Letters to the Editor
Thebigkate
Published Letters: 63 Editor's Choice: 3
-
Hillary and Barack in Europa
[Read the article: Views of the race from across the Atlantic]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Oh please...........do not tell me that all of Europe is hoping for Hillary Clinton to make "HER COMEBACK!" This is, after all, the press of which you are speaking! And they will do anything to keep the drama going. Plus, I think they cannot relate as easily to such a non-anxious, non-dramatic candidate as Barack Obama. He simply does not make good copy. Whereas, Hillary Clinton--actually ANY Clinton, is a tabloid dream come true! And all of the campaign "ca-ca" coming out must be making European (as well as American) journalists drool! We must face facts: we are a world of voyeurs and drama fools!!!!
Kate Madison, LCSW
Depoe Bay, Oregon
-
Who the GOP Would Rather Face
[Read the article: Who would the GOP rather face?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There seems to be a "Clinton Conspiracy" of letter writers in commenting on this article. Very aggressive and attacking about Obama--very positive and sure that Hillary Clinton is the best hope of the Democrats this Fall. There are statistics cited, and authoritative evidence presented.
Here is some more: I am a white woman, 68 years old, retired--living mainly on social security. I am supporting and plan to vote for Barack Obama, as do almost all of my 65-75 year old white, middle class, retired friends. Why? Because he represents the new generation and is actually changing the paradigm of how we conduct Presidential elections. Out with the nastiness and manipulative attacks; in with the thoughtful, cool and low-key analyses of the issues. Out with dissing "the enemy"--whoever that happens to be at the time. In with TALKING to those with whom we disagree. Yes, I said talking--as in diplomacy!
Hillary Clinton is a bright woman, and I like her domestic agenda. However she is instinctively bellicose and co-dependent on two emotionally destructive men: Bill Clinton and Mark Penn. They do her no favors by urging Rovian tactics on her, and she does herself no favor by following their orders and submerging her authentic self! Ms. Clinton's first reaction to the Columbia-Ecuador-Venezuela affair was to attack Hugo Chavez as a dicator and no friend of the U.S. Hello--he is not a dictator. He may be somewhat of a jerk, but he was democratically elected!
Barack Obama had a different response. He suggested the three leaders of these countries should work out their differences with the resource they have available to them--the OAS. And, guess what, they did! No bellicose rhetoric. He just let it go. That is what I want our President to have the ability to do. Not to stand up and wave the flag and comment threateningly about every event that flares up in our dangerous world--but to have the ability to let it go! Neither McCain nor Clinton has this capacity!
Will Barack Obama beat McCain in November. Heavens yes! At least if our votes actually get counted!!!!
Kate Madison
Depoe Bay, Oregon
-
Yes, Virginia, the press has failed us on Iraq!
[Read the article: How the press failed on Iraq]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am not happy or pleased to acknowledge how badly the American MSM has failed us in reporting on Iraq. It is a sad fact that the Fourth Estate is mainly a wealthy, corporate, agenda-driven bunch of people--more concerned about their own welfare than the welfare of our country! Wait.......does that sound like some of our better known politicians? Yup! The difference is that our politicians are elected and in some ways accountable--though not really, with the American public being as naive and gullible as they appear. But mainstream journalists seem to get "comfortable" embedded in the offices of power--and are afraid to "get out of the bed"!
Let's face it, we have way too few Cassandras in journalism these days, and the ones we do have are off on the side in the alternative press. Tom Friedman, David Broder and their ilk are bought off by their "corporate sponsors." They were not interested in the truth about the Iraq War--only in their own special interests and access!
In the television media, only Keith Olbermann seems to have found a way to tell some truths, and that is only allowed to go on for 20 minutes at the beginning of his program. The last 40 minutes (when not insulting commercials) are devoted to silly "games" to make the first 20 minutes less uncomfortable for viewers who do not like to be upset! I cannot forget Bill Moyers, who speaks outrage at every opportunity. But he has so few viewers, that one could say "nobody listens!"
Uh huh--we are a nation of sheep. And our media feed us our daily grass. Actually, if we demanded the truth, we could get it--not from the people in the MSM, but from dedicated journalists who are not in major papers or on major TV stations--like Dahr Jamail, who writes dispatches from Iraq almost every day. Trouble is, most people don't want to be upset by what they hear and read! They might just have to take to the streets!!!!