Letters to the Editor
maniondl
Published Letters: 52 Editor's Choice: 1
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Aycharaych
[Read the article: Things that don't exist in Harry Reid's world]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Blogs are extremist on the whole, depending of course on how you define "extremist". I don't think there are all that many passionately committed moderates out there, blogging hard for the center. Goldwater was right, extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. The Founding Fathers were certainly extremists, I wonder how your friends would have thought of them back in the day?
I agree that the power status quo looks at any challenge to its dominance as "extreme" and therefore suspect. I've been counseled enough times to go with the flow that I know even a common sense idea--or in this case, policy that the majority of Americans agree with on paper, such as getting out of Iraq and having the option for universal healthcare--can be shrugged off as naive. So I think passion is great, necessary, and yet passion and enthusiasm, especially for Great Idea(l)s, are often considered naive. I wish it weren't that way, but I have to put it out there so that we know what we're fighting against.
Anyone who is an uncommitted moderate these days is a low information voter or stupid/apathetic and probably doesn't have anything worthwhile to say anyway.
With respect, this view is what turns a lot of people we need to reach off of the blogs. Knowledge is power and the truth does set you free. Failure of imaginiation and courage to defend our ideals are indeed problems that can be solved through individual action toward self-education.
People who shun these "extremes" don't consider themselves low-information or stupid and apathetic, however. And they do consider themselves as having opinions that are worthwhile. Getting our media to be closer to the blogs, closer to the unbaised truth/facts of the matter is indeed a huge priority because most Americans get their news from conventional sources (thank goodness that seems to be changing!) Getting these people involved in the good fight, as it were, means understanding and respecting their positions. I think Dems have lost their way somewhat by compromising their right to discourse--we can respectfully disagree and compromise without folding completely. That's my hope anyway.
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From Kos: John Kerry Wants Investigation of Military Analyst Story
[Read the article: Things that don't exist in Harry Reid's world]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]http://www.johnkerry.com/pentagonpundits
Link in my sig, too.
I also provided a shout-out to Glenn in the comments section for pushing the story.
(http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/6/10473/09913/540/510012)
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Morality, Catholics, Public Policy
[Read the article: The right's selective political manipulation of Catholicism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Somehow, the policies of ours which result in the greatest obliteration of innocent human life -- or its complete degradation -- are totally drained of any moral component. And the entire playing field of "moral issues" is thus ceded to religious hucksters like Lopez and her political comrades as they openly support the most morally grotesque, and irreligious, policies imaginable
Not much to add here; I agree with a whole, if heavy, heart on these matters. Some solace may be taken in from the facts that the laity in the Catholic church do not always follow their more conservative or compromised leaders. Not all Catholics are Catholic League voters. Unfortunately, liberal Catholics have been bullied, threatened with being denied communion, and they have not been given a platform for dissent in some parishes. Liberal Catholics, however, have some options and data points that show they aren't alone. See Catholics for Choice: (link also in sig) http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/politics/keypubs.asp
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AnnieW
[Read the article: The right's selective political manipulation of Catholicism]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]ITA re: manipulation. I think using wedge "moral" issues to justify oppression and even violence is in itself immoral (or at least unethical). Cynical political manipulation at its best.
More Catholic dissent links on equal marriage rights:
http://rcfm.org/petition/start.php?id=1
(link in sig)
Can you tell I live in Massachusetts and have issues with hardly new but still revolting mix of religion and politics?
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Justice had better be on its way
[Read the article: Larry Di Rita's responses to questions about the "military analyst" program]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]CNN's Reliable Sources. Heh.
In the words of Di Rita, "I don't know anything." He just works here, you know, as the Pentagon communications guy.
Now Di Rita works for BofA? Making millions, no doubt?
Glenn, you are ably stacking up the evidence in the people's case against BushCo. Bravo!
I, for one, will forward this information along to Senator Kerry once my blood pressure returns to semi-normal Bush presidency levels.
Thank you for your service, Glenn.
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United States of Blackwater? Legal Question (GG, Justaplero?)
[Read the article: Was Karl Rove involved in the military analyst program?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Welcome to the accountability-free zone!
I'm not a lawyer, but I'm not naive--I know that moral/ethical obligations aren't necessarily the same as the law. This military analyst story, however, turns my stomach: not only because of the government's cynical, deliberate war on the hearts and minds of its own populace, but also it seems to violate the law.(Not that clear law violations haven't stopped our government before, but on to my question)
What role does motivation play in this kind of a legal case? Motive is a part of a criminal investigation, no?
If motive is factored in at all, it would seem fairly obvious that Rove/Cheney were behind this propoganda. And the blocked emails would likely be sent from RNC's "missing" email servers. It's a pretty clear pattern of intent to deceive, abuse of power, confluence of private and public entities in violation of the Constitution.
Can "they" really get away with creating a space--such as the so-called gray zone of Blackwater--where no offence passes the smell test, let alone moral or ethical standards, yet no one is/ can be held accountable such unconscionable deeds?
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A little OT--Joe Klein calls GG and Co on "silly crusade" in snidely titled post today @ Swampland
[Read the article: Was Karl Rove involved in the military analyst program?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Title of JK's post: "How Actual Journalism Works"
Tidbit: Tell me where I've been misled by my sources. A year ago, I reported that real progress had been made in al-Anbar province--but that our intelligence community was extremely pessimistic about the Shi'ites and Sunnis getting their act together to actually govern the country. (Greenwald and others ridiculed that column.)
It's actually a decent response on the whole, if it weren't for the resentment and condescension evident in the opening word choices.
Not that what you and your readers think actually matters to real journalists, Glenn (/snark)