Letters to the Editor
thorin01
Published Letters: 197 Editor's Choice: 30
-
MoveOn Still Stupid …
[Read the article: Covering the coverage: Conservative blogs on the Petraeus/Crocker hearing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Look at the new coverage. It’s not about whether or not Patraeus is telling the truth. It’s about whether or not he’s a ‘traitor.’ What MoveOn should have done is call him a Liar and a Bush cheerleader and then list out every false/overly optimistic statement Patreaus has made over the last four years (ok that might have taken several more pages). That would have at least focused the argument on the lies he’s currently feeding congress. On his veracity. By calling him a traitor the debate in the MSM is not about the truth about what’s happening in Iraq, it’s about Patreaus’ patriotism.
MoveOn’s ad enabled republicans to easily shift the debate away from what Patreaus is actually saying to ‘what kind of man he is.’ It’s also making the already cowardly Democrats pull their punches even more than they normally do because they don’t want to look like they’re supporting MoveOn’s attack on Patreaus.
The ad may make those of us who already believe this war is stupid and destructive and needs to end feel good, but it does nothing to move the debate forward in Washington.
It just feeds the noise machine.
-
Harry Reid’s Vowed to Stop an Olsen Nomination …
[Read the article: Will Bush dare to nominate Ted Olson as attorney general?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]So he’s pretty much a lock for the job. They’re probably ordering the new letterhead at the DOJ as we speak.
-
The Bullies Always Blink First …
[Read the article: When winning is still losing]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There have been two major government shutdowns in the last twenty years. The first under Bush Sr when he wanted to keep taxes from being raised. The Democrats in Congress held firm against Bush, let the government shut down. Public opinion backed the strong Democrats who stuck to their principles and Bush blinked. Democrats got the legislation they wanted.
The second was under Clintons watch when Gingrich forced a shutdown over the budget. Again Clinton held strong, public opinion backed him for standing up for his principles and Republicans blinked. Clinton got his budget.
All the Democrats have to do is hold strong and stick to their principles. Let the government grind to a halt. The Republicans, who are little more than bullies, will blink as all bullies do when truly confronted by a strong united front.
Yes the Republicans will shout; ‘They cutting off our troops’ and ‘Democrats are defeatist.’ But public opinion over the past two years has been consistently 60-65% in favor of a pullout by end of 2008. The reason Congress’s numbers are so low is because they are NOT taking a strong stand. The public will back the Democrats up if it comes to a real showdown.
Bush probably won’t blink, the Republicans in congress will. They will vote to override Bush’s veto if the Democrats hold strong and call their bluff (which is what it is, a true bluff, they don’t have any cards).
The Democrats need to remember that the public perceives strength in standing up for principle not in being ‘strong on defense’ whatever the hell that means.
-
Can Anyone Imagine …
[Read the article: Lee Bollinger's big moment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]President Bush facing up to such an obviously hostile crowd and taking questions?
Of course not. Our mighty and fearless leader has gone out of his way to avoid facing such hostility. Every public appearance carefully choreographed. Audiences vetted in advance. Questions pre-screened or even pre-written and given to people who provide the best photo op.
Ahmadinejad, for all his other faults (and there are many), certainly demonstrated more courage then the current occupant of the White House.
-
The Privatized Military …
[Read the article: Waxman takes a shot at Blackwater]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Is major aspect of this war that is only now starting to gain some transaction. It is not just Blackwater protecting diplomats, the US has private security for its bases (yes the bases in Iraq are protected not by soldiers but by private security forces). Almost all support functions from food service to equipment maintenance is performed by private contractors. Many of these people are not US citizens. Estimates range anywhere from 160k-180k private contractors employed by the US military and State Department. Many are hired from overseas (the Balkans, Africa and Southeast Asia provide the bulk of personnel).
In theory this is meant to free up soldiers for combat duties and reduce support costs to the military. What it has done instead is create a de-facto mercenary army that operates in extremely grey legal area. Casualty figures, costs and other information are blocked from oversight by murky contracts and a lax enforcement regime.
Here’s hoping that Waxman and other members of Congress finally start looking at the effect of 20 years of privatizing the military really has.
-
Cash IS Fast …
[Read the article: Life shouldn't have to take Visa]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]In my experience using cash is often as fast as using plastic and can sometimes even be faster if you’re dealing with a twitchy POS device that refuses to read your card. Or even worse when the POS goes out completely and the cashier either can’t do anything or is forced to dig out one of the old manual systems they normally don’t know how to use.
The thing that normally kills a line is the people who write checks (especially those folks who don’t even start to fill out their checks until after everything is rung up).
What worries me is at some point in the next few years there are going to be retailers that refuse to accept cash at all. They’ll make some excuses about safety (no cash on premises = no incentive to stick the place up) and ‘convenience’. That would seriously tick me off. I much prefer to use cash for small impulse purchases (say under $50). It’s quick, easy and forces me to stay in a budget for the week rather than simply pulling out the credit/debit card and swiping.