Letters to the Editor
-
You have got to be kidding me
"To all of the people crying for a third party, that idea is ill conceived and intolerant"
Our constitution was writen by people that did not think we should have any political parties, thats why the vice president was originally the second place candidate. One more thing, these two parties are giving us a choice between continueing or expanding the war, and socalized medicine, I don't like eather option so I would love to see a third party movement. Considering how much this president has done to our image, or millitary and our contsitution, I would love a "do nothing" government.
-
The question I would have asked
If I had bothered to crack out the video camera:
"There is a lot of discussion in the blogosphere about whether the invasion of Iraq was really about securing the United States a longterm stable oil supply from a friendly ally, in a region where oil is easily extracted and refined. Do you think that this is why Bush refuses to consider withdrawing from Iraq? Also, do you think that withdrawal of our troops from Iraq signals the end of our ability to depend upon cheap oil for our energy needs, and if so, are you going to level with the American people about the changes they will need to make to their lifestyle once cheap oil is no longer available?"
Then again, I'd probably just have gotten standard, non-responsive talking points in response, with no opportunity for follow-up questions.
-
Less Snark, Please
Dear Salon;
Your debate coverage has thus far been too precious and snarky by half. Injecting unfunny ironic asides is no cleverer or more entertaining than the guy behind you at the movie theatre who can't bear to keep his wit to himself; and as far as I'm concerned, about as welcome.
Please write more like grown-up political reporters, and less like twenty-something snark-o-matic bloggers.
Regards;
David Krieger
-
The truth is in there.
"I don't believe we are at the advent of a third party, but third party events in U.S. history have always had an effect on the two main behemouths."
Behemouths? Best typo/misspelling/wordplay ever! Thanks for the morning laugh.
-
Listening to this bunch makes me think we may get another Republican President
Up until this, I felt there was no possibility of any of the Republican candidates getting elected...but after watching this luke-warm obfuscation fest, I'm no longer so sure.
These people are deliberately hiding their stance on the issues (assuming they have one), in hopes they will get votes because they have better fashion sense than the other candidates.
They do this for a living, so I guess they are probably right. This democracy is toast.
-
Less snark, more reporting
Dennis Kucinich did make hte joke about there being no one to his left, but that wasn't at al the end of his response. He answered the question about the candidate who, as expected, was placed at the opposite end of the stage, Mike Gravel. He pointed out something no one in the press, including Michael Scherer, has take n the trouble to mention, that Gravel played a courageous role in ending the Vietnam war. Kucinich didn't have time for detail, but he might have been referring to when Gravel entered the Pentagon Papers in the Congressional Record. Kucinich gave the most substantive answer to the question.
By the way, Mr. Scherer, if you could have been bothered to actually listen, Kucinich explained what he meant by the global warming/global warring connection, about how ours wars are tied to our need for oil, and how war is sucking up resources that could go into alternative energy. His phrase is actually a clever and concise way to put it.
-
Asking about Ask a Ninja
Yeah, why the juvenile headline? Reeks of Republican-putdown, I'd say.
-
Damn Scherer Sucks At Hiding His Bias
We all know you love Hillary, and those who didn't before do now. The problem with cute, witty micro-coverage like this is that it is too difficult for the writer to hide his personal bias. I mean, whatever, but you could do better.
-
Humor helps
In defense of Mr. Scherer, it’s pretty difficult not to be cynical or to use a popular bit of jargon, “snarky.” I enjoyed the humor. Keep it coming. Virtually everyone who reads Salon has to be well aware that, as stated in one of the letters, no matter who asks the question, every candidate has mastered the technique of not answering and moving the focus on to something they want to talk about; that no matter how hard you try to get a straight, heart-felt answer from one of them, you will instead get a memorized bit of spin. But we still go back for more hoping maybe, just maybe, it won't be so the next time.
I thought the comments from Magno68 about a third party or multi-party European system were interesting but only pointed to the negative aspects of a many-party system. Because it is much harder to garner a majority when there are many parties, in the best of times, it can force people to work together.
Us old hippies at least lived at a time when the politicians had not yet mastered the media. That might help to explain why we tend to be a little less cynical (if not more easily led) than the twenty and thirty-somethings. Frankly, the “snarkyness” doesn’t bother me nearly so much as the general, passive, ennui in too many of the voting public.
-
3rd Party Response
My opinion stating that third party calls were a bad thing in no way meant I was happy with the status quo or with the way things are now. I only advocate change through the system. The socialists still exist in the US last I checked but their time seems to have come and gone. Even here in the mother of all socialist countries where I live...France, that seems to be the case. It is true that this president has usurped power and overreached his bounds by a mile but there exists a system of balance. If it is not being used properly, look to your senator or congressman for the reason. It is precisely the Ralph Nader candidacy which blew the election for the Democrats in the first place. And look what has resulted. While I too support socialized medicine it is because I believe medicine is a right and not a priveledge but that's where my support for socialism ends. As much as you decry globalization, it it precisely that which has lifted millions out of poverty and which gives rise to countries which do or might counterbalance the power and influence of the US when such a madman is in office. Form a socialist party in the US and see how quickly you become marginalized. Weaker president? Yes. Weaker system? I don't think so. The real problem I have with this third party idea is that it is not born of ideas but of protest. Aside from expreressing your displeasure with the way things are, what will your third party represent that does not already have voice somewhere in the government now?