Letters to the Editor
Ricardo Malocchio
Published Letters: 204 Editor's Choice: 3
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firenze419
[Read the article: McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I accept that you consider Gov. Palin to be qualified by her experience for the vice presidency.
My question to you - to all of you - is do you support her positions?
We know that her position is to outlaw abortions in all circumstances, including rape, incest, and the health of the mother. That is also the GOP platform.
We know she is beloved by the extreme religious right for her personal decision to take to term a fetus with Down Syndrome. When faced with the same decision, 9 of 10 women in the US choose to terminate.
We know she has publicly supported teaching creationism in schools, that she is a darling of the gun-nut right, a "lifetime member" of the NRA, that she opposes the protections of the Endangered Species Act and seeks to open up ANWR to drilling - in this, she goes further than even John McCain when it comes to environmental exploitation.
We now know one or two things about Gov. Palin. I ask you directly: do you support Gov. Palin's positions?
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lolcat, jebldmm, et al.
[Read the article: McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I agree that it's unfair to dismiss Gov. Palin as so many have. I keep suggesting that instead we treat her like the adult human being she is, analyze and debate her policy positions, her record... in short, to treat her with the same respect we treat a male politician.
But no one seems willing to do that. Again... do you support her positions?
We know that her position is to outlaw abortions in all circumstances, including rape, incest, and the health of the mother. That is also the GOP platform.
We know she is beloved by the extreme religious right for her personal decision to take to term a fetus with Down Syndrome. When faced with the same decision, 9 of 10 women in the US choose to terminate. Does Gov. Palin and the religious right intend to proscribe this decision into law, applicable to every woman?
We know she has publicly supported teaching creationism in schools, that she is a darling of the gun-nut right, a "lifetime member" of the NRA, that she opposes the protections of the Endangered Species Act and seeks to open up ANWR to drilling - in this, she goes further than even John McCain when it comes to environmental exploitation.
We now know one or two things about Gov. Palin. I ask you directly: do you support Gov. Palin's positions?
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I respect and applaud your straightforward response, firenze419
[Read the article: McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I would hope that others would be as honest and forthright as yourself, as I fervently believe it would move this discussion in a much more fruitful (and respectful) direction.
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Ms. O'Donnell
[Read the article: McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I responded to your "Carolyn is a token" observations, explaining that in the United States, our vice presidential candidates are selected by the various party's nominees, approved by the party delegates at the convention, and ultimately either voted into office or not by the electorate.
Whatever beef you have against Carolyn Kennedy couldn't be less relevant to our democratic process or public discussion regarding the vice presidency. She was chosen by the nominee to assist in the process, along with Jim Johnson and Eric Holder. I consider the three of them to be qualified to have served on this committee.
However, you never answered my questions: Do you support your country's laws on abortion and contraception? Do you agree with Gov. Palin's positions on reproductive issues? Do you think the United States should be more like Ireland in this regard?
These issues are at the heart of the ongoing debate in this country, part of those "culture wars" you may have heard about. Gov. Palin is best known and celebrated for her religious conservatism and her positions on these issues.
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You're absolutely correct, jopahill
[Read the article: McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's Gov. Palin's party, her party's positions, and her own positions on the issues of the day that cause me to oppose her. She is slightly to the right of most of the GOP, but a perfect representative of one of the most powerful blocks within the party, the religious right.
Yes. I oppose her, her positions, and those of her party. I've delineated those positions that I oppose above and asked who among you supports them.
I take it that you *do* support them, jopahill?
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I regret that another engagement will take me away from this discussion
[Read the article: McCain's Palin pick is the epitome of tokenism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And I regret even further that with the exception of firenze419, not a single one of you is willing to proclaim your support for Gov. Palin's actual policy positions.
clapham, I will respond to your questions even though you did not respond to a single one of mine. I am personally opposed to abortion in the second two terms of pregnancy, but would not seek to legislate my personal opinion. I oppose third trimester abortions altogether, and support legislation restricting this in all cases except where the health of the mother is threatened.
I disagree with my candidate on this issue. But I agree with my candidate on nearly every other issue, and certainly more than John McCain. Gov. Palin is so far to the right of me that the very notion of voting for her is inconceivable.
I regret that I must now depart for the day, and sincerely hope that this conversation remains centered on the actual issues.
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Schaller's "analysis" embarrassing for Salon, demeaning to Clinton
[Read the article: Clinton's conundrum]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Nothing whatsoever to report, Schaller instead offers shallow political psychoanalysis that starts by assuming the very worst about Hillary Clinton.
You're not just a hack; you're a liar.