Letters to the Editor
Whispers
Published Letters: 383 Editor's Choice: 11
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it's all about the rule of law
[Read the article: The right's explicit and candid rejection of "the rule of law"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't quite get these people who are willing to cast aside the law, which represents the wisdom of the entire country, for the judgment of one man. It is literally fantastic thinking, in the sense meaning "motivated by fantasy".
Why, in an age where communication between the people and the President can be faster and more efficient than ever before, would we now need to surrender power to the Executive branch that wasn't necessary in the 18th century? The "9/11 changed everything" and "terrorism represents a new threat" excuses do not stand up under scrutiny. Terrorism is far less of a threat to the United States than the Soviet Union was for forty years, and we managed to survive the Cold War without discarding our democratic basis of government.
It is good to see this fascist argument presented without apology. It is difficult to address the actual beliefs of the Bush supporters because they have moved beyond parody to the point where one is in danger of being accused of inventing straw men simply for accurately reporting the reality of the situation. Yes, Bush wants absolute power and believes he has the right to absolute power. Everything that has happened in the Bush presidency makes sense when you accept this stipulation. It's always been about the power and never about the law - and this goes all the way back to the recount that never happened. It should have been obvious as early as November 2000 that Bush held the concept of "rule of law" in contempt.
What is sad is the large number of moderately-smart pundits who treated his law-breaking is somehow not worth mentioning.
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hammers and nails
[Read the article: Have Bill Frist and right-wing bloggers plagiarized their new Iraq plan?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There's a famous saying that, when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
So, if your only tool is a pair of pom-poms...
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Impeach Gonzales
[Read the article: What will be done about James Comey's revelations?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Impeach. Gonzales.
NOW.
Every voter should ask their representatives in Congress: do you support impeachment of the Attorney General, or do you support an Attorney General who breaks the law?
I don't care if the question is too simplistic. AG the AG is at the middle of the NSA spying program, the USA firing/obstruction of justice, and has repeatedly showed his contempt for Congress by not only stonewalling them, ignoring subpoenas, and providing waffly answers to simple questions. He has had the audacity to simply tell bold-faced lies to Congress, while under oath!
That's pejrury, and whether Congress can prove this in a Court of Law doesn't really matter. We all know he's lying, and it's reasonable to impeach him on that count alone.
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the problem with sarcasm
[Read the article: This Modern World]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]is that it often sounds identical to what right-wingers say sincerely. Be careful with it. If you find too many people cannot tell when you are sarcastic, you're probably not doing it right.
Unless your purpose is to be secretly ironic.
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Debrig Mooser
[Read the article: What will be done about James Comey's revelations?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]With all due respect, you have twice used the adjective "them" to describe Americans. If you are not American, your opinions are certainly welcome. But I have to say your opinion of Americans is completely off-base. Americans do not want a President who breaks the law. They do not want an AG who breaks the law. They will not "punish" the Democrats if the Democrats impeach Gonzales or Bush for breaking the law.
All you are doing is repeating right-wing talking points. Your interpretation of the public mood and response to impeachment has already been challenged. You have left the challenge unanswered. I conjecture that you are not here to seriously engage opposing viewpoints.
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liars and rubes
[Read the article: Right-wing noise machine: Plame not covert]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The modern Republican party is an alliance between the rich and the gullible. Which is fine, except that they insist on dragging the rest of us down with them.
I suspect that a lot of these pundits are pathologically stupid and/or reckless with their sourcing. If they hear a rumor at a cocktail party, it becomes a fact that they pass on with an air of assurance. It's how myths turn into accepted truth.
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not just Klein
[Read the article: Joe Klein's stirring defense of Lewis Libby]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Fouad Ajami has contributed an even more offensive op-ed at thw Wall Street Journal, likening Scooter Libby to a "fallen soldier".
http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110010185
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shorter Snow
[Read the article: Sen. Reid's crime]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"It's wrong for Democrats to criticize anybody!"
That's what it always comes down to, isn't it?
It's also worth noting that this comment about General Pace was made in passing when discussing why Pace was being replaced by Bush. The call was an off-the-record background conference call with a group of bloggers. This was hardly a press release or a statement from the floor of the Senate.
If only it were! This administration's military leadership, going straight to the top, needs to be called "incompentent", especially the former Defense Secretary and the President who started this disastrous war.
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I'm confused
[Read the article: "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is the film worth seeing or not? Did Stephanie Zacharek like it or not? I'm baffled.
I'm familiar with The Fantastic Four but would hardly call myself a devoted fan. But I saw the first film and thought it was close to abominable. Is the second better? I can't tell from this review. Has Jessica Alba learned how to act? Have the producers bothered with having a coherent screenplay this time? Telling me the plot is complicated doesn't quite address the latter point. I know the story of the Silver Surfer and would not be deterred by a complicated plot. I would be deterred if the acting were weak and the writing were uninspiring.