Send It To Andy!

Whether It's Fudge, Books Or Whistles, Lots Of Stuff Has Landed In Andy Rooney's Mailbox

(CBS)  This commentary was first published on April 26, 2009.

The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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When I was about 12 years old, I remember at Christmas one year being ashamed of how much I liked it because of all the presents I got. It's a pretty complicated thought for a 12 year old kid but that's what I had.

I've always liked presents though. People send me a lot of things and I wish they wouldn't but I can't help liking them anyway.

I mean look at this - just a few of the things that have come in recently: this is a bottle of some kind of sauce. Now it's probably very good and from some one who likes me but it could be bad and from someone who hates me too, so I don't dare eat it.

Someone sent me this sports whistle. Why would anyone send me a whistle? The package says it's made of solid brass. It's triple plated and it has an extra sharp tone. Well good for it. But I certainly wouldn't want a whistle that was only double plated and made of brass that wasn't solid.

This goes under a door to keep the draft out. Someone's idea of what John McCain and Barack Obama look like. Not my idea of what either of them look like but what do I know?

"The American Government In Action" - this is a game. I never cared much for games. There's enough to play with in real life.

"The Baseball Dictionary." This book has a lot more than I want to know about baseball. I'm a football fan. Baseball is too caught up with numbers for me.

This is a pair of socks; I don't know who they’re for. They come up over my knees.

I don’t know what these two bags are for - why would I want two of them anyway?

This is called Almond Orange Honey. Seems like a good idea and the bees are certainly done a good job, but I never liked honey.

I said I liked fudge and that I never got any good fudge anymore - I haven't had any good fudge in years - so a lot of people sent me good fudge. I guess it's good. I haven't eaten all if it yet.

I said I shine my own shoes. The letter that came with this stuff says it brings leather back to life. It's nice to think about bringing leather back to life isn't it? I'll see if this brings my shoes back to life. I just hope my shoes don't eat my fudge.

[Larry-Sculptor]

Dear Andy,
Thanks so much for your work. I eagerly anticipate your piece every Sunday.
But tonight you stated that we Americans pay the highest taxes in the World, which is emphatically not the case. The citizens of only 7 or 8 prominent industrialized countries have lower income tax rates than ours. And although our corporate/central taxes are the highest, it's only by a few percentage points over, for example, the UK. Further, we don't have VAT but our equivalent is much lower than, say, most European nations, where I believe it supports universal health care. Needless to say, we don't have that either.
Sincerely,
Larry Perkins

[LionelMontanez]

As we all know everyone has the right to their own opinion in this country, but to get on national television and tell people not to complain because they have to pay $2.50 or more for gas and move to another country if you do not like it is really dumb and insensitive. Or to tell people that if medication is too expensive to stay sick or make their own pills is out of line, but I guess for someone like him (Andy Rooney) that has a lot of money it does not make a difference. Lets see him be able to make his own pills. Not everyone in this country makes 6 figure salaries or more. Why don't you go out to the real world once in while and see how the rest of the people in this country live. Or at least stop and think before you speak.

[bschwab61]

Dear Andy, My father, Arthur G Schmidt, is an 89 year old combat wounded veteran from WWII. You interviewed General Maurice Rose on the evening before he was killed in March of 1945. My father was with Gen Rose at the time he was shot and was shot at that time as well earning him a Purple Heart award. Arthur Schmidt would like to talk with you.

Sincerely,

Bernie Schwab

[Enyii]

Mr. Rooney,
Thank you for doing such a good job every Sunday on 60 minutes. Keep it up. My family and I enjoy watching 60 minutes and your segment every Sunday. However, I was disappointed with a comment you made on today?s segment about other countries celebrating Thanksgiving. You said, "No other country celebrates Thanksgiving except Canada. This is wrong. I am a dual citizen of Unites States of American and Nigeria and incorporate both cultures in raising my children. They were so disappointed to hear your comment because they know that Nigeria celebrates Thanksgiving too. Thanksgiving in Nigeria is celebrated in November as well. To Nigerians, Thanksgiving Day is a day to give thanks to God for all the good deeds He has done in one?s life. We eat and visit with families just as in the United States. The only difference is that Nigeria?s Thanksgiving Day starts with a mass celebrated in churches all over the country followed by dinner with family and friends. Nigerian Thanksgiving is tied more closely to our faith than in the United States.
CBS as a trusted news organization should ensure that accurate information is presented to the public. There are many holidays celebrated in the United States or Canada that are celebrated in other countries all over the world as well.
Thank you.
Stella

[rhmc430]

Andy, I watch your spot weekly on 60 Minutes. I think you, with your humor, hit things right on the head. I have thought for sometime that this country of ours is slowly going crazy and shooting for a collapse that no one in their wildest speculation would be able to predict. Two years ago when now President Barack Obama hit the national airwaves I first thought that he was too far out. By the time he was nominated for president I thought he was just what we needed, someone to shake things up, and get this nation and the world back on track. I am seventy-two years old and I have nine grandchildren. I want them to grow up in a nation such as I grew up in. To do this, we, the adults of 2009 must get things going the right way again. For the past several months I feel we have been swimming in circles. The politicians of the United States must come to the realization that we are all Americans, we all want what is right for the country and therefore we have to stop this continuous harping that "MY WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY, AND THE ONLY WAY".
We have to learn NOW, while we still have the chance, to work together. Everyone can offer suggestions, and by talking things over instead of the constant "NO, MY WAY OR NOTHING!", attitude we can come up with the best darn plan for everyone (and my grandkids). Would you like to join my cause?

[joewham]

Andy, you forgot one line item for becoming a US citizen...you must speak english

Joe

[summerwinds54]

Hi Andy, you may or may not read my comment but in hopes that you do, I want you to know that I am one of your most loyal fans. I watch 60 Minutes every week but you're the big reason I watch until the end at times. I think you are one of the most practical, unpretentious and well balanced men on television and there are alot. Your voice is calming and your presence comfortable. I really like you Andy...
Sincerely, Debra

[m1111k]

I cant believe you do a story on an alternative celebration for Nov 11th without mentioning that this day is also known as Armistice Day, a day celebrating the end to the war that was to end all wars.

[doorhanger]

While I do not watch 60 minutes there are times when it will be on but I will not have control of the remote.Not my house.I still remember the God bless America comments.I was in shock with your mindset about America.Your where saying,why.Two weeks later 9/11.Now veterans day?Wars are sometimes the only way to a solution.Hitler was not going to go quitly,niether is BIn Laden and the rest of those who want us dead.I will always remember and honor our veterans including you.You which has seen it first hand,war,should know.God bless America.

[cconover4]

Dear Andy, Thank you for speaking against war in general, and I hope you also agree that Iraq and Afghanistan have gone on too long. However, every time I hear you speak common sense like this, I remember your broadcast in Feb. 2003. Perhaps you should re-read it yourself and apologize.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/02/14/60minutes/rooney/main540729.shtml

[jlywly]

Dear Andy. Thank you for your comments about veretan's day. My dad was a Korea Vet. & spent his adult life voting, signing petitions and voicing his opposition to war.He lived war and saw good buddies die. He felt the lose of life didn't add up to the political gain. You put yourself out on a leg with your views, as veing anti-veteran's day is sure to gereate much negitivity. Put, I thank you for your views and think a "No War Day" is a wonderful idea which will be more constructive and life perserving. Thank you, Jill from Long Beach, CA

[xsmf002]

Some advice for Andy,

Retire your losing it!!!! You comments tonight were absurd and you position in a previous show on how tierd you were after you summer long vacation so everone shouldnt take summer vacations... CRAZY are you that out of touch? has it been that long since you had a real job? Observation #1 If your more tierd when you get home from vacation, your not working hard enough go out and do some manual labor all winter and see if you think a week or two off is to much. You cant possibly be so famous and such a idiot unless your famous for being a idiot!!!

[xsmf002]

I just watched the end of this weeks episode and as a Veteran of the United States Military I am utterly disgusted with the thoughtless commentary by Andy Rooney. He is obviously a idiot to suggest a no war day, instead of Veterans day. I have to believe he is intelligent enough to understand what he said, so given that I take offence. If he was a blithering idiot maybe I would let his premise that since war is bad, and it is horribly tragic that Men and Women die for reasons that may or may not be justified we should celibrate no war day. Veterans day does not celebrate war!!!! It celebrates those that have given of themselves so his dumb ass can sit there and make dumb ass comments. Maybe if we had a National War day that celebrated the senseless killing of others his point would be relevant. Is he lost? VETERANS MAKE UP YOUR VIEWERS SO IF HE IS LOST I WILL ASSUME THAT THERE IS SOMEONE WHOS PAYCHECK DEPENDS ON VETERANS WATCHING AND THEY WILL HAVE THE INSITE TO CORRECT HIS IGNORANCE IF NOT FOR THE CORRECT REASONS AT LEAST FOR FINACIAL ONES. Until I hear this addressed I will no longer be a viewer and I will post to all my Vet buddies MILLIONS on our Veteran boards CBS position on us. I will give you ample time to retract that idiocy.

[cconover4]

I appreciate your position and our troops doing their jobs, but when was the last time a man or woman of the armed forces died for our freedom? In Afghanistan, we are just making more enemies; Iraq is for nothing but money. Vietnam wasn't for our freedom - we lost that and we're still free. Same with Korea. I love that we helped our Allies in WW2 - hard to say if we had lost if we'd still be the USA, but probably. WW1 was the same. Seriously, the last time anyone fought for the freedom of the citizens of the United States of America was probably the French and Indian War (the 7 years war) ending in 1763. Your rhetoric about fighting for our freedom just makes these stupid wars go on and on. I'd say that Andy Rooney has put some thought into his comments while you just parrot what you hear.

[romangrappledawg]

Mr. Rooney,
as a vet you comments on veterans' day outraged me. You completely ignore the contributions of our men and women to our country. You ignore the existence of our enemies. And you ignore war as a social phenomenon throughout the ages. Your comments make about as much sense as suggesting that there should be a no crime day, so police and FBI should just stay home for the evening. Your friends would not have died in world war 2 if Hitler wasn't busy butchering Europe. Or maybe we should have just provided the 3rd Reich with the ships it needs to cross the Atlantic and begin consolidating power here in North America. Perhaps while we were at it, you and your antiwar buddies could have organized death-camps for Jews so as to avoid conflict with the German occupiers.
Thank's for spiting on the graves of those who protect you.

[xsmf002]

AMEN BROTHER!!! Lets get our Brother and Sister Vets to boycott this idiot

[Qasar1]

Great comment on Veteran's Day, Andy. "Experts" keep commenting on how and why we are such a violent society. They blame TV, video games, movies, etc., all of which, I believe, are contributing to our increasingly violent society, but rarely does anyone point out that our government has been one of the leading perpetrators of violence in the world for many decades. People growing up in our country are exposed to this violence from birth. No wonder they believe violence is to be celebrated and looked to FIRST, as a solution to any problems that enter their lives.

[xsmf002]

Is it your understanding that Veterans day celebrates WAR? you cant be that dumb can you?

[ElPaseo]

Thank you Mr Rooney for being one of only a few that have admitted that they where over charged by their doctor who didn't even "touch" him. I too get charged over $200 for just an office visit by a general practitioner!! He doesn't even check my lungs!! Just talks to me then he charges Medicare & my other insurance company for the visit. It took his office 3 times to get my blood test right!!Is it the insurance companies we have to reform or the doctors for over charging???

[thomasd88]

Andy,
I am planning on doing this documentary on the history of Rensselaerville. I respect your opinion, and thought you might have some ideas you could share as I enter production.
My email is:
[e-mail]

-Dave Thomas

[paparazziNews]

Hi Andy,

My friend Andrea sent me an article about your views, and I love you for your honesty and courage, that, I had to put you on the front page of my news, The Westchester News.Com http://thewestchesternews.com

I thought my viewers would appreciate hearing the truth from another news media besides me.

Thank you,

Barbara Ricci, Publisher Of The Westchester News

[steveg201]

Andy, did I just hear you say you would rather receive "junk mail" in your mailbox versus an email on your computer? I believe this is 2009 and you need to figure that out. You are a nice person and some of your pieces are quite humorous, but you make me want to throw something at the TV set when I hear you talk like this. USPS could become profitable if they truly ran the post office like a business. Since regular "snail mail" is becoming a dinosaur they should dramatically raise their prices for the "junk mail" pieces that you talked about. Get this, USPS gives the "junk mailers" a discount to send me junk that I don't want (another story for you by the way). Which continues to fill up our landfills and wastes precious resources or water, trees and such that are used in the process of making a paper product. Back to my point... Edison and Ford did not get to where they were with an attitude such as yours. PS, while you are at it, please throw out your typewriter at the same time.

Garvey

[maloeboo]

Did I just hear you say "the post office doesn't recieve tax payer money"?

Sunday night @1755HRS EST.

mal