Letters to the Editor
DCLaw1
Published Letters: 838 Editor's Choice: 2
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Asher
[Read the article: Republicans have become the credibility-free party]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's not a "capitulating to Republicans" issue, it's an unpopular war issue.
Unsubstantiated assumptions die hard, don't they. By the way, you're quite a moving target; here's what you said the first time:
Democrats in Congress are less popular now than before, yes, and people don't like Republicans or the war in Iraq. Does that mean that Democrats' decline in popularity is attributable to compromise with Republicans? Not at all. I would chalk it up instead to the fact that (a) Americans aren't happy with the economy and the way things are going in general, and (b) the Democrats are in power in Congress and therefore appear to be partly blameworthy. Anytime a party's in control of Congress or the Presidency and people are discontented, the approval ratings of the party in control will drop. That's all there really is to it. I doubt that as many as 10% of Americans are even aware that the Democrats have 'capitulated' to the Republicans on a lot of issues.
No mention of Iraq or FISA, just that people "aren't happy with the economy and the way things are going in general." Now, what you fail to see is that the "unpopular war issue" is tied inseparably to the broader capitulation issue, as borne out by this piece of information that took me about 15 seconds to find:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/01/AR2007100101235_pf.html
More than eight in 10 liberal Democrats said Congress has been too restrained, while about the same percentage of conservative Republicans said it has been too aggressive. A narrow majority of independents, 53 percent, want more congressional action.
Are you trying to make a substantiated point, or just being contrarian?
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so scared - what IF
[Read the article: Conceding John McCain's "toughness" on national security]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you're right, that right now, based on poll numbers and so on, the Dems could attack McCain and the Republicans for their warmongering. And then there's another terrorist attack. Then what? They'd get crushed at the polls, is what. My point is that it's a far more complex issue than you consistently make it out to be, one that is, like it or not, fraught with political risk.
Can't ... move ... too ... much ... risk!
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Glenn
[Read the article: Conceding John McCain's "toughness" on national security]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Contrary to the media's narrative, John McCain is a huge, juicy target for making the case that Republican warmongering has been, and will continue to be, a complete disaster for the U.S.
This is particularly true in light of the non-national-security strengths of McCain the candidate. What makes McCain the most potentially difficult of the Republican candidates for the Democratic nominee to defeat is his perceived "centrism" on so many other issues, and his appeal to independent voters.
It's clear to me that McCain will seek to shore up flagging conservative support in the coming months by emphasizing judicial nominations, fiscal restraint, and above all, his military hawkishness and refusal to "surrender" in Iraq. This presents a golden opportunity for the Democratic candidate - particularly one who was opposed to the Iraq invasion from the beginning - to drive McCain away from the independents that single-handedly make him competitive in the general election.
It seems undeniably true, as Glenn ably points out, that a candidate such as McCain - who appeals to independents on the issues that alienate his base, and appeals to his base on issues that alienate independents - can be roundly defeated by emphasizing his absurdly hawkish foreign policy and military positions. This way, you corner him between the disgruntled conservative hard-liners and the war-weary independents and moderates, marginalizing him in the general election.
Is there an overpaid political consultant in all of greater DC who understands this basic, glaring point?
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Asher
[Read the article: Chris Wallace: Probing, hard-nosed journalist]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Most of their reporters and analysts aren't terribly bright, though (Wolf in particular is clueless), so I don't see the point. The problem with 24-hour news networks is that they're inevitably going to be spread pretty thin. If you don't like it, read a paper. That's what I do.
This guy has to be the most reliably vapid apologist for every serious problem we have with our current media and political establishments.
"Why bother pointing out that anything is wrong? What's the big deal? Just ignore the problem, silly fools."
How about this - if Glenn is so predictably wrong and overwrought about topics on which he comments, why don't you just read a paper instead? Why bother pointing it out? Isn't it all just so boringly obvious?
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that's a good reporter
[Read the article: CNN's John Roberts helps out Mike McConnell]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Who's a good boy? Hmmm? Who's a good boy?
You are! That's right, you are! Ohhhhhh, yes you are!
Now rollover! Good boy!
Fetch! Such a good boy!
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But Glenn,
[Read the article: FISA 101]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]you forgot to mention that FISA itself - the entire system that allows electronic intelligence intercepts - is set to "expire" soon if Congress does not act.
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The Hollywood Timer urgently screams
[Read the article: The Leader isn't protecting us and keeping us safe]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The deeply serious Heritage Foundation -- and this is real -- has a countdown clock on its frontpage, showing to the second the time that we all have left before we become -- all together now -- unsafe and unprotected (h/t sysprog):
In a back alley near a Berkeley protest, Jack Bauer snaps his sweaty head up from restraining an anti-globalization hippy and a Code Pink activist - his left boot on the hippy's dreadlocks, his right boot on the Code Pink activist's throat.
"Goddammit!" he rasps at the message coming through his radio from headquarters that "Alert, all agents: FISA is going to expire at exactly twelve-hundred hours. Bauer, you've been authorized by the President to take all necessary actions."
"What the hell do you expect me to do with these two national security threats I've apprehended?" he bellows back into his tactical radio, smearing a blot of greasy sweat onto the plastic receiver.
"Your first priority is now to apprehend and neutralize the House Democratic Leadership at all costs, Jack."
Jack Bauer solemnly contemplates his latest, most dire directive, his barrel chest still heaving from his chase and capture of the hippy and the pink-clad activist. He knows that he has mere hours before the unthinkable would occur. He knows that he must capture, perhaps even kill, Steny Hoyer, Nancy Pelosi, and perhaps many more House Democrats in order to save the nation from tyranny.
To Be Continued...