Letters to the Editor
Dana Runs
Published Letters: 148 Editor's Choice: 14
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I am an expert in:
[Read the article: Psst! Wanna write an Op-Ed?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Thinking
Writing
Law
Sex politics
Given all that, I should be widely read and well-regarded. So why aren't I?
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Let the best in the world compete
[Read the article: "She was just in diapers"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I didn't know there were stringent gender tests and lax age tests. But no matter. I'm more concerned with an arbitrary age limit. Let the best in the world compete, regardless of age.
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Oh.My.God.
[Read the article: The graying of Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]That's it. No way I'm voting for Obama, now.
I am so glad to have read this story. Such a vital piece, it made all the difference in my decision about whom to vote for. So let's see, who can I vote for who doesn't have gray hair. Ummmmmm, hmmmmmm....
Damn. Where is Hillary when you need her?
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Don't get too cocky
[Read the article: Obama responds to McCain ad]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The reason these vacant negative ads are run is because they work. Lots and lots of November's voters are unengaged right now, and these ads are all that sneak into the consciousness. The emotional message being sent -- Obama is shallow; Obama is elitist; Obama is arrogant; Obama is all show; Obama is a deceiver -- all of which invoke negative feelings, are received and retained whereas the substantive messages are not.
This is BAD for Obama.
"Undecided" voters are the ones who will swing the election. Who are undecided voters? Who could still be undecided after the record length campaign and record media coverage of this presidential cycle? Well, truly, only the disengaged and the apathetic, and perhaps also the downright stupid. Those folks are the ones who are susceptible to such ads. Those ads will influence these voters, even make up their minds, before they ever cast an eye or ear toward a substantive issue. And *poof!*, just like that, an army of anti-Obama voters is created.
The best thing Obama has going for him is his own appeal to the disengaged, unaware and stupid. After all, his emotional appeal is "I'm for change," and "I'll give you hope," which are vacuuous, inherently meaningless sentiments equal to the content of the McCain ads. So at least there are competing messages being direct toward Those Who Should Not Vote, But Will. And whichever set of emotional messages makes the greatest subconscious impact with the sleepwalkers might just decide this election.
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Another Ugly American
[Read the article: The "bitter sea" of Chinese life]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Apparently, China is insufficiently American for Mr. Krich. This Olympic season has seen a mass anti-China hysteria in what passes for American "press" these days, and this rant is yet another nugget on the steaming dung heap of China coverage. I think we need some of those Chinese smog masks if Salon continues to inundate us with polution like this.
I am pretty sure I could pen as equally nasty a screed, but with greater merit, about American cities such as New York or L.A. By the way, when I was in China, I found Chinese people to be as happy and possessed of valuable and fulfilling lives as any American.