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Bush does it right; Oren M. Spiegler; Beaver County Times; September 1, 2011.
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.” Subsequent letters have been more confirmation, including this one. The group of local Republican impersonators also includes Messrs. William A. Alexander, Arthur Brown, William G. Horter, Edward J. Hum, Bill Ralston, and George Reese, all claiming to be disgruntled Republicans.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“In the ugly spat initiated by former Vice President Dick Cheney against former Secretary of State Colin Powell, an invisible figure looms large.”
[RWC] As you read Mr. Spiegler’s letter, figure out what’s missing.
“It is former President George W. Bush, who most admirably has stifled any impulse to speak out against others in order to settle scores.
“The current Cheney line of attack is stimulated by the desire to sell his new book and to strike back against those whom he sees as seeking to undermine him, and it is reminiscent of the strategy that he adopted in his similarly distasteful and relentless public denigration of President Barack Obama.”
[RWC] Mr. Spiegler is sensitive about criticism of Mr. Obama.
Mr. Spiegler is probably referring to Mr. Cheney’s praise of Mr. Obama regarding the killing of Osama bin Laden. Why is/was it OK for Mr. Spiegler to bash then-President George W. Bush, but it’s “distasteful and relentless public denigration” for Mr. Cheney to criticize Mr. Obama? Notice Mr. Spiegler provided no examples of Mr. Cheney’s alleged “distasteful and relentless public denigration” of Mr. Obama. Has Mr. Spiegler noticed that 2˝ years into his “reign,” Mr. Obama and his staff still blame Mr. Bush for anything that is wrong? I found no complaints from Mr. Spiegler when former-President Jimmy Carter bashed Mr. Bush.
“I would never have thought at any point within his long reign that Bush would someday come off as a gentleman and a person of dignity and character, but today he looms head and shoulders above Cheney.”
[RWC] In case you missed it, Mr. Spiegler is bashing Mr. Bush, not complimenting him. Other than not being a lefty like Mr. Spiegler, an obvious mortal sin, what did Mr. Bush ever do that would lead someone to believe he is/was not “a gentleman and a person of dignity and character?”
“I suppose it should not be surprising that a vice president who demonstrated extraordinary contempt and condescension for members of the public who disagreed with him should now launch a literary assault on his former colleagues, betraying them and their confidence.
“History will no doubt judge Cheney’s actions as shameful and unbefitting someone who has walked the corridors of power in prominent positions.”
[RWC] Above I asked you to figure out what’s missing. If you noticed Mr. Spiegler provided no examples of Mr. Cheney’s “extraordinary contempt and condescension for members of the public who disagreed with him” and “shameful and unbefitting” “actions,” you got it.
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