Oren M. Spiegler – 1/22/09

This page was last updated on January 25, 2009.

Inaugural speech sent right message; Oren M. Spiegler; Beaver County Times; January 22, 2009.

Mr. Spiegler is such a prolific letter writer the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gave him a little tribute back in 2003. Google “Oren M. Spiegler” and you’ll get more hits than you know what to do with. Unfortunately, prolific is not a synonym for competent. Mr. Spiegler claims to be a Republican. In my critique of “Breathing more freely,” I cited reasons why I was “beginning to believe Mr. Spiegler is simply another Republican impersonator,” but he sealed the deal with “Greatest foreign policy debacle.” This letter is more confirmation.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“The facet of President Barack Obama’s stirring and inspirational inauguration speech that I found to be most meaningful and critical was his call for ‘a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world.’”

[RWC] Did Mr. Spiegler hear the same speech I did? The speech was completely unremarkable and parts of it could have been given by just about every other president.

“Many of the nation’s current woes, particularly our economic challenges, are rooted in an abdication of personal responsibility, the misguided belief that everyone is entitled to a consistently higher standard of living, that we deserve to be able to have and raise a family or to purchase a home or a vehicle that is beyond our means.

“We have strayed far from the high ideals put forth by President John F. Kennedy in his 1961 inauguration speech, as we have to a great extent become a grievance society, one that has come to look to government as the provider of first resort.”

[RWC] I’m confused. “[A]s we have to a great extent become a grievance society, one that has come to look to government as the provider of first resort” describes Mr. Obama’s political philosophy. That’s the core belief of so-called community organizers like Mr. Obama.

On a side note, why do so many Obama supporters feel the need to link Mr. Obama with presidents like Abraham Lincoln, FDR, and JFK?

“There is much that government can do and much that it must do in the face of the nation’s current woes, but being all things to all people, rescuing irresponsible individuals and businesses from poor decisions they consciously made can no longer be the norm, as it is unaffordable and inequitable.

“I hope and pray that the lofty vision as outlined in Obama’s inauguration speech shall be emblazoned in our souls and shall not be forgotten.”

[RWC] As I asked above, did Mr. Spiegler hear the same speech I did? I heard nothing I would consider “lofty vision.”

“May the president and his family enjoy every blessing in the difficult years ahead, including the goodwill of big-hearted, decent citizens who are pulling for him to succeed.”

[RWC] I am for the U.S. to succeed, not Mr. Obama. I will support Mr. Obama’s positions when I agree with them and oppose them when I disagree. That’s my position for all presidents.