Letters to the Editor
Well, that's all for now.
Published Letters: 98 Editor's Choice: 10
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The 4-Leaders Debate Exchange
[Read the article: Ginning up a fight between Clinton and Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The answers to the 4-Leaders question given by Sens. Obama and Clinton were both correct. I find it disheartening, however, that Hillary's campaign would try to score points from it frankly ... seems desperate. Quite simply, the result might have been reversed if Hillary had been the first to answer the question. Barack gave the answer I'd hope to hear ... to be overly concerned that you're going to be used for propaganda is ridiculous in my opinion and far better than limiting your meetings to those with world leaders willing to plan in advance what silly costumes you'll all be wearing. (Hey meeting planners, how 'bout Groucho Marx glasses and trenchcoats soon as long as we're going for self-deprecating yucks?) By responding second, Hillary, as any good debater would given several minutes to ponder the answer, strove to tweak the answer to her advantage and what is perceived as Barack's shortcoming. Pundits who are trumping this minor exchange into something more than it is would likely have had nothing to go on about if Hillary had been asked to respond first, and I would have been just as disappointed in Barack's campaign if they tried to make a mountain out of a molehill as Clinton's campaign is now.
I appreciate Joe Conason's even-handedness here.
(P.S. - Neither Clinton nor Obama are my first choice at this point.)
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How to Get Dick to Run
[Read the article: Run, Dick, run]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Dick Cheney will be the Republican's '08 presidential candidate if they just put him in charge of the presidential candidate search committee.
Honestly, am I the only one given to the following thought progression? . . . It was hard to see how we'd do worse than Nixon/Kissinger et al. back in the '70's. I never thought Reagan would get elected (or re-elected) and when he did I figured we surely would never see worse. Sigh. Then, of course, it was impossible to imagine the Democrats losing to Dubya back in 2000 or in 2004 and SURELY we could never do worse. And now we're confronted with this frightening prospect???
May the Universal Spirit help us!!
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My Late 2-Cents on the Debate
[Read the article: The New York Times misses the CNN/YouTube debate]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I would really like to see more discussion of the very interesting question posed to several of the candidates regarding girls registering for Selective Service. The candidates' answers actually surprised me and gave me some hope that the currently discriminatory registration requirement for 18-year-old-boys-only might some day be changed. Not that I want to see any child compelled to register in the event of a national draft (unless a national Peace Corps service or something like it is one of the service options), but currently, to qualify for Federal college financial aid boys must register upon turning 18 and girls have no similar obligation. I hope this issue is resolved by the time my two sons face this choice.
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The Elephant
[Read the article: Should I stay East or go West?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Firstly, what a pleasure to read the many thoughtful, thought-provoking letters here ... some deeply touching. There's almost a mythical quality to the whole subject/discussion at hand. The whole coming-of-age, soul-searching, family-ties, seemingly-large-geography-which-is-really-quite-provinicial-in-some-respects, etc.
Many of us have struggled with and perhaps will continue to struggle with these questions. A symptom of our Age perhaps ... or is that just a conceit elevating our concerns above those borne by peoples of the past? Really, it's quite a luxury to be faced with such consternation, isn't it?
If you're choosing between apples and oranges, decide what it is you want to do with your choice first. And, examine your past experience and how you feel now rather than try to project yourself into the future. "Being present" doesn't imply stagnation or the setting down of roots where you are presently, but it might be the answer to your questions. Chances are, you already know your answer, you're just second-guessing yourself.
THANKFULLY we all have our own histories, impressions, likes, dislikes, etc. or we'd all be living in the same house over on Pleasant Street. Ultimately, while you can take counsel from the experiences of others, we're all blind to your personal elephant.
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Right on, Slackie O.
[Read the article: Parsing the parsers]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Slackie O did a great job summing up what I'd want to opine about the extra-legal aspects of the "original" warrantless wiretapping program. To expand on that a little, I think it's probably a safe bet to assume the worst about this bunch and then expect to be unpleasantly surprised when the reality is even worse than you had imagined. At least that's been the consistent result since the Supreme Court participated in the presidential coup back in 2000.
And, lest we forget, the despicable John Ashcroft was the hero in this story ... can we even imagine what's been approved and is still being carried out since Gonzo took his job?
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Nancy, Nancy, Nancy -- tsk, tsk.
[Read the article: Pelosi: It's about the war]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've got to say I'm disappointed with Nancy Pelosi. I really thought she was more of a fighter than she's proven herself to be. The quote about directing people to pay attention to what she hopes will be accomplished shows a disconcerting disconnect from reality. How about paying attention to what the majority of the people in the country are telling you they want YOU to pay attention to??? ("What we want to do is show accomplishments, then say, 'OK, we've made this difference, now let's pay attention to these issues," Pelosi said.)
I guess the democratic leadership is mortally afraid of the famous Bush/Rove "line of argument" which might brand them as "playing politics." Oh dear! Politicians being political, now we mustn't have any of that!