Letters to the Editor
lalucas
Published Letters: 45
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Yes, we want her to win!
[Read the article: Are you sexually jealous of Hillary Clinton?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]RE: "Wouldn't that mean I'd WANT Hillary in the house so I could enjoy all the resulting Bill photo-ops and pleasure myself to his magnificence?"
Great image! From a similar perspective, I offer the following:
Living abroad while Bill Clinton was President, I can attest that women around the world find him attractive. Also, no woman or man that I met outside the USA could imagine a powerful leader NOT having a dalliance or two. To them, a powerful man WOULD have desires that needed to be "taken care of" by a mistress or a variety of willing pleasurers -- they thought we were "daft" on this subject.
Without pressure from the unrelenting religious right and the voracious appetite of the media to make the news "sexy", Clinton's Lewinsky entanglement could have been labeled "a fleeting moment of self-indulgent pleasure" rather than a "national disgrace..." Yet Americans allowed the indignant outrage of a few to weaken a Presidency and economic environment that provided a lifestyle apparently taken for granted -- money in our middle class pockets and an optimistic outlook for an even better future.
Both men and women I knew outside the US truly believe that Americans are hung up about sex. So, in a perverse way I see what Mary Gordon is saying, but draw the opposite conclusion --
Whether we are conscious of it or not, I believe many would welcome the return of the powerful, charismatic Bill Clinton to ANY role in the White House. I know I want Hillary to win to have the opportunity to see a more happy and relaxed Bill Clinton on a regular basis. Also, bringing with them jointly the whispered promise of the return of a prospering middle class. The fantasy of our lost opportunity for a bigger portion of the American Pie, revived for us with a mischievous grin. Sounds like we can't lose when viewed from this perspective... ;)
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Throw our hands up? What can we do? Another viewpoint:
[Read the article: What happened to the Senate's "60-vote requirement"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Was there ever a viable solution, at this point in time, to mend the broken judiscial branch under this administration? We are all upset, and rightfully so, by what is happening. No matter what (if anything) a new attorney general might undertake during this tenure, there is not enough time to substantially repair or (hopefully) do much more damage to the department. Although unflattering, Mukasey is just filling the position until early 2009.
Torture is only the "sexy", attention snatching part of the bigger issue. It is the complete disregard for the "rule of law" that has permeated this administration that will be judged and prosecuted by some future administration. Mukasey has been chosen to be the "space filler" for good reason. We are coming to the time, but not yet there, to hold this administration accountable for its actions.
Patience, fellow Americans -- dare to hold out hope that justice can and will be served. A return to the "rule of law" is desired by the majority of Americans. With the continuation of our national outcry for enforcement of our Constitutional Rights, a return to the American Way truly is possible over time. The Constitution is now, as it has been since its inception, the ultimate law of the land. We, the American people, need to insist upon our rights -- it could be JUST that simple if we persevere!
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Small Town Minds
[Read the article: The NYT's Michael Cooper demonstrates what real reporting is]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The reason that media reporting is critical is that much of mainstream America only hears "truth" in news bites. I have not read every post here, but early on, someone mentioned that CNN debunked the "Obama is a Muslim" story last spring.
OK, maybe last spring nationally, but here in small town Central Florida, older issues come alive on a regular basis via fear-mongering email campaigns. Just this past month I had to use quotes from Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" to debunk the idea that he is now or was raised a Muslim. The effort was to try to convince some coworkers that Obama and his family are practicing Christians. The response I received from a small town, "Christian" woman with whom I work: "Once Muslim, always Muslim".
Following that "discourse", an email arrived with the picture of Barack Obama without his hand on his chest supposedly during the Pledge of Allegiance. Until last week, even I didn't know the context of that photo and was left to wonder what happened. How could I have guessed that his hand was not on his heart during the National Anthem? Well, now I know the facts, but the others that "saw" this email photo will never even want to hear the truth. In their fear-filled, racist and likely active KKK influenced minds, "a picture is worth a thousand words".
The people posting to Glenn's comments are articulate, well-read "thinkers". The media plays to the 25% who still support Bush, and the 1% who still believe that Bush is "the best president ever" -- believe it or not, some of this 1% are among my coworkers in small town Central Florida.
We cannot forget that there are still many Americans who are solely and wholely influenced by the lies of our media. I read Glenn to keep my sanity while working on a daily basis with people who from all appearances are normal, working class Americans. What sits well on their hearts are lies fueling fears and prejudice instilled in their childhoods.
Truth DOES matter, it is work fighting for -- GO GLENN -- please keep doing all that you are doing. We need you!!