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David Brooks and Susan Estrich

the breakfast table
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from: Susan Estrich

Blue Smoke

Posted Thursday, June 18, 1998, at 8:35 PM ET

Dear David:

Now it wasn't just that liberal, Clinton-loving New York Times that explained yesterday's tobacco bill as a cynical victory for big tobacco, a reflection of the financial hold on the Republican Party. How about that lefty rag the Wall Street Journal, not to mention USA Today, and all the networks. The Republicans killed the bill, and they did it the most cynical way. Tobacco is the biggest source of money for the GOP.

Just another coincidence, another in the long line....

Did someone say something about family values?

But there was other news today. Ward Connerly, the regent who led the fight against affirmative action, is now targeting ethnic studies. Now some of these departments--of African-American studies, or Hispanic studies, or women's studies, perhaps even--may not be very good, but is there a subject worth studying? Is it amply covered by existing departments? I'd say yes--and no. I've been teaching gender discrimination for more than a decade, a subject I once thought wouldn't even need teaching if everyone else were doing their jobs and including women in torts, criminal law etc., and one which--far from becoming irrelevant--is trickier, more challenging and more interesting than ever. Ethnic studies a waste of time?

Then there's Barry McCaffrey, warning of the left-wing (I guess) conspiracy. In testimony yesterday that reminded me of the old "Reefer Madness," he declared that: "There is a carefully camouflaged, exorbitantly funded, well-heeled elitist group whose ultimate goal is to legalize drug use in the United States." Come again. "Through a slick misinformation campaign, these individuals perpetuate a fraud on the American people, a fraud so devious that even some of the nation's most respectable newspapers and sophisticated media are capable of echoing their falsehoods."

I think he means George Soros and Bill Buckley, and rags like the aforementioned....

Does this make you angry? I have to find something. We have spent billions in a drug war that's failed, our own Vietnam; we kick violent criminals out of prison to make room for drug couriers who are immediately replaced on the street (see CATO Institute study, another left-wing elitist rag); we over-invest in punishment and under-invest in prevention; and elected officials are afraid to even study the issue for fear of being accused of being soft on drugs. Thanks General. I'm not for legalizing heroin but I don't see any reason why people suffering from serious illnesses--or even not so serious ones--who find marijuana helpful shouldn't have legal access to it. I voted for Prop 215--the medicinal marijuana initiative--and so did a majority of Californians, but the federal government is blocking its implementation. Whatever happened to federalism? The District Attorney of San Francisco, the Board of Health, the Mayor etc. all support a controlled and structured distribution program. But Barry McCaffrey sees the evil empire at work.

So it turns out Ozzie was a tyrant who used his kids childhood as a vehicle for his own success. So much for that version of family values. And Harriet--she sounds like hot stuff in Bernie Weinraub's piece. The fifties were no more real than Truman...or at least, they were not the golden age. But we knew that, right?

Finally, don't forget the girl who disrobed during her high school graduation speech in Vermont as a spiritual experience. See what happens when people adopt that "don't worry, be happy" approach of yours....

Off to collect some gossip, excuse me news.

Best,

Susan

the breakfast table
entries
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637
from: Susan Estrich

Blue Smoke

Posted Thursday, June 18, 1998, at 8:35 PM ET
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David Brooks is a senior editor of the Weekly Standard. Susan Estrich is a law professor at the University of Southern California.
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