Letters to the Editor
Holly McLachlan
Published Letters: 558 Editor's Choice: 3
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Situational "Conservatives" ....the kind that give prunes the trots....
[Read the article: Brian Williams' "response" to the military analyst story]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In all that time has Glenn ever called for vetting anti-war or even generally lefty commentators? Not that I've seen. It's only conservative talking heads that prompt these screeds. -- shooter242
Only conservatives prompt his "screeds"? You have a very situational definition of "conservative". I've seen him come down fairly hard on Marty Peretz, Alan Dershowitz, and some of the status quo enablers in Congress. Have Sens. Rockefeller, Schumer or Emmanuel become conservatives in the last 5 minutes? My recollection is that these distinctly liberal public figures have been on the receiving end of Glenn's posts from time to time. Granted, they receive little vetting, but they are too well-known to require much. As for obscure, "leftie" technocratic consultants -- where are they shooter242? I'm personally familiar with some of the highly qualified people who might be called upon to opine about the "hot" topic of global warming. I've yet to see or hear of any of them being tapped to speak on this matter in the popular media.
let's see you call for equal treatment of talking head scrutiny. -- shooter242
This is no problem; I strongly prefer to know as much as reasonably possible about any pontificator the "news"media sets before me. The problem is, what exactly do you require as parity in disclosure? Do you demand that the 35 year old utterances of a Chomsky's or Ayers be given the same weight as a retired general's on-going financial relationship with weapons manufacturers? I've seen you demand these sorts of unbalanced equivalences in the past, shooter242. Immediately thereafter, you declare yourself vindicated.
It's a weak tea sort of argument.
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Carrot and Stick -- it can be a fairly sophisticated tactic if fully deployed
[Read the article: What backroom conniving are Steny Hoyer and the Chris Carney Blue Dogs up to on FISA?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...I think [Carney]'s perhaps turnable, which is why I recommend the carrot, as well as the stick.
[...] these guys will take money from anyone. -- karrsicYes. Which brings up an important point: can ActBlue take the funds it is currently gathering for this ad campaign and make them into a supportive ad series endorsing him if he becomes active in the fight against telecom immunity?
My guess is no, given that they didn't stipulate that they might do so in their original call for donations; there are surely contributors to that kitty who don't want to support Carney in any way for any reason. Those contributors would feel baited-and-switched unless the possibility of switching from a "Stick" to a "Carrot" had been laid out in advance.But what about for the future? The next Blue Dog to be targeted this way should face a double down -- either we run an ad series against you or you get favorable ads, running over a period of time leading up to the election, if you support our cause. Consistently.
Double your impact without doubling your money. I know, ad campaigns aren't created for free and this would double the cost of creating one -- but the real money is in the purchase of airtime. If ActBlue were make this their "standard" practice -- "carrot or stick, make your pick" -- any politician who is targeted would learn what to expect. If this tactic were applied consistently, it would strengthen every campaign that ActBlue undertakes.
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Everyone hates the Phone Company
[Read the article: What backroom conniving are Steny Hoyer and the Chris Carney Blue Dogs up to on FISA?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The overwhelming majority of the people in this country see no value in launching a futile lawsuit against telcos, -- nvizibl
The overwhelming majority of the people in this country see nothing about this topic -- therefore your unsupported assertion that they "come out in favor" of anything pertaining to it is ridiculous ......anonymoose.
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I tried to follow up with proper Bronx cheer, but my tongue broke!
[Read the article: What backroom conniving are Steny Hoyer and the Chris Carney Blue Dogs up to on FISA?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here].....it's obvious that Glenn isn't about to cross swords with the House leadership. Not a surprise when there are small fry to beat up on. -- shooter242
AND!!!! Glenn won't take on the entire racist structure of American society!!!
How dare he focus on achievable goals. The gall of the man!
Exercising our free speech rights as Americans = an "Intifada" against Carney?
Get.Off.The.Lunch.
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Hezbos -- they're great, all-purpose boogiemen
[Read the article: Who needs Dana Perino when you have the NYT's Michael Gordon?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why Hezbollah??
Assuming that Iran actually is training "terrorists" to go into Iraq, why would Iran need to import Hezbollah people from Lebanon to do the training? Aren't the Iranians supposed to be good enough at this themselves?
It seems plausible that the allegation of Hezbollah involvement is intended to justify a wider offensive against people Israel does not like before the Bushies leave office -- texasbobDamned good question. Long-standing ties between Hezbollah and Iran have been described in the past; there is a relationship between the 2 Shi'ite entities. Typically in the past however, western news sources have reported that "Iranian government operative/Revolutionary Guard" types were training Hezbollah men. Why would Iran now need to import talent -- at a time when Hezbollah is still short of experienced fighters? Hezbollah personnel might be involved in these kinds of guerilla training camps -- but, it seems as though the word "Hezbollah" is invoked for emotional effect in this article.