Letters to the Editor
Ben Sen
Published Letters: 541 Editor's Choice: 98
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Sorry, No Bad Blood
[Read the article: Betting little in Las Vegas]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why do journalists only think they have a story if they find some dirt?
What I saw happening was a display of Democratic solidarity aimed at assuring the party that regardless of who wins they will not splinter this year. They will spar, they will go for the throat if attacked, but they will not cause the defeat of the party.
That's how serious this election is to them--as it should be. They are the finest field of candidates I've ever seen at a time when they are desperately needed. That whole "drama" last week about "racism" and "dope" was manufactured by the media's needs--not the candidates or the electorate. It was absurd.
Why not make the call for solidarity NOW. Hillary actually said it more clearly than any of them and Barack has made a platform out of it. I hope his advocates were listening. He's a "bargainer" who puts white folks at ease while Edwards is believable as someone who will not fall prey to the "fat cats." I find Hillary believable as someone who will unify and actually run the country.
And yes, America can be proud of having a viable black and woman candidate--and yes they are Democrats. The racist bigoted fundamentalists and their country club cousins have done enough damage for awhile.
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Tell Your Ma, Tell Your Pa
[Read the article: The 2008 presidential mash-up]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I loved the bit about Obama being the "ying yang" of Guliani's fear mongering.
Romney has long been my idea of who the Republicans will pick. He is the conscienctious corporate choice. I joke and tell the true believers it's his hair (that's how stupid it gets) but it is more than that. The average Republican is terribly dumb but not that dumb. I've known them all my life and it's time to tell the truth.
Huckabee has disgraced himself with the country club set with his stuff about rewritting the constitution according to "god's law." But let's face it, fellow god fearers, the almighty still hasn't made it into the Supreme Court despite Bush.
The "electable" issue is a matter or perception if anything ever was. Plain and simple. The media is going to play a big role in this. Will they flake out like they did in '04 or gently turn the mob toward the Dems and a chance, at least, to return the nation to sanity? (It may be time for you boys and gals to make a choice.)
It's going to take every man, woman, and child who has some belief in something more than greed to beat back the reactionary tide. If Obama or Hillary are chosen every two faced rat in the country is going to beat a path to the polls. Tell your ma, internet activists, tell your pa, a day is comin' when they need to get off their ass and vote. I suggest you tell them now.
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Learning the Code
[Read the article: The 2008 presidential mash-up]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's hard to believe after all this time folks are still criticizing Hillary for being ambitious. It's clearly a code for gender prejudice. What the hell do they think she or anybody running for president is going to be? If the guy who just gave you a parking ticket wasn't ambitious he'd be in jail or watching TV. Has there ever been a politician who hasn't changed positions when they reach a national stage or in view of changing conditions? Give that one a rest, as least.
The same with the "dynasty" crap. You really have to be reaching to make the case but I recall Greenwald falling for it. How can it be called an "issue?" It's part of the code that demonizes anyone or anything who doesn't fit into a "perfect" world. How much time need one spend in public life and what is it they need to say or do to displace this sort of paranoia?
The reason the conscientious can't take this race for granted even though the primaries show a new coalition forming is history. This country re-elected a president who sent them to war on the basis of a false pretext. He turned the nation into an armed camp and almost bankrupt it to support special interests due to class, race, militarism and irresponsibility, yet still that isn't enough to convince the mob it's time to end it.
I don't buy attempts by conservatives and reactionaries to minimize the situation for those who have had enough--regardless of their party. It won't be time to take victory for granted until the warmongers are out of the White House and the opposition (in this case the Dems) have a majority in both houses.
Even then, given the depth of ignorance and the possibility of a severe economic downturn setting a new agenda is going to be very difficult.
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@MGP
[Read the article: The 2008 presidential mash-up]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Most of your disillusion with HRC is based on false conclusions about what happened last week. You should read some of Joan Walsh's comments which indicate it was mostly a tempest in a tea pot more media generated than anything substantial about the candidates. They decided not to take it personally in the interest of party unity--why should you?
But what is most interesting is how unprincipled and reactionary your position is. It makes no sense to vote Republican for such two bit reasons, even if it does make it clear how hotheads think. This is why the rest of us have to keep suffering the likes of Bush.
If we do finally get the Rove coalition out of power, it won't be due to people who think like you, but moderates who have had enough and are able to discern an issue from a pile of flak. If you hadn't of come up with this to have a temper tantrum it would have been something else.