Letters to the Editor
Mike LeP
Published Letters: 326 Editor's Choice: 6
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Anna68
[Read the article: Betrayed by Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I really am deeply disappointed in Obama for this vote. I'm disgusted with the culture of corruption in Washington over the past 7+ years and felt that holding telecomms accountable for their law-breaking, even if it's done at the behest of government, would send an important message. On top of that, I don't think telecomm immunity is a winning issue, so not only did Obama vote the wrong way but he probably won't benefit from it politically. It was just stupid all around.
HOWever, when I see people suggest that Obama is just as wrong in this as Bush I've got to roll my eyes. Let's keep it in perspective here. Obama cast a really bad vote out of political expedience and it reflects poorly on his character, but Bush deliberately and knowingly violated the Constitution and the 4th amendment for years. Granting retroactive immunity for criminal actions is wrong, but it is not the equivolent of committing the crime in the first place.
That's not to defend Obama. I just think some folks need to keep this in perspective.
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One more thing ...
[Read the article: Betrayed by Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Joan has every right to rip Obama for this terrible vote. He deserves it.
What irks me is that Joan conflates this obvious flip-flop with positions where she simply disagrees with Obama, even though he's been consistent. Anyone who's followed politics over the past year knows Obama is moderate on abortion and gun control and his healthcare approach is more market-driven and less progressive than Hillary Clinton's. This isn't news. So ripping Obama for FISA is fair game but this other stuff just comes off as piling on.
What also irks me is that every one of these criticisms of Obama circle back to Hillary Clinton, who despite Joan's fever dreams, is not and will not be the candidate.
Get over it already.
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The good news for Clinton supporters?
[Read the article: Betrayed by Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The good news for Clinton supporters is this: We no longer have to explain to anyone, including the zealots in our own Party, why we will not be supporting Obama this Fall.
Because Clinton backers don't support candidates who cast votes out of political expediencey.
Heh.
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KStone, KStone ...
[Read the article: Jesse Jackson's Obama gaffe: Does it matter?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There are better ways to get attention, sonny.
Of course you don't. You don't even know what's going on in Philly but you stupidly think you can expound on the state of black America in general.
I've already addressed this at least five times.
This must be the only bullet in your chamber, because you keep firing it over and over.
Anyway bub, the nifty trick is you telling me what I beleive about Obama's "Father's Day Speech". As usual, your interpretation is suspect but I understand that you aren't up to snuff here and in over WAY your head on this subject so you have to try and shuck and jive your way through. I guess it's your way of flaming out to avoid further embarassment like like Diomedes did though you do it in a much quieter way so I guess that's somthing in your favor. Anyway, I'll try not to spank you so hard next time. You seem like you could use a break.
If it seemed quiet here, that's cause I left work and was having dinner with my family. But I'm glad to know you spent those hours sitting in your dimly lit, cat-piss smelling basement apartment, squeezing the little bulge in your polyester slacks and clicking "refresh" over and over whilst waiting for my reply.
I'll be watching Ugly Betty from 8 to 9 PM EST, so be sure to stop back, beat your chest and declare victory, Corky.
You're number one.
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Cut the guy some slack ...
[Read the article: Another bad week for John McCain]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm not a Republican or a fan of McCain - frankly I've had tingles of embarrassment for the guy every time I've seen him speak of the past six months. Still, cut McCain some slack. Of all the issues in the world right now - between the recession, gas prices, the housing market, healthcare, Iraq, FISA and counter-intelligence, etc. - whether insurance companies should be compelled to cover birth control is small fry.
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Thoughts
[Read the article: The Obama cover kerfuffle]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Had I seen the New Yorker cover before reading about it in the news I'd have known this was satire because of the mag's political bent. I don't believe this was intended in any way to attack Obama or spread misconceptions about him or his wife.
One of the dangers of this kind of satire, though, is that people who really do believe the Muslim / terrorist / anti-American smears about the Obamas may get the opposite message, with help from FOX News and other right-wing outlets. The New Yorker probably should have been less subtle.
The Obama camp is going to play this one like a fiddle. They are very opportunistic with this sort of thing.
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The problem with the New Yorker cover
[Read the article: Rush Limbaugh was right]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The cover was obvious satire and would be quickly identified as such by most people, even those who don't read the New Yorker. The only people who won't get the joke are those who actually do believe Obama is a Muslim and his wife is a white-hating terrorist, and they're the target of the satire in the first place.
I'm not worried about them. I am slightly worried about right wing outlets that are going to repeatedly show the cover out of context and in a misleading way to promote the stereotypes the New Yorker was mocking. Otherwise this really isn't a big deal, and the Obama campaign is doing a pretty good job of ginning up outrage over nothing.
I've got to hand it to Obama. Whereas Kerry spent months getting punched in the face without any complaint, Obama's team seems to respond to any perceived offense immediately. I hope they realize they're walking a very fine line between being proactive and being whiny, because there is a lot of campaign left.