Letters to the Editor
kabiddle
Published Letters: 25 Editor's Choice: 1
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Kurt Vonnegut
[Read the article: Kurt's canon]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How could you possibly not list "Fahrenheit 451" as one of Mr Vonnegut's most timely and timeless novels? A terrifying machine of the State that pursues people who dare to hide books within a cupboard or other secret place, out of sight of the very men and women who were previously entrusted to put out fires to save lives but who are, in the story, charged with starting the fires that will now destroy thought and ideas, literally, in the form of books? This is his underlying theme! Yeesh!
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Karl in the middle
[Read the article: Karl in the middle]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This may in fact be a good faith effort by the OSC to tie together the multiple and finally-beginning-to-emerge efforts by the White House to politicise and game the entire federal government. But because the cynicism of this administration must be met with equal or even greater incredulity and skepticism, this "obscure" investigation must be followed very closely. It is not beyond the imagination of this pack of sociopaths -- particularly the alpha sociopath himself, Karl Rove -- to think they can game this one too. They know they've broken multiple laws (they aren't that incompetent) and most probably will try to pre-empt any investigation with an "investigation" of their own. "See, no malfeasance, only mistakes." There are no words left to describe this ever-dwindling group of dangerous people -- each description gets trumped by the next lie.
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Legislating Sexuality
[Read the article: The GOP's crowded closet]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Enough already. This whole back-and forth about who is more moral to lead whom has become a goddamn food fight. Going nowhere, signifying and accomplishing nothing. Although it is vitally important that the public -- you know, the voters and taxpayers -- have a sense of what a particular elected official does in his or her spare time between private life and public pronouncement, this has now become another "shiny object" guaranteed to divert from the real issues at hand. The Rebublican members of Congress who have most certainly brought this denoument apon themselves deserve it completely: they took the easy road of wedge issues and visceral fear and media irresponsibility into a drumbeat of failure that is breathtaking -- and they have some very specific operatives to thank for their rush to bad judgement. There is a country in hazard while we titillate and obfuscate about this. Move on.
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Chris Matthews and his reporting
[Read the article: Matthews: V.P.'s office tried to silence me on Cheney's Iraq role]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is the possibility -- just a possibility -- that Mr. Matthews sees which way the wind may be blowing in context of the next Presidential election and wants to ensure his "place" as a favored Washington journalist/gadfly/insider if the new administration happens to comprise a Clinton or other Democratic contender. It has been interesting to see him begin to confront some of the more blatant Republican spinners of late. Hard to tell if it is the First Amendment or his own First Matthews that is behind it all. If any Democrat becomes president in 2008 it will be loads of fun to watch all the mea culpas stampeding for attention among the screaming crowd. I guess we all got to make a living somehow...
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Petraeus for the Nobel
[Read the article: Gore for the Nobel? How about Petraeus?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Well, maybe he'll finally be embarrassed now.
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When Rudy Goes Waterboarding
[Read the article: When Rudy goes waterboarding]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is no worse monster than the converted, attempting to square their own conscience in order to attain a higher, more lucrative position for themselves as a civic and moral leader and doing nothing to change the fact of disaster. On the other hand, there is no worse monster than the sublimated character, trying to acheive same. Rudy seems to be alternating between both as if he can't figure out who he truly is -- he only covets the prize. The concept of simple ambition doesn't even begin to cover this man and his trail of tears.
His is a monstrous ego that must be constantly nourished -- stroked and petted. His very modus is that he, himself, must respond in an off-hand joking manner to real life occurences that he has never experienced are indicative of a person of no soul, no grit, no underlying affirmation other than himself and his grasping.
So I concur. Mr. Rudy himself should experience what the Marines did back in the 60's during boot camp -- when Pol Pot was torturing and trying to break soldiers who were voluntary as well as from a draft. The marines did simulations of the practice in order to harden the guys up. Rudy should chuck his bespoke shoes and get on down to the nearest Marine recruiting center and take a tour of the wonders of waterboarding. Heck, stick him in isolation for about 47 hours and see who he is. He may come out as a leader without question. Just don't give him a media heads-up. Let him wonder...