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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Just wondering.
My daughter started school today and has to get up early to catch the bus. Although she went to bed early last night, she got up because she wanted to hear Michelle Obama speak. It felt very special sitting there with her and hubby and watching a moving tribute by a lovely, gracious woman.
I pretty much agree with Xranadu, but I'm going to make a further point. It's not what you're saying that's the problem. In fact, 80% of readers here would probably agree with you that Obama won't change much. And that's precisely the point. The problem is that you came in here with some high-and-mighty comment that pretended to know what everyone else was thinking, when it's obvious that you have not been reading the site or the letters section. If you had, you would have seen the countless Glenn Greenwald columns stressing all of the same points that you bring up, and nearly everyone agreeing with him. However, rather than making some nihilistic pronouncements he makes TWO points: one being that the system is corrupt and constant grassroots pressure must be applied to politicians from both parties, and the second being that NEVERTHELESS, an Obama presidency is preferable to a McCain one, and the national election is not a place to symbolically vent your impotent rage by throwing away your vote.
So yes, you can go on thinking that you're more enlightened while everyone else here is some mindless Obama worshiper, but there's absolutely no basis for it. I personally would have preferred Kucinich, but oh well.
I would so like to read a review without undertones of cynicism.
I truly love the inspirational messages of hope and optimism in the Obama campaign. The response to transparent media baiting that most influences me is the consistent reurn to positive points. Now that takes real strenth of charater as well as self dicipline.
I don't know why Salon allows republican/Limbaugh trolls parading as PUMAs to roam its letters section. If there were really so many of these stereotypically bitter biddies/buddies, Clinton wouldn't still have such a debt. It's like a nasty parody.
All I can say is that we desperately need a "report poster" type button. People like sonofloud and Notorious WES and AKA Smith aren't constructive, aren't making good points and certainly aren't making Clinton supporters look rational. All they are doing is raising the unpleasantry level.
Maybe the letters section should be suspended for awhile until the professional trolls get tired and go back to their natural habitats.
have attended the Olympics. According to TIMESonline (27th July last) Mark, who does not use his father's name because his feelings for the senior Barack are unaffectionate, is exporting Chinese products to the USA. The British media is providing a lot of information on the family of Obama pere that the American media seems unwilling to reveal - not that one would ever suspect that such discretion is plitically motivated. Mark's mother, Ruth Nidesand, is an American who was married to Barack Obama snr. and is the principal of a school in Kenya.
No one denies Ms. Obama is very smart and pretty, and can give speeches. She certainly stands head and shoulders above Stepford wife Cindy McCain. However, when Bill Clinton dragged his wife into government, it seemed quite odd and inappropriate. "They" have not been elected, after all. It seems anti-democratic.
Same thing is happening here. Can someone explain to me why unelected 'relatives' become players in the Party, and perhaps even get a policy role later?
Dear LABC63....(the posting about three postings above this one...)
I just read your posting.
My guess is that your household has got it right.
Thanks for the lovely, encouraging letter.
sincerely,
David Terry
How often can one say that a speech was expertly crafted, sincerely from the heart and brought tears to my eyes? Add poised, elegant, humble to that mix. You saw the pride in her own mother's eyes. And what's more, without actually saying so, she left no doubt that if, heaven forbid, she were crippled in a car accident, Obama would never ever dump her for an heiress to a beer fortune.
Michelle Obama has showed us what we can look forward to in a First Spouse (better get used to that term--Hillary will come back with a vengeance in 2016).
Grace, intelligence, convictions and purpose, but also an understanding of the separation of roles required. It will Barack's task to lead us out of the morass of Bushism. Michelle (and Sasha and Malia) will be there to inspire us during the journey.
And inspire they did! It made me go over and give my own sweet daughter an extra hug before bedtime. The Obamas are the people most of us want to be; loving, accomplished, and committed to higher ideals.
They will be a magnificent First Couple.
And that news is plenty big to deserve front page treatment on Salon. Kudos to the editor who made the decision to kick this story to the lead!
Not only that, but the trolls have done much to destroy the integrity of this website...one that has very rapidly gone from required reading to freakshow rubbernecking.
It's kind of like Myspace - Myspace started losing members by the boatload once it got hacked to shit and fake profiles started sending messages hither and yon...in short it's a legitimacy issue...these fake posters are in a very real sense eating away at salon's legitimacy...with shocking speed.
maybe open salon will save it, but it the jury is still out.
it's pretty sad when you think about it...oh well, at least Kaufmann and Kamiya are still around - otherwise this site would be dead to me ;)
...But I fear you are wasting your time. Nobody comes to the internet for "facts" or "logic." Nobody in these letters has shown any desire to have an actual discourse, its just talking points and intellectual wankery. Kennedy is a drunk, because of a tragic event from 20+ years ago. Michelle Obama wears wigs made from the hair of poor Indian women, because theres no way she got HER nappy hair that straight. Yeah, that's right, I suggested wig woman is a racist. And you know what the best part is? This is the internet, so I don't need any proof or credentials to make my claim. I can be an anonymous condescending asshole and say any stupid thing I want, and people will read it.
All that being said, thanks for trying.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
