Bait And Mirrors
Re: The Family Values Sideshow by E.J. Graff
Graff's piece about gay marriage describes the same bait-and-switch tactic used by the pro-life movement. Pro-lifers contend that they are against abortion. But it is more than just abortion. They want to also control (read ban) women's access to birth control. Just consider these pharmacists, who in the name of their "moral objections," deny filling a doctor-prescribed birth control prescription instead of doing their job.
Sharon Gibson
I have a letter in the October 29, 2005, Killeen Daily Herald regarding the proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution regarding this issue. Frankly, this is a smoke-and-mirrors issue to cover up the fact that Republicans don't know how to solve the real issues they have created with their rigid ideology. Sadly, too many people think it will cure underfunded schools and political corruption.
Glenda Turck
Libby's Lies?
Re: Libby's Lying Habit by Dennis Kelleher
Dennis Kelleher's piece, "Libby's Lying Habit," states the essential facts behind the Wilson-Plame case, simply and clearly. This matter is not all that complicated, as Mr. Kelleher has so astutely and plainly pointed out. Now, if the people who were so easily motivated by the Bushies' self-serving shouts of mushroom clouds would only take it upon themselves to read!
Larry Norman
"Libby's Lying Habit" by Dennis Kelleher starts with a lie; the indictment does not say any of what Kelleher says. It simply states that Libby lied to the grand jury. (How anyone can lie about a crime that did not happen confuses me.) It does not say Libby disclosed anything, just that he lied. It does not say or hint that anyone committed a crime. The Kelleher kind of conclusions are the Peter Pan logic of the left. Read the indictment for the truth. Listen to the words of the prosecutor.
Tomas Howel
Dumping The Dems
Re:The Wal-Mart 22 by Jonathan Tasini
Mr. Tasini, you are right on with your Wal-Mart 22 piece. The problem is that more of the Democrats are becoming as greedy as many of the Republicans. There seems to be no difference between the two parties any longer. It is all about greed! What I feel is that we need is a third party, a progressive party that remembers who elected it and for whom it works.
Bob Vine
Please don't say that "Democrats" can't be trusted because of this vote, the Wal-Mart 22 are 10 percent of the caucus, which supported the amendment by 90 percent. Yes, punish the Wal-Mart 22, challenge/beat them in the primary, don't fund them unless they vote with workers, but don't tag it to all Democrats. It just feeds the GOP propaganda machine. They love internal fighting among Democrats.
Jim Nash
I agree with your suggestions whole-heartedly, but unfortunately the Democrats in Congress are not unified in any meaningful or useful manner that I can see.
I suggest that after the '06 elections, Labor should flush the two-party system and start seriously promoting the Green Party at the local level in order to develop a true opposition party that will represent the American citizen. There are too many Joe Bidens out there to sell us out.
Jan Shawyer
Part(ies) For Sale
Re: Party For Sale by Paul Waldman
Excellent, thoughtful analysis. I would add only that it is reflective of the state of the nation, not just the state of the Republican Party. The love of moneyis the root of all evil. The Republicans simply seem to go down that path more readily. But I can imagine the Dems strolling along there too.
Lee Greenberg
I couldn't agree more with Paul Waldman's "Party for Sale" article. Moreover, I believe the record of the Bush administration offers many other examples, though not always publicized, of disregard for treaties, international law, existing federal and state laws, and even moral guidelines. Regrettably I am not even sure that a majority of Americans care. Public opinion seemingly is controlled or at least is effectively counteracted by those spinmeisters who are in bed with the Republican party.
Larry Burch
A Woman's Place
Re: Commander In Chic by Jennifer Pozner
Thanks—your piece said it all. I am a 74-year-old woman who has raised four kids, two male, and have been beating that drum since they were growing up. I think that a good part of the problem is that most organized religions have fostered the very things you talked about, and for the most part, girls are just beginning to be taught or think that they can be more than the "power behind the throne."
Ileane Green
This topic has occupied my mind for years as president of the National Association for Female Executives. The way the media portrays powerful women in both the public and private sectors betrays long-held biases that continue to limit our choices. And this is the target of a new organization I am starting. I would enjoy hearing from the writer. Thank you.
Betty Spence, Ph.D
President, NAFE
Wonderful article! It makes me think of the political power and poise wielded by the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meir, and my favorite, Madeleine Albright. Three of the most powerful women in my lifetime. None of them were Hollywood beauties or size 6—but they towered and excelled over any man in this country in every way!
Sali Mounce
Understanding The Disease
Re: Paris Is But A Symptom by Rami Khouri
Rami Khouri does a very good job of reminding us that there are real problems that can be addressed which fuel Islamic unrest. But I think some Islamic person who is very familiar with life in the developed Western countries needs to make those young people immigrating to our countries understand that many of our native-born young people cannot find jobs commensurate with their education, either. There are simply too many educated people in the world competing for too few jobs in a world where technology keeps replacing more and more human workers with machines and computers. It seems to me that for the last 50 years, the Western world has been encouraging worldwide population booms and easier to get educations while putting no brakes on the run-away "train" of technology. Either we need to make technology slow down, or convince more people worldwide to live as common laborers, or drastically slow down the whole world's population growth. Redistribution of wealth will do nothing for a sense of self-worth as long as there are not enough jobs to go around.
J. Miller
I hope the response in France will not be all about men, as it seemed to be with the L.A. riots. Women are probably just as badly off, but it seems that if they did not riot nobody is bothered about their problems.
Diana E. Forrest
