Letters to the Editor
ljwalker53
Published Letters: 559 Editor's Choice: 9
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@ Xrandadu Hutman
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I guess we don't see the same things. I WILL be a little more cognizant of when HRC supporters use derogatory language, slurs or insults to Obama and his supporters.
I hope you will do the same...
I do want to point out something here about Obama's voting record that I think is fair game: there have been at least two amendments introduced to establish a timeline for troop withdrawal and to urge the president to begin bringing troops home that Sen. Obama voted against, but HRC voted in favor of. That is significant. Obama also voted to reauthorize Patriot Act, which a lot of Obama's supporters seem unwilling to believe. Some of the posts I have seen severely criticize HRC for this, but I don't see the same kind of criticism leveled at Obama for that.
There are other voting inconsistencies that I have to wonder about. SCHIP, for example. Sen. Obama hasn't been there to vote on this important legislation, although HRC has.
Sen. Obama has publicly accused HRC of voting for the 2005 bankruptcy bill. She didn't vote on it. At the same time, Obama has voted to limit class action lawsuits against corporations, like Enron. HRC voted against this.
Sen. Obama voted YES on the 2005 Energy bill that gave $14 billion in tax 'incentives' to the oil and gas industry. HRC voted against it.
Obama's supporters accuse HRC of taking financial contributions from Wall Street firms, hedge funds, telecom, media, insurance industries. But Obama has ALSO taken funds -- in large doses -- from these industries and corporations.
HRC has been accused of not supporting the ethics bill, but she did. She has been accused of voting against campaign finance reform, but she voted in favor of it.
HRC's record is belittled. Often what I read is people who either trash her time as First Lady as "limited" experience, or they don't want to acknowledge it all. At the same time, she isn't given credit for the mountain of accomplishments and achievements prior to being FL, and prior to her stint as Arkansas's FL.
If it is true, as the saying goes, that "what's good for the goose is good for the gander" then let us apply that same standard to both candidates.
Finally, each of these candidates has tremendous things going for them. Both are incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable. Each has pluses and minuses on their proposals, from health care to the housing problem, from energy to the environment. Both have positive and negative records with regard to Iraq. Neither of them is perfect. I don't see HRC as the "perfect" candidate, but I do not see Obama as perfect, either. What I wish both sides could acknowledge is the "imperfections" in their candidate and weigh that against the pluses, and/or their own values and goals. I think I have done that. I gather that you have, also.
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@ a_ignatius
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Point taken.
I didn't see "60 Minutes" so wasn't aware of that until your post.
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@ a_ignatius
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We really are lucky this year! Sometimes we need to be reminded of those "riches", I think, to put things in their proper perspective. It is perhaps because we have these two incredibly talented, smart candidates that the feelings are so strong on both 'sides'.
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@ Anonymous
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]First, a question: why are you posting anonymously? I have asked this question of anonymous poster in the past, because I am not in favor of a) replying to them; and b) allowing unlimited "anonymous" posts without some sort of additional identifier.
I am breaking my own rule here because I want to reiterate my belief:
I am working my best to be civil. I don't think it does any good for BHO supporters or HRC supporters to use insults, innuendo, misinformation, or name-calling to get across a point. The point gets lost in the anger. And such behavior cuts two ways: it hurts the receivers and it hurts the givers. We are intelligent, thoughtful adults trying to work our way through this very historic election with two very historic candidates.
The least that we can do is rise to the occasion.
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@ Xrandadu Hutman -- Is This What You're Looking For?
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Look, if you accept that Obama didn't vote on an important measure (several of them, actually), and you use the logic that you used with HRC's vote on the Bankruptcy bill, that same logic should apply to Obama's voting record. Can we at least stipulate that?
On bankruptcy measure:
SOURCE: http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=55463 (Business and Consumers)
On Iraq, there are several links:
To provide for safe redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq
SOURCE: http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=16735&can_id=9490
Iraq Withdrawal Amendment
SOURCE: http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490 (Defense)
On funding for Iraq:
SOURCE: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/nh_debate_the_dems_turn.html
SOURCE: http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490 (Appropriations, Defense)
On implementing 911 Commission Report recommendations:
SOURCE: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/key-votes/
On "No Confidence" vote of AG Alberto Gonzales:
SOURCE: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/key-votes/
On ethics reform:
SOURCE: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/1/votes/19/
Most missed votes by Senate member:
SOURCE: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/
On Patriot Act reauthorization: (National Security Issues)
SOURCE: http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490 (National Security Issues)
On SCHIP:
SOURCE: http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=16159&can_id=9490 (Health Issues)
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@ Xrandadu Hutman: Bankruptcy Measure
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm sorry but I did not get it "all wrong". I said the 2005 Bankruptcy bill and that is what Barack Obama said she voted in favor of. I have no quarrel with your information on the 2001 vote. It is the misinformation about HRC's vote on the 2005 measure that I am addressing here and in my previous posts to you!