The Mail
Hail the Pretty Dress
Even liberals like to dish the dirt (or not) about clothes. After all, why do you think Sex and the City is such fun? (Besides the sex, I mean!) Having been a kid during the days of Camelot, I remember how nice it was to see a stylish and attractive couple. (You never could say that about Ike and Mamie Eisenhower.) In the midst of talk about the war, the deficit, poverty, corporate media and the like, we all need to have a little fun. I can enjoy Laura Bush's dress and still wish it were Teresa out there.
Larraine L. Formica, Abingdon, MD
Pass the Pail in Jail
The purpose of this letter is to submit an idea that might fix the American economy. The United States perpetrated a war against Iraq that so far has cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars, and, at the same time, the United States government is going deeper and deeper into debt.
The U.S. has thousands of Iraqis as prisoners, or "detainees," in Abu Ghraib and other prisons. (Of course, everyone knows that virtually all of those prisoners are completely innocent-completely innocent of 9/11).
The idea is to bill or invoice each prisoner, say, $10,000. We can use the money. Right now, and for many years now, the U.S. has had more than 10,000 "intact nuclear warheads," according to the CDI-the Center for Defense Information -and so if we already have that many hydrogen bombs or nuclear warheads, then why not create more? Make the Iraqi prisoners pay.
If we were to carry out this action against the foreigners, then I think our founding fathers-such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin-would be proud.
Barry Fiegel, Oklahoma City
Chief Witch
Russ Smith says that he "can't wait for Bush to nominate Thomas as William Rehnquist's replacement as Chief Justice" ("The Bipartisan Grifters," 2/2). I have it on good authority it will be Laura Ingraham or Ann Coulter.
Dr. J. William Stinde, Gardena, CA
Extra Relish
Regarding Matt Taibbi's "It's a Go!" (2/2): I relish sharp satire, and look forward to the day you publish.
Frank Jacobs, Burbank, CA
Delayed Reaction
You may wish to have William Georgiades evaluated by a professional before he arrives at work with firearms ("Accursed Thong," 1/29/02).
This is the most angry, woman-hating, self-loathing, mommy-didn't-love-me-enough article I have read in some time. I cannot imagine a heterosexual man being so angry at women for wearing thong underwear. Time to come out of the closet.
Cameron Geiser, Manhattan
It Even Got Him Laid
I read your interview with Sean "NASCAR" Cushing (Gregory Gilderman, 2/2), and I have to say I was entertained even if he didn't mind his manners. He has been a good friend and my cohort in racing for a long time. I'm sure he enjoyed the recognition. Nice job.
Jim Benton, MaxmotorsportsTeam owner/driver
The Realist Remembered
Regarding "Springtime for Harry" (Paul Krassner, 2/2): I would very much like to purchase a couple of items I displayed on my wall for years and years and which disappeared quite a few moves ago.
Any chance of finding an old "Fuck Communism" sign? Even better would be the "One Nation Under God."
Bill Sampson, via email
Postal Whipped
C.J. Sullivan usually disappoints, so I wasn't surprised by his one-sided chat with Jackson the letter carrier ("Angry Delivery," 12/29). As a result, in the immortal words of Hooper from Jaws, "I'm not gonna stand for that working-class-hero crap."
As a longtime letter reader, occasional contributor to the pages and proud employee of the United States Postal Service (supervisor, Midtown Station), I wish to contest Jackson on several issues:
He should never complain-at least publicly-about a Christmas tip, or lack thereof. He is fully aware that monetary gratuities of any kind are not permissible under postal regulations.
The writer's question about "going postal" is stupid and inaccurate. The Department of Labor has done numerous studies about workplace violence, and determined that postal workers are neither more or less likely to commit violent acts than workers in other industries. The phrase "going postal" should go the way of the horse and buggy.
Jackson's answer, "It's the supervisors. They suck," is almost beneath comment. Almost. I can't speak on the quality of managerial personnel from 10, 15 or 20 years ago, because I wasn't there. Maybe many of them were ex-servicemen with an ax to grind. I don't know. I can say with reasonable certainty, however, that many present-day supervisors are former craft employees. The Postal Service prides itself-and has training programs to back it up-on promoting from within. In fact, of all the supervisors that I know or have worked with, none of them was from outside-all were either window clerks, mail handlers or, for the most part-gasp!-carriers.
I detest, in life and in writing, this one-side-of-the-story crap. And, so, I would've liked Sullivan to ask Jackson one simple question: In your postal career, how much did you get away with? What else did you do in the street besides deliver mail? A movie or two? Shopping? A quick nap at home? If you can answer those questions honestly, then I'll respect your assorted gripes.
Robert Liebowitz, Astoria
Objective Shmective
Russ Smith: Thank you for an interesting article ("The Bipartisan Grifters," 2/2). It is clear to me that, human nature being what it is, there is no essential difference in objectivity (or lack thereof) between liberal or conservative journalists. It is very easy to list instances of bias, conflict of interest and dishonesty of political journalists of any stripe. As a conservative columnist, you pointed out several instances in liberal-leaning media. Other articles I have read do an equally convincing job of making similar accusations against conservative-leaning media.
I am an Independent, and I think that neither side can claim the moral high ground. Each columnist thinks they are right and those on the "other side" of the liberal/conservative spectrum are wrong, and probably corrupt as well. You lambaste CNN and MSNBC. It is equally easy to lambaste Fox and the vast majority of talk radio. And it would be just as easy to criticize Rupert Murdoch as Ted Turner. In fact, at this time it seems to me that the conservative media of Fox and almost all talk radio are further to the right and more biased than CNN and others such as MSNBC are to the left.
I think that what is often considered political bias is actually the strong tendency of most news media to dwell on problems and mistakes rather than successes. Remember the old reporter's adage "we cover plane crashes, not plane landings." So with a Republican president and Congress, the negative tone of certain media makes them seem to have a liberal bias. But conservatives have always liked to complain that the so-called "mainstream media" has a liberal bias, and now more liberals are beginning to complain of a dominantly conservative bias.
Are we doomed to go endlessly in circles, finger pointing and accusing of bias those who disagree with us? I wish there was a way to achieve a more balanced political coverage in our media, especially since it seems that neither side has a monopoly on the truth and what we need is more dialogue and cooperation.
Joel Greer, Houston
Live From New York?
"It's A Go!" (2/2) deserves a full-time slot on Saturday Night Live ASAP.
But that part about the bladder-scratch it. Those for whom GWB is trying to save Social Security won't get it.
Armand de Laurell, AK
More Like Two or Three
I was amused to see J.R. Taylor writing about inaccuracies and corrections in the New York Times ("Come for the Lies, Stay for the Verbs," 2/2), since he usually makes about four or five factual mistakes a week himself, and never bothers to correct them.
Tom Patterson, Queens
Anybody Missing a British Nut Job?
Regarding Matt Taibbi's "It's A Go!" (2/2): What Sy Hersh is really exposing is the iceberg below the surface waiting for the Titantic to rumble along. Is there a journalist anywhere with the guts to publish the truth? You can quote me and use my name if you have any journalistic gumption:
1. This unit he describes was operating in some form before 9/11, and was targeting me 24/7 starting four years ago in February 2001, carrying out an experimental R&D surveillance technology torture interrogation program.
2. The surveillance technology combines Sigint with Humint for virtual infallibility.
3. There is a U.S./UK government and military (DoD & MoD) connection with respect to developing and implementing this surveillance technology.
To save myself rewriting the same description repeatedly, I'm enclosing two emails which I have recently sent describing this activity. One is to The New Yorker/Seymour Hersh; the second is to Adam Price, MP, who is spearheading the move to impeach Tony Blair in Parliament after he called for an independent inquiry into the ongoing torture allegations about the British Army in Iraq.
The first deals with some of the details of the surveillance technology itself, including those who targeted me while traveling to Afghanistan after 9/11, while the second addresses a larger view and threat with regard to the use of this surveillance technology in the context of a Parliamentary or other inquiry into torture carried out by the British Army.
I believe that this information is so important to all of us that I recognize no restrictions on its dissemination nor any exclusivity. It is far too important that this be brought to the public's attention sooner rather than later so that the representatives of the people can properly deal with this in a democratic way, with regard to the democratic rule of law.
The threat from George W. Bush is far more serious when viewed against the background of the power of this surveillance technology.
Gary D. Chance, London