Letters to the Editor
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Again.
We lost our blog reporter to Hillary and now this.
Why are you doing this? What does Hillary offer the left except "not being Republican"? The US spends more money on weapons than all other countries put together -- and Hillary wants to spend *more*. Its record in foreign military undertakings is almost uniformly miserable, from Vietnam to Central America to Iraq, American soldiers have been fighting continuously overseas for over 60 years, yet Hillary wants to continue and even expand this murderous tradition.
I feel completely sick. Why isn't there a political party for people who don't believe that continuous warfare for the rest of time is a great idea?
The first time Hillary's aggressive belligerence costs lives -- which I predict would be in the first year of any Clinton presidency, God save us from such a catastrophe -- I'm going to send you another message telling you that I told you so. The blood will be on your hands too.
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Thanks for your excellent critiques, Sydney.
You are right to move on to the election's outcome now. And it is time for We The People to do the same. If we want a dauntless Democratic leader as President, then we need to devote as much time and energy into creating and demanding such a candidate as we have put into ousting the current power grabbing regime.
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Terror and the War On Drugs
Goodbye Mr. Blumenthal, I enjoyed your columns.
It was ironic to hear Nixon's name again in this one as the first in the modern Line of Imperial Presidents. I keep reading about how the War On Terror is a new propaganda Evil to keep us afraid and in control. But the War On Drugs, started by Nixon in the 70's to silence anti Viet Nam War protester's, has done even more damage over the decades with barely a peep from the media, scientists, politicians, lawyers, writers or the clergy. In fact, most of these groups have encouraged the pogrom and as a result several subcultures here have been destroyed and whole countries have been disrupted and are in turmoil. I don't have to mention the $ cost.
The notion that recreational drugs are evil has externalized both our emotions and responsibility for our behavior onto this devil, like little children blaming Satan for their sins. We need to grow up or we're going under the waves. It's especially ironic when Ritalin (speed) is given to children but needed narcotics are withheld from adults in deep pain.
A religious prohibition has been given the power of armed law to prosecute our own citizens for the crime of disobedience to religious bullies (remember the Inquisitions and Witch Trials?.) I like Salon but see your writers and editors falling into the fold on this one and it both disappoints me and frightens me.
I'd like to see an article outlining the damage done by pot smoker's that justifies the imprisonment of millions and the trashing of our civil rights that we've seen in the last 3 decades. I'd bet 5 figures you can't do it because the evidence doesn't exist. So why the silence? Are you afraid or do you really believe the prohibitionist's propaganda?
Mr. Blumenthal, would you please address this issue when you come back to journalism? I know you can't talk about it now that you are a campaigner for a presidential candidate.
I wish you the best,
-Hermit
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gtomkins - brilliant
... the very idea that we have to wait on a "good emperor" to selflessly surrender power back in order to restore the republic, is about as far down the imperial presidency track as anything John Yoo ever wrote.
Exactly.
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A head scratcher
One might wonder why the Republicans, who are not any more trusting or naive than the average American, would want to risk putting so much power in the hands of one elected official. What if they get the wrong guy? What if all this focused power falls into the hands of an apostate wingnut who suddenly wants to give away the store? Or worse, a Democrat?
Could it have to do with the fact that the hard-right Republicans are a minority? Their views are not shared by a sufficient number of Americans that they can hope to see their social and military agenda made flesh in any other way. That makes it worth the gamble to put a sock-puppet like Reagan or Bush on a throne, hope his scripted performances will resonate with the angry and the uneducated enough that social progress can be stymied and military adventurism can be foisted on the electorate and the treasury. It didn't work very well with Nixon, but it's worked just dandy with Reagan and Bush.
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Goodbye, Mr. Blumenthal
It is not hyperbole when I say the highlight of my online week was Sydneys' column. His clear, insightful writing will be sorely missed.
In his typical fashion, he has cut to the essence of the 08 election. Distilling the seemingly endless list of transgressions to a highly contrasting set of core values.
Thank you again for your weekly input.
As an appendix, your candidate is not my first, or second for that matter, choice. I had planned to not vote for her if she emerged as the democratic candidate. After reading this, I will vote for her if she prevails, even if I need a noseclip to do it.
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My Turning and My Gratitude
Mr. Blumenthal,
I was your enemy. I was, and remain, a heterosexual, suburbanite, father of three who attends a christian church in the South. I actually took the job of, then Doctor, Frist's creative director for his first campaign in 1994. Before I took the job, I asked Dr. Frist why in the world a gifted heart transplant surgeon would seek political office. I will never forget his response. "I know there are many bio-ethical questions that will be coming before the Senate and the lawmakers really don't know what they're dealing with." He was not saying that as a neo-conservative or as a fundamentalist christian. His response was that of a caring, compassionate doctor who wanted nothing to do with his brother and father's "for profit" healing empire HCA. Based on that response and the doctor's personal integrity and great bedside manner, I signed on. After five weeks and several meetings with the RNC and spin doctors I had to resign. I was asked to lie, to appeal to racism, homophobia and xenophobia. As a follower of Christ, I could not do it. I saw very clearly (and was actually told) "the ends justify the means" and "you can't make a difference unless you win first and this is what it takes." It was and still is the Rove Doctrine. They were telling Dr. Frist the same thing. In his first year, Frist defended an African American doctor that President had nominated for Surgeon General in oppostion to his party and he debunked the "abortionist" label that his own political operatives threw at the the appointee. Then I sat by as Rove and company put him in his place and used Dr. Frist as "the last boy scout" for their own ends.
Since that time I have not been able to convince even one of my brothers and sisters in Christ that they were and still are being deceived. To question the Republican party or George Bush meant questioning God's divinity or the relevance of Scripture. To even allude to Christ's words concerning "love your enemy" or "be not deceived" or "be not afraid" was considered blasphemous.
A friend of mine was a (pastoral) counselor in NYC and he set me straight. One of his patients was a very successful professional conman. The counselor felt a moral obligation to inform the conman's victims of his deceptions. The conman burst out laughing, "Go ahead. You know what they'll tell you? 'He'd never do that to me. He's my best friend!'" Conned. Deceived. On a scale and with such finesse that it has trumped our nation's values, our intelligence, our common sense and even our religious beliefs.
Your article today convicted me of just how deeply I was deceived concerning Senator Hillary Clinton. (that and the question at the McCain rally, "how do we beat the bitch?" should have been another very convicting moment for followers of Christ and men throughout the country) I disagree with her on several issues, but I did recognize her vision and drive when she took on health care as First Lady. Being married to a female doctor who had been battling insurance companies for years even back then, I knew then, First Lady Clinton had vision and a whole of of nerve.
For me to even consider voting for a woman, much less an advocate of abortion and gay rights would have been unthinkable ,even four years ago. But here I am. Your article today took me one step closer. She is a professional politician, I understand that. But you know, you're right. She has taken everything 'they' (I, too, I confess) have thrown at her and she's still standing (and actually listening to!) I accidentally caught a hearing on C-SPAN one day which I never watch. Seeing her grill the generals doing the Iraq dog and pony show on C-SPAN was a revelation. I didn't think she was disrespectful at all, but at the same time she wasn't buying the baloney and she had the facts to embarass them in their little P.R. show.
But now, how do you get other middle-aged conservative men (and men in general), to admit that they have been deceived. And then having made that painful, unmanly admission, turn the reins of government over to a liberal woman. It is a daunting task, but we must as a voting demographic and a gender have the intelligence, moral strength and faith to do just that or perish in our own fear and pride.
Thank you again for forthrightness.
DanielB