Letters to the Editor
JackSparx
Published Letters: 433 Editor's Choice: 16
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How his race affects the race
[Read the article: A tale of two campaigns]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Even if Obama were white, his decision to evade issues and not seek a landslide victory with a broad anti-Bushism platform would be suspect. The safe-single strategy no longer works for the Democrats.
But, as a (part) black candidate, he runs a special risk in evading issues. Black candidates have been able to win white districts by running as issues candidates. They don't often win as charisma candidates.
It's not that Obama's charisma hurts him. But stratergizers are simply wrong if they think Obama can't win the "racist" vote. Hell, I know whites with racist attitudes who voted for Jesse Jackson back in the day based on labor or farm issues. People vote their interests, and the goal is to lower racism below economics, security, etc. in importance. Charisma, when packaged alone, just emphasizes the racial issues. Guess what--white people, even racists, already know that there is a strong speaking tradition among African-Americans.
The Obama campaign is in disarray on message and strategy. Obama needs to take control.
I still suspect that he has a good heart, but you don't show people you care by saying it, you show it by doing it. In a campaign, that means an issues platform.
What does Obama stand for? Over the next month, everyone in the country better be able to list the top three:
1.
2.
3.
Whatever they are.
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"Then, Obama got scared."
[Read the article: A tale of two campaigns]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Spot-on Bilzabub, that's the perception. We are at a scary point in American history and Obama should be projecting a deep belief that there is a way out of this mess. Instead, Obama looked at Bush lawlessness and blinked first.
I adamantly disagree with his campaigns fixation on JFK. If they want a model, channel FDR. "Nothing to fear but fear itself." We can't be scared. 100 days, a New Deal, a policy strategy. Mobilize the entire nation if there is war.
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Edwards-Hunter 2008!
[Read the article: A tale of two campaigns]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'd vote for that ticket! America needs more love
@hadenough
"But, the biggest problem is all these republicans who just can't bring themselves to vote democratic."
But, there are many Republicans who still consider themselves Democrats, and this election is the right time to bring them back.
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It would be nice to believe
[Read the article: Songs for Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]that the high expectations for Obama will force him to be a better leader than he has proven so far.
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Anybody buy the "new stimulus package" idea?
[Read the article: The graying of Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anybody get his take on reducing greenhouse gases?
What did he mean by going into Pakistan?
Will he allow more nuclear power plants?
How will he ever fix social security?
What ever happened to the health care idea?
How can do anything given the record deficit, not to mention the debt?
Will he cut Medicare?
Will he cut the military?
Will he ever prosecute, or investigate, Bush or anyone from the administration?
Will he somehow reinstate the Fourth Amendment, as he kinda sorta promised?
Who will be his attorney general?
And that's just off the top of my head while sipping a Leinies, slapping skeeters, and typing with one hand.
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McCain is Wilford Brimley
[Read the article: Dissing McCain]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Offering America some bland oatmeal.
Obama is Tony the Tiger, offering America some sugar in a bowl.
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Only Richard Cohen and Garrison Keillor would forget to mention Minneapolis when describing St. Paul
[Read the article: The two Richard Cohens]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That was a hilarious bit of geographical whimsy in the National Journal article. The total Twin Cities Metro area is probably bigger than Denver with Boulder thrown in.
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Conventional wisdom
[Read the article: The two Richard Cohens]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Republicans choice of Minnesota will give them more bump than the Democrats will receive in Denver. Denver was an inspired choice, but while the Dems are seeking new voters in the interior West, Midwestern independents are willing to be wooed.
I'm also skeptical that the Obama Beauty Pageant and Coronation at Invesco(TM) Luxury Box Stadium will be a huge selling opportunity for the Democrats. At some point, they need to take the charisma-body advantage for granted, stop offering blow jobs to corporations and the wealthy, and offer up a few policies for voters to think about before election day.
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Gore was an odd shade of orange at the first 2000 debate
[Read the article: Dissing McCain]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]He was the first person of color to be the nominee of a major party.
Neither Obama or McCain are great debaters. It will be pretty painful to watch.
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Explaining the dynamics of the Chinese finger trap
[Read the article: "Ugh" of the day]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]When a woman simultaneously gives fellatio and receives intercourse, her movement is constrained by the somewhat contradictory needs of her partners.
When Broadsheet simultaneously presents a sex video and encourages expressions of disgust against it, the reactions of its readers are similarly constrained.
Broadsheet isn't anti-sex, as some complain. It just likes to be top.
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Marginal conspiracies
[Read the article: The stolen election of 2004: Chapter 53]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Elections have been close, and the electoral college can cause individual states to become important to overall outcome.
The idea of a centrally organized "fix" in the web era seems quaint. And voting systems have always been a decentralized patchwork. But, given the narrow margins, it doesn't take a Cheney or Rove coordinating actions to sway close outcomes.
Ever since Clinton, Democrats have tried to eke out narrow victories by narrowing differences with their Republican opponents. The possibility of low-level fixing/voter discouragement on election day is yet another reason for Obama to seek a large, tamper-proof margin by highlighting real differences with his opponent. He has not done so.