Ian S. Thompson – 11/9/06

This page was last updated on November 11, 2006.

Past caught up with them; Ian Thompson; Beaver County Times; November 9, 2006.

As background, Mr. Thompson began writing letters as a Penn State student. His alleged fields of study were English and international politics and he graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in International Politics. In letters to the Penn State Daily Collegian, Mr. Thompson identified himself as the political director of Allies, a PSU organization now known as SpeakOut. The mission statement of SpeakOut reads, “Works to organize the family, friends, supporters and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally (LGBTA) community at PSU and is committed to a safe and social network open to all students, political and social education, and to increasing visibility and fostering a positive climate for LGBTA students at PSU.” When he “signed” an anti-landmine “treaty” on the web, Mr. Thompson indicated he was a member of Amnesty International.

If you’ve read Mr. Thompson’s letters since at least mid-2004, you know he’s a full-blown socialist (“a proud progressive” in his own words from 2003) who tends to resort to name-calling and unsupported talking points. This letter continues that tradition.

Thompson letters immediately after the 2004 election are here and here.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“An open letter to outgoing U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum and U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart:

“Dear Rick and Melissa,”

[RWC] Hmm, does the Penn State English curriculum teach students it’s proper to use only the first name in a letter’s greeting when you’re sending a letter to a stranger?

“Well, you had a good run, but nothing lasts forever, right? But what about Karl ‘The Dark Prince’ Rove’s predictions of a lasting Republican majority?”

[RWC] “The Dark Prince?” Man, guys like Mr. Thompson make it hard to avoid name-calling.

“I suppose the gross arrogance and outrageous abuses of power and the utter failure to act as a proper check and balance over the past six years have finally caught up with you.”

[RWC] Here’s Mr. Thompson’s definition of “check and balance.” If you’re a Republican and so is the President, you must oppose everything he wants to accomplish and ignore the wishes of the voters who put him in office.

“Well, don’t say some of us didn’t warn you.

“I won’t lie. I could not stop smiling on election night as I watched the results roll in.”

[RWC] I have two points about this paragraph. If you’ve read Mr. Thompson’s 13 or so letters over the last couple of years, his not lying would be a refreshing change. Second, if you’ve read his letters, can you imagine Mr. Thompson actually smiles about anything?

“Not even the tried-and-true politics of fear and division could save you this time. Not even Laura! Laura!”

[RWC] If you’ve read Mr. Thompson’s letters over the last couple of years, you have to get a chuckle out of him accusing anyone of “fear and division” tactics. As I’ve noted about some of his fellow travelers recently, I hope he doesn’t live in a glass house.

“It is my sincere hope that we will finally see a return to a government that is responsive to the concerns of its citizens, one that does not wage war on countries that have done us no harm and then, when things go disastrously wrong, can only offer a ‘stay the course’ mantra over and over again.”

[RWC] What does “responsive to the concerns of its citizens” mean?

“[C]ountries that have done us no harm?” I can only assume Mr. Thompson is referring to the Clinton administration military action in the Balkans in the 1990s. Unless Mr. Thompson has memory problems, does he really believe Afghanistan and Iraq did us no harm? As a reminder, Iraq attacked the USS Stark in 1987 killing 35 sailors, invaded Kuwait in 1990 requiring our military intervention, and continued to attack U.S. military planes enforcing the Iraq no-fly zones throughout the 1990s. Iraq also served as a haven for terrorists that attacked the U.S during the 1990s. In case Mr. Thompson forgets, Afghanistan served as HQ for the 9/11 attackers. What does Mr. Thompson consider doing harm?

“To Rick, I hear Ted Haggard could use a shoulder to cry on in his upcoming counseling sessions with James Dobson. A trip with the family to Colorado might be fun.

“And Melissa, I recommend a return to law school.

“I don’t think you really learned enough about our Constitution and Bill of Rights the first time around.”

[RWC] Mr. Thompson thinks he did, I’m sure.

“Cheers,”

[RWC] Is “Cheers” what passes for a proper complimentary close in Penn State’s English curriculum? <g>