Letters to the Editor
Nita Martin
Published Letters: 270 Editor's Choice: 62
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OK....two stories
[Read the article: Kucinich, Ahmadinejad and the tongue stud]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]At the last Winter Meeting of the DNC with a Veteran's non-profit group, I asked Dennis Kucinich to sign a tiny Young Democrat tee shirt for my new grandson...who just for the record was born while his father was in Iraq. All the other candidates signed.
Kucinich was wondefully articulate and was willing to listen as well as talk. However, when it came time to sign the shirt, he wrote "Dennis" and drew a heart under his name and handed it to his wife, who signed "Elizabeth" under the heart. I thought it was a little flaky. Later, I saw them walking out through the lobby, hand-in-hand, without a single bit of attention, unlike the other candidates who were drawing rock star coverage. And I confess, shamefully, that I wrote him off on the basis of the wifely bit of silliness. On the other hand, he's a politician, and he should know about things like appearances and appropriateness to professional situations. Nonetheless, I should also know what qualities truly count.
Second story...when I got out of college many years ago with a degree in broadcast journalism, I was told by news directors that I couldn't get a job as a woman because they were looking for "models", not journalists. So I went in other directions.
And now we have people like Dana Perino and Hannah Storm turning journalism into an ancillary of the Oprah Winfrey Show, (on a good day) and proving that women, with the exception of those stalwart pioneers who are now a literally dying breed, are just dumb window dressing.
And back to Dennis. The man is articulate and thought-provoking, despite obviously "hearting" his beautiful wife. To have a network "journalist" do an interview like this one is repugnant, irresponsible and completely lacking in respect for the fact that this man is a national political figure. And it doesn't show much respect for the audience, either.
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If the sins of the son are being visited on the legacy of the father...
[Read the article: Battle of the Bushes]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Then it is nothing less than GHW Bush deserves. In 2004 a group of us "military moms" were campaigning in Ohio. GHW showed up in the same town at the same time and scoffed at our message.
He wasn't there to bother us, however, he was there to make a plea for the election of his son.
The sum total of his plea:
Please help get my boy re-elected. That was his whole speech. Elect MY BOY.
No need to explain why. He was talking to the eyes-straight-ahead empty-headed automatons who constituted a loyal group of Rotary Club mentality Republicans. He was calling in chits for his boy.
GHW knew the damage his son was doing and could only offer the profound ego of a father trying to grab glory for his progeny, in spite of his unsuitability.
And that's why we are not a monarchy.
The legacy of GHW Bush will always be linked with that of the worst, most incompetent, arrogant, and most dangerous and destructive President in the history of this nation.
And for his part in this as the father who watched his son's misdeeds with complaisance, which as just as immoral as complicity, he deserves no less.
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"You can't be the president and the head of the military at the same time."
[Read the article: Business is great, people are terrific]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Exactly.
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Vetted?
[Read the article: Giuliani on Kerik: Don't ask me]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Rudy and Bernie were pals. As Giuliani's driver, I'm sure Kerik demonstrated his ability to look the other way, and I'm sure the mayor reciprocated.
Did they alternate using the "love shack" earmarked for tired 9/11 workers in NYC? We all know how Kerik made use of it.
They were/are business partners. At the time Rudy was pushing Kerik on Bush as head of Homeland Security (a job for which he was woefully unqualified) the two of them were engaging in war profiteering through Giuliani Partners. What a sweet deal to have your partner doling out billions in contracts.
No one is talking about this in the true light of its seedy, illicit, profiteering reality.
Instead, Giuliani gets off with the "oops I guess I should have done a better job of vetting him." Giuliani knew everything, and it fit right in with his own rickety set of morals and ambitions.
Giuliani should have his feet put to the fire over Kerik. Instead, he's warming them over the comforting coziness of the media's acquiescence and appeasement. Gosh. It's almost like he's the President.
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@The Professor
[Read the article: Giuliani on Kerik: Don't ask me]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You're right. Let's hold our fire until we see the white's of their eyes. Giuliana is a gift. (I'll just try not to think about how blind and stupid so many voters are.)
I stand shushed.