Letters to the Editor
ann1960
Published Letters: 54 Editor's Choice: 4
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the real reason
[Read the article: Don't bogart that spotted owl]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Spotted owls require a very specific habitat in order to survive: These must be forests of high-canopied (old growth) trees with plenty of understory (areas under the branches) available. So, unless the pot growers are using these areas, I highly question the validity (or scientific accuracy)of this argument. Loss of old growth habitat (by logging), along with the predation by larger owls that have moved into the clear cuts are the chief reasons the spotted owls are endangered. The government under this administration wants to keep clearcutting the northwest old growth forests, and are looking for creative ways to take the heat off of the forest service, who currently caters to the whims of the logging industry.
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locutus?
[Read the article: Quote of the Day]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I used to enjoy reading Locutus' take on things, but haven't heard from him in a while. Locutus, do you now go by a different name? Are you still with us?
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why the rich do it
[Read the article: Beyond the Multiplex]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The rich hollywood types are the activists that will (and must) send the message about environmental devastation; it's certainly not the rich oil tycoons who are going to spread this type of message! I am a relatively poor (financially) environmentalist, so I don't have the money, name, nor the clout to get the message across. So, it HAS to be the moneyed people who actually care about the state of the planet who do this type of thing, which sets them up to be scrutinized by the rest of us. I remember when I was protesting in Dallas for animal rights, and the people driving by called me every name in book (lesbian, pinko, get a job, etc.) Yes, better to take down the messenger than the message, I guess. Tell me, if these rich folks don't spread the message, who will? Thank God someone like Gore and DiCaprio are lending their names to the cause. Otherwise, the message truly would get nowhere.
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to johnsonjohnson
[Read the article: The dismal legacy of Bush's top yes man]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"The wrath towards Mr. Gonzales seems to arise because his skill as a counsel had frustrated the efforts of those whose actions however motivated..."
Wow, for somebody so skilled, he sure came off as stupid ("I don't recall" was his mantra at least 122 times during a two hour period) Or, maybe he was suffering early onset...
By the way, did it take skill to enter Ashcroft's hospital room with Card and attempt to have him sign off some papers that Ashcroft refused to sign beforehand? Knowing full well that Ashcroft wasn't the acting AG during the time of his surgery and recovery? Oh, yeah, I know. He doesn't recall that, either...
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C'mon!
[Read the article: The ballad of Ramos and Compean]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Ah, geeze, this article is the biggest piece of crap I have ever read on Salon. I want fair and balanced, for God's sake--if I wanted something so one sided, I'd watch Fox news.
I'm NOT a republican, having backed Clinton, Gore, and Kerry in the past elections. Having said that, this article leaves me cold. Yes, I know that the agents should be punished ror their actions, but the drug runner? He's off scott-free, and will sue American taxpayers for millions of dollars. You wait and see.
A few points that should be considered:
While under immunity (granted by a Sutton, a friend of the Prez), Aldrete-Davila was caught in another drug delivery, but the judge sealed that information from the jury. (The drug smuggler, under his immunity deal, was given a "humanitarian visa" to travel back and forth between Mexico and the U.S. With that visa, Aldrete-Davila attempted another drug delivery in October 2005.)
A March 14, 2005, memo recorded an interview with U.S. Border Patrol agent Rene Sanchez, who told of his phone conversation with Aldrete-Davila prior to the immunity agreement. Aldrete-Davila, described as a distant relative of Sanchez, allegedly said he was afraid to come forward because was trying to transport marijuana across the border when the incident occurred. (He admitted his guilt in the drug smuggling.)
Ramos, a veteran, has lost more than 30 pounds in solitary confinement. He was also beaten by fellow inmates when he was placed in the general prison population at the federal facility in Yazoo City, Miss. So, is he being punished? You bet your sweet ass he is.
As for the drug smuggler? Never mind.
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intellect?
[Read the article: The scruffy charms of an insecure president]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"But as he knew all along, the book was going to be published in September of 2007. I made no secret of that. And in fact, on many occasions the president would ask me, "Now when is this book going to be published again?" before he would answer a particular question, so he was cognizant of it."
Maybe GW really didn't know when the book was going to be published, so he had to keep asking the same question again and again. Maybe early onset?? At least Reagan had Alzheimers to blame. So, is GW is forgetfull, deaf, or simply annoying? Either way, Draper sets the bar veeerrrrrrryyy low for the leader of the free world.
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bad news
[Read the article: Huckabee: "I'll stick with God"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've got some bad news for Huckabee: While humans didn't "come" from monkeys-- we had the same evolutionary ancestors. In fact, we are apes. We are also mammals. I know that's a tough concept to wrap your brain around, but humans are (gasp!) animals. Advanced animals, perhaps (and that could be a good debate, all things considered), but animals nonetheless. I remember attending a conference in Washington D.C. where Carl Sagan was talking about all this; he's the first scientist who really opened my eyes to this concept.
Sooooo, if God created us in His own image, would that make God an animal?? Or, did humans finally create God in their own image, having tired of Sun Gods, Moon Gods, and such? Why not create a religion that gives the whole planet to US???
These conversations are fun, aren't they?