Letters to the Editor
Jerm
Published Letters: 100 Editor's Choice: 3
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@Shawn
[Read the article: Hey, Obama boys: Back off already!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My wife and my mother are both Obama supporters. Both are white women, and both are very involved with "feminist" causes. Both work very hard for a living. I quoted "feminist," since they're also both suspicious of labels (that one in particular).
When a good candidate loses a nomination to a better candidate, that does not mean there is no room for them in the party. It just means the other candidate won. Hillary Clinton will still be a good Democratic Senator, Vice President, cabinet member, or even Supreme Court justice if Obama wins. The same applies to Obama.
The way your post reads, you care more about winning than being a Democrat, progressive, liberal, or whatever you consider yourself. I don't accept that line of thought. Stick with your values, and vote in your best interest...not just to win.
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Sexism
[Read the article: Hey, Obama boys: Back off already!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sexism isn't so much about men and women as it is about our society in my opinion. There certainly has been a tradition of patriarchy, which is perpetuated through subtle symbols and words used pervasively (and nearly invisibly to most).
When people use gender-specific terms, especially as pejoratives, they are contributing to sexism. Some of my favorite posters here are guilty. I'm guilty. My wife is guilty.
When people insinuate any masculine deficiancy they are contributing to sexism. Words like white wine liberal, elitist, latte-drinking are all subtle insults to one's masculinity. They imply something opposite of strong, tough, or independent, and so they are seen as pejoratives to some. Republicans use the word liberal in this manner.
Women who feel compelled to emphasize masculine qualities like toughness, referring to themselves as fighters, are acceding to masculine expectations.
People who are careful or politically correct with their speech are accused of being too sensitive. Again, a supposed insult to masculinity.
Sexism is rampant in our society. It's a social problem though; it isn't limited to a group of men who happen to not support Hillary Clinton. She's a fine candidate, but some people legitimately prefer Obama.
Ms. Traister is just bitter, and is clinging to something that...well, you know the rest.
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@SB - Fuel Cell, not fusion
[Read the article: The technology that will save humanity]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think when people are talking about Hydrogen as a fuel, they are generally speaking of Hydrogen fuel cells. Fuel cells are not fusion reactors. They do not fuse Hydrogen into Helium. They do electrochemically combine Oxygen and Hydrogen producing water and electricity. By most accounts the technology has a long way to go before it'll be ready for prime time though.
There are people working on nuclear fusion though; for instance the ITER project: http://www.iter.org Hydrogen fusion is not a joke, and if it can be made to work - the physicists say it can - it will be clean, safe, and very productive.
The US was more involved in ITER in the past, but in a critical 50-50 Senate vote to continue funding for the project on American soil, V.P. Al Gore ironically cast the tie-breaking vote to cut funding. The first reactor is now set to be constructed in France. C'est la vie.
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The show must go on
[Read the article: In speech, Obama looks past Pennsylvania]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Everything that happened tonight was so clearly what was going to happen that I just find myself bored. Hillary got her 9-10 point victory, and can't quite be happy. Obama made some inroads, and can't quite be happy. McCain is still sheltered, but also obscured, and he can't quite be happy.
I think the only thing substantial about the evening, and the several weeks running up to the evening is that Hillary's campaign can't have much more money left. With no shot at all for the pledged delegate lead, a dwindling shot at super lead, and not much of a shot at popular vote lead, I'm not sure why anyone will give her any more money. I could have understood if she really blew the doors off with a 20+ margin of victory, but she didn't. How does she continue to go on if she can't pay for it?
I'm terribly tired of all this. How about one big super Tuesday from now on?
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@Cythera
[Read the article: In speech, Obama looks past Pennsylvania]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You are divorced from reality. Get a hold of yourself, find your meds, put the computer away, and just breath.
Barack still leads in every category - all Hillary has left are arguments, because she can't point to her results. I actually like Hillary, and I think she'd be a fine VP. But I'm tired of you and everyone like you.
While you're breathing, read this - it sums up the situation rather nicely:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/opinion/23wed1.html