Letters to the Editor
robotempire
Published Letters: 49 Editor's Choice: 9
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Giuliani
[Read the article: Rudy Giuliani, president (of Phi Rho Pi)]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]As a Republican, as a military man, as a deployed troop in Iraq, I can say that I am not altogether comfortable with Giuliani.
I don't feel like he has the fiscal discipline or the moral certitude to lead this country. Yeah, he's a man's man, burly, aggressive, take-no-prisoners, but we've had that with President Bush for the past 8 years. It was nice to have that, for a change from Clinton's prissy primadonna act, but I'm ready for a reasonable, thoughtful, insightful President. I don't want a candidate who is running on his 9/11 street cred. I want a man who is running on principle, with clear goals, and unwilling to compromise on conservative principles.
I like that Rudy is a "fiscal conservative and social liberal," as I am, but I don't really buy that line.
I haven't seen a politician I could truly vote for in years. Sadly, Barack Obama is the closest thing I've seen yet. He's principled, at least, and quite obviously a talented diplomat and "very articulate" (lol).
We'll see how this shakes out but I think most of the country is ready for a change.
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Best article on Salon yet...
[Read the article: One U.S. soldier who must be counted]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If you read my other letters you might recognize that I do not always appreciate the political slant to the articles. Also, you will know that I am a Marine currently deployed to Iraq.
With that being said however, the casualty reporting needs retooling. Yes, we have lost fewer troops on the battlefield in this war than any other previous war on a deaths per period of time basis. However, what the real lesson is is that battlefield medicine is saving lives. Many of these lives are immutably changed forever, with men living lives of children or otherwise profoundly handicapped for the rest of their lives. Wounds that would have killed 50, 30, 10 years ago troops are surviving.
It is irresponsible to ignore their plight and pretend that only deaths matter. Kudos on a well-presented argument, Mr. Onyejekwe.
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The lack of knowledge about civics on Salon..
[Read the article: Tom the Dancing Bug]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...is astounding.
I have to wonder what kind of wunderkinds the American school system is producing when the knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing, slope-browed neanderthals who both write for and draw for this publication are considered "cogniscenti."
Dear artist,
Please get back to me when you have a basic, elementary school level of understanding about American government.
Dear letter writers,
Educate yourselves and quit reacting to hyperbole.
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iPhone is Apple's Zune?
[Read the article: The iPhone: A quick first look]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I see a lot of parallels between the Zune and the iPhone as far as hype, consumer expectations and disappointment go.
Zune was widely touted as Microsoft's "iPod killer," mainly due to the WiFi -- "the social" -- aspect. Upon release it was blasted (unfairly, some would charge) by Engadget, Apple fanboys and disappointed consumers alike. Too much DRM! "The Social" sucks! Three plays or three days is totally the gays! Nothing new enough to warrant a $250 price tag! The colors are horrible!
But despite all the criticism the vast majority of Zune purchasers are happy with their product, including yours truly. No, it's not nearly as groundbreaking as it could have been or still yet could be. Yes, there are a lot of issues yet to be worked out, especially (and almost exclusively) to do with the Zune software. But in the end it's still a fine portable media player that has a few neat tricks (FM radio, Zune-to-Zune sharing, nice widescreen display).
And now we have the iPhone. Perhaps the most-hyped consumer electronic device ever. It was destined to be something of a disappointment. There are a lot of features that it is missing or without which it cannot be considered a "complete" technology. It is extremely expensive.
But be that as it may, it's still a nice device. I'm not sure if a clever UI, a crippled cell network and incomplete/buggy web access is worth a ~$1200-1500 investment the first year. But there is room to grow and maybe by January there will be something great and new about the newest iteration of the iPhone. Let's just hope Apple doesn't price itself out of the market.
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From the Iraq-based troop perspective...
[Read the article: Our rotted press corps, a division of "Camp Victory"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I deal with these press releases daily. Army public affairs does tend to paint with too broad a stroke all insurgents as "Al Qaeda." However, there is no guidance to call insurgents Al Qaeda operatives. There is guidance, however, to call the enemy "terrorists" in any releases or stories and not "insurgents", as the translation from English to Arabic of the word "insurgent" implies a more positive connotation than we would wish.
About lazy malfeasance of the Baghdad press, I'm glad that Glen at least veered away from blaming the military press machine (of which I am a part). The hog's share of the blame goes to the lazy, lazy, lazy reporters who hunker down in Baghdad, get fat off KBR, then depend on military PAO to do their job for them.
We have a poverty of reporters coming to embed with operational units. Bloggers have far outnumbered "real journalists." (I scoff... generally these bloggers are more bold and forthright than any journalist.)
Check out http://www.michaelyon-online.com if you want to read withering critique of Army public affairs. If you want quality reportage of events in Iraq, check out the same website there, or http://www.outsidethewire.com.