Letters to the Editor
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War Room by Tim Grieve
Then WTF is Farhad Manjoo doing the heavy lifting when his writing is so in need of a truss?
Please leave the important stories to the better writers.
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But really....
As the September 11th cover-up nears tipping point in terms of public opinion the right "swift boats" one of the only elected officials who have been outspoken on this from the start. Time is on the side of truth in this case.
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Hair?
In general, I think that 'serious' stories involving women in power far too often add gratuitous comments about their looks.
So, here's this:
"Finally, for the best bit of writing on the whole matter, do read the Washington Post's incomparable Robin Givhan's essay on McKinney's hair."
I read the story. I can only compare it to a comment that Bush is our prestest president ever.
It had every flaw, and none of the virtues, I hoped for in such a recommended story on hair. Well, the grammar was impeccable.
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Argh, typos
Give me an editor, since the patience to check for typos before submitting isn't an option.
"the bestest", not "the prestest"
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What the "R"s aren't saying about McKinney & the Keystones
NY Times: "But House Republicans have seized on the incident, saying Ms. McKinney's exchange with an officer assigned to protect the Capitol complex was in stark contrast to a Democratic Party campaign pledge this week to bolster American security and support law enforcement." "Actions speak louder than words," Sean Spicer, a spokesman for the House Republican Conference, said Friday in an e-mail message. "The Democrats' security agenda was revealed this week, and it is not something to be proud of." "Representative McKinney appearing with (Danny Glover) the star of 'Lethal Weapon' is not exactly the image you want to be sending," said Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert.
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I'm guessing Hastert's office has developed a serious case of amnesia regarding the incident where Congresswoman McKinney was grabbed from behind. Perhaps he could consult with Sen. Tom Coburn to see if there's a remedy, since the good doctor had a far worse incident happen in his own district. It might place this matter in better perspective. Perhaps Sen. Frist could look at the videos of both incidents and tell us exactly what the difference is, and why there should be complaints from his side of the aisle about one, but not the other. Could the diagnosis be a terminal case of partisanitis?
In 2001, Rep. J.C. Watts took two weeks to apologize for an incident in which he was clearly and solely at fault. Watts had not just "left his car unattended in a no-parking area," as the Times put it below, but abandoned it in front of the OKC departure entrance for quite some time. He then got extremely surly with the Oklahoma police sergeant who had ticketed his vehicle. The sergeant handled it very professionally, despite considerable guff handed him wholly without provocation by Watts, who sat on the Homeland Security Committee at the time. From the Watts' website: "While at the University of Oklahoma, Watts was quarterback for the Sooners, leading them to two consecutive Big Eight Championships and Orange Bowl victories. He was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1980 and 1981 Orange Bowls. From 1981 to 1986, he started for Ottawa and Toronto in the Canadian Football League and was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Grey Cup, the CFL's Super Bowl, his rookie season." Watts is 6'2" and played college ball at 205#. I imagine he bulked up considerably in the Canadian league.
NY Times: October 10, 2001: Oklahoma: Apology For Airport Incident:
Representative J. C. Watts Jr., Republican of Oklahoma, who says he supports tighter airport security, had a confrontation with a police officer who ticketed him for violating new security rules at Oklahoma City's airport and has apologized, his office said. After being issued a $15 ticket for leaving his car unattended in a no-parking zone on Sept. 28, Mr. Watts, a member of the House Republican leadership, stuffed the ticket under the officer's badge.
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Oh Come On
I agree that the whole Rep. McKinney situation is not nearly as important as some would think it. However, if Cynthia McKinney were a Republican, I have absolutely no doubt that Farhad Manjoo would have had some snarky comments about how this really shows how Congressional Republicans don't really care about security, rather than the dismissive "and that's that" conclusion.
In sum, you're all nuts.
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Whew.
No exclamation point after "Whew," just relief and a deep, cleansing breath. You remind me there really are a few sane people around, thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
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McKinney
I have encountered those Capital security guards (police) and I can tell you they are as mean as rattlesnakes. When I tried to visit the Capital a few years ago, I accidentally tried to go through the "official" entrance line. (I just thought it was shorter and faster moving, silly me.) One of those guards grabbed me and pulled me back very rudely. When I tried to ask what was wrong, she just grabbed me harder. Very embarrassing. All she had to say was "Ma'am, this line is for congresspeople." Too hard, I guess.
Pat
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What If It Had Been DeLay or Cheney?
Would the same amount of fuss have been made?
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Hair obsession
Member of Congress McKinney's hair has become fodder for (never mind rightwing blogs & talk shows, I don't pay attention to them) people like Jon Stewart.
Perhaps a convenient excuse to strike leftward?
However, joining the furious throngs on the right over a black woman's hair, even using the convenient tool of humor, obscures what Ms McKinney's real crime is: she is a progressive voice in the House.
She has often been misquoted as saying that Pres Bush "knew about 911 beforehand"when what she said was to indicate that the administration had information pointing in the general direction of 911-type attack.
Then there was the "crime" of criticizing US policy on Israel --aligned with Likud -- which cost her the Democratic primary in 2002.
What is important about Cynthia McKinney's head is what's inside it, not on top of it.
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Let's not go too far with this
C'mon, Margzim, her real problem is not being progressive.
Her real problem was making a mistake - not wearing her pin yet trying to bypass security (she now, appropriately, says she will always wear the pin), reportedly ignoring the officer's repeated verbal orders (she has not denied that), and finally in some manner striking the officer (she has not denied that, either).
An awfully big deal was made of Cheney's hunting accident (and mishandling of its communication) by our side.
Before we go playing the 'progressive card' and the 'race card' and whatever other cards, let's save those for when they are justified and not dilute them and make them useless when needed.
It appears to be a simple situation: she acted badly, possibly committed a crime, and has learned her lesson.
It's a minor embarrassing episode for our side, let's admit that and get back to the real issues.
These sorts of incidents carry a lot more impact than justified; Cheney seemed untouchable for years of terrible policies, yet one accident and he was mocked like never before. Thank goodness the black caucas apparently pulled her aside and she is now saying the right things, and this can get out of the news, apart from the criminal process.