Letters to the Editor
Philadelphia Steve
Published Letters: 440 Editor's Choice: 3
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Gains?
[Read the article: How big will Democratic gains be this fall?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My opinion is that the gains will be negligible (and this is from a Liberal Democrat).
The Republicans are following the same playbook that Newt Gingrich followed in 1994 with his "Burn the House Down" campaign.
The plan was to block absolutely everything that went through Congress, no matter what. This strategy was meant to make America absolutely hate Congress and "throw everyone out". Doing this means the incumbent party loses the most, and Democrats are the incumbent party right now.
What is also necessary for this to work is a weak, incompetent Democratic leadership and compliant media: Which is exactly what we have right now.
If Harry Reid actually mad the Republicans filibuster, to the end, every bill that they have opposed this year, the public would be aware of the degree of obstructionism and 100% White House Loyalty of the republican Party. However Senator Reid has made the Republicans pay absolutely no price whatsoever for their strategy, and, in fact, mad the Democrats the ones who the public holds accountable. If he was a paid employee of the RNC, Mr. Reid could not have done more damage to the Democratic Party than he has so far. (Leaving out Senator Lieberman, since he is no longer a Democrat).
There is a real risk that, capitalizing on their success as casting Democrats as the villains, accompanied by relentless propagandizing by FoxNews, echoed by the rest of the media, and last minute “surprises” from the White House, we will see another Republican President and Congress next January.
I have no “confidence” at all right now.
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"Unwritten rule"
[Read the article: The Unwritten Rule War rages on]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In Little League, they have rules about lopsided wins. Occcasionally you will see it in Junior High School as well.
These guys are prefessional athletes, being paid millions of dollars to play a game. I agree with the author that, if they do not like having the score run up on them, they should play better baseball.
Quit complaining and play.
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SuperPower?
[Read the article: Iraqi prime minister: Obama has "right time frame" for withdrawal]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Re: "By the way, Salon readers, when a country like Iran can push you out of entire region, as they will in the next 3-4 years, your country is no longer a super power. All you need to define is whether that's a good thing or a bad thing."
And I thought that, when a leader of a ragtag group of irregulars can scheme to launch the largest terrorist attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor and, almost seven years later, still be free sending out messages to his followers, with a president who, for all practical purposes, has given up the hunt, THAT meant you are no longer a SuperPower.
Or does George W. Bush get another FREE PASS on that one as well?
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"So it's gonna be like that, is it?
[Read the article: Obama campaign taking revenge?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Why not?
The Bush White House has played that game for seven years. And the only "retribuition" I can see are streams of softball questions ar press conferences.
Media reporters are weak and lazy. They will write whatever pleases the ones in power in order to maintain "access". Without that, they have to do actual research and cannot command those seven figure salaries to conduct "face-to-face" interviews with the rich and powerful. Just ask Helen Thomas.
The only time we hear any complaints about it is when someone other than a Bush Republican does it. That is because everyone knows that George W.Bush is the thinest skinned politican in the US, and his family will take career revenge on anyone who does not please them. Just ask Valeria Plame.
When I see a name-brand reporter with the testicular fortitude to publicy decry Republican heavy-handedness, then I will believe this is anything other than another GOP talking point to distract from the news of Barak Obama's trip itself.
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Succeeded?
[Read the article: McCain meets with first President Bush, slams Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Actually the Bush White House has succeeded. It has succeeded in turngin the debate from "how successful has the occupation of iraq been", to "how many American soldiers were killed this week?"
And, in so doing, has forced our media to drop all critical reporting of what is happening in the failed occupatio of Iraq, or the failure of a united government to form.
Of course, getting the American media to shift from substantative reporting to side issues is about as tough as getting George W. Bush to a Republican fund raiser.
The "surge" has been a resounding political success, in the United States.
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Next step
[Read the article: Leaders of the free world]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Time for FoxNews to start trashing the British, along with the French.
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Inflated expectations
[Read the article: A big November ahead for Senate Democrats]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Usually such "we are going to have a blowout" comments are preludes to dissapointments, and even losses as the oppositin (Republicans) are paniced into action.
Are you sure Salon is not working to help get the Republican base energized?
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Bias?
[Read the article: Right calls foul on rejection of McCain's Op-Ed]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]After years of being the Bush Administration's stenographer, printing without question, "leaks" from VP Cheney's office, suddenly the Times is picky about "factual errors" in an opinion piece?
Once again, The Times is proving to be the best friend Republicans could ask for.
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Re: "If you covet 10$/gallon gas, vote for a Democrat."
[Read the article: How big will Democratic gains be this fall?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I was told in 2004 that if I voted for John Kerry, in four years I'd be paying $4 a gallon for gasoline. I voted for John Kerry, so I guess they were right.