Letters to the Editor
2-cent
Published Letters: 87 Editor's Choice: 4
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Dude, Kucinich for President
[Read the article: Windmills]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The thought of Bush, Cheney and Rove leaving office unscathed literally makes me sick to my stomach.
Right on about the message it sends to future presidents. Here it is: you can fuck up all you want, screw whomever you want, blatantly lie to the public's face, flout the Constitution and international treaties, invade countries willy nilly only to crash and burn- basically, fail spectacularly on all levels - and still not lose your job.
Go Dennis go. Excellent article in Esquire or GQ a month back detailing how and why Cheney has committed high crimes and misdemeanors.
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No excuses
[Read the article: Repeal the Second Amendment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's been said before, and I'll say it again:
1. Guns have one purpose: to kill.
2. The 2nd Amendment is outdated and should either be repealed or seriously modified to take handguns out of everyone's hands.
3. The idea that everyone needs a handgun to protect themselves is pure paranoia (see letter from "Mike, Tempe AZ")
US isolation has historically fostered a frontiersman "me against the world" mentality. Isolation and individualism have been fostered and continually reinforced by economic liberalism, which also encourages narcissistic self-interest. It's all related to paranoia and social isolation, and mentally vulnerable people are not only left to fend for themselves, but also left alone for no one to check on them for signs of danger. The gun is the ultimate expression of individual power. What's sad about this logic, however, is that the more people feel individually empowered, the less they will need others and the more alone they will feel- cue vicious cycle.
One note on this before I get to my next point: I've been held up at gun point. I've known many people who've been robbed at gunpoint, even in their homes. Having a gun would have actually hurt their and my chances of survival, as I would have been a threat, not just a victim. In addition, the government is militarily superior to the individual anyway- the logical consequences of defense against the government then quickly become absurd: what are going to do, have a tank in your driveway?
On the other hand, we could discuss the "guns simply are simply part of our culture" argument- people grow up with guns, so did their grandfathers, etc. Let's face it though, times do change and some change is necessary for the good of the majority of the people in this country for whom gun ownership is not a prerequisite for happiness and safety.
I'm convinced that so many of this country's problems would be greatly improved by people having a bit of global cross cultural perspective, including this issue of gun control. I've lived in four countries. Taking guns out of people's hands doesn't result in defenseless public against an army of criminals- it makes for a safer and more peaceful society . The only people that would really lose would be handgun-makers and criminals.
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F*ck Wolfowitz
[Read the article: Wolfowitz's girlfriend problem]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I wish I had the time and energy to respond to all of Sid Blumenthal's rhetorical goodness here. This neo-con bastard deserves to go down in flames.
I wonder if the Bank's employees will give up their beautiful cafeteria to stage a lunch-time walkout?
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Loyalty + Media = Fredo still has his job
[Read the article: The attorney general takes cover]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"Liberal Media" people like Norah O Donnell (I used to think she was hot...) come straight out and say that the appointments are political and at the whim of the president, but don't underscore the seriousness of tampering with/ obstructing justice and politicizing the DOJ.
O'Donnell= Texas native and former WH correspondent
Fredo has also been protected by Bush's loyalty to him. Bush will not fire him.
So, how do we get rid of this guy, then?
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Shameless
[Read the article: GOP senator calls for Gonzales' resignation]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Watching this s*itbag testify makes my blood boil. Constant evasions, displaying an utter contempt for the oath. And knowing that he won't resign and the Bush won't fire him just makes it that much worse.
OTOH, it is good to keep the scandal-meter high. GOP could wake up and realize how destructive Bush + co. have been to their party.
Of course count on the Dems to screw up on their own when their time comes.
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Schumer's comments
[Read the article: A Gonzales resignation is not enough]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I watched the last 30 min. of the hearings today over my laptop on CSPAN. After the hearings, Chuck Schumer took some questions.
Schumer's assessment seemed to be (1) that although Abu didn't suffer a "knockout punch", he'd still taken "20 steps back" toward the turnbuckle and was doomed. Considering Greenwald's analysis that Abu is untouchable (I agree-only Bush can get rid of him), this sounds optimistic to me.
Schumer and was focusing more on (2) getting to the others, in the DOJ and the WH- in the vein of Conason's article. Basically, Schumer thinks that as long as the Bush policy of dodge and deny persists, this has the potential to metastasize into something worthy of a grand jury.
Let's hope. As many have posted lately- this isn't just about Bush and friends; it's about the very structures of our governmental and legal systems. Accountability is necessary.
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What consequences?
[Read the article: The attorney general's "tremendous credibility problem"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"And those who come next may find the U.S. attorneys debacle instructive: Tell the story straight, or suffer the consequences"
What consequences?
No one can get rid of him except for Bush.
The public is learning a bitter lesson: democracy demands vigilance, or people will abuse it. It's too late to get Bush and co. Evil people can get away with evil. Life isn't fair.
Unless by some miracle the public pressures Congress to turn on the WH.
MEANWHILE, the WAR rages on. And Dubya talk about his f*cking "legacy" at a high school gym in Boehner country. And the NRA shrugs.
One of the worst weeks for our country I can remember.