Letters to the Editor
Cocktailhag
Published Letters: 483
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Justice Hillary?
[Read the article: Journalistic balance vs. truth]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anonymust....
That would be an excellent spot for her. I would have also liked her to become a permanent, reliable liberal in the Senate, as well, which is what I'd hoped when she first ran, hoping the righties were wrong that she was just using her seat as a springboard. Of course, my visceral loathing for Rudy would have made me want his opponent to win, even had it been, say, Ann Coulter.
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On the other foot...
[Read the article: Reid and company target the true enemy: "Dodd and his allies"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What makes this story so (Sylvester the Cat voice) DESSSTHPICKABLE is that the behavior is so, well, Republican. Rupublicans love to hand off anonymous smears about their opponents, and projecting their worst motives on others is something they do basically whenever their mouths are open. It's fun, effective, and they never have to spoil their beautiful minds defending their positions.
But here's a tactical tip, Sen. Reid... Republicans employ these techniques on the...opposition party. It's really a lot more effective.
If you're going to be a corrupt, amoral backstabber, could you please learn a thing or two from your mentors? When they're pissing in your tent (again) make a note of which way they're facing.
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Applause Lines
[Read the article: Championing mainstream political thought while pretending to oppose it]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What makes Ron Paul significant, and indeed a hero, albeit flawed as are all heroes, was that he spoke a number of previously unmentionable, startling truths that shattered the conventional wisdom, and received applause for it. This astonishing breach of protocol, at a Republican debate, where we are taught to think warmongering is universal, demolished the idea that conservatives blindly support Serious militarism. He was the skunk at the (church) picnic; they relentlessly screen their audiences but they had failed to screen their candidates, and heaven forfend, the attendees and television glimpsed the emperor's privates.
Even better, he left the Serious candidates waxing vengeful and psychotic, and at that moment peeled away a lot of traditional conservatives from their "approved" candidates.
His views on many issues may be repugnant, but those aren't the ones he chose to highlight, an act of unusual bravery from either side. The fact that Klein could miss the significance of this enormous, crucial difference between Paul and the universally pro-life party he represents, and fail to get what Paul's popularity means for those of us who like our constitution the way it is, thank you, shows he is not serious. But he certainly is Serious. In the worst possible way
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The manliest sheep ever.
[Read the article: Mitt Romney's pursuit of tyrannical power, literally]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Smgumby anf El Cid have it exactly right. Romney knows that his base just loves to be dominated, and even better, love to watch their Leader dominate others. War, torture, tossin' 'em in the dungeon, it's all in good fun for the demented, La-Z-Boy bound "real men" who have clung ever more tightly to Bush and want more.
This base actually thinks Bush hasn't gone far enough. Romney, the politician, senses this.
Old Giuliani takes the cake here, though. Real men don't talk to no librul media, they just git'r done.
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Phony Baloney
[Read the article: Mitt Romney's pursuit of tyrannical power, literally]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]@Anonymust,
I was drawn to the Concord Monitor editorial by its appropriate use of both "phony" and "baloney," a pair of words which may be juvenile, but nonetheless accurately describe the Ken doll fascist Romney to a T. Funny how GOP candidates can singlehandedly revive playground taunts and turn them into profoundly fitting political commentary. I used to be considered eccentric for using the term "liar, liar, pants on fire," but thanks to Bush, that term has moved from the elementary school to, probably, The Atlantic Monthly, and for good reason.
Appeals to the inner fourth grader require similar retorts.
Disturbingly, this has been the GOP strategy forever, and it works. Bush had a best-selling action figure (never say "doll") of him playing dress-up. Romney is the latest manifestation of a trick as old as Reagan; a Charlie McCarthy, with corporate interests and the wealthy in Edgar Bergen's role, mechanically mouthing whatever BS brings the rubes along.
Now simple greed and racism, leavened with sunny anecdotes, have been replaced with bloodlust and authoritarianism, which can only be sold by beating the drums of fear and slaking the thirst for vengeance.
Enemies abroad, and especially enemies at home, must be vanquished, and the rubes just eat it up, empowered by their "courage" in giving up other people's civil rights and sending other people to die.
Kudos to the Monitor for getting at least some of the Romney narrative right; too bad there isn't a schoolyard term for "Dictatorship."
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Too Mild?
[Read the article: Mitt Romney's pursuit of tyrannical power, literally]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Anonymust... I thought of "bully," and it's surely on the right track, but it seems a skosh inadequate, when one is speaking of aggressive wars, unlwaful detentions, etc. Bullies seldom command armies, have their own think tanks, news channels, pundits, and armies of worshipful goons goading them on.
Even the "King of the Mountain" must follow certain rules and entertain the possibility of being knocked down.