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Tale of Two Presidents
Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey, in their Feb. 1 Web-exclusive column, describe the president’s State of the Union message as a “Tale of Two Presidents.” “One was gracious about his opponents, seeking common ground for the sake of the nation’s future. The other accused his critics of being isolationists, pacifists, protectionists and unpatriotic,” they write. “One wanted the downfall of tyrants and dictators; the other wanted the downfall or transformation of elected governments in Iran and the Palestinian territories.” Readers weigh in:
Douglas, who did not give his hometown, writes that Wolffe and Bailey “just don't understand about the presidents who seek to defend the United States and who believe that the country is a wonderful and powerful force for good in the world. The basic premise is—if anyone seeks harm to the nation or its allies, then they should be regarded as potential or real enemies and their ability to harm us should be eliminated.”
But Carolina from Scottsdale, Ariz., disagrees. She congratulates the authors on their analysis, adding, “I'm just a housewife in Arizona, but my e-mails to him criticizing his war policies started on the day after 9/11 and have continued … Today, I have a very hard time believing anything he says.”
Mark from Germantown, Wis., commends Wolffe and Bailey, but says they overlook one of the reasons Bush may seem like two different presidents. “This country is and has been divided into two polarized camps—roughly 50-50,” he writes. “Bush cannot afford to ignore the other side. The people on the ‘left side’ are his constituents as much as the people on the ‘right side.’ The authors summarized the president as being two-faced; I say that the president is trying to be conciliatory and unifying.”
Ken, who did not give his hometown, writes: “Thank you for finally pointing out what many Americans already know, but since 9/11 have been to afraid to say because of not wanting to sound unpatriotic. I started to think I was the only one that noticed his constant contradictions. I wish more journalists and politicians would point this out to the American people.”
Rick writes: “My patience has worn out on Democrats and Republicans. I honorably served my country, in return I would expect the same. I will no longer vote for a Democrat or Republican … The arrogance of both parties does not reflect the majority of Americans views, hopes and dreams.”
Phillip from Los Angeles challenges Wolffe and Bailey for a better strategy. “The column … was a poor partisan tirade, which I believe is the heart of the issues currently attacking our society's values,” he writes.
The Case for Joe Biden
Guest commentator Ron Goldstein argues his case for the Democrats’ best chance in 2008 in his Jan. 31 article, “The Case for Joe Biden.” Goldstein calls the senior senator from Delaware “tough, compassionate, [and] experienced,” though not dismissing his 20-year-old “black mark” (when he lifted portions of a speech by a popular British politician during another presidential campaign). Readers respond:
Rita from Chicago writes: “I've long admired Sen. Joe Biden, ever since the Clarence Thomas hearings and his sensitive treatment of Anita Thomas. I have always been favorably impressed by his ideas, vision for America and humanitarianism. Senator Biden is a very real and decent human being. America could not ask for a more able and qualified president.”
Clifford, who did not give his hometown, differs: “Joe Biden is a proven plagiarist,” he writes. “His borrowing of a British politician's campaign speech is perhaps the most famous instance of political plagiarism and will prevent him from becoming a serious candidate in 2008. His opponents from the Democratic as well as from the Republican Party would have a field day with him during the primaries.”
An anonymous reader says, “I am pleased with Mr. Goldstein's commentary. If Joe Biden, the plagiarizing ‘son of a coal miner’ is the best the Dems have to offer, we Republicans will have a wonderful election in ‘08.”
James from Glendale, Calif., writes: “Joe Biden represents the problem with the Democratic Party, and his nomination would be its death knell. Mr. Goldstein may have been an active consultant since 1976, but how many winning campaigns has he been aligned with?”
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