Letters to the Editor
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Fetboy, the world doesn't really care
Your internal politics on race, gender, religion and now, it seems, agism is very much your own business. Whether the USA is colorblind or not is hardly a riveting topic in the Middle East, the Far East or anywhere else you can think of beyond the shores of the USA. As I had anticipated, all of you Obamites make strenuous efforts to avoid searching questions so I'll repeat my earlier one:
Has your candidate, Barack Obama, any knowledge or
experience of international issues?
Putin in Russia does not speak English, as far as I know, but, because he is a Russian nationalist, would insist on speaking in his own language, which is quite natural. The Iranian leader, Ahmadinejad, would speak in Farsi, the language of his own country. Yes, of course, interpreters would be used but there would be no opportunity for the soaring rhetoric that Obama's admirers speak of; interpreters just don't do "soaring rhetoric". I can hardly believe the simplistic explanations that too many people give as a reason for favouring Senator Obama. America is in trouble because you have blundered into regions far away from your own shores, regions which you did not understand and whose people you did not respect. Human civilization began its experimentation with agriculture in the land between the Tigris and Euphrates,
in what is modern Iraq and the people of Iraq have suffered agonies because of American folly.
If you think that skin colour is what it's all about you're remarkably silly. I've seen people in Southern Spain (Mediterranean Europeans) whose skin is the same as Barack Obama's so that's a non-runner. What does he know about the world outside South Chicago? His childhood may have been interesting but I don't suppose even the most starry-eyed of his supporters would regard childhood years in Hawaii and Indonesia as significant in evolving international policy. My heart sank when I heard that his attitude to Iran was to talk to Ahmadinejad and, to Iraq, just to withdraw American troops, apparently leaving the mayhem you have caused behind you. Is there any clear strategy in all this "hot air". Fetboy, I'd like to remind you that Iraqis have bronzed skin, just like Barack, and that they have the same hopes and dreams of happiness as anyone else.
Btw, in case you were too polite to ask. I am here (in this forum) because you (plural) are there - and anywhere else that suits your greed for oil. I, an ordinary woman, am asking questions about Barack Obama that his supporters cannot or will not answer. In the matter of foreign policy, it seems to me that he hasn't got a clue but if you present me with clear facts about his involvement in various relevant committees and so on I'd be willing to change my mind. Bill Clinton is said to have claimed that Barack Obama was in the US Senate for only three years when he began running for the Presidency of the US. and, it's alleged, that he was only a part-time Senator while getting a substantial salary for Senatorial duties. Either this is true or it's not. Since I'm not American, I can look at this objectively so telling me that this is a "smear" without providing a counter-argument based on facts will not work. This is the worldwide web, remember.
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@Calhoun
What are you talking about? Bill Clinton hasn't done anything in years?
He's been the most active and ingenious ex-president the country has probably ever had with the exception of Jimmy Carter. AIDS. Sunami Relieve. Starting a potential third party...how's that for starters?
Your letting your rhetoric get the best of you. It's going to be important to stay focused in the weeks ahead on what goes down of importance vs. what is media and panic produced.
If the Clintons had won the press would be forced to proclaim their inventiveness in the same way they must for Mr. Obama. That the next round is "virtual" could work for the more nationally prominent Mrs. Clinton. It ain't over yet.
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To maureenodonnell, that pisses me off.
I believe I have made it very clear every where that I am color blind on issues regarding race, heritage, or ethnic back ground, and that I believe that 90-95 percent of Americans would like for America to appear color blind on those issues to the rest of world as well.
Don't put words in my mouth to ever imply that I would base my vote on someone's race, heritage or ethnic back ground. I am color blind on those issues, get that straight.
And where the hell did I ever say anything in regards to ageism?
I am sure you are a nice person, maureenodonnell, but it looks like you are trying to swiftboat me, and I resent that.
For the record I feel comfortable with either Clinton or Obama as president, will support either if they win the Democratic nomination, and I believe I have made that clear every where that I have written.
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Beg Your Pardon
"On Feb. 5, a record number of primary voters will be voting for president based on hunch, instinct and fleeting media impressions."
Perhaps I am being naive here, but perhaps a record number of primary voters will be voting for a president based on the candidates' records, positions, and goals. I have never met any of the people who have ever run for president (with the exception of Bobbie Kennedy, who I am while his motorcade stopped at a stop light in my neighborhood on June 6, 1968, but I was 10 and he was dead that night, so, frankly, the personal stuff didn't really help, though I must say he was very nice). The vast majority of Americans vote for officials at all levels of government, even small posts in the town, without meeting the candidates. We do it by finding out their positions and who is on their team. I don't need to know to much more when a candidate was supported by Jerry Falwell and a Republican to likely know he would support gay rights and my issues.
The idea we are electing some nice guy we like is what got us yahoos like Bush. I don't care about them as a person, so I don't need to meet them. I need to know how they perform with responsibility, what they plan to do, and how they plan to do. They could all stay home, iChat with the media, have a good website with their positions, and we'd be just fine. The personal stuff hooey.