the Voices Behind Bars," Commentary, July 28: Talk about Orwellian Newspeak! Who makes the "choice to incarcerate so many Americans of color"? Perhaps the vast right-wing conspiracy or maybe alien agents of "The X-Files"? Could the choice for incarceration possibly belong to those incarcerated? In a more rational time, it would be simple: Don't do the crime, don't do the time. KENNETH J. ARTINGSTALL Glendale

Re "Truth is in the ear of the beholder," Opinion, Sept. 28 Obviously, a person's political viewpoint will have an influence on virtually all debatable political issues. There exists reams of data, theories, espionage and counterespionage on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Why would anyone in their right mind, even author Cass Sunstein, think that a person's opinion on WMD would be based strictly on President George W. Bush's assessment and the CIA's report? And this "scares" writer Gregory Rodriguez?

Former President Clinton says a "vast right-wing conspiracy" that once targeted him is now focusing on President Obama. Clinton made the comment on NBC's "Meet the Press" when asked if such a conspiracy still existed. He replied: "You bet. Sure it is. It's not as strong as it was because America has changed demographically. But it's as virulent as it was." Clinton said this time around, the focus was on Obama, and "their agenda seems to be wanting him to fail." Hillary Rodham Clinton popularized the phrase more than a decade ago to describe her husband's foes.

Former President Clinton says a "vast right-wing conspiracy" that once targeted him is now focusing on President Obama. Clinton made the comment on NBC's "Meet the Press" when asked if such a conspiracy still existed. He replied: "You bet. Sure it is. It's not as strong as it was because America has changed demographically. But it's as virulent as it was." Clinton said this time around, the focus was on Obama, and "their agenda seems to be wanting him to fail." Hillary Rodham Clinton popularized the phrase more than a decade ago to describe her husband's foes.

Re "Richard Scaife: A 'Savior' of Right, a Scourge of Left," April 17: It's about time that The Times starts to take a look into who is funding the anti-Clinton nuts' sordid campaigns. Without funding from eccentric billionaires such as Richard Mellon Scaife, even Newt Gingrich admits that modern conservatism wouldn't be what it is today. The media should continue looking into who is bankrolling the anti-Clinton forces, and expose their real agenda to the light of public exposure.

Re "Inside Politics Distracts Gore's Campaign Team," July 17: OK, L.A. Times, you're exonerated now for that report on Gov. George W. Bush in the Air National Guard after the unbelievably negative article you carried about Vice President Al Gore's questionable management style with his confused campaign staff. If I weren't already a member of the "vast right-wing conspiracy," I'd never vote for Gore to run our government. DICK ETTINGTON Palos Verdes What's all this nonsense about Gore being stiff?

When the allegations involving her husband and former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky arose seven months ago, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton attributed the investigation to a "vast right-wing conspiracy." Now, she is blaming her husband's legal difficulties on anti-Arkansas bias as well. "I think a lot of this is prejudice against our state," the first lady said in a telephone interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published Tuesday.

Re "A Victim of the Third Great Awakening," Opinion, Jan. 14: According to Neal Gabler, Bill Clinton's presidency represents "the forces of cultural secularism." I find this contention more than a little strange, considering all of the trappings of religiosity that surround Clinton and his administration. We have seen numerous photographs of Clinton coming out of church, Bible in hand. The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are prominent spokesmen for Democratic causes. Clinton has been a faithful participant in prayer breakfasts.

Re "Truth is in the ear of the beholder," Opinion, Sept. 28 Obviously, a person's political viewpoint will have an influence on virtually all debatable political issues. There exists reams of data, theories, espionage and counterespionage on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Why would anyone in their right mind, even author Cass Sunstein, think that a person's opinion on WMD would be based strictly on President George W. Bush's assessment and the CIA's report? And this "scares" writer Gregory Rodriguez?

Whatever possessed your staff to allocate two-thirds of its Commentary page to the disjointed, rambling braying of Gore Vidal ("The Real Crime Is Going Against the Will of We the People," Aug. 12)? Compared to this fearfully unedited tirade, Hillary Clinton's famous sound bite about the vast "right-wing conspiracy" against her husband sounds like the Gettysburg Address. Had Vidal's piece been submitted by a citizen of less notoriety (literary or otherwise), its trajectory to the round file would have been painfully short.

Re "A Victim of the Third Great Awakening," Opinion, Jan. 14: According to Neal Gabler, Bill Clinton's presidency represents "the forces of cultural secularism." I find this contention more than a little strange, considering all of the trappings of religiosity that surround Clinton and his administration. We have seen numerous photographs of Clinton coming out of church, Bible in hand. The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are prominent spokesmen for Democratic causes. Clinton has been a faithful participant in prayer breakfasts.

Re "Listen to the Voices Behind Bars," Commentary, July 28: Talk about Orwellian Newspeak! Who makes the "choice to incarcerate so many Americans of color"? Perhaps the vast right-wing conspiracy or maybe alien agents of "The X-Files"? Could the choice for incarceration possibly belong to those incarcerated? In a more rational time, it would be simple: Don't do the crime, don't do the time. KENNETH J. ARTINGSTALL Glendale

Re "Inside Politics Distracts Gore's Campaign Team," July 17: OK, L.A. Times, you're exonerated now for that report on Gov. George W. Bush in the Air National Guard after the unbelievably negative article you carried about Vice President Al Gore's questionable management style with his confused campaign staff. If I weren't already a member of the "vast right-wing conspiracy," I'd never vote for Gore to run our government. DICK ETTINGTON Palos Verdes What's all this nonsense about Gore being stiff?

Whatever possessed your staff to allocate two-thirds of its Commentary page to the disjointed, rambling braying of Gore Vidal ("The Real Crime Is Going Against the Will of We the People," Aug. 12)? Compared to this fearfully unedited tirade, Hillary Clinton's famous sound bite about the vast "right-wing conspiracy" against her husband sounds like the Gettysburg Address. Had Vidal's piece been submitted by a citizen of less notoriety (literary or otherwise), its trajectory to the round file would have been painfully short.

When the allegations involving her husband and former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky arose seven months ago, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton attributed the investigation to a "vast right-wing conspiracy." Now, she is blaming her husband's legal difficulties on anti-Arkansas bias as well. "I think a lot of this is prejudice against our state," the first lady said in a telephone interview with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published Tuesday.

Re "Richard Scaife: A 'Savior' of Right, a Scourge of Left," April 17: It's about time that The Times starts to take a look into who is funding the anti-Clinton nuts' sordid campaigns. Without funding from eccentric billionaires such as Richard Mellon Scaife, even Newt Gingrich admits that modern conservatism wouldn't be what it is today. The media should continue looking into who is bankrolling the anti-Clinton forces, and expose their real agenda to the light of public exposure.

A vast right-wing conspiracy? No, it's half-vast. When it's over, Kenneth Starr can hide in a witless protection program. JAMES ASHLEY SHEA Topanga

Re Robert Scheer's "Now That End Is Near, GOP Can't Let Go," Column Left, Feb. 9: I am not liberal but I always end up voting for Democratic candidates by default once the Republican candidates give in to the far right. Now Texas Gov. George Bush Jr. comes along and shows promise for me with his "compassionate conservative" slogan, as a new-generation politician who gets it--a fiscal conservative who would represent all Americans. His slogan is immediately shot down by Gary Bauer, Steve Forbes, Lamar Alexander and Dan Quayle!