Loaded History

Kevin D. Williamson repeats a couple of myths in his review of American Rifle: A Biography (“Politics in the Round,” December 15). One is that the colonists fought the British with hit-and-run tactics; true to a point, but the major battles of the Revolution were in fact fought on the European model. Only Cowpens, and possibly Kings Mountain and Saratoga, might be considered exceptions. Cornwallis did not surrender to buckskin-clad riflemen lurking in the underbrush (er, I mean, taking intelligent advantage of available cover).

The other is that the long rifle was originally named for where it was going, Kentucky. It was not called the Kentucky rifle, as far as I know, until the early 19th century. Up until then it was a Pennsylvania rifle.

Charles Knapp Carson City, Nev.

Kevin D. Williamson replies: Tell it to Daniel Boone.

Practice What You Preach

I’m just curious. National Review supported the “nuclear option” — a move to end a filibuster with a simple-majority vote, rather than a three-fifths majority as is normally required — when the Republicans had 55 votes in the Senate and Democrats tried to block Bush’s judicial nominations. Now that the Democrats will have 58 or 59 votes in the Senate, will it continue to do so?

Phil Houston Via e-mail

The Editors reply: The Constitution hasn’t changed, so we still consider the nuclear option a constitutional move. Just as you expect consistency from us, however, we expect consistency from Senate Democrats — and if they’re consistent, they won’t employ the technique.

Feigning Civility Is a Waste of Time

I take issue with one comment regarding Ann Coulter in Kevin D. Williamson’s critique of the book Media Madness, by James Bowman (“Biased and Bonkers,” October 20). Williamson laments Bowman’s praise of Coulter for her being “daringly outspoken.”

She is that indeed, and therein lies her popularity. Many of us are sick of the elitist tactic of feigning kindness and civility in the face of rabid hatred and vitriol coming from the left, because we see this civility as driven by political correctness rather than honor. Daring outspokenness is a hell of a lot more real.

Also, the particular episode that Bowman chose to showcase Coulter’s bravery was an excellent example of how to handle the media. When a BBC commentator asked her if she would “withdraw derogatory comments she made about 9/11 widows,” her response was, “No . . . [but] quote me accurately. I didn’t write about the 9/11 widows. I wrote about four widows cutting campaign commercials for John Kerry and using the fact that their husbands died on 9/11 to prevent anyone from responding.” That kind of comeback is why Coulter has such a broad following.

Sylvia Thompson Spring Hill, Tenn.

Kevin D. Williamson replies: Feigning civility is a waste of time. Practicing civility is not. If we’re not to conserve civility, what is it we conservatives are conserving?