Letters to the Editor
calgodot
Published Letters: 256 Editor's Choice: 6
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Civil War... HA!
[Read the article: It was a joke (we think)]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The real joke is that Americans would do anything at all, other than cross their arms, shrug and say, "What can I do?"
Civil war? Physical resistance? Military coup? Puh-leeez! The vast lot of Americans would convince themselves of whatever they needed to believe in order to not take action. Republicans and other Bush enablers would convince themselves that such a move would be "necessary." Democrats (and other Bush enablers) would convince themselves that it would be "temporary." The remainder of citizens would be relegated to posting on message boards (those that allowed such posting) and would convince themselves that they were "doing something." The few who did actively and physically resist or defy such tyranny would be ratted out by their neighbors for a tax refund or reward. Prison camps would not be necessary for them, as they would be unemployed and evicted, homeless and destitute, in a nation that doesn't care.
Come on: just think about how timidly people reacted to the 2000 election theft, and how much more timid they'll be if resistance gets your a prison sentence or worse. (And while you're at it, think about how effectively armed resistance worked at Waco and Ruby ridge.)
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What an "opposition" party!
[Read the article: A cakewalk for Mukasey?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]With an opposition party like the Democrats, the Bush administration doesn't even need friends or enablers!
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The Fear-driven Voter
[Read the article: Wimps]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I really can't believe how naive and stupid some Democratic voters are. From "hold your nose and vote Hillary" to "draft Feingold (or Gore)", the mass of denial among Democratic voters is astounding.
The reason your Democratic leaders keep doing this is they are confident they will continue to serve in spite of it. You will not vote them out of office: when that time comes, you will vote as your Democratic masters tell you. They will whip up your fears and anxiety with talk of the return of "back-alley abortions." They will rouse your sentiments by glorifying "civil liberties." They will stoke your fires by claiming opposition to the Iraq war. You will vote for them, and they will turn around and do it all over again.
You are no different from Republican voters, really. Republican leaders whip up fear and anxiety in a similar manner. Often, in fact, Democratic leaders are able to do the job simply by taking the opposite position of their Republican "foes." When the election smoke clears, they all end up in Washington, voting similarly (pro-corporate), claiming "bipartisanship," or wringing their hands and claiming compromise.
Most Americans vote emotionally and not intellectually. As long as this is the case, you will continue to elect psychopaths and sociopaths who demand your trust through fear and anxiety rather than inspire your commitment through reason.
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Non-violent?
[Read the article: Obama: Don't pander to homophobes]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...one should love the sinner and not the sin, and that Jesus can change homosexuals. These mandates may be misguided, but they are thankfully nonviolent...
The "gay cure" crowd is anything but non-violent. Their various treatments to "cure" one of homosexual all amount to what is colloquially known as "brainwashing." Their basic philosophy insists that homosexuals are "sick," that homosexuality is a "plague." This sort of philosophy has historically formed the base of genocidal actions.
"Curing" someone of their sexuality if far from gentle or loving, and in no way reflects the teachings or practices of the Biblical Jesus. Before being "cured," the homosexual is tormented by his/her surrounding culture, accused of being "sick" and rife with "sin." They are persecuted, shunned, and sometimes physicall assaulted. Homosexuals are, in essence, coerced into this "cure."
The "cure" itself is often comprised of sensory deprivation, isolation, abusive and threatening interactions, and even "shock therapy" - either actual electric shock in the form of ECT or "psychological shock" in the form of sadistic theatrics.
In short, much of what these "gay cure" advocates practice would be thought of as "torture" by many.
Even if the physical and mental intimidation commonly practiced by "gay cure" programs were eliminated, you'd still be left with a program which insists that the individual is "sick" and must be forcibly "cured." The identity of the individual is stripped away, leaving only a very basic human mind, which can then be sculpted according to the prejudices of the "curer." This is, at best, psychological violence.
Non-violent? Only if you think water-boarding is a sport.
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Rovian Strategy
[Read the article: Clinton: "They're piling on because I'm winning"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Those whose brains have not been nibbled by zombies may recall this tactic is a central one in the Karl Rove playbook. The footsoldiers go out and make all manner of mischief, calling foul when there is none, changing the subject and thus controlling the discourse. The candidate, meanwhile, stays above the fray, never heard condoning nor condemning the tactics or statements. The press and public played into this one rather well: aides accuse the men of ganging up, the press runs with the story, liberals are aghast, and Hillary gets to appear above it all by reminding us, "It's because I'm winning." Numbers up, opponents down. All in a day's work for Hil, the George W. Bush of the Democratic Party!
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This is what it feels like...
[Read the article: What happened to the Senate's "60-vote requirement"?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...to live in a fascist empire.
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This is just terrible.
[Read the article: Kansas O'Flaherty...Secret Agent]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]There's nothing redeeming about it. Digitized graphics. Bad computer lettering. No humor. Bad writing. This isn't a comic. It's just bits and bytes.