Letters to the Editor
RichEmery
Published Letters: 797 Editor's Choice: 191
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"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms Lewinsky."
[Read the article: Next time, try Domino's]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Second verse, same as the first. Mr. Tobias "did not have sexual relations" with the rent-a-masseuse gals. Sure, who wouldn't believe that? Guess it all depends on your definition of "sex", doesn't it?
As Yogi Berra famously put it (in a TOTALLY different context, of course): It's deja vu, all over again.
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Gee, how DID we ever manage to win World War II?
[Read the article: In search of the war czar]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]We didn't have someone specified as the "War Czar" during THAT war, so how did we and the Allies EVER manage to do it, anyway? Hmmm. We had a War Department back then, headed by a Secretary of War, didn't we? Not a squishier "Defense Dept.", but a real War Dept.
Of course, even more importantly, we had a real President back then too. *sigh*
I wonder -- if we went into a major conflict with a clear understanding that it meant full-scale war -- not a cake walk, with residents greeting us with candy and flowers -- but WAR, would we be a bit more selective and focused? Fighting only those wars that are necessary, unavoidable and WINNABLE?
You know what just came to mind? Those old Bugs Bunny cartoons, in which Bugs had just gotten to the end of his rope with some irritating character. He looks sternly at the audience, waves a forefinger in the air, and says in his best Brooklyn accent, "You realize, of course, dat DIS means WAR!" Ah, for such clarity and focus...sad to realize that a cartoon might provide a better model than real life has recently.
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An even MORE perfect story...
[Read the article: Next time, try Domino's]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...would have to include same-sex massage -- so let's go all the way: Being serviced by illegal alien boys (16 years old or younger), while on drugs and watching Internet porn.
Question -- was Mr. Tobias a fine, upstanding leader in a fundamentalist church too? Maybe even a Sunday School teacher? Inquiring minds WANT TO KNOW!!!
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Thank God for "cached documents" on Google!
[Read the article: Next time, try Domino's]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Guess what? A Google search for "Randall Tobias" popped up as the first hit his biography as posted on the USAID website. Only problem is, it's apparently been pulled from that website; however, if you click on the "cached" option, the old biography can still be seen as previously posted.
And GUESS WHAT? (This is way too sweet -- but you could NOT make this up) He has received many awards -- but one award simply MUST be noted. This was copied from that old cached USAID biography:
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Among his honors, Tobias was named Pharmaceutical Industry CEO of the Year by the Wall Street Transcript in 1995, and CEO of the Year in 1996 by Working Mother magazine. In 1997, he was named one of the "Top Twenty-Five Managers of the Year" by Business Week, Magazine. He was also named the "Norman Vincent Peale Humanitarian of the Year" in 1997. He received the "Positive Ally Award" from the National Association of People with AIDS in 2005, and in 2006 he was named an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
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Yes, "CEO of the Year in 1996 by Working Mother magazine"! It does NOT get any better than that, does it? Tobias was simply following his instincts, giving work to deserving working mothers! A true humanitarian, in the spirit of the Norman Vincent Peale Humanitarian of the Year.
I can quit now, because nothing else I will do today can top THIS little revelation. Thank God for Google!
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Modest proposal - benchmarks with teeth for DUBYA
[Read the article: A whole new meaning for "four more years"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I propose that the U.S. Congress take a totally different approach with the Current Occupant in this battle over the war in Iraq and many other issues and scandals.
Here's my modest proposal: The Congress should set BENCHMARKS WITH TEETH FOR DUBYA.
The benchmarks can be a variety of things -- full cooperation in Congressional probes of US Attorney firings and of the lead-up to war in Iraq, and determination to set firm withdrawal dates if specific milestones are NOT achieved in Iraq or by the Iraqi government. All of these areas (and more) can have firm dates set, by which time the administration must cooperate and allow full, truthful testimony, or legislation must be signed into law affirming an exit date, or the Iraqi government is informed that they MUST achieve certain benchmarks or else. (Suggestions for other issues are certainly welcome.)
If this administration continues to resist the will of the people and the rule of law, then an inexorable process down the road to impeachment and removal from office should begin. Hearing dates in the House of Representatives should be laid out, moving to each next step as required in response to Dubya's foot-dragging. In a similar manner, the Senate can dust off the impeachment trial procedures and pencil in dates for such trial(s).
Come on, Congress -- the U.S. Constitution provides every tool needed to rein in an out-of-control Presidency. Republicans had no hesitation to use these tools to hamper Bill Clinton and his administration. Why NOT use these same tools when they ARE needed? When they're apparently the last, best hope to force this Worst President Ever off the incredibly wrong course onto which he's steered this country?
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One historical truth applies here
[Read the article: One man's stunt is another man's schedule]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There is no better way to unite a divided people than to give them a common enemy. That's been known for centuries, and was certainly at work in Nazi Germany.
No, I'm NOT calling this administration "a bunch of Nazis" -- others can level that charge if they wish. However, it is a tried-and-true principle of political leadership to find (or invent) a common enemy, keeping up a steady drumbeat of danger, increasing danger, COMPLETE DANGER!
Appealing for unity in the face of a perceived threat has always worked in ages when communication couldn't keep up with fake or overblown threats. Sadly, failures by mainstream media allowed us to be snookered into the Iraq war; it did NOT have to happen. Let's hope this is the last time we go into a war without eyes wide open.