Letters to the Editor
Holly McLachlan
Published Letters: 559 Editor's Choice: 3
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Data is queen of the world
[Read the article: Larry Di Rita's responses to questions about the "military analyst" program]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...The Memorandum which Di Rita approved explicitly said that the program was designed to weed out of media coverage any analysts who weren't "reliably friendly" by providing access only to pro-Pentagon sources, yet Di Rita sits there and denies that this was its purpose. [...] our high government officials [...] break the law and lie continuously with total impunity. [...] they remain secure that there will never be any consequences. Until that expectation is altered, the behavior will continue unchanged. -- Glenn Greenwald
Yes. If one is high enough up the food chain, a top aide to say, Rumsfeld or VP Cheney, one need fear no demands of accountability. Well connected men have always had it easier, but at present it seems that a certain sort of rightie whitie can fleece the average man with breathe-taking impunity.
Their contempt for the tax-paying average citizen who funds them (and their pensions) with his hard-earned dollar -- it could not be more complete.Is there an organized effort to sift through the doc dump? Yesterday Jim White mentioned getting into it, and posted a link, but he indicated he was just trying a scattershot perusal of the info.
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Umh, no
[Read the article: Larry Di Rita's responses to questions about the "military analyst" program]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Some argue that the U.S. has used propaganda in the past, and it did. The difference is that historical propaganda was used to incite Americans against a real threat in an act of self-defense. It was not used to con Americans into accepting a war of aggression against a nation one thirteenth the size of the U.S. -- gc_wall
????
Remember the Maine!This is an old dishonorable game, not something new under the sun.
That in no way negates our right to fight it.
It's been sweet to see Jestaplero again. I work with many conservative too -- but very few of them can think their way out of a paper bag; they rely on verbal violence and numbers. The last conservative I wrangled with who could argue soundly was an old lawyer -- my Dad. He's been dead for 2 years. The majority of my peers rely on getting offended rather than supporting their beliefs with sound argumentation. Excessive delicacy -- it's the first refuge of scoundrels. But you know, their emotions are soooo much finer than mine. And their flag pins sparkle brighter than truth.Or not, as the case may be. The truth has a mighty fine shine.
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TPM Muckraker doc diving thread link, active since yesterday afternoon.
[Read the article: Was Karl Rove involved in the military analyst program?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This link below probably won't wrap well. Large amounts of redaction in the .pdfs of emails look like butt-covering rather than legitimately driven by the need to protect government actions or personnel: see p.6161 in the April 23 Barstow release -- it looks as though much simple rudeness was blacked out... or maybe not. The blocs of emails download quickly.
What is striking is the persistent general tone in these emails; there is no question that they pertain to a conscious, concerted propaganda effort. Funded by taxpayers dollars, naturally. http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/pentagon_military_analyst_doc.php#comment-2808056
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The point behind the data
[Read the article: Finding Obama guilty of insufficient devotion to Israel]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]A recent Gallup poll found that among American Jewish voters, Obama destroys McCain (61-32%)... -- Greenwald
Call that destroy if you like, but Democratic presidential nominees usually do much better than field 61% of the Jewish vote. -- Asher Steinberg
I felt that it was hyperbole on Glenn's part to describe Obama's clear advantage as "destroys", but if you are going to cite historical comparatives -- provide the links or hardcopy citations. My understanding is that the tendency to vote Democratic has been decreasing slowly for decades among self-identifying Jewish voters. If the support level for Obama in this demographic is markedly below that of prior Democratic Presidential candidates, you may have an argument -- an argument about his minor overstatement.
That doesn't impact the fundamental point he was making about how twisted, how absurd, it is that the candidate with a 2/3rds advantage in polling of Jewish voters is the one who is grilled about his fealty to Israel. It merely highlights the fact that our national newsmedia is not in touch with, and not respectful of the norms of our middle class society. -
''Elp, 'elp, oim being Opressed!
[Read the article: Tom Friedman's latest declaration of war]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Apologies to the late Dudley Moore, but I think of this skit every time I read something like this:
... Since you're genetically incapable of concocting one of your own original thoughts...
Was there something else, [...] or do you have some more insults you wish to hurl at me... -- Electro RobotA veritable font of respectful disagreement -- that's our Electro Robot.
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Chesterton in spades
[Read the article: Tom Friedman's latest declaration of war]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's hardly in dispute that Iran is engaged in power plays in the Middle East. It would be much more surprising if they weren't meddling. They have legitimate national interests in what goes on in the region and they have factions in their government who would love to preside over a confederation of greater Shiastan extending through Mess-O-Potamia.
What, exactly, is our national interest in this issue?
I don't believe that curbing Iran's desire for control in the region is worth the blood and treasure our punditocracy thinks it's worth. But, I feel the same way about Iraq -- only more so. America is not infinitely wealthy. Our "newsmedia" no longer even covers the issue of exactly how much money is being pissed away every day on sustaining our presence in Iraq. Our world will not be forever unipolar; there are at least 4 nations or blocs which could grow and organize sufficiently over the next decade to provide us a serious run for our money (literally).
I'd far rather see Iran piss away it's peoples' wealth on sundry clients than watch our government do likewise.