Letters to the Editor
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dead kids
Nearly 3400 dead american kids won't come back to life regardless of what hilary does now. There is no do over. Maybe I'd listen if she begged forgiveness on bended knee. She could apologize for putting her own political aspirations over those lives. But would anyone believe her if she promised to never do it again?
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Video Dog
Look the Bushies don't care if they contradict themselves. They don't care about anything. So amke a video of their duplicity and say it before the video and post it on video dog in a loop.
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The Debate Hangover
My day after perception of Guiliani is the opposite. I'm encouraged by the fact that he was stammering and uncomfortable talking about social issues on that stage with those candidates, pitching to that base. Yeah, he was out of his element in that forum. And that's a good thing. Witness how confident and at ease Brownback was.
And yes it was a weak defense of a woman's right to choose, but it was a defense nevertheless, and that takes balls. He might very well lose the nomination solely because of that defense. But at least he's not a pure political animal. He stands for something, albeit a watered down something.
Plus "hating abortion" is totally consistent with being prochoice. At issue is the liberty. Period. If more abortion haters were like Rudy, the world would be a better place.
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The evolution question
The evolution question sounds silly, but I've learned to take it seriously. The people who believe evolution can be dismissed because it contradicts their creation myth have also learned science is no more likely to be right than religion or any trusted person venturing an opinion, and I suspect this is much of what lies behind the difficulty convincing people about scientifically proven environmental problems. It's no surprise, if that's correct, that the rise of religious fundamentalism coincides with global warming proving a tougher sell than any previous problem.
If the question gets asked again, I suggest that any candidate who answers by denying evolution be asked if he denies that Earth goes around the sun, and if not, please reconcile that with the bible.
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Flip-flopping or just flipping?
I think it's unfair to criticize Romney for flip-flopping on abortion. In my mind, flip-flopping means changing your mind more than once. Romney may have flipped, but he did not flop. I think he also did a good job of explaining why he changed his mind. His answer struck me as rational and thoughtful and made it clear that he is a human being and not a pre-programmed anti-abortion robot. Of course, it is still up for debate that the real reason he flipped is because he feared losing the religious right if he in any way appeared to be pro-choice.
Juliani is a different matter. It was clear he was uncomfortable giving lip-service to striking down Roe v. Wade. I buy his argument that he is personally pro-life, but would not take away a woman's right to choose (because I feel the same way), but he really seemed to sell the idea short when he muttered about states' rights. I'm basically a Federalist except when it comes to issues like abortion. Driving across a state border to get an abortion because it's not legal in your own state doesn't seem like progress to me.
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Evolution is the tip of the iceberg
Webcelt nails it again.
Someone who denies evolution for religious reasons is someone who will deny any scientific or empirical fact if it conflicts with her religious belief.
An evolution denier cannot be trusted alone with sharp objects or an open flame, much less the authority of a president.
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Only Democrats Flip-Flop
As I've said a time or two before, only Democrats are accused of flip-flopping. It's just a propaganda attack the GOP uses against Democrats. Republicans (sometimes) have a change of mind or heart, but they're never called flip-floppers. All part of the media noise management the GOP uses to frame discussions, flowing from the GOP = strong, Democrats = weak propaganda line they take on absolutely everything.
An evolution denier cannot be trusted alone with sharp objects or an open flame, much less the authority of a president.
Hahahah! Thanks for the laugh, Yellow Dog!
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Flip flops and flip flops
I welcome the Clinton-Byrd proposal, though I'm under no illusions about why she's doing, nor will it lead me to throw my vote her way in the primaries. If that's why she's doing it, it's going to be a case of too little, too late, for a lot of Democratic primary voters.
As for Tommy Thompson, well, I'm sure he's finding having nothing to lose extremely liberating. And as for Condi in Syria, that change of heart only matters if the White House is serious about involving the Syrians. If Bush doesn't intend to follow through, then what we have is theater and poor theater at that.
As for apologizing to Speaker Pelosi for branding her a traitor doing the same thing Rice is now doing, I won't hold my breath.
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Go Hillary
I actually wish more people would talk about Senator Clinton's idea. Not her potential calculations for doing it, but the idea itself
Can congress revoke their authorization? Should they? What recourse would the executive branch have then? How would this affect the troops?
Personally, I think it shows some good brass to raise this idea. You go, girl!
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Not a Reversal
The White House has not reversed itself. It never does. It's wrong to talk to Syria, except when Condi does it. For Pelosi, it's still cynical, destructive, America-hating.
"Get it?"
"Got it."
"Good."
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"Evolution" — Red Flag...or Red Herring?
What's all this belief-language going on about "Evolution"?
I am an independent, unregistered voter in Liberal Massachusetts who loathes what the Bushites have done to our country and deeply distrusts the cultural neo-Conservatives, one who votes mostly Democrat (most often the best of the available, pragmatic choices)—and there are lots of things that I believe in... But Evolution certainly isn't one of them.
I believe in community, in human dignity and the inherent worth of persons...
I believe in communication, in dialog with those with whom I disagree so we all can get along and get to "Yes!"...
I believe in communion... Not the Christian Eucharist, but a state of peace, beauty and harmony where communication flows amongst persons in that world community for which the best folks are striving.
That is a short statement of the really important things in which I believe. Notice that if it were translated into Latin it would be called a "Credo" - a "creed". Creeds are inherently religious, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Wiccan, Odinist, Humanist, Atheist, Agnostic, Zionist, Nationalist, Fascist, Anarchist, Jihadi, Nazi... Here in the good ole US-of-A we know the trouble we get into when we start mixing religion and government, don't we? That's a real big problem with the neo-Conservatives, Fundies and Radical Right, no? They just can't keep up the wall of separation between Church and State, can they?
I suggest that all of the folks that treat Evolution as a matter of belief aren't helping the matter: 1. The conservative, Religious Believers because that's the way they look at the world, in bianary opposition, Believers vs. Unbelievers, a "war" between us and them... and, 2. The liberal [?] scientific [?] Evolution Believers because they are caught, trapped in that dichotomizing way of thinking too.
I find that it's time to think outside of those boxes. Take a course in Philosophy of Science, a class in Comparative Religions, a seminar in Adult Learning and Education - There's a whole world of thinking out there beyond the modes of thought that we learned in grade-school (or high-school for that matter) Understanding awaits... And after understanding, there's a whole lot of challenging work to do. And then there's art and music, poetry, drama...and more.
"Believe" in Evolution? Why take the time and energy? There are so many other, better things to believe in...
Hey, I'll give you one: Salon.com
I believe in Salon.com... I've been a paying, Premium member for a few years now. I recommend it... I'm sorry I didn't find it and start sooner. I print up articles and hang them outside my cubicle at work. I use Salon.com as inspiration for addresses I give to my congregation on the weekend. I e-mail articles to friends and associates and snail-mail copies to my mother... Salon.com is more real to me than "Evolution". It's WORTH believing in... It pays back my investment and enriches my life, never more so than when it goes beyond waging cultural war and begins to help me work on creating cultural peace.
All the best,