Letters to the Editor
dianaw
Published Letters: 32 Editor's Choice: 7
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Niger-Wilson scandal
[Read the article: GOP senator: Wilson is to blame for Plame's outing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This not really a comment, rather a question. As I recall, the British weapons expert David Kay allegedly committed suicide over controversy in the UK involving the Niger forged letter, and indirectly the outing of Valerie Plame. There continues to be mystery and silence surrounding this incident, and some of my UK friends firmly believe that Kay's death was not suicide. I don't want to be accused of "conspiracy" theories, but I have not seen anything on this matter recently, and in the light of the Libby indictments, I wonder if any new information has come to light.
I don't need a personal answer, but would love to see coverage and/or discussion of this issue in Salon, if there is anything legitimate to discuss.
Diana Witt
diana.witt@comcast.net
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O'Hehir media piece
[Read the article: Fox: Just "a standard election"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Dear Mr. O'Hehir: Since I don't watch Fox ever, I defer to your judgment here, particularly about McCain. That piece showed up elsewhere, and he looked embalmed. I wish you had touched on some of the other coverage. CNN was particularly awful. They gave what seemed like hours of time to Candy Crowley and John King and their spin, instead of allowing Begala and Carville more air time. Carville and Begala are admittedly partisan too, but they actually had real news to report. JC Watt was ok, but seemed to be in some sort of terrible back pain. Anyway, I hope bloggers and online zines will be more aggressive in critiquing the "conservative" as opposed to "liberal" media bias as we head into a new era. It's time for a change. Many thanks for your work. I always enjoy it.
Diana Witt
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Conason Dean article
[Read the article: Howard Dean, vindicated]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Conason's article on Dean raises some very important issues. I believe the Dems should continue the 50-state strategy starting immediately. I live in Marietta, GA, which is in Cobb County, home to both Newt Gingrich and Bob Barr. In 2004, 11 of Marietta's 19 voting precincts went for John Kerry. This year, Democratic Congressmen in other parts of GA successfully retained their seats, despite last-minute Bush campaign efforts for Republican challengers. Our slate of Dem candidates for most offices in 2006 was pitiful, and some positions had Republicans running unopposed. This must stop, and not just here. There is fertile ground in AL, KY, TN and even MS. There are large immigrant populations in all these areas, as well as suburban voters concerned about education, the environment, and the economy. 2008 isn't just a presidential election. It's an opportunity for real Democratic Party expansion of its "base"
Diana Witt
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Whistling past Dixie - NOT
[Read the article: Do Democrats need the South?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why would the Dems want to write off any part of the country? The Republicans certainly haven't done that. It's completely misguided. I am from Marietta, Georgia (not by choice). We Dems have been howling in the wilderness in the 4 years I've been here. Every year it's gotten worse. The Democrats candidates this year were pathetic, with a few exceptions. But there are signs of hope. The immigrant population in Georgia is huge, and the Republicans are stomping all over them. There are 19 voting precincts in Marietta. In 2004, Kerry carried 11 of them. This year, Republicans repudiated Ralph Reed. There are some stellar potentential Dem candidates, both white and black in the Legislature and in local offices. The Dems need to talk to people on the ground here who have won. Specifically, in Atlanta, and in the 2 districts (Macon and Athens) where 1 or possibly 2 Democratic Congressional candidates carried the day. Find out who might be viable candidates and where they could run. Don't expect to win tomorrow, expect to win 2, 4, or even 6 years from now. But you have to start somewhere.
And then, move on to Alabama, Mississippi, and beyond. There's fertile ground here, I promise you.
Diana
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NASCAR DECLINE
[Read the article: The cultural significance of NASCAR's decline]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm not a NASCAR fan (I'd rather watch paint dry), but I've got lots of relatives who are devoted fans. I had a conversation about this decline with my brother-in-law from South Carolina a year ago, well before the election cycle. Although we are culturally far apart, we are good friends, and we agreed on the problems with NASCAR - overexpansion. He contended that NASCAR's decision to expand its number of racetracks and of course the number races held each year has completely diluted the quality of the racing. If you have more races, more people can enter, so the racing pool is much less exclusive. It also means that except for the top tier, the purses at these races are smaller. He called it the "K-marting" of NASCAR. Add to that the increased competition on TV for all sports viewers, not to mention the internet, gaming, reality shows and all the other entertainment options being offered to the same demographic, the decline was inevitable, and it's not confined to car racing. Look at the statistics for baseball, football, and (dare I say it?), even figure skating. Everyone is going to have to settle for a smaller piece of the pie.
dlwitt
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Kamiya outrage article
[Read the article: Where's the outrage?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Good poetry, but I'm tired of the "middle class as indifferent" stereotype. I can't tell you how many "middle class" people I know who have kids fighting in ths war. Some have died, some have been maimed, some have come home safely. We haven't been indifferent. I've been working against George Bush since November of 2000, when he stole the election. I've contributed thousands of dollars, and thousands of hours to fight the evil this collection of excrement has committed. Instead of criticizing middle class "indifference," why don't you spotlight the ways our efforts are subverted. Why not talk about the illegal surveillance activities, the constant promotion of the Bush agenda by the so-called "liberal" media, which has been consolidated into a single outlet for the rich and powerful. Enough. Put the blame where it belongs.
Diana Witt
diana.witt@comcast.net