Letters to the Editor
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Where's your flag pin, Joan?
Why do you hate America so much?
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Joan
I don't know if your stumble will hurt you, only you have the answer to that one.
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Yes
His stumble(s) will hurt him. His performance demonstrated the difficulty he has when he is challenged: he doesn't like it, he feels as if he is above it, and is entitled to be treated as if he were special and not a politician. In fact, he IS a politician, and the Republicans are going to be much harder on him. If he doesn't answer these questions about Wright, Ayers, Rezko, and "bitter" very well right now, they are going to continue to dog him until he does, period. What does he expect world leaders to do if he does win the White House? Fall over themselves in praise of him? Agree with everything he says and does? And what if they don't? Will he flip them off, too?
As far as Hillary's comment on Bosnia, you might take a look at Straight Shooting in Tuzla, a 4/1 op-ed in the NY Times, which explained exactly what happened in Bosnia. Then, you might more clearly understand her response during the debate.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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umm - 40,000 showed up at a rally in Philadelphia
that was for Obama, not Hillary didn't meant to get your hopes up
Obama is now up 19 nationally in a Newsweek poll; within 3 in Pennsylvania in another
Obviously being attacked by the most dislikeable person ever to run for president works out pretty well for him
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Why the continuing deception?
Why is the article not titled "Will Obama and Hillary's Stumbles Hurt Both of Them?" If the point is really what the byline suggests, an examaination of both coandidates missed opportunities, why is Obama singled out for failure in the title? And how odd that when ABC has been skewered all over the place for its lousy coverage and personaity-issue driven questions—even causing George Stephanopoulos to come out in defense of himself against a tirade of criticism—Walsh puts the emphasis on Obama dropping the ball, not ABC. Indeed, she barely seems concerned or critical about the tone of questioning at all. Once again, Salon pretends objectivity while seeking every opportunity to single out Obama for attack.
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ABC Debate Debacle
Dear Joan-
I have always liked your journalistic approach and admired your intelligence. I have especially liked you in your appearances on Bill Maher. HOWEVER, I must take issue with your analysis of this most horrendous "pretend" ABC debate--where the questions were crazy-making, adolescent and obviously crafted to appeal to the lowest common denominator. I felt especially sorry for the poor woman who was set up to ask the "flag lapel pin" question! She kept glancing to her side, as if to ask whether she was doing it "right!" She obviously had some kind of coach!
I think all the more highly of Barack Obama that he was annoyed and irritated at the low level of this "debate" and seemed hesitant to become involved. Hillary Clinton showed her usual "wooden soldier" persona, and I wondered if Mark Penn had entered the picture again!
Do you not get that Obama wants to change the nature of these foolish "debates" and get down to real issues? Do you not understand that the audience picks up on the "character" issue, and that is why Obama is winning nationally in ever wider numbers? Hillary Clinton is losing, and she is not going "gentle unto that good night!" I do not admire her for her "fighting spirit," because I think it is phoney and disingenuous. It is impossible to know who is the "real" Hillary Clinton and who Mark Penn and Bill Clinton tell her she needs to be!
Conversely, Barack Obama possesses a true voice. It has been evident from his first book "Dreams From My Father"--which he wrote himself and continues today. His speaking and writing voice are clearly his own. This is such a relief to one who notices these things, which I think many voters intuitively do too! On the other hand, I never know which Hillary Clinton will show up. I believe she is a real person with a real voice, but she has not respected herself or the voters enough to let us see her! Very sad.
Kate Madison
Depoe Bay, Oregon
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Appropriate advertising.
Pfizer!
Got Prozac Joan?
That would explain a lot.
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@veronica in CA
you are always on it.
That is great passion.
I respect that.
Please understand,
Whenever you have gotten passion back.
however inarticulate.
Peace
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Dear Joan Walsh
I appreciated your brick wall side chat. It was definitely even handed. Democrats REALLY need to unite this time around. Lets move together. Please.
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Huh?
I finally watched the first hour and a quarter or so of the ABC broadcast (I won't dignify it with the word "debate") last night. I did not see Sen. Obama as tired, evasive, or stumbling in any way. He did address the questions, and he explained why the focus should (rightfully) be on other things. He was well-spoken and thoughtful. And every time he put some sideshow "issue" to rest, Sen. Clinton looked like a Republican operative wanting to exhume something that any thoughtful viewer already knew was bullshit. I've wanted to support her if she's the eventual nominee, but man, is she making it tough.
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long overtaken by events, Joan
Do keep up, please. This is stale.
First off, you only wish Barack had stumbled. He didn't, dear, he held his own pretty damn good. A lesser person would have been goaded into reacting irrationally to the knife twists from "the press" and his supposed fellow Democrat, he didn't.
Barack remained classy, dignified and smart, as he was interrogated by lousy "journalists" trying mightily, along with your candidate, to attack his character by association. Filth upon filth made not a dent, zero.
He came out of that trap holding his head high, and went on to hammer his message home, after brushing the filth off of him. Americans are rallying around him (Philly last night?), recoiling at his opponent and the media.
No Joan, no stumble. Watch and learn. Barack emerged from that disgusting show of media corruption with his dignity intact, and - based on polls, Joan - even MORE respect from the American people. His candidacy is stronger for it.
Worry about how that sorry display of a debate, and the rest of her pathetic machinations affect how voters perceive YOUR candidate, Joan.