Letters to the Editor
ironocrat
Published Letters: 269 Editor's Choice: 4
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Slackie, melthough
[Read the article: Clinton: "My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Believe me when I say I'm not defending Clinton. I am an Edwards supporter and thoroughly dissatisfied with either choice.
I don't think there was any question that immunity would prevail and the bill would pass, so voting or not voting was something of a moot act.
Hillary was damned-if-she-did or damned-if-she-didn't. If she stayed to vote (neglecting for now the consequences of which way she voted) she lost valuable campaigning time which she desperately needs. She chose to focus on the campaign.
Barack made the smart move in this case. Additionally, his choice not to vote on the final passage gives him cover against the (probably) eventual Republican machine.
Like I said, trotting out this vote is something of a canard. The conclusion was predetermined and both politicians acted politically.
Neither Clinton nor Obama's actions reflected my own opinions, and in the end they both acted in a manner that is best for them. That's not a negative thing. We shouldn't be surprised that politicians act like politicians.
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W.E.S. is spot on
[Read the article: Clinton: "My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Members of Congress don't generally make up their minds through debate. Debate is a way to get on the record. Everyone votes in their political best interest, be that through satisfying constituents or parties or moneyed interests.
Incidentally, the Supreme Court works the same way, yet both institutions have this image that their proceedings are somehow unpredictable, passionate affairs.
Mr. Smith went to Washington a very long time ago - Everyone in Congress is there because they are a savvy political operative.
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Rubick Cube
[Read the article: "Jumper"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thanks, but I don't deserve those kind of honors. I'm just sitting here mashing keys. I'm sure there's a better metaphysical explanation of my motivation for doing so, but eh.
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Glenn
[Read the article: CNN's John Roberts helps out Mike McConnell]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This passage
"The whole world is against you and your candidate. It's all a secret conspiracy. We're all on Clinton's payroll. It's not just your imagaination at all. You've keyed into what's really going on."
is why I still come to Salon every day to see your columns.
I cannot overstate how consistently spot-on your writing is. Thanks.
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Slackie
[Read the article: "Jumper"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm not immune to the wiles of deconstruction, and I wouldn't go so far as to require "intent" or something as a qualifier to the production of art.
However, sometimes things are just as they are. I generally shy away from ideology, as few truths are universal, so I can't get on board with the idea that every film or photo or painting or book has some greater meaning.
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Regardless of who the president is...
[Read the article: Clinton: "My opponent gives speeches, I offer solutions"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How will he/she avoid "polarizing" people over extricating ourselves from Iraq, universal healthcare, taxes, etc. etc.
Polarization is inherent in our system. It's "compromise" and "bipartisanship" that worry me. See the Protect America Act, Iraq authorization, etc.
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Thadeus
[Read the article: "Definitely, Maybe"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Your posts are determinedly elegiac in reference to the Salon movie section.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
But I do agree, the movie section here is very poor. I have a weekly internal debate over whether Zacharek or Dana Stevens over at Slate is worse... there is continually no clear winner.
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User moderation is a terrible idea
[Read the article: A note about War Room's reader comments]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]All it does is encourage groupthink.
Write an honest critique of Candidate A? You can be sure supporters of Candidate A will vote it down no matter what.
These threads are much more civil in general than most places on the Internet.
I'm guaranteed to be in the minority here, but I'd say the current level of moderation is appropriate. And keep Anonymous. Posting under a name you made up is the same as posting under "Anonymous" - I still don't understand those who would use their full name.
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Well...
[Read the article: Wii and PS3 projected to eclipse XBox 360]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable." - John Kenneth Galbraith
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Real names
[Read the article: A note about War Room's reader comments]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There's no way in hell I'd post my real name on a publicly accessible website, particularly one in which I posted repeatedly regarding parts of my life.
Those of you who at least claim to be using your real name (for it is just a claim), great, but you're nuts.
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How to get people to leave Salon
[Read the article: A note about War Room's reader comments]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]1) Get rid of Anonymous
in combination with
2) Require real names
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Forget high def video...
[Read the article: Wii and PS3 projected to eclipse XBox 360]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'd just like my XBox to work consistently.
Some great games but I will never buy another piece of Microsoft hardware.
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More scorched earth politiking from two false factions in one party...
[Read the article: A supersize controversy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ho hum, ho hum.
I'm afraid we'll lose this one big no matter what.
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Typical Salon definition:
[Read the article: A supersize controversy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Troll (n.) - Someone who disagrees with you.
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The accusations of being a troll...
[Read the article: A supersize controversy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...came before that.
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Socs
[Read the article: A supersize controversy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I appreciate the "Maybe I have to be clearer for you..." line. Next time you could just insult me directly.
95% of the posts on Salon are "unsupported" and "propoganda-type".
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melthough
[Read the article: A supersize controversy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is a derail so I'll state in advance that I won't continue this discussion.
However, no, I wouldn't use an ignore function.
The posters you mentioned are the exception to the rule... I think if you can't take an argument, you may as well not be posting on the Internet. Sure, W.E.S. steps over the line, but most do at some point.
The letters threads are largely devoid of genuine trolls and the few that show up are not difficult to skip over.
Besides, the content is so varied that a universal ignore would be harmful to the browsing experience. Brightstar65 is a good example... he/she is terrible in politics threads but is a real laugh in Broadsheet. If you then make the ignore function thread-specific, how much use is it really? I personally may browse a letters thread for a max of an hour in a day.
So no, I wouldn't use an ignore function - I have one built into my brain.
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There Will Be Blood
[Read the article: Oscar and Hollywood in splitsville!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Was excellent. No two ways about it. Not as good as No Country, but still.
I have a hard time understanding how TWBB could be seen as slow... It struck me as a seething slow boil in the first few minutes. I personally was riveted.
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Er, on "slow"
[Read the article: Oscar and Hollywood in splitsville!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]To cut myself off at the pass...
"Slow" is Wedding Crashers or Titanic or something similar that just fizzles.
A slow boil is modest on the uptake but it has drive and direction.
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GW
[Read the article: Indie box office: "No Country" and "Blood" booming]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What picture would you have in place of There Will Be Blood?
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I hate to be a killjoy
[Read the article: TV Daily]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But edited Dexter makes me sad.
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jayiijay
[Read the article: Oscar and Hollywood in splitsville!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Stop. Please.