Letters to the Editor
casual_observer
Published Letters: 1249 Editor's Choice: 1
-
Strong post, strong comments, note to Sam Seder
[Read the article: Profiles in Journalism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Kudos to Savage, and a wonderful post by GG contrasting Savage with the hard-hitting journalism over at Politico. I, for one, appreciate knowing the price of any public figure's haircut, and I hope Politico writers will include this piece of information in all their future gossip. For that matter, I hope that they will include the price of their own haircuts as well, simply in the interests of full disclosure.
I believe Jeff Smith has a good point in stating that high quality journalism has always been rare. But I disagree that Woodward and Bernstien were simply parroting from 'other govt. sources'. Deep throat was a whistle-blower, not a government spokesman. And everything given by deep throat had to be independently confirmed.
Finally, I note that Sam Seder is now working on a new sunday radio show, of unknown length, for airing on Air America. While I miss his daily show a great deal, his new slot offers a potentially important venue for folks like Savage, Greenwald, and other political journalists who actually have something to say. Our sunday news shows leave so much to be desired--I believe Mr. Seder's sunday slot could be a real gold mine for those who are hungry for real discussion, real reporting, real analysis. By utilizing content and guests from non-traditional sources like the left-blogosphere, Seder could really craft a totally unique (and valuable) sunday show. The Best of the Web sort of thing.
-
whistle-blowing
[Read the article: Profiles in Journalism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't believe Ms. Miller ever mistook Libby for a whistle-blower. Based on the rumors (which are of course all-important), it's hard to know who was blowing who's whistle, in that pair.
And for the record, Mr. Smith, please state the cost of your most recent hair-cut.
-
"Soft on Syria"
[Read the article: The warped reality of our media stars]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]GG,
The attack on Pelosi was also used on Israel itself. Yes, Israel was also guilty of being too soft on Syria, and harming its own national interest (in this administration's opinion) by approaching Syria without Bush's permission. Text below is from the Jeruselem Post, October 8, 2006:
In a separate appeal, Americans for Peace Now demanded that the administration make clear that it does not oppose peace talks between Israel and Syria. "Unfortunately, many in Israel and the US believe that your administration is standing in the way of renewed Israel-Syria contacts. We urge you to clarify, publicly and expeditiously, that this is not the case," the letter, sent to Bush last month, reads.
This week, Americans for Peace Now put out a statement expressing anger at reports in the Israeli media suggesting that Bush pressured Israel to reject peace overtures from Syrian President Bashar Assad. The organization called such pressure by the president "outrages" and demanded he allow Israel to be the one who called Assad's bluff.
"It takes a lot of hutzpa to tell Israel not to even talk about peace with its neighbor," said Debra DeLee, APN president."
This story refers to US pressure that was applied specifically to interupt informal "peace-feeler" contacts between Israel and Syria late last year--instigated by Syria, of course.
-
Link
[Read the article: The warped reality of our media stars]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The link to the story I mentioned is:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1159193390426&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
I'm sure there must be articles in the Israeli press that directly discuss the US pressure used to halt these informal communications, as they are mentioned in this article. However, I cannot find them in my google searching.
A primary point is that Pelosi is actually much more in line with the Israelis, the Syrians, Europe, and the moderate Arab nations. All the above clearly see the benefits of Israeli-Syrian talks. It is only the radical and isolated Bush administration that opposes such talks. Yet you would never know this from the US media's coverage, as you point out here.
-
Movie Scenes
[Read the article: The warped reality of our media stars]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I often feel like discussions here end up a lot like the fight scene at the end of Blazing Saddles
A wonderful image, and true, I think. But, let's count blessings--it could be the campfire scene.
-
GG's unique use of language
[Read the article: The warped reality of our media stars]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I recently challenged GG on the word "impliedly"
...is from those who cite cold weather conditions on a given day in order to impliedly discredit the worldwide consensus of climatologists and other scientists...
He used that same damn dictionary website, and with fiendish glee proved the word was legal. OK, might have been legal, but I continue to argue it was cruel and inhuman to use that...thing (I can't bring myself to call it a word).
-
OT--Money, Guns, and Public Policy
[Read the article: Our benevolent surveillance state]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Money contributed to Fed. Campaigns since year 2000 by Gun-Rights PACS (NRA, etc.):
$5,214,610 (87% to GOP)
Money contributed since year 2000 by Gun-Control PACS (Brady Campaign, etc):
$632,460 (97% to DEM)
-----
http://www.opensecrets.org/
-
Agreement
[Read the article: What is the rationale behind the prescription drug laws?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Glen is absolutely Right!
All Best,
Rush Limbaugh
-
drugs, alcohol, guns, tobacco and freedom
[Read the article: What is the rationale behind the prescription drug laws?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I thank Kovie for his post. And given our recent collective experience, I think comparison of the dispensing of controlled drugs and dispensing of handguns is useful, as is a consideration of the differences in the way our society treats with tobacco, alcohol, etc.
In order to gain the benefits of living in groups, humans must surrender individual freedoms. This is pretty close to a scientific law of how groups must operate. So long as there is broad and well-considered consent as to why our freedoms are being surrendered, we flourish. But what appears to be mal-adaptive is when freedoms are surrendered for reasons that are hidden, poorly-considered, and not commonly shared and understood. Or, in other words, when Republicans do it.
-
55
[Read the article: Alberto Gonzales testifies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]According to comment at FDL, AG said "I don't remember" or equivalent 55 times this morning.
-
Cornyn
[Read the article: Alberto Gonzales testifies]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Cornyn will never change re: the AG, or Bush. He'll go down with the ship, I imagine.