Letters to the Editor
JoeCitizen
Published Letters: 5
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YES - Let the all the people vote - let's debate!
[Read the article: Should Hillary Clinton drop out?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Excellent thought. Here's another. When Obama wins (or if by some miracle, Clinton wins), I would like to see the debates continue. I'd like to see Obama (or whoever wins), host two debates including all the Democratic primary candidates. These debates should be on 1) the economy, and 2) healthcare.
Here's why:
1) It will unite the Democrats and demonstrate that all voices should be heard. It will show the country that we are about ideas, solutions, and inclusion! It will be a stark contrast to the typical "beauty contest."
2) And, it just might actually come up with some workable solutions. Imagine that!
If this is really about change, then let's get busy and do some changing!
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The Politics of Hate and Ignorance: New Apo-hagee
[Read the article: The McCain/Hagee story picks up steam]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The august, straight-talking Republican Senator has told it like it is. He may not agree with the hateful positions of others, but he certainly will accept their support if their hate can deliver votes. You really can't ask for a statement more straight foward than that!
And so, while Senator Clinton and others may accuse Senator Obama of not being hard enough on certain other religious(?)leaders, the Republican front runner feels he can come away from his warm relationship with bigotry with clean hands.
If you close your eyes and turn around three times really fast, maybe you'll find out that this was all a bad dream...but maybe not. Maybe it has all sunk this low.
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Desparation Makes Strange Bedfellows
[Read the article: Hillary Clinton makes her stand in Ohio]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Senator Clinton has reportedly said that the Republican frontrunner has more experience than Senator Obama. While we may not fault her for her facts about time served in the Senate, we may ask why she would make that a point for consideration in a Democratic primary.
From my way of thinking, it can only be because she wants to win and she wants to win so badly that she is willing to use Republicanese to do so. Apparently, it is not enough to state her own qualifications and claim greater experience, which is a fair point worth considering, but by seeming to favor the Republican over her Democratic colleague (or so we might have thought), appears to be a desparate and low form of rhetoric.
So, if Senator Clinton wins the nomination, would we be voting for a Democrat or for a part of one? For me, if Senator Clinton wins the nomination, I feel as though it would not be meaningful to be a Democrat. I think her positions vis a vis Senator Obama and the rest of us have effectively placed me outside of HER party. I don't know where that leaves me, but I think I would have to change my party affiliation.
It is sad that a time of hope and imminent change is marred by just the sort of politics that I had hoped this change would leave behind.
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Disappointed Democrat - Please Help
[Read the article: Ferraro resigns from Clinton campaign]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]These are sad times for the Democratic Party, at least for this Democrat. Americans have expressed their profound disappointment in their government leaders, President AND Congress. However, they have refused to accept despair and have chosen to embrace hope. All of the Democratic candidates had symbolized for some portion of the rank and file party the hope and promise of something different, something honorable, something we can depend on to deliver back our faith in the process and our confidence in our leaders. It was an exciting time, not too many weeks ago, when we listened to the "debates" and engaged in excited dialogues, argued passionately, and "got involved." We caucessed, spending a whole evening "participating in the process," and leaving the event shaking hands and saying, "well, in the end they're all pretty good!" We sent money, we watched the news, we cheered and sometimes we booed, but we were all in this together.
And now I read blogs with people calling each other names. I see people who I used to admire making me wonder who's side they're on. It wasn't supposed to be this way. We were supposed to be doing it differently and "the right way."
When I say it is a sad day for the Party, I have to own up to the fact that it is a sad day for me. Now, no matter who wins the nomination, I won't be able to point to the other side and say, "see, this is how it's done" because it's being done, at least by some, the way the other side does it.
I was proud of Ferraro back in the day. I thought she stood for "ideals." I was proud of President Clinton. I thought I understood the balance of human weakness against idealist and practial struggle to make the world better. I was proud of Senator Clinton and what I thought were her positions on social issues. Now, I am a sad Democrat.
I've been a Democrat all my life. I don't know how much longer I can continue. I won't go over to the other side, but I just can't be part of this self-destruction...and more importantly the disappointment of those who have newly, hopefully, and expectantly come to the process.
Can Obama survive this toxic environment? Can the Party? Can the Country? Is there any way we can return to "issues?" Is there any way we can make this about the future? Is there any way we can find mutual respect again? Please, if you know how, let us know.
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4 more weeks...
[Read the article: Clinton camp releases Pennsylvania ad]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I wonder why NAFTA wasn't a key component of this ad?
I guess this means four more weeks of:
1) division in the Party
2) McCain running un-oppossed while Clinton surrogates (read that the former president) continue to give him endorsements
and,
3) more registered democrats
4) greater fund-raising success for Senator Obama
5) more endorsements for Senator Obama
I don't know whether to be glad or sad?