El's Comments (70)

“I have to click somewhere else to finish this? That's annoying.”

“I must say that I am a fan of Thomas Friedman. But I must admit, Ms. Narwani, that your points were very convincing, to say the least. Perhaps TF had a bad moment, I dunno. But perhaps he's able to take your comments to heart. I have.”

“When Dubya was in power (thank GOD that's over!!!) I used to fantasize about presenting him with a map of the middle east (while media cameras rolled, of course) and asking him to identify Iraq. I'm as sure now as I was then that he couldn't.”

“Well said David. You are wise beyond your years. :) Keep up the good fight.”

“Let them eat themselves and each other alive.”

“"You wouldn't know the sanctity of life if it dropped dead in your lap." Brava Shannyn!!!”

“I'm a classical composer. I'm about as dedicated to classical music (modern classical, preferably, but I like all periods of music) and the arts in general as one can be. I'm a decently-paid freelancer, with a solid middle-class income. I also have student loans totally six-figures.

I say all that to say that as much as I'd love to attend more concerts, unfortunately I hear about 5 or so each year. A pitiful fraction of what I would like, and, for that matter, what I used to hear when I was younger and tickets were cheaper.

I'm not trying to assess the economics involved here. That's for another, much longer post. I just want to say that, imho, ticket prices (at least in my city, Los Angeles) are prohibitively expensive. It's especially sad in the case of Los Angeles, because we'd been blessed with a music director (Esa-Pekka Salonen) very open to modern music, i.e., music that could very well appeal to an audience beyond the wealthy set.”

“Nice try Pete, but your response is a smarmy red herring. I'm not categorically against imprisoning rapists, and you should probably know that. When the rapist in question is no longer living in my country, thus poses no threat to me or my society, and when the crime took place decades ago, when the victim has forgiven and pleaded with others not to dredge up these painful memories, when my country's (and state's and city's) judicial resources are already overtaxed, not to mention potential misconduct on the part of the DA and the judge, I think it is rather perverse that our glory-hunting DAs insist on making this case a priority.

I repeat, too many American citizens have a very unhealthy thirst for blood and retribution. I suspect, Pete, that you would have Polanski put to death if it were up to you.

If the victim can forgive, why can't you at least take it off your list of vendettas to hungrily pursue?”

“Wow, at least one voice of reason among the bloodthirsty hounds. America, you are a cruel country, always hungry, no, insatiable when it comes to the taste of punishment.”

“Good article M.S.! As for your response, above, I agree with you on Feingold. Russ is absolutely the real deal. My favorite member of Congress, hands down.

It remains a conundrum as to what to do with Judas Lieberman: bribe or punish. I think it was an admirable impulse/attempt on the part of Obama to make nice with Lieberman the first time, if somewhat naive. But Lieberman is clearly only about Lieberman and placation and reward have clearly bore no fruit. So, even if it's a bit too late, I think it is time to cast him overboard. Sadly, Lieberman is a cancer on the American political system.”

“Wow, that comment was truly laughable. Not to mention completely inappropriate to Mr. Kelly's post. At least you, alex61, have oodles of realism, patience, maturity and, last but not least, standards.”

“As someone who constitutes "The People of California," I must say that you, limber, don't speak for me. If there is indeed a price to be paid for "civilized existence in California," I'd rather it not be exacted in the pertinent resources (time, money, legal personnel, prisons, etc.) in a case that is legally murky (in terms of the judge's and DA's behavior) and, more importantly, already resolved in the heart of the victim.

Your use of the term "civilized" strikes me as somewhat incorrect, even falsely magnanimous. It is an UNcivilized society that seeks so-called "justice" merely for justice's sake, and metes out a penalty that may be unfitting for the crime. So-called "civilized" society also distinguishes itself, and cherishes, the ability to *forgive*.

It is a strawman argument being used by the hang-em-high side of the Polanski case, namely that the other side wants Polanski off the hook because he's famous and/or talented, etc. Speaking only for myself at least, this is not the case. But I have to believe that there are quite a lot of mitigating factors: the above-mentioned questions involving judge/DA, but also the time that has passed, not to mention Polanski's previous vicimizations himself, namely the Holocaust and his wife's brutal butchering at the hands of the Manson family. These don't give him an automatic free pass, but they should allow us to wonder if this is the best way to use our law-enforcement resources.”

“Nails on blackboard.”

“At the very least, this is certainly no worse than any other plan put forward so far. Brava Ms. Markoe!”

“Thanks Shannyn!”

“Bob wrote:

"Here's the problem.

The Boston Tea Party was ultimately precipitated by a massive corporate tax cut."

Actually Bob, here's the problem: that you believe that you can reason with these teabaggers (heh heh). The problem is that you think that facts, or logic, or reason, let alone compassion or kindness, has any place in this discourse.

And thanks for the great remarks about Glen Beck. Punch-me face indeed!”

“You say bring back counter culture. Bringing back *culture* would be a good start.”

“Mr. Chattman wrote: "Still, there's no question this year's Oscars were a dud."

I think there's at least a question. I, for one, strongly disagree. I think this year's Oscars were quite good. I also happen to think that some of your ideas for change, Mr. Chattman, are bad ideas.

More importantly however (and still, relatively unimportant to what is going on in this world, lest I appear all haughty!), every year there are these bloviating reviews that curse and condemn the Oscars. And every year it makes me want to scream: if you don't like the awards show (or tv program, film, concert, etc.), just turn the damn channel or turn of your set altogether.”

“First of all, people in LA are panicking.

Second of all, while I may not be too pessimistic about the film business, the fact that WB and DW are rolling out: "... The Watchmen, Harry Potter and Terminator. ... GI Joe and Transformers" is hardly reassuring, imo. I think those movies will have good, but not great, BO showings.”

“Since he left office? They hardly uttered his name in the last 2 years.”

“Alec, you are 100% correct! I especially agree with your sentiments re. Geithner.”

“The party's over for the bankers and, liked animals backed into a corner, they're going to bite, hiss, scream and lash out in any way they can to preserve themselves.”

“My post doesn't prove either of your points, but thanks for giving it so much significance and power.

To be fair, however, I didn't mean to only cite Catholicism, or even Christianity. While there are lots of good deeds done by various churches and religions, I still maintain that religion does way more harm than it does good. If you disagree, well, then you disagree.

Still, from what I've read, which is quite a lot, more people have been killed in the name of god than from any other cause. I guess you "liberal Christians" might wish it weren't so, and I respect you for trying to do good deeds in the name of what you believe. But I still maintain that more harm is done than good, not to mention more division, hate, etc.

And while you can be all sanctimonious about some church in some particular locale, I defy you to refute my comment about the perverse wealth of St. Peters and the RC Church.”

“I couldn't agree more. This was really bad bruce, and the recent press about his walmart deal makes me wonder how much of the good bruce there really was.”

“Did you ever go to St. Peter's/Sistene Chappel in Rome? I've never seen such conspicuous excess in my life. How many hungry people could be fed, how many homeless given shelter if the RC Church were to divest themselves of even a fraction of their material holdings?

Mr. Raushenbush, while I share your sentiments on Wall Street greed, and I'll even believe that you, personally, may very well be a selfless individual, I am not at all impressed or convinced by the Church's deeds either.

I have some vague recollection of some long-haired dude having something to say about glass houses...”