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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Philly Peef
Published Letters: 98 Editor's Choice: 7
According to a 2005 Unicef report (http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/FGM-C_final_10_October.pdf), 97% of Egyptian women have been subjected to female genital mutilation, including, assumedly, Dr. Heba Kotb. And yet it is not this that she condemns, but female masturbation (and homosexuality, and sex before marriage, and anal sex after marriage, etc…) That this is what passes for progressivism brings into the sharpest relief how oppressive this world view is, to the point where women themselves help perpetuate this culture of victimization.
Shapiro writes:
"The leading Democratic contenders for the presidency are often praised on the campaign trail for their inspirational style (Barack Obama) and their forthright issue stands (John Edwards). But only Hillary Clinton is routinely hailed for the letter-perfect quality of her preparation."
Gore and Kerry were also both noted for their superior mastery of the issues and Gore, like Senator Clinton, also had the benefit of Clinton nepotism and we still lost BOTH TIMES (although the first time wasn't fair).
Inspirational style and forthright issue stands are going to go way, way further with the voting public than nuance, polish or wonkish mastery of the issues. I'm hoping the primary voters quickly wake to the fact that HC has too much political baggage, too little charisma and offers no fresh perspective. She remains unelectable.
I don't care if it was funny (which, in all fairness, it kinda was), I'm getting a bit tired of the uncritical interviews, stories and clips featuring the Hillary Clinton campaign. If I am to go on respecting you as a serious news source, you need to be a bit more evenhanded in both your framing and gatekeeping. Seriously, is Salon on the DLC payroll?
Salon Farticle
Had seventy eight letters
I read them all. Why?
I respect your criticism but feel compelled to speak up in Berkeley Breathed’s defense. What Mr. Breathed has managed to do for decades now is infiltrate the mainstream Sunday rags with a subtle and ongoing progressive critique. There are plenty of sources for sharper satire—click next door on Tom Tomorrow. The genius of Breathed is that his satire slips in beneath the radar. By sugarcoating a bitter pill in the soft exterior of a cute penguin, Breathed has managed to sidestep the progressive ghetto of alternative weeklies and the opinions section, and infiltrated the living rooms and headspace of a younger, more mainstream and/or more conservative audience. As a child of Bloom County now in his 30s, I recall that Bloom County was the first place I heard names like Jeane Kirkpatrick and saw critiques of Reagan era politics—critiques that stayed with me as I began to develop my own political consciousness. You, Mr. Owen, are not his target audience. His target is the very “26 percent” (and their kids) who wouldn’t otherwise entertain criticism of the Iraq War.
Salon got it right here. The polls have consistently shown that despite Ms. Clinton’s strong numbers among Democrats (due, I think, to name recognition), she polls very weak among Republicans and is so divisive and well known that there are few undecideds. That is, either you already like her or you hate her—not a strong way to go into an election where independents will be key to winning.
Inversely, in speaking to the people around me, everyone has an anecdote about their conservative uncle or a grandma who have been voting Republican since Reagan, but who expressed positive feelings toward Obama. I’m not talking about policy here (in which case, Obama still beats Clinton), I’m talking about liability, which-right or wrong-is essential to getting elected in this country. I’m not sure what Kool Aid my fellow Democrats are drinking that makes them think that Hillary Clinton is in ANY WAY more electable than Obama.
Mark my words, nominating Hillary Clinton is the only way that the Dems can lose in ’08. If Edwards can’t pick up traction soon, start thinking about throwing some money Obama’s way.
Sorry, I meant "Likeability". Clinton is the liability.
Actually staying positive was the strategy Edwards used in 2004 in Iowa, which brought him from obscurity to second place in that primary. I feel the 2004 comparisons are actually quite strong here:
2004
Dean (aggressive, progressive, challenger)
Kerry (defensive, conservative, front runner)
Edwards (positive, moderate)
In 2008, Edwards has become Dean, Clinton has become Kerry and Obama has become Edwards (confused yet?). The progressive attacks the conservative front runner, and the moderate stays above the fray. Nothing especially new about that.
It is no more foul than eating hotdogs. The Scots’ mistake was in having a recipe, where hotdogs and sausages are made from whatever organs and eyes are left lying on the abattoir floor at the end of the day. And let’s not forget that “natural casing” just means “intestine.” Still, the frankness of the Scots gives some perspective on Morrissey (yes, I know he’s Mancunian and not Scottish). It is easier to say that meat is murder when you know that you are eating a stomach.
Also, nice callback to past animations, SB. I especially liked the return of the Valanthia Orange man. Your animations remain the only thing worth watching on Video Dog.
If I'm not mistaken that is actually a posh Australian accent and not a posh British accent.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
