Letters to the Editor
Uncle Fester
Published Letters: 1346 Editor's Choice: 12
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Mutual disarmament of the cult meme, please
[Read the article: Polls: Obama weathers Wright controversy ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'd like to propose a cease-fire on the use of the word 'cult'. I don't think it's appropriate; in our contemporary culture it implies a weak, unthinking person in thrall to another.
While it is true that ordinary cynical Americans will find the level of emotion displayed by some followers of either candidate unseemly, there is no reason to go overboard. Despite some evidence to the contrary, I think few of us have actually lost our senses. I'm sure a fresh outbreak of cynicism will occur and normalcy will be restored.
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@johncp Mothers Milk Illegal for Corporations to contribute to Campaigns
[Read the article: Time columnist: Gore-Obama in '08?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Those numbers you quoted are probably from the employees, not the corporation itself. It's illegal for corporations to contribute to campaigns. Anyone interested in the details of the funding of any of the candidates should go to opensecrets.org for starters.
Corporate and Union Activity
Although corporations and labor organizations may not make contributions or expenditures in connection with federal elections, they may establish PACs. Corporate and labor PACs raise voluntary contributions from a restricted class of individuals and use those funds to support federal candidates and political committees.
http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/fecfeca.shtml#Corporate_Union
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@Carol Richards the best is yet to come
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hi Carol. Personally I have no idea what Joan is up to. And for the most part, I don't care. It's her business. But I think it's hard for any of us to be objective, especially when we hold strong convictions. I think the issue for some folks like Hutman is that trying to appear unbiased when you really have a strong opinion doesn't work too well. We'd like to think that we are Adults and could take it if Joan was openly pro-Clinton or pro-Obama.
My concern on the subject matter is a little different. I heard this same Michelle story on my favorite (evil) talk radio station yesterday (albiet with a more high energy racist kick) and apparently it ran on FOX as well. So clearly there is a systematic attempt to define the issues (or manipulate if you will) and pigeonhole the Obamas as non-mainstream AA racists. Is Joan's reportage just another echo in that giant echo chamber? Why let them (the 'evil RW media conspriarcy') continue to define what's covered and what's not?
I was psyched to see some front-page coverage of economic speeches from the three candidates. Finally some weighty coverage. But it didn't stay up long, and not that many people commented, despite the fact that three very different approaches were offered.
So how can the discourse elevate, when we would all rather gossip and participate in primate territorial rituals?
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Delegate Math
[Read the article: Leahy: Clinton should quit]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Neither candidate can win the nomination on pledged delegates alone. Barring landslides for Hillary, or mass defection of superdelegates, Obama will need far fewer additional superdelegates to get to 2024 than Hillary.
If poll numbers showing Hillary +16 in PA and Obama +12 in NC hold (these are rcp composites), then the chance of landslide is increasingly remote.
This is no reason to stop the campaigns, but the candidates are not on equal footing at the moment.
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@SueNJ Keeping the eye on the ball
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes I remember all that stuff. I liked Teresa. I like Michelle Obama as well. She gives me the impression that she isn't about to kiss anyone's ass. That could be a part of the problem, though I find it endearing.
My issue is who is framing the debate. Who gets to decide what to put on the menu (to mix metaphors). What's the point if it's always shit-sandwiches for democrats? Why get sucked again into a losing conversation that's then resold as a 'culture war' to the intellectually lazy and majority American? Let's focus where we can win.
I've thought the noise machine has done a superior job of determining what and what not to talk about. This seems to me to be playing more defense on the rival's home court. Michelle is a deliberate distraction from serious stuff happening now, like the ongoing economic meltdown and open civil war in Iraq. Don't let 'em change the subject.
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@Carol indeed
[Read the article: Michelle Obama on "ignorant" America]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]At least a little more self-awareness and self-honesty would be useful. We like to blame the media, the corporations, and sometimes Joan. And certainly there are times when that is justified. But when I look at the letter counts to the various stories, it's clear where the attention is going. I don't think Joan is forcing anyone to post.
But it's probably easier to have a strong opinion based on the more non-rational tribal politics then figuring out if Clinton's Strong Dollar policy during the '90's was good or bad or ugly.
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@flatblonde Lawyer speech vs. Political speech.
[Read the article: Hillary's team crosses the line]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I agree that Clinton's final words were more 'lawyerly'. That doesn't really bother me. I think she got defensive under repeated questioning and left a bolt hole open to protect herself. I'm cool with that. I would argue that Hillary's final words are more accurate in a real-world sense. She hasn't followed Obama around all his life, so she doesn't have certain empirical knowledge; all she has is her beliefs. That does sound lawyerly.
In terms of American political speech that prizes absolute conviction over all, including the facts, her position looks weaker. It would have been better to her to stick to the unwavering position. But given all the things that have occurred, I have to rate this incident pretty low.
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@hotzpur Real life people who might actually know something? Oh No!
[Read the article: Professor Obama, I presume? ]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Did your friends like the course taught by Obama, or did they find it a snooze fest? The Audacity of Hope has a pretty passionate (IM!HO) chapter on the constitution, particularly on issues regarding strict constructionists and how the constitution applies to each generation. I wonder if Obama learned how to speak by learning how to keep students awake in class.
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Folks will just scream
[Read the article: Sen. Bob Casey climbs on Obama's bus]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think it's highly doubtful that a significant number of Caucasian Americans [aka WHITE people] will vote for Obama in the general election. Stereotypes
I can make the same kind of argument that a significant number of males will never vote for Hillary. Why don't we just annoint McCain right now if we are going relive the 1970's?
This white male will vote for whoever is the nominee.