Letters to the Editor
Riversofexile
Published Letters: 76
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Mike
[Read the article: Our serious foreign policy geniuses strike again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ok, great, this is a "major success", fine - who knows why or how, but let's say it is, and as you suggest, try to "take advantage of it".
I've been waiting, ever since we put the Dems back in charge of the Legislative, for hearings, hearings, hearings - non stop, all day, all night. We got Abramoff, a little on FISA etc, and a bunch of other "administrative oversight" stuff - but on foreign policy, pretty much nothing.
My own State congressional delegation hears a lot from me on this, but Democrats that they ALL are, they seem deaf on foreign policy. Not sure what other tools I have, besides voting again for the same deaf Dems, which I will not do.
Any suggestions are welcome; meanwhile, it helps to be able to lament.
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kitt
[Read the article: Our serious foreign policy geniuses strike again]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Whatever point you initially tried to make, a "more truthful" NIE ought to be the norm, not the exceptional cause for celebration. Measuring ourselves against past failures is no path to progress, in my view.
My own point has to do with citizen and civilian disempowerment.
I'm not comfortable when only a few citizens (in this case, "good guys on the inside", as opposed to the "bad guys" last time) get to pull the strings of war, in secrecy and darkness. That's not democratic, that's the stuff of dictatorship.
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You got that right,
[Read the article: "Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The Democrats in Congress (especially the two you mention, but not just) have been more part of the problem than the solution, enablers rather than opponents. We're ruled (yes, ruled) by a class of people who share common interests and political philosophies. Noblesse oblige.
With rare notable exceptions, Democrats have been seriously complicit, in my view, in all sorts of ways, while depicting themselves in campaigns as against Bush's policies and tactics.
If/when we - the people - regain some semblance of influence in all branches of our government, the Democratic Party (collectively and individuals) needs to also be investigated and prosecuted as thoroughly as the Bush junta. Let's not give them a pass.
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Based on past behavior...
[Read the article: "Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Does anyone seriously think this sort of thing will cease if and when they win the Presidency? Aycharaych
The revolting practice of "rendition" was initiated by dear old Bill Clinton, was it not? His administration did that, while going around trying to sell "democracy, human rights" and other such lofty concepts in the very same countries that were torturing on behalf of the US.
It was the Clinton Adm, before Bush, that felt it was justified to try to bomb Iraq into submission, and his Sec of State (now vouching for his candidate wife) who thought it was "worth it" to let thousands of Iraqi kids suffer the cost of "sanctions".
As I keep saying, when it comes to foreign policy, when it comes to all those brown people out there in the rest of the world, the 2 major parties have been one continuum, quite disconnected from the lofty values we like to assign to ourselves domestically.
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Accomplices, judges and juries?
[Read the article: "Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]this requires Democrats to grow a pair. divadab
When oh when are we going to see the Democrats enforce some accountability?
-- Caligula would have blushed
Democrats would have to hold themselves accountable for their own part in this.
For example, what is Biden doing - he who led those disgraceful Sen hearings on Iraq in 2002, then authorized the invasion - blathering about how he would move to impeach if Iran is attacked?
Why isn't he back in DC holding hearings on the latest outrage re- the NIE and all the lies about that, among other things? Wouldn't Iowa/NH voters and the rest of us respect him more if he did that?
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re: misuse of intelligence on Iraq
[Read the article: "Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Now that Rockefeller is chairman of the committee, I wonder how the report is coming. One doesn't hear much about it. -- Frankly, my dear, ...
I've been wondering the same thing. Who's going to hold accountable those who are supposed to hold the Bush Adm accountable? We're so screwed.
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Aycha
[Read the article: "Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]lol, Roseanne knows the score.
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inconvenient truths
[Read the article: "Missing" evidence is familiar Bush pattern]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Might that be more effective, or at least potentially so, than dragging in every past, present and potential future failure of government and government agents, assuring ourselves that another failure is staring us in the face because there is just nothing to be done about it? The corruption is too deep, the dems are just as bad as the repubs and fill in the blanks, the ball is dropped before it has ever even picked up already.
Geez! What good is all of that 'there's nothing to be done' going to do in this instance? What good is that approach going to do in any instance concerning government today, tomorrow or anytime into the future? Kitt
For one thing, Glenn points justifiably to two senior Democrats, in positions to affect change had they be so inclined. So, discussing Democratic impotence is à propos.
Second, who among the current crop of Democrats has the credibility to "put pressure on Mukasey" when they have been complicit throughout?
Third, yes, Clinton's policies are relevant not just because they opened the way for a lot of what followed, but also because his wife wants to pursue the same policies, but even more - ahem - "forcefully".
Besides, history - especially recent history still reverberating as we speak - is always relevant. As it stands today, the Democratic party is not in any position to challenge Bush on anything. Unless that is understood and internalized, there is going to be no moving forward.