Letters to the Editor
AKA Smith
Published Letters: 4572 Editor's Choice: 83
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I like most of what I have heard from Obama so far.
[Read the article: Barack Obama's quiet rebellion]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am in the category of undecided, but likely to vote Democratic.
I don't think this division of labor thing the Obamas have so far is such a good idea. I think Obama is a great speaker. I think he shows a fine intellect. However, he needs to remember that George H.W. Bush lost a second term because he looked at his watch while answering an emotional-type question during a debate. Ole Clinton with his I-feel-your-pain approach thrived. It will take more than impulsively offering a position to a disabled person to really make the human connection.
A little off subject, but because I want all Democratic candidates and their spouses to do well and have the advantage over the Republicans, I hope someone will please send Dr. Obama to a clothing stylist ASAP. That outfit she's wearing in the photo to this article is just awful! Personally, I think she should have kept her job and considered joining the campaign later, but I don't think she would wear that dirndl miniskirt outfit to work. And then she compounds the error by falling fashion victim to those black tights.
No, I am not being frivolous! Best nip such distractions in the bud.
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Hi Megan Wilson,
[Read the article: Barack Obama's quiet rebellion]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thank you for bringing your up close perspective here. I hope the work that the Senator has planned for you will benefit all disabled people.
Disability rights are an important issue to me. I hope Salon will focus some on how the candidates plan to deal with health care and employment issues for people with both mental and physical disbilities.
Congratulations on this new opportunity.
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Oh piffle!
[Read the article: It's hard to be a dude these days]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My daughter's first two serious boyfriends wore skirts to concerts. I think she sort of scared the one who wore buns on either side of his head when they watched "The Velvet Underground" together and she was all over him on the sofa. It is true; that one did run away. I think he may have had some gender confusion. However the one that wore the black eye liner lasted for two years. He was anything but wimpy.
I actually liked him. How was I to know he was a serious pothead? Such a talented musician!
It's really simple. Conventional people will be frightened by unconventional things and will have trouble adjusting to societal changes. Unconventional people will have more fun, but probably go to jail more often.
I also seriously doubt most young men are given anxiety attacks by girls who open their legs.
I am an old feminist, but I can learn a few things from new feminists. Sexuality is one issue. Career advancement is another. I think it would be silly if young women went back to preserving their "virtue" just so men could feel more empowered.
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Dear LW Fed Up
[Read the article: My brother is no good, and I've had enough!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It would be easier to advise you if I knew for what crimes he has spent time in jail. Theft? Shouldn’t be around your pocketbook. Assault? Shouldn’t be around your children. Sexual predation? Shouldn’t be around anyone.
However, I am going to take a leap here based upon what you have said about your parents and guess that he has addiction problems with either drugs, alcohol, or both. In which case, he shouldn’t be driving a car.
Can he get to the remnants of the job he still has via public transportation? You need to do a bit of research and, since he is a liar, you can’t take his word for anything. First, find out if he still has the job. By that, I mean go there yourself and witness him actually working. If he is working, you need to find out the nearest bus stop from where he currently lives to where the bus stop is where he works. Then buy him a bus pass.
Next, visit him at your aunt’s house and take back the car. I don’t care how you do this. “Steal” the keys from him if you have to and take the car. Take someone with you if you are worried that he will not accept this action. If you need to, take a cop.
Third, when he is kicked out of the aunt’s house, drive him (or arrange transportation for him) to the best homeless shelter in town. The reason he can’t take the bus is that he also needs to take his stuff with him to the shelter. If he has stuff that the shelter cannot accommodate, arrange to rent a storage unit in his name. Pay for three months rent.
From that point on, until he shows significant improvement, provide absolutely no financial assistance. How should you help? If he has mental problems, he needs a case manager at a mental health clinic to arrange services for him. If he has drug problems, he needs someone in addiction services to arrange treatment for him. From that point, he is on his own. He will learn to manipulate the system if he wants to survive. In his case, manipulating the system will be good for him. It will improve his real life survival skills.
The most important thing is that you do not let him further manipulate you.
Once vocational, mental, and addiction-type services have all been tried, if he makes no real effort, if he makes no progress, then you need to give up on him.
GIVE UP ON HIM.
Only he can help himself.
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Of course Bush believes there was no "wrongdoing,"
[Read the article: Bush on Karl Rove and America's soul]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]These days with the unitary executive, Bush may do whatever he chooses and call it right. Rove may also do whatever Bush chooses and call it right.
Grieve is correct. Bush's comments are effectively a non-denial denial.
Bush continuing to the end of his present term is like allowing a rattlesnake to live in the kitchen cabinet where the water glasses are kept.
War with Iran is what the neocons have planned for us all along. They still have the power to take us there between now and 2009.