Letters to the Editor
Renegade Iconoclast
Published Letters: 660 Editor's Choice: 11
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We don't need a refresher in sexism, Joan
[Read the article: Oh no they didn't]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Did any thoughtful commenter here ever deny that Clinton faced sexism? As far as I can see, no, they didn't. It's the strawman you and AKA Smith love to tear down.
What we Obama supporters objected to was that it had anything to do with the campaign. Obama didn't invent Faux news, and he didn't hire Chris Matthews at MSNBC, and it's not his job to be the ever-present white knight, either, despite AKA Smith's protestations to the contrary.
It wasn't his job any more than it was Clinton's job to protect Obama from racism (other than by not engaging in it or encouraging it).
But hey, at least we can agree that Faux News are a bunch of racist pricks. I'm shocked! Shocked!
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ClareA
[Read the article: Oh no they didn't]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]No, we just grew weary of hearing angry, alleged Clinton supporters proclaim they were voting for McCain, or staying home, because of sexism in the media. We also got tired of hearing that Barack ran a sexist campaign, as a fact-free assertion, over and over again. I'm still waiting to hear about a single instance of Obama running a sexist campaign. Merely asserting it doesn't prove your point, it proves shallow thinking.
McCain doesn't even have a section for women's issues on his website. Barack not only does, but his is quite detailed. I'm a man, but I would imagine the millions of women who voted for Barack would bristle a bit at the idea that their candidate, or his campaign, was sexist. I would guess that at least a few of them would be horrified at the cut-off-my-nose-to-spite-my-face attitude of supposed feminists who would sell this country and all women down the river with a McCain presidency.
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Barack should not go to any town halls
[Read the article: Obama won't be at town hall tonight]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]And should insist on Lincoln Douglass debates. In Lincoln Douglass debate, the participants speak for themselves, set the tone of the debate, and cross examine each other.
McCain wants a, "town hall," where, instead of him having to get his hands dirty, some, "private citizen," will ask about Obama's lack of a flag lapel pin, or call his elementry school a madrassa. Why? Becuase he knows he can't get away with it himself, and he has a perfect excuse, in that he can't control the crowd.
If McCain wants that kind of smear to surface at the, "debate," he should have to say it himself.
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It may not be fair, or right, Jeb
[Read the article: Oh no they didn't]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]But it's how the world works, you gotta admit that!
In any case, Clinton's constant cries of victimization (some deserved, some not so much, but that is irrelevant), didn't do much for feminism either.
I'm still an egalitarian, as ever. I say egalitarian because I hate the word feminist. If a man says he's a feminist, he is nearly universally laughed at.
You can't deny, though, that, like it or not, some people just aren't very big thinkers, and actions of people like Harriet Christian will have an impact. Just as the actions of sexist media people and internet trolls have had such an impact on a small but vocal minority of women, that they are threatening to throw us all under the bus by voting McCain or staying home. It isn't fair. It's just how it is.
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@Baloo
[Read the article: "The Incredible Hulk"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I couldn't disagree more about the Ang Lee film. At the time, it was the worst film I had ever seen in the theater. Since, the only two films I've seen that were worse were, "Domino," and, "Southland Tales."
It had no sympathetic characters, for me, at least. Sure, Nick Nolte had a fiery performance, at the end, but I'm hard pressed to remember what the hell it was even about. It was completely out of place in the film. Jennifer Connelly was wooden throughout, as was Eric Bana, and I found myself really not caring if she lived or died.
I'll say this for it: the intro and the first scene of the film were absolutely brilliant. If only the film had lived up to its promise, it could have been great.
Essentially, I've come to believe that Ang Lee, John Woo, and Robert Rodriguez should not be given budgets. They do their best work when they're hungry. Give them a budget and they're guaranteed to come up with a good looking mess (except for Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Sin City, aww hell, give him a budget on alternating Wednesdays). I've given up completely on Richard Kelly.
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Why should McCain get to set the format and venue?
[Read the article: Debating debates]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You two act disappointed in Obama for not throwing McCain into his briar patch.
I said it before, and I'll say it again. McCain wants town halls because he wants, "normal, everyday citizens," to grill Obama on his flag pin, or lack thereof, and other nonsense. If it comes from a so-called private citizen, it isn't coming from McCain himself, and he can distance himself from it.
Why not be disappointed in McCain for not agreeing to Lincoln-Douglass debates? In LD, the candidates set the tone, cross examine each other, and speak for themselves. It's an idea whose time has come, given the shameful behavior of Russert, Stephanopolous, et. al. Leave the jerks out of it, let the candidates actually debate each other, in as substantive a manner that they choose! All kinds of ideas, that would never see the light of day in a sham debate, will come forth. McCain will be shown to be the idiot that he is, and he will have to behave himself, and not ask about stupid non-issues, because it will make him look bad to ask about the, "madrassa."
He wants the veneer of respectability, and also the circus. He wants to have the cake, eat it, consume it, and devour it too. You are playing right into his hands. Thanks!
I think you media people like the circus bullshit because it gives you something to write about that a substantive debate would not, because you'd actually have to think, instead of reporting on all the gotchas.