Letters to the Editor
Ben Sen
Published Letters: 539 Editor's Choice: 97
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Redemption and The Low Road
[Read the article: Scooter's tragic innocence]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Most of these posts are really missing the point.
I have no sympathy for Scooter Libby, especially after reading this memoir. An asskisser is an asskisser no matter how you dress it up with references to Zen masters and the East coast prep schools.
As for his being "Jewish" the history of the reich is full stories of Jews who thought nothing of sending others to their death to protect their own skin. If Libby once had a conscience, there is no proof yet that he had one as a Bush lackey--especially given his role with the WMD reports, which arguably sent thousands to their death.
The story here is that he is not going to go down, hopefully, without blowing the whistle on his bosses. AT LAST! A kink, or possible kink in the armor. Let's face it: you are not going to get anybody who isn't dirty to play this role--and redemption is, was and always will be the sweetest game in town.
So I am rooting for Scooter to spill the beans. Remember who Dean was before he woke up. The lower this poor excuse for a human being got on the totem pole the higher he can rise if he is not simply a low life opportunist with a fancy education who will always remain one.
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The Conscious Majority
[Read the article: The bipartisan war on Bush]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This makes it absolutely clear it wasn't enough in the last election for the GOP to loose the House entirely, and the Senate to a lesser extent to get through to the current crop in Washington.
I hope the hopefulls in those states, Dems and moderate Republicans, are taking notes. Judging by the numbers that are coming up for re-election, the focus on 'O8 has begun in a way that should make the pundits also take notice.
These folks learn very, very slow. If I was a local columnist in one of the states where these old boys live, I'd be having a field day.
Where are the Democractic strategists when you need them? Are they paying attention?
If Rove has the tactic of using homophobia, prejudice, ignorance, and pure unadultered greed to build a coalition, why can't a new consensus be formed of moderates who use the tenants of an open, free society that pays attention to the interests of a "conscious majority?"
If the contenders in the presidential play to the higher asperations of the public, rather that troll the bottom of the pile with fear, the right wing advance of the last fourty years might be contained--if nothing else.
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In the First Person Singular
[Read the article: The readers strike back]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Before I discovered Salon, I found the "blogosphere" a bore--or more exactly the latest way to package the oldest profession. Mostly, because the sites are the "converted" speaking to each other, pure propaganda, thinly disguised ads, or outright loonies egging each other on--as Gary points out.
Or not really a discussion at all--just people competing to write the best bon mot. (Not to mention any names.)
From the writer's standpoint, and more specifically my own, it has provided the opportunity to develop thought and engage in what I call the "dialog," of our time. Finally, I've learned the internet has a beneficial public purpose!
If salon.com only turns out to be an experiment that fails, and Gary's article is some sort of test, I want to make sure I get in a sincere vote for its continuation. I don't care about the occasional rant and raver; I'm not personally threatened by some electrons spread across a computer screen no matter how much hate they contain. (I don't have to read them.)
But I am threatened by those who become dangerous because they don't have an outlet--and want to act it out in some other way that is far more damaging. The wonder is the quality of so much that is said, and that the editors let so much of it through. At least, I now have a better idea of what is really "out there." And so does everybody else.
To me, that's the open society so often lauded, but so rarely practiced.
The bottom line: I doubt if in the 90 or so posts I've made, despite all the effort, if I have influenced one mind, but if I have--or I have somehow led someone to take a deeper look at this "dark" time (my point of view, which it is my responsibility to own) it has been worth it.
The frustration of being "cut out" just because one hasn't been called upon to contribute professionally is difficult, yet this provides an alternative. That's what I have to add--with appreciation.