Letters to the Editor
nicole p
Published Letters: 77
-
Obama keeps winning by large margins
[Read the article: A bleak outlook for Hillary Clinton]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Clinton won't be leaving the race anytime soon regardless of how large a task she has before her. Her acknowledgement that she would probably lose all the February races didn't factor in multiple double digit margins for Obama. Some part of me still thinks the upcoming big states will be more competitive. If she can keep within 100 pledged delegates of Obama, then Superdelegates will be in a tough spot.
It's also important to keep an eye on the popular vote. Even after tonight, she won't be behind more than 150,000 or so--I think I read that somewhere.
Here's to another 4 weeks at least...
-
Thanks, I needed that
[Read the article: It's OK to vote for Obama because he's black]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Yes, for me too the fact that he's black seals the deal. And it was refreshing to read someone else phrase the feeling accurately. Even more of an icing on the cake is the fact that he is biracial. He knows discrimination, he is well familiar with white priviledge, he understands the temptation to "pass," and he purposefully incorporates black as a foundation of his identity. I find something appealing about a guy who has struggled with all that it means to be biracial. He brings credibility to the table. Credibility that will serve him well in dealing with America's racial problems as well as our relationship with the rest of the world.
And I confess that his candidacy also helps accelerate my dream for a qualified, show-stopping, progressive multi-racial bisexual woman President in my lifetime.
-
Why ask a question you know the answer to?
[Read the article: Should Hillary Clinton drop out?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Be creative. We don't have much time left with these two brilliant candidates. If competition is supposed to bring out the best in people, why does the campaign rhetoric and political analysis seem so lazy? I have an idea in my head of what a democratic debate could be, and tonight wasn't it. I have an idea of what I wanted to see on a Salon commentary and instead I roll my eyes at this headline.
Pick an issue and ask hard questions about it. Why not ask: Should people be generally required to purchase health insurance? How do you penalize people who don't purchase it and how do you structure financial help for people who really can't afford it? How long would it take to implement such a program and would it really save money?
Both Clinton and Obama seem like they would have quite good answers. In fact both said they would welcome a debate on this topic. But the two recent debates and their campaign literature hardly scratch the surface.
Here's to whining because I want more out of these candidates and the news coverage. While I can go scan their websites, it would be darn interesting to hear in-depth dialogue.
-
Oh dear
[Read the article: This Modern World]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I see WAY too much of myself in this cartoon. Thank goodness for a good mocking.
-
timely and concise
[Read the article: Poll closing times and delegate counts]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You know, this information about poll closing times and delegates was just what I was looking for today. Salon's election coverage is way better than that of the larger news networks.
-
popular vote vs delegate count
[Read the article: Networks call Texas primary for Clinton]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]At the end of the day, delegate counts win the nomination. If the delegate system is unfair, if this wacky democratic system of "representational" government should be changed, then we should work to change it after the election. I for one never knew the democratic primary system was so caucus-dependent. Also, who knew the intricacies of super-delegates?
That said, I was happy to go to http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html and see that Obama is still ahead in the popular vote counts. That lead assumes of course that you don't include Michegan where Obama was not on the ballot. I also don't think Florida should be counted because it was clear from the beginning of this election cycle that Florida votes wouldn't count. Consequently, the candidates didn't campaign there in the fashion they would have normally.
Also, since Washington, Iowa, Nevada and Maine don't release popular vote counts, the popular vote is forever skewed for this primary cycle.
I'm a softy for the popular vote count. It matters, at the very least symbolically, to the heart of any American election. I think the electoral and delegate systems could stand for a good reworking.
But, when the candidates came into this election they knew the rules. At the end of the day, the person with the most delegates wins.
Part of me is sad the day's votes didn't knock Clinton out of the race. Another part takes comfort in Obama's comfortable delegate lead. Yet another bit revels in the strangeness and unpredictability of the democratic delegate system. I have faith--and hope (however beleaguered), that the system will produce the nominee who truly deserves to win.
-
@swinick
[Read the article: Networks call Texas primary for Clinton]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What kind of fool name is that?? Kidding. For some reason it seems the norm here to take whatever silly swipe we can at those who vote differently or emote rashly.
Yes, the superdelegates will matter greatly. They seem designed to shift with the tides. But for that matter, not even pledged delegates are particularly tied down when it comes right down to it, are they? I somehow doubt the August convention will see a roll-call vote.
Meanwhile the concrete numbers we have favor Obama. Forgive a little glee this night.
Who knows which wave the delegates will follow? Here's a virtual toast to more months of bickering.
-
Dennis Miller compaires Hillary to Fatal Attraction
[Read the article: "Pennsylvania prefers a beefier sort than either of these people"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I just watched Dennis Miller on Fox News with Bill O'Reilly explaining how Hillary was like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Saying something close to "you have to hold her down past that last gasp or she'll rise up again and get you with a knife." So offensive on so many levels.