Letters to the Editor
Uncle Fester
Published Letters: 1763 Editor's Choice: 14
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Joan: Flip Flop on Cuba? Nyet!
[Read the article: A few debate thoughts]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I thought I would attempt to start a conversation about Foreign Policy rather than continue the meta-debate about Hillary's Truthiness and Obama's Oratory: fact or fiction memes. Despite the fact that the "Machine Gun nests along the border" quip was priceless (The Border Fence. Just like the Berlin Wall, only better), I'm moving on.
First, I don't think that pointing out the obvious (that a meeting requires preparation and an agenda) is a flip-flop. Second, Obama's position is not identical to Hillary's position.
Hillary's position sounds to me like a continuation of the Imperial Presidency crap from the last 7.5 years. All other nations are supplicants and must bend knee and bow to our will before we deign to grant an audience.
Obama's position is that he is more willing to treat other nations with some basic courtesy.
This point isn't a contest like the long jump where the candidate who jumps the farthest wins. It's about how we will interact with the rest of the world.
The entire debate transcript is here:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/21/debate.transcript/index.html
Here's the bits I'm focusing on:
CLINTON: I would not meet with him until there was evidence that change was happening, because I think it's important that they demonstrate clearly that they are committed to change the direction. Then I think, you know, something like diplomatic encounters and negotiations over specifics could take place.
But we've had this conversation before, Senator Obama and myself, and I believe that we should have full diplomatic engagement where appropriate. But a presidential visit should not be offered and given without some evidence that it will demonstrate the kind of progress that is in our interest, and in this case, in the interests of the Cuban people.
But I do think it is important precisely because the Bush administration has done so much damage to American foreign relations that the president take a more active role in diplomacy than might have been true 20 or 30 years ago.
Obama:
[...] Because the problem is, if we think that meeting with the president is a privilege that has to be earned, I think that reinforces the sense that we stand above the rest of the world at this point in time. And I think that it's important for us in undoing the damage that has been done over the last seven years, for the president to be willing to take that extra step.
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@raypanu: fight for the right cause irrespective of the end result?
[Read the article: A few debate thoughts]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That's an excellent question. I'm sure most of us like to think that in our own personal Alamo, we would cross the line for "God, Glory and Texas". But that question is for November, when some of us will vote for a democratic nominee that is not our fave candidate, be it Edwards, Hillary or Obama. Others in Salon letters have stated they will vote for McCain (if he's still around...).
Right now, in the primaries, the question is not one candidate or nothing, it's which candidate the most people people believe is the best choice out of a group of candidates that share a lot of common ground.
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@raypanu: Michelle Obama not voting for Hillary?
[Read the article: A few debate thoughts]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't think that is accurate. The ABC dustup is more about this:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/02/05/2008-02-05_michelle_obama_hesitates_when_deciding_i-1.html
Asked if she could see herself working to support Clinton should she be the nominee, Michelle Obama replied, "I'd have to think about that."
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"My hope and expectation would be when Barack becomes the nominee, that Bill and Hillary Clinton would roll up their sleeves and work for him. So I would have to say honestly, I would have to do the same thing," said Michelle Obama, according to the transcript provided by the senator's campaign to The News.
She probably gave an honest, but stupid answer that she would rather stay at home with her two little girls rather than stump across the country for Hillary.
That doesn't mean she won't vote for Hillary in the general
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@Grow up: Never trust anyone over thirty
[Read the article: MSNBC's Shuster returns from suspension]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This isn't about a college basketball team. It's about Politics and Political speech.
Chris Matthews plays a Dick on MSNBC, it's part of his shtick, he seems to enjoy it and he may even be a Dick in his private life. He's the one that fried the Obama supporter for being unable to recite any of Obama's accomplishments, so to a certain degree he is an equal opportunity Dick.
But I've watched Chris clumsily self censor himself lately. I don't like that, and I don't think that it is healthy long term for society.