Letters to the Editor

Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

Calmer

Published Letters: 64     Editor's Choice: 8

  • We've learned it's time to give up on the Senators conducting the hearings.

    [Read the article: Is it time to give up on confirmation hearings?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    The problem isn't the hearings, it's the people conducting them. Neither party is doing it's job to ensure that a this candidate is up to the job of protecting the Constitution.

  • Hey Joe

    [Read the article: Quote of the Day]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    We already have a civil war in Iraq, skyrocketing oil prices, an emboldened Iran and expanding Islamic terrorism. So can we bring the troops home already?

  • Maybe Rick should read LOTR

    [Read the article: Rick Santorum and the "Eye of Mordor"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    ...while serving a tour of duty in Iraq. He doesn't seem to have an adequate grasp on either subject.

  • It is a pity. It is shameful...

    [Read the article: Buying a legacy]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    that $500M can/will be raised and used for propoganda rather than aid for Katrina victims (or a host of other worthy causes).

  • Pity we can't tax just the 32% who still support W

    [Read the article: Time for a "war on terror" tax?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Or even just those that voted for him. But that wouldn't be in the spirit of democracy.

    Perhaps W's supporters will voluntarily take some of that "personal responsibility" they seem to demand from everyone else and just pay for the war without taxing the rest of us.

    Yea, I know the meds must be wearing off.

  • Joe

    [Read the article: "Not at this time"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    wouldn't it be easier to just come out in support of killing American troops and innocent civilians to protect your fragile pride? Is that important to you that you can't admit that we lost and unwinnable war? That way you wouldn't have to invent these non sequitur arguments implying bringing home our people means we are supporting terrorist.

    Wouldn't be a better use of your time to enlist in the military and participate in the surge and personally fight terrorist rather than sit behind a keyboard and toss verbal bards?

    "Before you speak, ask yourself: is it kind, is it true, is it necessary, does it improve upon the silence?" - Shirdi Sai Baba

  • Please don't feed the troll.

    [Read the article: Coulter: "Who's running this holocaust in Darfur, FEMA?"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    In a recent discussion about trolls of various sorts a mental health professional speculated that trolls likely have narcissistic personality disorder and paying attention to them in any way is a positive reinforcement of their behavior.

    Reporting on the behaviour of this troll does not improve upon the silence. Salon, please stop feeding the troll.

  • The phrase 'political suicide'...

    [Read the article: Is cutting off war funding political suicide?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    ... seem pretty irrelevant when real lives are being lost daily.

    What is most to important to our politicians (of either party), their careers and/or their pride or the lives of people in harms way?

  • mr snadman

    [Read the article: Is cutting off war funding political suicide?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    To elaborate on your point, truth is also powerful and my statement was an attempt to illustrate that framing the situation as truthfully as possible might weigh on the minds of enough of congress to see through the propaganda and perhaps act differently. As you pointed out it might help turn the tide in the minds of voters as well who in turn would do the right thing. A fella can dream can't he?

  • Just out of curiousity

    [Read the article: The Bush administration's terrible luck with finding documents]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Suppose the Democrats take the White House in '08. To the extent that Bush administration has complied with the Presidential Records Preservation Act (or whatever it is call), couldn't those records be turned over to the AG to prosecute the crimes committed by the former administration?

    It would also seem that a Democratic president could declare the officials of the Bush administration terrorists and ship'em off to Gitmo.

    What has the Bush administration got planned to protect themselves for the power of the unitary executive when the next president isn't a Republican?

  • @ I envy us.

    [Read the article: White House and guns: Stay the course]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    This latest incident of campus violence is indeed a tragedy. It parallels another tragedy ongoing in Iraq for the last 4 years. In each case the president hasn't taken the time or interest or compassion to examine the root of the violence or even that the root of the violence be examined by others.

    Practically speaking I don't think gun control is THE answer but am open to the possibility that it is a component of the answer. Like talking to our enemies probably isn' THE answer but is probably a component to peace. In each case our fearful leader has dismissed viable components of success out of hand.

  • Buffalonian

    [Read the article: Gun control or "hopes and prayers"?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Were you also disgusted yesterday when the White house tried to make political hay out of this tragedy with it's pro-gun statement in response to the tradegy?

    "Perino merely reaffirmed George W. Bush's support for gun owners' rights to bear arms."

    I head on the radio that the president has order that flags be lowered until Sunday in response to this tragedy. Isn't that more politicizing by the White House? To my knowledge the president hasn't ordered the flags to be lowered for any of the 3000+ American lives lost in Iraq. Again to my knowledge the president hasn't attended a single funeral for a life lost in Iraq but will attend todays service. Where was he after Katrina? Coal mine cave-ins?

    In the face of tragic, senseless, and perhaps avoidable loss of human life the real pro-life (i.e. anti-gun, anti-war) advocates reaffirmed their belief that we, as a nation, can and should be doing more to prevent needless loss of life.

  • Other examples

    [Read the article: Heck of a job]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Number of days that passed between the shootings at Virginia Tech and George W. Bush's expected arrival for a convocation there: 1

    Number of days that passed between the death of an American soldier in Iraq and George W. Bush's expected arrival for a funeral: 4+ years and counting

    Number of days that passed between the shootings at Virginia Tech and George W. Bush's order to fly flags at half staff: 1

    Number of days that passed between the death of an American soldier in Iraq and George W. Bush's order to fly flags at half staff: 4+ years and counting

    His response to the Virginia Tech is appropriate, the others - not so much.

  • Who in thier right mind?

    [Read the article: Bubble or bunker?]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Sorry, but W isn't in that set.

  • John, Lighten up and Retire

    [Read the article: McCain's bomb]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    you reminde me of Slim Picken's character in Dr Strangelove.

  • There was no credible evidence ...

    [Read the article: "He's our No. 1 crime fighter"]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    of rightdoing either.

  • Go to Iraq Ttiberius ...

    [Read the article: Senate sets Iraq timetable]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    and find out what hell you are promoting for others. In other words "Go walk your talk." Didn't think so.

  • In the neocon's mind...

    [Read the article: More from Dan Bartlett's Fantasy Theater]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    A soldier is a diplomat. What we need is a good neocon to English dictionary.

  • Mitch

    [Read the article: Memo to Mitch McConnell: It's already broken]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Seems to think it's more important that the US be able to recorfd this one in the 'win' column than to end the needless loss of life.

  • Why is winning more important than being alive?

    [Read the article: The pen is mightier than the people]
    [Read more letters about this article: Here]

    Just wondering.