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Wed, Nov 25 2009 

Cindy's Corner

Cindy Allen is managing editor of the Enid News & Eagle. Want to comment? E-mail editor@enidnews.com

Memories of 9-11-01



Eight years ago today, I was sitting in newsroom in Pittsburg, Kansas and helping the news team get a special “extra” edition of the newspaper to press by early afternoon.
I was publisher of the Pittsburg Morning Sun on the morning of Sept. 11 2001 when four airplanes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and into a field in Pennsylvania.
The morning started out innocent enough. My family had just come off a long weekend and I had been off work on that Monday. I was coming in a little later to work, and I got a cell phone call from my husband telling me something extraordinary had happened.
By the time I got to the newspaper and into the newsroom to turn on the TV, the second plane crashed. We all knew, then, this was something more diabolical than we could ever have imagined.
Within an hour and a half, our news team determined we needed to print an “extra” edition. We knew people would be clamoring for news, for local reactions. The Internet days had already begun, but not as sophisticated as they are now. We wanted to print a four- or six-page extra edition with the latest information, photos and local reaction to have in readers’ hands by 4:30 p.m. that afternoon.
The rush of the deadline took our minds off the overwhelming sadness of what had just happened, even if just for a little while. We were busy getting our stories, our photos and designing our pages. We had to call in the press crew and get some people together to catch the papers off the press.
The entire news team, office circulation team and advertising team took papers out that afternoon. Some of us stood on street corners. We delivered them to businesses and other areas where people were gathering.
As I think about that day, I am still overwhelmed with sadness. There’s still that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see the images of that day.
Some people think the images are too disturbing and they seem to want to forget. But, we can’t forget. We should never forget.
This isn’t a day to be political. This isn’t a day to be cynical. This is a day to mourn, still, the loss of life and the loss of the innocence we had as a nation. And it’s a time for all Americans to steel our resolve and say “never again.”

September 11, 2009 11:43 am

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President's speech hit the right tone in challenging students



I was able to stream in to President Barack Obama’s speech to the school students this morning, at least for a little bit. I had read the speech yesterday, but the president’s oral delivery of it was much more appealing.
I understand and explained in an editorial in the Enid News & Eagle late last week where the White House went wrong in preparing for this event. Their mistake is unfortunate, because this was a speech I would be proud for my child to hear. In fact, he will hear it, probably sometime later today when I make him sit at the computer and listen to it.
As I said, I understand why the controversy occurred. I also believe there have been some extreme reactions to the purpose of this speech. I believe our political leaders in both parties deserve a great deal of criticism for helping create the kind of climate that makes a political controversy out of a presidential speech to children encouraging then to work hard and stay in school.
The president is right. We need kids to step up to the plate when it comes to education. We need kids to take responsibility for their education -- not blame others or other things for their failures. We need kids to hold themselves accountable, not just parents holding school districts and teachers accountable.
I applaud the president for the effort in making this speech. I wouldn’t be opposed to it being an annual tradition. However, the national education department needs to do a better job of preparing the school districts for what is coming and also butting out of making suggestions for how teachers could incorporate the speech into a classroom exercise.

September 08, 2009 11:48 am

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Kennedy's death reveals dearth of deal makers



As I follow a lot of the coverage on Sen. Ted Kennedy, one story on the wire today struck me as a pretty poignant comment on today’s political climate.
There’s a story today about how Ted Kennedy watched his beloved Senate change from a collegial boys’ club known for bi-partisan deal-cutting to a far less friendly placed dominated by polarized parties.
In today’ Senate, broad compromise is a dying art.
The article goes on to point out that when Kennedy first started out in the Senate more than 40 years ago, the Senate was known as the world’s greatest deliberative body. Coalition building was the rule, not the exception.
I don’t think anyone can say that about the Senate or the House today. The loss of that bygone era made Kennedy sad, and it also made him one of the very few who could carry any clout to build bridges between the two parties.
It is sad, indeed, that consensus and common ground is becoming increasingly too hard to find in today’s Washington atmosphere.
The article is certainly spot on. Today’s legislation is usually drawn strictly along party lines. Now an all-one-party vote is the norm -- not the exception.
With Kennedy’s passing, it seems to me there are no real leaders of either party who understand the idea of consensus building. No leaders from either party, except maybe in a small way Sen. John McCain, have the clout to reach across and bring opposition to the table.
Even though the Democrats hold solid majorities in both houses, their leaders are weak. Sen. Harry Reid doesn’t stand out as a masterful negotiator and Speaker Nancy Pelosi isn’t credible with anyone other than the far left. I don’t see her at all as a deal maker.
There’s really no one in either party who can strike unlikely bargains to get things done. No one seems to understand the necessity of give and take. Instead, it’s winner take all, and the rest of you be damned.
That’s why there’s gridlock in Congress, and that’s why Congress has some of its lowest approval ratings ever. People are tired of the bickering, the name calling, the rancor and the deadlock.
Where are the workhorses who are willing to help get something done?
Kennedy, indeed, was a big part of a bygone era. Whether you agreed with his politics (which I rarely ever did), I understand that he and other lions, like former Republican Sen. Bob Dole, understood the art of legislating.
These yahoos who are there now are just shadows of the real giants who went before them. And for that, the entire nation should mourn.

August 28, 2009 02:12 pm

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Lessons in political diversion


Well, the Obama administration had to come up with something to get everyone’s panties in a wad -- so to speak -- over something other than health care.
There’s nothing like going back to blaming George W. Bush and his administration. And, there’s nothing that can get divided people riled up over more than health care than the security of our own nation.
So, whilst on his Cape Cod vacation, the president and his administration decided to launch a criminal investigation into the questioning of detainees during Bush’s war on terrorism. That comes along with a report about “inhumane” CIA tactics.
Yeah, there’s nothing like going forward by taking three steps back.
I know the nation is probably about evenly divided on whether on not the CIA used too harsh tactics while interrogating potential terrorists. I know some believe the “rule of law” should apply to all war situations while others are little more hawkish and believe our interrogators should do what it takes to get information out of someone bound and determined to blow up hundreds or thousands of innocent Americans.
I also hear all the “we are a nation of laws” hot air coming from primarily the left and those who are still bitter that Bush won the presidential election (twice). And, they also know Obama’s popularity is starting to wane due to the radicalism of his health care and energy agendas.
Let me remind you folks about the atmosphere right after Sept. 11, 2001.
We were mad. People were mad and upset that our intelligence was so pitiful that we couldn’t predict these attacks and stop them. People were out for revenge. People were afraid. They demanded our president and Congress take charge and get rid of these terrorists.
The Bush administration admittedly pushed the envelope on interrogation techniques, particularly during that first year or so. But, then, the learning curve set in. Interrogators learned their jobs better, and they also learned that the harsh tactics really didn’t work as well as they thought they would. In fact, it’s hard to credibly say that these harsh tactics worked, despite what VP Dick Cheney says.
But, eight years later, our CIA has come a long, long way when it comes to interrogation and getting the right information. Just a few months ago, an Enid native who was part of an interrogation team that nabbed Saddam Hussein was in town and explained how interrogations work. He learned the business and got to be pretty good at it. He said he realized harsh tactics worked the least.
What needs to be done now is for Mr. Obama and his administration to learn from the mistakes of the past (and also the successes) and move on. The frequent attempts to bring up CIA terror tactics every time the president gets in political trouble is transparent to every thinking person. Every administration does it, and the Obama administration is just the same-old, same-old when it comes to creating political diversions.
As the Sept. 11 anniversary looms, this nation won’t tolerate any appearance of weakness on the part of the Obama administration when it comes to the security of our nation. The constant drum beat on this issue could weaken the intelligence efforts our nation has gained over the last eight years.
The president keeps saying he’s going to stand by the CIA officers who did the job their country asked of them. It’s time for him to start walking the walk, instead of just talking the talk. He can’t distance himself from the attorney general or anyone else in his administration that keeps bringing this up. It has his fingerprints all over it.
Mr. Obama needs to quit bringing it up every time his own agenda gets in trouble.

August 25, 2009 02:40 pm

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Town hall meeting in Enid was pretty ho-hum



Other than having more than 500 people show up, Rep. Frank Lucas’ town hall meeting in Enid Thursday was pretty mundane. It wasn’t anything like we’ve seen covered on national television, with people screaming their objections and chanting slogans.
The crowd was pretty quiet, even those in the group who are die-hard Obama supporters and also supporters of the administration’s health care plan. Members of the local Democrat women’s group handed out about 200 fliers about what they term the 8 myths of the health care debate. But, none of the group really got a chance to ask Lucas any questions in public.
I sat next to Kristi Balden, one of the leaders of the local Democrat women’s group, who was copiously taking notes on Lucas’ comments. She tried multiple times to ask a question, but didn’t get a chance.
Once the forum was over, and Lucas was talking individually to some people, she got a chance to make her case. Lucas didn’t accept her comments very well. In fact, he pretty much dismissed her by telling her “thank you for coming.”
I was disappointed in that response because Lucas can articulate very well what is going on with legislation and what the different viewpoints are. She had implicated Lucas hadn’t told the truth about what Obama is actually proposing. In fact, he answered her question by correctly stating that Obama has really been missing in action regarding this health care proposal by leaving it in the hands of Congress to write the bill. He stated Obama will have to re-engage once Congress gets back. Ms. Balden wanted to go on about other things she disagreed with Lucas about in his remarks, but he turned his back and pretty much dismissed her. He could have easily answered her questions and concerns, and he should have stayed engaged.
Another interesting and noncommittal comment from Lucas came after the forum when another gentleman asked him if he would support national regulation of the insurance industry. Lucas responded by saying something along the lines of “I’d have to see the bill.”
That’s purely a vague and political response. Of course politicians don’t want to commit to saying they will absolutely support something; however, it is an interesting alternative debate to a government option on health care. I would liked to have seen Lucas give a little more of his thoughts on that, because a lot of us believe insurance companies do need some added regulation, and that turning regulations over to the federal government instead of the state government might be something to consider.
Anyway, it was still a good event for the community. Lucas is right in categorizing these high turnouts at town hall meetings as a sign the American public is growing concerned about the federal government, and particularly the plans the Obama administration have regarding health care and energy. Health care affects every single person in this country. Energy policy affects every single person in Oklahoma.
People are worried, and they should be. These massive health care and energy bills are complex and not really nailed down, so people should hold their lawmakers accountable and ask questions about what is exactly being proposed.

August 21, 2009 09:44 am

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Crazy, un-American and now 'potential terrorist'


My fellow Americans who are showing up at town hall meetings and making your voices heard about health care . . .
Be prepared to not only be labeled right-wing zealots who are part of an organized conspiracy to disrupt Democrat town hall meetings, be prepared to be labeled as a potentially dangerous racist militia member arming yourself for a government takeover.
That’s right. Militia groups in the United States are “reportedly” on the rise, according to a think-tank group that monitors hate in the United States. The Southern Poverty Law Center has issued a report indicating an increase in heavily-armed, racist militia groups who could potentially rebel and resort to “domestic terrorism” as a result of the recession and a growing “hatred” toward President Barack Obama.
This report comes, mind you, in the wake of heated exchanges at various town hall meetings across the country. There has been a lot of coverage of groups loudly protesting the health care reform plan being developed by Congress, and now groups such as SPLC are actually promoting the idea that the reason for this outrage is because of racist feelings toward the president.
According to the report, “critics have also attributed recent organized town hall disruptions to extremist groups who make a point to orchestrate upheaval. Some groups have gone as far to throw ‘tea parties” against the Obama administration’s economic policies and health care reform proposals.” Of course, these “critics” are anonymous and not identified at all in this report.
Oh. . . my. . . God. Groups have gone “as far as” throwing tea parties! Wow, that’s terrible!
First of all, I acknowledge there are crazy nuts out there who are racist, hating individuals who want nothing to do with having a black president. I also acknowledge that militia groups have been around for years, went underground in the late 90s and early 2000s, and are possibly re-emerging as they see an opportunity to take advantage of growing grass-roots concern over government overspending and potential control over health care.
But, that’s not what is going on at these town hall meetings over health care. And, the Democrats know it.
I also believe this “report” and media coverage of it is an orchestrated public relations campaign to try to minimize the impact these town hall meeting protests are having on the Democratic agenda. They’ve tried calling these people crazy. They’ve tried calling them un-American. Now, the strategy is to label them as dangerous potential killers.
I do believe the SPLC report is correct when it indicates issues are “bubbling up” and getting to a more fevered pitch. The reason? The leaders of the Democratic party have declared they don’t care what you think about the health care reform. They don’t think your concerns are valid. They have dismissed you as irrelevant and “not mainstream” thinkers. So, they intend to do what they want with the health care reform, no matter how much you protest. They’ve said so many times.
The Democrats seem to be hoping that somewhere, some real nut-job will do something horrible in the name of wanting smaller government, then all who oppose the Democratic agenda can be labeled as sympathizers.
It’s sad, really. Our congressional leaders aren’t interested in your opinions. They believe they know best for you. Yet, still, they themselves have been unwilling to sign on to the health care plan they are developing for you and me.
They may get their way in the short term. But dismissing the American people is a perilous political strategy.

August 18, 2009 09:54 am

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'Un-American' comments making people angrier


Today, Madame Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her co-hort Sen. Steny Hoyer wrote an op-ed piece today calling the outcry at town hall meetings on health care debate “Un-American.”
Their rhetoric is laughable on its face. After all, it was the Democrats who made such a point saying those who opposed the Bush administration in the war in Iraq shouldn’t be called “Un-American.”
But lets not go more into their hypocrisy, which is glaring.
The op-ed piece was printed in the USA Today paper, which is considered by most readers as one of the better, more informative and entertaining large newspapers in the country. This newspaper has a wide audience, so I’m always interested in what their reader have to say. The USA Today, like our newspaper, offers reader comments at the end of their stories.
On the USA site, the comments are 9 to 1 against what Pelosi and Hoyer wrote in their op-ed piece. In fact, it took me going through five or six full pages of comments before I could find one comment in support of them or the health care reform.
Could this mean that the “insurance companies” are enlisting people to go on newspaper web sites and shout down those who write op-ed pieces like Pelosi and Hoyer? I’m sure some will claim that, but being an administrator of newspaper comments myself, I doubt this is the case.
The Democrats and their allies can’t seem to understand that people don’t want to buy what they’re selling in this form of health care reform.
Here are some comments from the people themselves who write on the USA Today Web site:

“Rep. Pelosi has been assuming those of us who are against this proposed massive increase of government-run health care of being pawns of the insurance industry, being puppets of the RNC and implied we are Nazis. . . We are regular folks who make up their own signs and are there to be heard.”
•••
“Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American” -- as any conservative who has ever tried to give a speech on an American university campus can attest.”
•••
“Oh, contrare, oh mighty Democratic leaders. It’s un-American not to allow a proper debate. It’s also irresponsible and a dereliction of your duties to attempt to ram through (and not read) these bills. . . One of the constituents of the Rep. Hoyer attended town hall had it correct. ‘You want to push through health care reform in 3-4 weeks when it took Obama six months to pick a dog for his children.’
•••
“Let me get this right. If you are a liberal, Code Pink, WAMM, NOW type, it is wonderful when you protest and shout folks down. When you espouse conservative principles at a meeting open to the voting public you are anti-American. I understand. Liberals speak your piece and be proud. Conservatives shut up and be ashamed. I have it now. . .”
•••
“I’m sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and disagree with this administration, somehow you’re not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration-- Hillary Clinton - March 2003.”
•••
“This whole ‘the protests are Astroturf’ is a load of bull, on its face. Think about this. If the Republicans/conservatives/Libertarians in this country were well organized enough to pull something like this off, would they have lost the last two elections? I think not. This is clearly organic.”
•••
“Obviously, Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer have short memories. Those on the left have repeatedly shouted down conservatives in various public forums. I didn't hear any un-American comments then.”
•••
“So called un-American disruption is an invention of the wacky left. Maybe you just don't like a dose of your own medicine. We can think out here - and we do not like what we see and hear from Congress on health care. You are wrong and you better listen. The American people are speaking.”
And, the comments go on and on, again about 9 to 1 against the op-ed piece.

Nancy Pelosi simply has no credibility with anyone other than a far, far left thinker. And most people in this country, Democrats and Republicans, are moderate, middle-of-the-road, common-sense thinkers.
These town hall meetings are getting louder, and in some cases, more vitriolic. They didn’t really start out this way, but since Pelosi, Hoyer and the like have decided they are going to push back with tactics like calling people mobs, Un-Americans and crazy, people aren’t taking it too well. People don’t like having doors shut in their faces. They don’t like people in union T-shirts forming a human barrier between them and their representatives. To many, that is a threat, and they don’t take kindly to it.
These tactics and threats by the left will not deter the opposition to this reform package. In fact, they will make things even more heated.
What’s the remedy for this in order to get some semblance of decorum and perhaps actually get a discussion going?
For one, the Democratic congress member and their leaders have to start acting like they understand who they work for. They need to rid themselves of the arrogance that just permeates every appearance they make.
And, they need to honestly answer two important questions many of these “mobs” have been asking them:.
1. Have you read the bill, all 1,000 or more pages, and do you honestly understand what you are voting for?
2. Will you abandoned your own insurance and opt in to the government program you are asking Americans to opt into?
If any congress member answers “no” to either question, then they need to trash this bill and go back and start over, this time listening to concerns of the American people. Its when they give off this attitude they don’t intend to listen to (or really care about) the American people or what they think, that they get this kind of treatment.






August 10, 2009 02:26 pm

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Rescue of young women a masterful victory for Obama and Clinton


Former President Bill Clinton has still got it.
He may have left office in a shadow and may have bungled during his wife’s presidential campaign, but he still has a lot of respect in the political world, and in the world in general, and he carries a lot of clout.
I think it was a masterful idea to approve his going over to North Korea and freeing the two young ladies who have been held captive there.
I know there is a lot of debate going on right now about whether it was the right thing to do. Many conservative thinkers believe we rewarded the goofy little ruler of North Korea by sending the coveted Clinton over.
That is what he wanted. He wanted photo ops with Clinton, and he got them. Some say this helps legitimize North Korea and their actions.
I say baloney. I don’t think any credible government or country sees North Korea or its little dictator as credible.
So, Kim John IL got his photo op with Clinton. That does not mean the United States is giving in or accepting North Korea or its actions. This was about saving the lives of two American citizens. It was the right thing to do.
President Barack Obama has had two victories, in my opinion, in handling international problems. The first was the rescue of the captain held captive by Somalian pirates. With patience, and the help of a superb military, we got that man back alive.
This is another win, and he deserves credit for it. This latest rescue was the right thing to do, and I don’t believe the U.S. has lost any diplomatic leverage because of it.
I usually take a hard line when it comes to negotiating with dictators or terrorists. Yet, I’m learning that every situation is unique and should be handled uniquely.
We always talk about “policy,” and that is one word I hate. Too many times we’re stuck on “policies” and don’t take the time to consider all options.
Taking a hard line works sometimes, but it doesn’t work other times. This is one of those times when we needed to be open and consider all options. That’s what the president did, and I applaud him for it.

August 06, 2009 09:09 am

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Attempts to demonize protests the height of arrogance

I can’t let the Militant Moderate’s blog today on “Unruly Mobs Chill Democracy” go without comment and a conservative take on the issue.

Mr. Vineyard has bought into the Democratic “talking points” on these town hall meeting protests hook, line and sinker without so much as a critical look behind these allegations of Republican-orchestrated “mobs.”

I can find in news reports that Democratic leaders believe this is going on. They are saying that insurance companies have convinced these people to attend these meetings and cause as much of a scene as possible. I have found where the organization Americans For Prosperity (a conservative anti-tax group) has stated on its Web site “to find out when their elected officials will be available and to share that information with us so that we can help others find the meetings. This is grassroots activism in its most basic form. We always promote a respectful exchange of ideas and civil behavior.”

The Web site also states “It is disappointing to hear reports of some individuals acting inappropriately at some of the congressional events, though it should be made clear that the vast majority of Americans attending these congressional town hall meetings are acting in a respectful manner that still allows them to make their voices heard. We consistently remind our members to be courteous when making their voices heard and doing their civic duty.”

What I have seen on YouTube and news reports is some signs, some folks shouting at the speakers or some people just simply asking "Have you read the bill" and "Will you personally take this government health care insurance over your current one?" to applause from crowds in the meetings.

The Democrats made the same accusations about the TEA Party events that took place earlier this spring, alleging some big entity behind the scenes was pulling strings and getting these things funded and going. They seem to believe all the outrage is manufactured by anti-tax or conservative groups.

There is nothing wrong with organizing opposition to something. It’s the way our political process works. You see, if you are in favor of or against something, (like a bond issue, a housing ordinance or a health care plan), its good to have your voice included in a large number of other like voices. That is how we sway politicians to listen to our point of view.

The latest polls show that the country is about evenly divided on health care, with more slightly opposed. So, its highly likely most of these people who are voicing their “shrill” concerns are average citizens just voicing their opinion and telling their elected representatives “NO.”

When has it become against the law and reprehensible for people to organize against or in favor of any government proposals? The Militant Moderate calls some of these crowds disorderly and calls for their arrest. Why? I saw no instances of violence; unlike I’ve seen at protests against the most recent Republican administration.

They are not any more disorderly than some city council meeting audiences I’ve seen in the town of Enid when constituents are opposed to something like new housing codes.

The Militant Moderate says these displays chill democracy. I’m so disappointed in his take on this issue.

We should embrace the ability of people to organize and voice their approval or opposition to anything our government proposes. Those opposed to the wars in Iraq or to George W. Bush or Republicans in general have certainly organized their voices in the past. After all, the Democrats lifted the concept of organized opposition to new heights during the Bush administration, and now they're getting a dose of their own medicine.

For anyone to say these people who voice opposition to the Democratic health care reform are “crude, crazy people who constitute the trashing of the democratic process,” or that people attending TEA parties this spring roused the emotions of “ordinary, unthinking people” is the height of arrogance and hypocrisy.

August 05, 2009 03:25 pm

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Educating (and thinking for) ourselves



“Stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.”
“You’re a Nazi.”
“You just drink the Dick Cheney kool-aid.”
Those are three comments I’ve heard in the last few days regarding some of the News & Eagle’s editorials and also editorial columns.
That’s the reaction I often get from folks who definitely skew toward the liberal side of politics.
The funny thing is, it’s a predictable response. I’ve heard it said about conservative pundits or opinions for the last eight years.
It makes me wonder how much time these critics are actually themselves spending listening to Rush Limbaugh (a conservative talk radio host) because they seem to think that everyone who articulates a conservative opinion is just parroting what Rush Limbaugh says.
First of all, Limbaugh is definitely the best-known conservative opinion leader in the country. His followers love him. Most Democrats despise him. He definitely is a polarizing figure, and he has a way of getting under his critics’ skin.
Yet, believe it or not, there are others who have similar opinions to Limbaugh’s on certain issues. And, those opinions have nothing to do with what Limbaugh says.
In fact, it seems some of the critics that I’ve heard from this past week are getting briefings of some sort from Web sites or blogs that make it their full-time job to try to take down any kind of conservative criticism of the health care reform plan, the stimulus spending and the overall idea of grand taxation in order to “level the playing field.” I’m sure some of these folks subscribe to sites like these and get e-mail updates. And, to be fair, there are conservative sites and blogs that do the same regarding their opponents.
That’s politics. But, not everyone who has a conservative thought has gotten that thought from Limbaugh or anyone else. Perhaps people are able to think for themselves! I know that’s a foreign concept to some, but it does happen.
A lady who called me last week got so frustrated that I wasn’t jumping on the Obama health care band wagon that she told me she felt sorry for me, that I should get educated and “listen to the news and not Rush Limbaugh” and that she would pray for me because I obviously am going down the wrong path.
It made me chuckle a little, but then it also got me a little irritated. What do these people think I do for a living? I spend a lot of my day doing research on political issues. I search Web sites, I do watch television newscasts, usually daily (CNN, Fox and ABC are the ones I watch the most) and I also read what other newspapers are saying on the issues of the day. I get myself educated on the pros and cons of the opinion I’m about to write before I write it. Sometimes, I change my original position because of the research I do.
I’ll give you a little tip on one of my resource Web sites I sometimes use when thinking about editorials or columns. I go to Al’s Morning Meeting, which is a daily briefing through the Poynter Institute. The source leads me to other newspaper and television site coverage on issues and also governmental and official sites on topics. I then follow these sites through and do my research. Also, I actively seek out others who have taken the exact opposite stand. This often leads me to other research before developing and writing an opinion for print.
We live in very polarizing times. Politics has gotten to the point that too many people are not willing to read or listen to anything that doesn’t just generally go along with what they think or believe. Today, people have many media choices, particularly on the Internet, and you can go through life without ever having to confront an opinion or idea that differs from your own.
That’s a problem and perhaps a reason for the responses I get about being a Nazi or a kool-aid drinker. Those are terms you’ll find on Web sites that criticize those of opposing political views. Liberal talking points and criticisms are “Nazi” and “kool-aid drinker.” For the record, conservative talking points on their opponents are “fascist” and “socialist.”
The fact is, we can’t all be put neatly in a box, although some people seem to be willing to go there and hide.

July 27, 2009 10:12 am

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