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timhowe

Published Letters: 496
Editor's Choice: 42

Friday, July 11, 2008 10:27 AM

Bummer

Sadly, the flaw in 3-D technology is that not everyone can enjoy it.

I am one of the many out there who lack "stereo" vision. While almost everyone has a "dominant" eye, they still focus both simultaneously. However, I focus only one at a time. Generally, the right eye for close in -- reading, for example -- and the left for distance (anything more than a few feet).

This doesn't mean I see nothing out of the eye not being focused. In fact, I seem to have better peripheral vision than most; since the unfocused eye isn't doing much, it tends to pick up movement quite easily, and the shift from one to the other is nearly instantaneous.

Ah well. Perhaps some day they'll be able to transmit the such cool effects directly into the optic nerve center.

Monday, June 30, 2008 09:27 AM

@T. Suarez

Ah yes. Another mope who insists on "supporting the troops" unless one of them says something that disturbs his narrow little world view.

Whenever a former military man or woman speaks out against one of the right wing sacred cows, that person is pilloried 8 ways to Sunday, their military service be damned. But god forbid someone relies on their sacred right to free speech and criticizes one of the heroes of the right who happened to have served; then the cries of ingrate, coward and traitor rise from the aggrieved.

Listen to Washington and Eisenhower. They both understood that blind allegiance to militarism was anathema to the US Constitution and the ideals upon which is was formed.

Thursday, June 26, 2008 08:07 AM

Too Byzantine For Me

As I'm sure others have or will point out, the newest FISA legislation is impossible to square with the 4th Amendment. Unfortunately, we have a Supreme Court right now that may very well have a majority that doesn't see it that way. If McCain wins, that "may very well" becomes an absolute certainty.

I suppose you could make a convoluted two-pronged argument that bails the Democrats and Obama out on this. First, that an Obama administration would never provide the requisite cover letter to protect the telecoms or others who broke the law at the government's request. Second, that Obama will appoint at least one, probably two, new justices, ensuring that the expected challenge to the law will succeed, and ensuring that solid precedent will exist for never encroaching that far on the Constitution again.

I certainly believe that that both of those propositions could be true. But that doesn't make this legislation stink any less, and it doesn't mean we still can't call out our respective senators and representatives if they voted in favor of it. Passing legislation that you know is wrong, that you know is unconstitutional, and justifying it because you think the courts might bail out your idiocy down the line -- particularly if you're doing it for political reasons -- is simply inexcusable.

Monday, June 23, 2008 12:37 PM

Insiders?

Don't all Republican insiders dream of being "the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by." That is, if they're not already there?

Thursday, June 19, 2008 09:13 AM

Of Course He Cheated

"The true test of a candidate for President" who wants to bring dramatic change to Washington is whether he can actually get elected in the first place.

Obama knows that money equals success in electoral politics. He can give a million speeches about what he'd like to do as president, but if he never gets elected it won't matter. Public funding of presidential campaigns in the era of 527's is a sham. The right has long cornered the market on despicable and excessive use of 527-sponsored smear campaigns (See: Boat, Swift), which means the Democratic candidate will need his own war-chest to effectively direct responses.

Eliminating "old school" politics involves overcoming a Catch-22. You have to play a little "old school" politics to get elected in the first place so you can bring about the change you'd like to see. If it makes you feel better, picture Obama as Capt Kirk in his approach to the Kobayashi Maru exercise.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 08:54 AM

Wrong Job, Right Man

Hagel would certainly be an admirable choice for SecDef, SecState or NSA.

As the article noted, however, almost all of his core domestic positions would be adverse to Obama's stated platform and anathema to Democratic voters. This makes him an impossible choice for VP, a job that requires active campaigning on the party's platform and support for its agenda.

Friday, June 13, 2008 01:39 PM
Original article: O Perez! My Perez!

Burning Question

More importantly, are either related to that bell-weather stat generator, Niefi Perez?

Friday, June 13, 2008 09:33 AM
Original article: Quote of the day

@ Juliebird

She has this exactly right.

If you lock a guy away for years, in brutal conditions, on the scantest of evidence (or none at all, just a hunch), can it be a surprise that he develops a bit of a grudge, and perhaps a nihilistic mind-set?

I'm not sure I buy the argument that the US "created" the 9/11 hijackers (though I can track the argument in theory), but the argument that we created the circumstances that led this particular individual to turn suicide attacker is a much more credible one to make.

It's clear that Scalia's main goal now on the SCOTUS is to carry Cheney's water.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 02:16 PM

@ kilroy

I'm surprised you didn't also turn on your garden hose and shag us off your lawn.

There will be a myriad of attacks on Mrs. Obama, count on it. All likely as baseless as the next. How do I know this? Well, just last week I got an email from a right-wing acquaintance complaining that, since Hillary isn't the Dem candidate, we might never learn the truth about how she had Vince Foster murdered. Yes. These people are still out there. (Likely up on the porch with old crotchty kilroy!)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 01:32 PM

Bang!

Nothing like a good old fashioned circular firing squad. And about the right level of competence from the folks that brought us Gitmo, Katrina relief, etc.

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