Never Misunderestimate Letters to the Editor...re. election

[marions ghost]

This LTTE was printed TODAY in a mainstream newspaper, in a southern Red State, and the editors even added a file photo of Boxer and Tubbs-Jones together at the podium on Jan 6.
goes to show, mainstream media miracles CAN happen... ?!
---------------------------

Editor:
If you blinked, you surely missed it. When Sen.Barbara Boxer and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones made history in Congress Jan. 6th, barely a ripple was felt in the mainstream media. By their official objection to the results of the U.S. presidential election in the state of Ohio, both Boxer and Jones, along with supporters in the House and Senate, were engaged in an increasingly rare form of patriotism: political courage.

Their actions were prompted in large part by the findings in a report released the day before by democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, led by John Conyers (D-Michigan) titled "Preserving Democracy: What Went Wrong in Ohio". I would urge all voters to read Conyers' statement, which alludes to many of the irregularities and eyewitness accounts of voting problems detailed in the report itself. Then decide for yourselves whether these concerns, which specifically did NOT seek to overturn the outcome of the election, justify a closer look, or whether they deserve to be thrown on the Great American Conspiracy Theory Trash Heap, where so many challenges to the Bush machine go to die.

It will be a great day for this country when the courage to expose electoral injustice within our borders gets as much respect as fighting it abroad. Thank you, Barbara Boxer, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, John Conyers and other patriots who believe that democracy begins at home.
XXXXXXXXXX

[havocmom]

1. Great LTTE ! Seeing more and more like it while checking papers

online. The people are not buying what the junta is selling.

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Political courage was also shown by the LTTE's writer

It's much easier to whine, wring the hands, and lament that nothing can be done. Which is, of course, a direct path to guaranteed failure. Why else would so many trolls on theprogressive boards be trying to foster exactly that negative attitude?

Thanks for posting this letter and the story behind it. It's good to hear about these successes.

I'll close with some quotes from activists in other causes:

You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. -- Pat Schroeder

We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. -- Marian Wright Edelman

There is one thing you have got to learn about our movement. Three people are better than no people. -- Fannie Lou Hamer


You have to make more noise than anybody else, you have to make yourself more obtrusive than anybody else, you have to fill all the papers more than anybody else, in fact you have to be there all the time and see that they do not snow you under, if you are really going to get your reform realized. -- Emmeline Pankhurst

[ClassWarrior]

3. Nice job, marions...

NGU.

[bush_is_wacko]

4. I have most certainly noticed more and more "reality" based LTTE's

and news coverage. I really think though, that it stems from he fact they have not other letters to post. I ran across a copy of time the other day and was amazed that the percentage of anti bush letters was much higher than the pro-bush letters. In fact, the entire magazine was a debunker of bush rhetoric. I decided to take a good look at all the older TIME magazines (including the one with bush on the cover.) Guess what? They were the same. Something is not right here! When the opposition is literally everywhere and we still have the man in office there has to be some reason. Hell if I know what it is, but there has to be a reason he is NOT being removed. I almost wonder what kind of threat he is holding over out government's head's.

[hootinholler]

6. How many Tridents are there?

I wouldn't put any threat past this group.

-Hoot

[omega minimo]

5. Chad Hanging and Hand Wringing

This letter includes the same disclaimer that came from various organizations that were investigating and monitoring the election results:

"Then decide for yourselves whether these concerns, which specifically did NOT seek to overturn the outcome of the election, justify a closer look..."

Why was it so important for Black Box, Conyers, et al to apologize ahead of time for the inference that the outcome of the election might merit "overturning"? Isn't that meek assumption also "a direct path to guaranteed failure"?

Did everyone assume that nothing could change the outcome of Bush's installation and then go ahead and investigate why it was bogus anyway? Is that why the resurgence of grassroots progressives post-election is about "next time" (or Lakoff's 30-40 year schedule)-- even though this WAS "next time"?

[loudsue]

7. Good post, Omega Minimo....and WELCOME TO DU!!!

:hi::toast::beer: We're glad you're here!! :party::beer::hi:

And you're absolutely correct: This WAS "next time"!!!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[omega minimo]

10. LOL Loud Sue! Thanks 4 the warm welcome esp. since the question

;)Thank you :yourock: :hi: ...since the question is a cry in the dark.

Who else wonders how we all skipped the part where this was our second hijacked election? Isn't it bizarre, surreal to move on as if everything is the same as before? Nothing is. (I actually heard someone at a MoveOn "framing" meeting refer to election concerns as "sour grapes" which is, of course, Repug framing).

I wrote to our local paper after a Nov. 6 editorial demonizing those who questioned Nov. 3 election results-- editorial also listed numerous problems with the election! Told them they had a duty as a "free press" to investigate OR at least report the story. Now we know MSM across the nation buried the story. I don't think it's worth trying to write to that particular (typical "liberal") paper. Their agenda is set.

New life is springing up in the Dem/progressive movement. Groups meet to discuss media reform and "framing." "Preaching to the converted" is dismissed, but what about "pandering to the deluded"? Do we have 30 or 40 years to grow think tanks and be smug about enlightening others? Can we just cut to the chase?

Yes, let's talk about election reform and how to communicate more effectively. But, given the death count of daily events and the global cataclysm the Bushites would bring down on our heads (not to mention living under their cloud for four more years/wars) isn't there some URGENCY? Can we make our points without trying to water everything down so as not to offend people who have been duped since Ronald Reagan was called the "Great Communicator" and Ollie North an "American Hero"?

Just now Georgie Flagpoleseed was "live" on CBS (thank you DU for the heads up) doing his Ronald Reagan imitation. Gave himself an A+ and a gold star for the elections in Iraq today. The commentator following said that 16% of 14,000,000 eligible voters showed up.

We have to examine our own complacency in the face of this farce. And discover that it is way too late to parse. We have to be honest with ourselves and those around us. It needn't take a seminar, books or videos by perfessers to know how to do it.

I suppose this got off point. However, I see my community focusing on letters to the editor and framing and video classes and gradual change and building coalitions and things we could have done 4 or so years ago but WTH happened to this election and why are we living under this dangerous regime?

[newyawker99]

8. Hi omega minimo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[marions ghost]

9. good question, omega minimo, and

I'm sure we do not have all the answers to your question yet. So many factors are at work...

HOWEVER
I'm assuming the letter writer's reflection of that apologetic Dem party line was intended to convey a message of "I am realistic, we do not have a system that allows for an immediate overturning of elections." (or something like that) Just my assumption. I don't think it means that everybody is going to drop this again and go sleepwalking on. Hardly. Just look at the determination to "not get over it" around here and in other progressive groups. But the momentum has to build to demand big changes. I think letters like this being read by the public are a significant help towards that goal. Investigations are ongoing. Ain't over til it's over. We definitely have a Mandate for change now. Stay tuned.
Welcome to DU ;)

[omega minimo]

11. Greetings all and here's my letter to the editor

Greetings NYer, Marions, Loud Sue and DU lovers everywhere-- O8)

Thanks MG for raising this. It is a "MSM miracle" that some letters are being printed. And I was with the "ain't over til its over" gang up until Jan. 20. I am not a hand wringer. And no offense to "sleepwalkers" but I've been waiting for people to wake up since Raygun was elected. If this election didn't do it-- what will?

As for LTTE, I must admit to having to give up entirely on our local daily after the vicious attack the editor printed post-election. (my unpublished letter is below). That's my own choice to stop bangin my head against the MSM wall. So I am most glad B-) to find --dare I say-- Dialogue (!) on DU.

Find myself going back to punk rock ideas and energy. Isn't it the creative writers and artists who are willing to look down the road and tell it LIKE IT IS at the time, that end up being prescient in their moment and accurate in retrospect/history? California Uber Alles, indeed.

I agree with building community by these gradual means. Maybe there's a balance b/w agitator scariness and comfy yuppie sanctimony.

==============

letter to editor, Nov. 10, 2004 --never published

Faith Based Journalism

Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."

In a November 6 editorial, "Fixing Elections," this newspaper accused "disgruntled Democrats" of "unfounded and irresponsible charges of a 'stolen election'" as well as a “divisive and destructive diatribe.”

"They are doing themselves and the country a grave disservice." Actually, the editors and publishers have done a grave disservice to themselves and the country by shirking journalistic duties and demonizing concerned citizens.

The editor acknowledges that there were problems with this election, “some of them quite serious.” “...the 2004 presidential election did confirm the need for continuing election reforms and improvements.” “Reports of computer glitches... electronic polling machines mistakenly recording extra votes for Bush... registration irregularities, long lines, dirty tricks and voter intimidation abound.”

“Fixing Elections” is subtitled, “Now, More Urgent Than Ever.” Clear-thinking voters of any party recognize the implications of hi-tech, unverifiable, faith-based elections. Fixing elections is more urgent than ever, but apparently “Now” doesn’t mean... now.

[glitch]

12. Well done. And Welcome to DU! nt

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Fort Worth Star Telegram Wont Print any letters about election