Letters to the Editor
jimmycarl
Published Letters: 66 Editor's Choice: 12
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Those who failed to oppose this are as guilty as the German Centrist Party
[Read the article: Well, we wouldn't want this clogging our courts]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Dictatorships are not always installed by coups. Often they are voted in. In Germany, the act of surrender was the Enabling Act. After the Communists had been killed or arrested and most Socialists arrested or cowed, the Catholic Center party provided the margin of victory.
Now, in the U.S., torture is legal and the right to habeas corpus discarded. The act of surrender was the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Those who should be ashamed, and blamed by history, are the Democrats who failed to vote against it, and the Democrats who didn't bother to filibuster.
This was a proud, free country. How sad, that it went quietly, with barely a wimper. It would have been sad enough had the Constitution been lost following a glorious and desparate fight. We've known for he last few years that Republicans are fascists. Unfortunately, the Democrats, unmindful of their oath of office, are enablers.
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I was startled to see that you came to the same conclusion
[Read the article: The upside of terror]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]that I did on my blog, Jimmy's Cry in the Wilderness (http://jimmysrant.blogspot.com). It IS like the Enabling Act. The difference, I think, is that much of the population, in Germany in 1933) knew what had just went down and what they were in for. I don't think even most liberals or progressives grasp what we just lost, without fanfare. It was a great country, but that was it for the Bill of Rights.
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How stupid do you have to be
[Read the article: Bush on the vote: "A thumpin'"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]to ask if Bush is going to dump Cheney? Cheney is the elected Vice-President of the United States. He's not appointed and he does not serve at the pleasure of, nor work for, the President. Those reporters, and some readers here, need a civics lesson and a copy of the Constitution.
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Yes, restoration of the Constitution should come first
[Read the article: Reports: Allen to concede Virginia Senate race]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Elbonious is right on. The first order of business should be giving us back the Bill of Rights and the writ of habeous corpus.
Don't count on it. Nancy Pelosi and company aren't interested in upholding and defending the Constitution; they are interested in playing it safe and keeping their heads down. I predict a couple of quick wins like raising the minimum wage and cosmetic changes regarding Iraq. Then it's going to be Supreme Court judges and the 2008 presidential race and never you mind the freedoms they didn't fight to protect last year.
Meet the new Democrats. Same as the old Democrats.
Jimmy's Cry in the Wilderness
http://jimmysrant.blogspot.com
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I'm an independent
[Read the article: The chairman can't win for winning]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]but it's plain to me that Dean saved the Democrts, not hurt them. It was he, in 2003, who made them begin to believe they could win in 2004. If Kerry had followed Dean's tactics, he'd be President. Rahm Emmanuel, Shumer, Kerry and Carville are what's wrong with the Democrats.
With a 50 state strategy, when you start to get momentum, you don't just win targeted, "battle ground" states and districts, you win houses of Congress, and Electoral College and Supreme Court willing, the Presidency.
By the way, what's Carville's problem? It was Emmanuel, Kerry and Hillary that sat on piles of money instead of doling it out.
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I am so bummed
[Read the article: Beltway cynics get it wrong]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]that it hurts. I was counting on Feingold running. Every word here rings true. The "player" politicians and the blind, arrogant fools in the media really don't get it. They truly are appalled by conviction. The proof is coming soon. Watch, they will do nothing to regain the liberties we recently lost.
I didn't know about Feingold's refusing to take the money. Makes me admire him more. His reaction after September 11 is the definition of "statesman".
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When Carville's buddies were running the DNC
[Read the article: Carville: Dean's leadership "Rumsfeldian"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]the Democrats came away as a minority party in Congress. They lost the 2004 presidential race that they should have won. John Kerry might have been more keen to fight for Ohio's electoral votes, post-election, if he had won the popular vote nationally. The way to do that was to follow Dean's 50 state theory of asking for everybody's vote, not just those in the few "battleground" states. Screw Carville. And Rahm Emmanuel too.
Ford? He said before the election he would have voted for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, had he been in Congress at the time. That's what we have Republicans for. I wouldn't have voted for Ford if he'd run in my state. What the hell should he be doing running the party? Is that what the Democrats represent?
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They don't need to codify it.
[Read the article: A bill of rights for the beleaguered GOP?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]They just need to do what's right. The Republicans were fascist pigs. If the Democrats imitate them, then they fail the oath they took to the Constitution.
Let the Republicans propose amendments; then defeat them. Any bill passed before members have had a chance to digest it is an abomination; 24 hours is mimimal. If you want an example of a rush to judgement, I give you the Patriot Act. Both parties should be represented on conference committees.
And while the Democrats are saving the country in the first 100 hours, they need to repeal the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
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How low is that?
[Read the article: The people's business?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Passing out business cards on the floor of the House of Representatives, prior to the State of the Union address? I thought congressmen had to wait a decent interval before they became lobbyists. Maybe that law hasn't passed yet. In any event, she gives further evidence that she has no class.