Letters to the Editor
Scientician
Published Letters: 525 Editor's Choice: 1
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MrEdCT:
[Read the article: McCain: Threatening to bomb sovereign countries is "naive"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think that Anonymous thing about Jews was a (well intentioned if poorly executed) joke.
But what do I know. Perhaps it was one of Glenn's detractors trying to fill his comments with antisemitism for Glenn's critics to focus on.
It's tough living in the era where irony and reality compete for which can be more outrageous. If Stephen Colbert has trouble satirizing his guests, I feel no shame in having my own irony radar fail from time to time.
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Westmiller:
[Read the article: McConnell/Mukasey: Eavesdropping outside of FISA is "illegal"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The fault is not purely with the administration, it is with [nearly] every member of Congress, who despise the legal constraints dictated by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The message is simple: "Surrender every facet of your individual liberty, or you will die."
I don't see how you reach this conclusion, even with your qualifier based on the "gang of 8" having received briefings on the TSP prior to the NY Times outing the program.
I agree there is some blame to lay on those 8 congresspeople, particularly the 4 democrats who evidently did nothing about what they heard but that's a far cry from deciding nearly every member of congress "despises" the legal constraints of the constitution.
If this were true, Pelosi would have just passed the Senate bill and this whole thing would be history. Evidently the Democrats are and have been weak, but there is a glimmer that some hearts are in the right place.
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that video
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The segement that follows makes the announcer's lame defence even more amusing "Get all the news you can on Fox News, and now, a gratituous segment with hot chicks in short skirts!"
You really can't satirize them.
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Good for Obama.
[Read the article: Obama shows that dismissing slimy right-wing attacks is not difficult]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Seriously.
But to this:
he is not ashamed of his liberal positions.
Now, if only he was not ashamed to be a liberal.
Perhaps a bridge too far yet, but soon, can liberals in public office come out of the liberal closet again?
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Alex116:
[Read the article: Obama shows that dismissing slimy right-wing attacks is not difficult]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This comment section (like others on the net) is one big echo chamber. You are deluding yourselves. These attacks take time for the full effect to be felt. It's not one, or two. Its the constant gunfire that keeps a candidate off balance and off message. This is why you do this in primaries. Notice the picture on Drudge this morning? That kind of stuff is going to keep Obama constantly responding because its all new info. And our conflict loving press will eat it up. If nothing else fox news will force the other media otlets to cover it. And during the general Obama can't run to uncle teddy and cousin caroline for protection. He will have to do it himself. That takes time and takes you off message.
So what do you suggest we or Obama do then? All I get from your post is a picture of helplessnes. Was that your intent? Is it all pointless in your view?
At the very least, Glenn is correct that Obama is acting differently than Kerry or Gore did under similar attacks. Since what they did didn't work too well, I'm happier with a "trial-and-error" approach by democrats than by them repeatedly trying the same failing tactics over and over.
I for one was under no illusions that the right wing noise machine would somehow ease up on Obama compared to Hillary. They would attack Jesus if he ran as a democrat. They have no scruples at all.
So we'll just have to beat them is all. I don't see any other way.
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Bernbart:
[Read the article: Obama shows that dismissing slimy right-wing attacks is not difficult]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obamawas right to stop wearing the flag pin. I can't even begin to tell you how disgusted i was when every memberof Congress starting wearing those pins after 9/11. It was just another component of fear mongering...you wiht us or agnist us. It reminded me of Nazi Gemrany.
I agree and I for one wouldn't cite you for a Godwin violation.
But since many would balk at any Nazi comparison no matter how limited or apt, I would suggest a better comparison comes from Heller's Catch-22 where a ridiculous Captain begins a program of "loyalty oaths" the men have to sign to prove their loyalty of course, and it quickly escalates into requirement to sign oaths to get food, equipment and so forth.
The program is ended by the mysterious Major ____ de coverly who brusquely orders in one of his few lines of dialog in the whole book "give everybody eat!"
Another comparison that comes to mind is the "Silver ring thing" virginity pledge symbols that many fathers ask their daughters (and I guess sons too, but I don't doubt women are the focus of this program).
Whatever one things of abstinence until marriage, or the desirability for teenage girls to remain chaste, the problem with this is obvious: By making the symbol obvious and public, it becomes an element of peer pressure and thus reduced to meaninglessness as many kids will wear the rings and screw their brains out, because at a certain point, not wearing the ring carries a social cost with her parents or peers who might assume she's a slut since she doesn't wear one. Hypocrisy is easier.
So all such symbols of virtue, worn proudly on one's chest quickly become meaningless since those lacking that virtue will easily adopt them and gain credibility they do not deserve for mere tokenism.
So in general, it is always more interesting to watch those who eschew such herd mentality adoption of symbols of virtue, as they display true courage of convictions.
It's always easier to just sign the loyalty oath, wear the ring or pin on a flag to your suit. Obama has chosen the more difficult path here, and this is one of those things which reassures me about him considering other issues where his rhetoric or actions have been less stellar or exemplary.