Letters to the Editor
Published Letters: 118 Editor's Choice: 4
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Two Guys We Like Screwed Up
[Read the article: Keith Olbermann's reply and Obama's secret plan to protect the rule of law]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We like Obama, and we like Keith. But there's no denying that each one screwed up. It's telling to me how much we project onto our leaders (which they both undeniably are). We're so indoctrinated with the media's scheming cynicism we overlook the possibility that Obama may simply think the FISA, while a close call, is on balance worth it. I was a little persuaded by his point that holding telcos responsible shouldn't be the end goal, elevated over doing what needs to be done to ensure we're doing the right things to protect ourselves.
The immunity thing is surely about the rule of law, and I think the bizarre mechanisms that the bill grafts onto granting it is some evidence of a guilty conscience. But we have invested all our hopes and dreams of ever getting to the bottom of the illegal activity in these suits, which are at best a poor substitute for what we should have had (and can certainly fault Obama on): a vigorous Congressional investigation. I think if we had that the issue of telcom immunity wouldn't seem quite so fraught. But I don't want to leave the impression that I'm sugarcoating Obama's cave. It's the wrong position, and a total disappointment.
As for Keith, he too screwed up. He bought the sugar-coating. Obama's natural leadership abilities let him make anything seem reasonable. It's both why we like him, but it's also why Glenn's point about holding any executive responsible is so critical. As on this issue, there will be many others when Obama wants to do something that isn't, by our lights at any rate, a good idea. But he'll make it seem swell, and he'll convince a lot of people that it is swell. Particularly on those issues we'll need to ensure we have mechanisms to hold his feet to the fire.
I for one have no wish to replicate on the left the cultish following the right gives their leaders. This isn't a football game or some kind of contest. This stuff matters. These guys work for us, and we have an obligation to provide some kind of meaningful supervision. If not, even the best-intentioned leaders will fail us. (Hell, look at Mugabe -- once a hero, now a tyrant of the first order.)
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Criminy...
[Read the article: The political establishment and telecom immunity -- why it matters]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I honest to God wouldn't mind a principled disagreement on this bill. But it burns me up that the legitimate concerns many of us have are simply not addressed, and worse, we are bludgeoned with lies, half-truths, deceits and outright lies. Even if the justification is that excusing law-breaking and permitting warrantless is something that is politically expedient, I'd rather hear than than nonsense like permitting telcos to "have their day in court."
Sheesh.
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Umm, Pinky?
[Read the article: The political establishment and telecom immunity -- why it matters]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You might want to get some books on American history -- you'd be far less likely to demonstrate your lack of education.
The idea that any "founder" would have thought their ideas would have relevance more than say 50 years later is laughable in light of the overwhelming evidence that they knew subsequent generations would have to figure things out for themselves just as they had done.
This concept of "more or less government intrusion" is a fake dichotomy. As all modern societies do, we have a massive government involvement in our lives. No person who thinks about it seriously would want it otherwise. From enforcing contracts to providing for the common defense, the government -- a collective social enterprise over which voters have some control -- is involved across wide-swaths of our lives. We may disagree on a particular intrusion (or non-intrusion), but there simply is no great divide between those who want "less" and those who want "more" government intrusion. There's simply a divide between politicians on the right who use the specter of "big government" to scare people into voting for them, and politicians on the left who don't use that tactic (of course, they have others).
Wake up. Your country -- your fellow citizens, your fellow humans -- need you.
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Proof of the Pudding...
[Read the article: Today's coverup of surveillance crimes and Barack Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We'll find out whether BHO's idea that this is too "inside baseball" for voters to care is correct or not. My guess is, sadly, that he is right -- only a trivial number of voters will be swayed by his unfortunate stance on this bill.
That's why I think the ad campaign against Blue Dogs is intriguing. The problem isn't the politicians, it's the voters. More of us need to wake up and demand better government.
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Out of Gas
[Read the article: Tom Friedman doesn't understand why America is unpopular in the world]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Whenever my 14 year old is accused of behaving badly, and he has no excuse, he points out that others have behaved far worse. He does this even though I have explained over and over again that the bad acts of others have nothing whatsoever to do with his own bad acts.
There are many political institutions worse than the US government. Tommy F. can publish scathing indictment after scathing indictment. They have nothing whatsoever to do with whether or not our government is behaving well or badly.
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There's a Bigger Point Here
[Read the article: Political harmony v. the rule of law: an easy choice for the political establishment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In all the "high dudgeon" about lawlessness, it's been little mentioned how much of this is a product of the same dysfunctional power relationship that has marred our politics for 30 or more years.
Republicans do not respect the rule of law. To them, it is just another weapon or tool to be used to advance their designs on power. That's why Reagan and Bush and violate the law and have their troops (including MSM types) rally 'round. It's also why the Republicans were perfectly happy to continue trashing the rule of law by impeaching (!) a President for trvialities.
WHen BHO gets elected, we will see Clinton II: endless investigations, scandals, calls for impeachment, etc.
The Democrats deserve significant blame here for their weakness in failing to stand up to these morons. But we mustn't forget that the other side are 'bad actors,' i.e., people of bad faith.
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Sunshine!
[Read the article: The AT&T Convention in Denver]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There's nothing like the smell of disinfecting sunshine in the morning!
Thanks, Glenn. Future generations are in your debt...