Letters to the Editor
DLF
Published Letters: 252 Editor's Choice: 23
-
Republicans "for" Clinton
[Read the article: A look at exit polls from the Mississippi Democratic primary]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The exit polls say that 13% of all voters in the Democratic primary were Republicans, and they went 77% to 23% for Clinton over Obama.
Then there were the 14% of voters in the same primary who said that neither Clinton nor Obama were "honest and trustworthy." They went 84% to 14% for Clinton.
And then the 11% who found that neither Dem candidate "inspires you about the future of the country." Again, 87% to 9% for Clinton.
And the 15% who said that neither "has a clear plan for the country's problems," again 70% to 29% for Clinton.
And -- the clincher -- the 13% who hold a "strongly favorable opinion of John McCain," again splitting 74% to 24% for Clinton.
Isn't it a little obvious that these are pretty much all the same people? Bottom line: roughly 10% of voters in the Democratic primary in Mississippi were Republicans who plan to vote for McCain in November, and who were just voting for Clinton today because they think she'll be easier to beat.
-
A real email exchange between McCain supporters
[Read the article: A look at exit polls from the Mississippi Democratic primary]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The following messages (copied here without anyone's permission -- ooh!) come from an email discussion among old high school friends of mine (class of '74; from Texas; at least 75% of them hard-core Republican). Note, this exchange took place the week before the Texas primary:
H. to everyone:
"Tell me what you guys think of this 'plan' to vote for Hillary in the primary because she is more easily 'beatable' by McCain than Obama....is she really and will voting this way really help McCain?"
J. to H.:
"I think the vote-for-Hillary strategy is perhaps the only way for McCain to have a chance. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the voting populace is just too stupid to realize that Obama just can’t accomplish what he’d have them believe he can."
H. to J. (all those dots in the original):
"That was the view taken by those who did some early voting on Saturday that I spoke with........however, listening to the radio on the way in the view was that McCain could beat either of them handily.........unfortunately, I tend to agree with you that the majority of the voting population might just drink enough 'Obama Koolaid' to get him in office............"
It's anecdotal evidence like this that convinces me, a good chunk of Clinton's support in the latter primaries is coming from hard-core Republicans with nothing better to do. They are trying to game the Democratic nomination and have no intention whatsoever of voting for Clinton -- not if she were the last person in the world.
-
The worst airline in Latin America
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Without a doubt in my mind, the worst airline in Latin America is, or was, Cuba's Aerogaviota. The truth is that it isn't even an airline, properly speaking; Gaviota is a tourist company owned and operated by -- get this -- Cuba's armed forces, as a way of earning a little cash. Aerogaviota's "fleet" consists of Cuban military craft with the airline's name tacked up over the military insignias.
I actually flew on an Aerogaviota flight from Havana to Santiago de Cuba around the year 1998. It was the only flight I've ever taken that gave me some insight into why some people fear flying. The plane was a YaK (a Soviet military plane), easily 50 years old and looking the part. The passenger seats, for example, folded nearly double, both backwards and forwards, not just when you pressed the little button but whenever they felt like folding.
The Aerogaviota people had us board the plane, which proceeded to sit outside the terminal -- in Havana, in the middle of summer -- for about two hours, with the engine off (not enough fuel to run it) and therefore no fans or airconditioning inside. The temperature inside the cabin must have climbed to well over 100, if not 120. The flight attendants were very nice, but they had no water to give us. People were starting to faint, literally.
At last, the engines started, the electricity came on, and the fans began to pump hot, steamy air into the cabin. Withing a couple of minutes the whole cabin was filled with a thick fog -- but at least the air was moving! And then the flight began...
All I can say is that, when the pilot finally plunked the plane down in Santiago with a bone-shuddering landing, and all the seats flopped forward and back at random, everyone instantly forgave the clumsy pilot (no doubt doing his best under the circumstances) and burst into genuine applause for having survived the ordeal.
-
Speak for yourself
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Next time you're in Detroit, check out the beautifully remodeled and recently reopened DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts). I don't know if it's worth a whole trip to Detroit, but definitely worth a trip from the airport. All of SE Michigan has a lot to offer. (I guess I'm growing fond of my adopted home state in my old age!)
-
Simply incredible
[Read the article: Obama's speech on race]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The speech is one for the ages. Just reading it moved me to tears. What joy it would be to hear the president speak without making me cringe. How long has it been since that has happened?