Letters to the Editor

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Published Letters: 21

  • @DCLaw1

    [Read the article: Why do Feinstein and Wyden sound much different on the torture issue now?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Your last post was a pleasure to read. Thank you.

  • Wyden's communication director --

    [Read the article: Why do Feinstein and Wyden sound much different on the torture issue now?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    -- only used the word 'torture' once. And that was to quote GG.

  • @GG - sirdook

    [Read the article: Vague pledges to "end torture" and "comply with treaties and laws"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    What's the point of holding politicians to a promise if we don't think what they've promised to do is the best policy

    - sirdook

    It's a fair point. As I said in the last sentence: "Much of that will, I presume, depend on what their alternative is."

    - GG

    I'm not sure we need to wait for the alternative. The original promise was based on something reviewable and public. She is now advocating for something that is not-so-public.

    I'd give her a lot more leeway if she stated, for instance, that she wants to move away from a previous promise of using the AFM because she would feel better having a policy that can be modified ONLY through legislative means.

    But, she didn't. She wants to make policy via a process and with information hidden from us. That is what needs to be rejected. Forget the argument of using the AFM or not. What I find offensive is that she wants to replace something reviewable (publicly available) with something hidden. That is what is reprehensible.

  • Another interpretation

    [Read the article: Prostitution vs. war crimes: The real moral offense]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Another example would be the millions of women in Africa, where economic circumstances require their husbands to travel long distances for extended periods of time to find work, who are infected with HIV as a result of their husbands "harmless" visits with infected prostitutes while away from home.

    Perhaps the real crime is that the husbands didn't use condoms?

    It's not the sex between adults that is the crime, it is the negligence that enabled the transfer of HIV.

  • @omooex

    [Read the article: Prostitution vs. war crimes: The real moral offense]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    You type faster then me?

  • @omooex - crack

    [Read the article: Prostitution vs. war crimes: The real moral offense]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Having been a foster parent of 12 drug exposed babies, I can sympathize with what you are stating. Smoking crack absolutely promotes the neglect of children. I also have never met a person who uses crack recreationally. But, in terms of law, smoking cracks does not equal neglect.

    If it were, couldn't we stated that all DUIs are, at least, attempted manslaughter? How would we classify a schizophrenic with violent tendencies not taking his or her medicine? Attempted battery?

    I am definitely not a lawyer, but my understanding of law is the above hypothetical scenarios will not happen. As such, I don't see a parent smoking crack will ever be, by itself, prosecuted as child neglect.

  • @rrheard - Team USA

    [Read the article: Prostitution vs. war crimes: The real moral offense]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Go Team USA. I'm almost done caring about this place because most people don't care and the rest are largely ineffectual at shutting down the propoganda machinery that enables the Grand American Myth of Economic and Moral Exceptionalism.

    So, perhaps, the revolution needs to be against the propaganda machinery (MSM?) and not the government? Would the press cover a mass sit-in of CNN or Fox headquarters? Well, I'm sure they would. But how?

  • Progressive voice(s)?

    [Read the article: How new is Obama's New Politics?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Okay, I only got up to page 5, but I really want to ask this.

    Let us assume 1) that Obama is a progressive and 2) he fills his cabinet with predominately non-progressive people.

    Would it be fair to say that the 'only' progressive opinion he will hear is his own? Is that a good thing?

  • Slightly OT - but related to discussion on Fox Viewers....

    [Read the article: Some observations after being involved in a Fox News report]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I've often wondered how many serial and mass murderers are registered Republicans.

  • @Blue Meme - Liberal-Brain & Conservative-Brain

    [Read the article: Torture prosecutions finally begin in the U.S.]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    I wonder how many Liberals would agree with that study against how many Conservatives?

  • -@JWhite - No Attack

    [Read the article: America then and now]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    There has been no attack since disclosure of the illegal wiretapping, rendition, torture, etc. activities. Does that further defeat the insipid rhetoric of 'these things prevented an attack and are, therefore, justifiable'?

  • @Asehpe - 50%-47%

    [Read the article: New poll on torture and investigations negates Beltway conventional wisdom]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    It's not a large majority, but the point is this: those percentages are not reflected in Congress, the Senate, and our mass media. The first problem is the disconnect between public opinion and the opinion of our public 'officials.' The second problem is the disconnect between the populace and their voting habits. Not voting for people who support your views isn't going to bring about a change.

  • @treeple - balls & criticism

    [Read the article: Dick Armey and post-partisan harmony]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Would you say the Republicans do well when criticized from within their own party? If so, do you think there might have been one or two Republicans to vote for the stimulus package?

    Republicans are good at group think and being antagonistic.

  • @WinSmith

    [Read the article: The agenda of Chuck Schumer]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Untethered overreaction to a man who's integrity cannot be questioned.

    Why can't it be questioned?

  • Opinionists and Reporters have the same boss

    [Read the article: The distorting effect of anonymity]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Both have their work looked over by an editor. And, editors are supposed to police what is published to ensure that the 'facts' are true and corroborated.

    In addition, I point you to a passage from the ASNE Statement of Principles (emphasis mine):

    Good faith with the reader is the foundation of good journalism. Every effort must be made to assure that the news content is accurate, free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly. Editorials, analytical articles and commentary should be held to the same standards of accuracy with respect to facts as news reports.

    Sig is link but here is the URL: http://www.asne.org/kiosk/archive/principl.htm

    In light of the above, I would say that opinionists and reporters CAN be held to the same standard when it comes to presenting something as fact. And, the best way to corroborate something is fact is to cite multiple sources that are not anonymous.

  • @frankly0

    [Read the article: Republicans and executive compensation limits]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    ...the populist anger being fueled by these bonuses does present an opportunity for enterprising Republicans.

    Those enterprising Republicans might need to change their platform though. I'm not sure advocating unfettered capitalism (the very thing that allowed for this debacle) helps their cause.

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