MONDAY'S LETTERS: Thanksgiving Leftovers on Coulter, Craigslist, Murtha and More

By: E&P Staff We're back from the holiday and our mailbox is overflowing with letters. Today readers respond to recent reports that Craigslist founder Craig Newmark is involved in an upcoming online news operation, Ann Coulter's claims that Democratic Congressman and former war vet John Murtha is a "gutless coward" and more.

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A Note From Craig

Re: Craigslist Founder Slams U.S. Press, May Launch New Online News Project

Thanks for getting the extra info in my blog.

I don't think I "slammed" US media, just repeated what I hear from most journalists I've heard from. What am I missing?

Thanks!

Craig Newmark
Founder, Craigslist.org

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More on Craigs' Foray Into News

Online journalism? Yahoo! and thank the lord! God, it is so sickening that the Washington press acts like a pack of sycophants. They deserve to lose their jobs. Bring back the free press, and Craigslist is the one to do it.

Galena St. Cloud

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Re: E&P Analysis: Amid Pullout Talk, Editorials Continue to Oppose Idea

Your survey of newspaper editorials regarding a pullout from Iraq provides an interesting look at the current state of opinion. Despite all the complaints about the handling of the Iraq War -- from inception to present-day -- the majority of newspapers, as you point out, decline to advocate an immediate pullout.

A pullout now -- without the proper planning -- would be as reckless as the initial decision to go to war. The criticism of the Bush Administration for going to war as it did is well founded. But Congress, now the focal point of much of the criticism of the war, must bear its share of responsibility, if one wishes to apportion blame. However, doing so can only be a thankless task.

Ousting Saddam Hussein removed a dangerous and unpredictable tyrant from power. One might wish that the UN-sponsored war of 1991 had allowed for that outcome, rather than the limited return to the status quo and the imposing of sanctions.

The Middle East remains a dangerous and unstable area. If there is any chance to stabilize it now by getting Iraq on its feet as a functioning democracy, it would be folly to let that possibility fall by the wayside.

Paul Kellogg
The writer is a freelance journalist.
New York, N.Y.

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Curveballs

Re: Governor Threw a Curveball on Baseball Career

Something similar happened to me in 1980 in my senior college year. I thought I won the Heisman Trophy that year, but after reading this article, I came to the conclusion I probably did not.

What is wrong with these politicians today? This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, but it just seems they think in the age of the Internet, people are still stupid and ignorant. No wonder the vast majority of citizens can't stand politics and the people that are part of it.

Dave Gardner

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Dump Woodward Campaign Continues

Woodward is hopelessly compromised as a useful reporter. Dump him and if asked send him a letter of reference to serve as a stenographer for the Bush administration.

His performance on Larry King live was disgusting... stammering stupidity in search of some sense of continuity and reason....blatant grandstanding as well.

Did you notice the look of anger and contempt on King's face? I feel the same way about the man who was interviewed.

Joseph A. Bagnall

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Half the story on Coulter Column

Re: Ann Coulter: Murtha and His Ilk are 'Gutless Traitors'

Why not report on the whole of Coulter's column that supports her conclusion? The whole point of the column is that some Democrats were posturing for political purposes and when called to vote, they reversed course -- making them gutless.

The fact remains that much progress has been made in Iraq and that all seem to agree that a U.S. military presence is needed for an unspecified term. What is actually happening in Iraq is nothing short of a miracle. More progress has been made in a shorter period of time to bring democracy to a country than has ever happened in history, all of this while there are those bombing innocent people to prevent a democracy from coming into being.

Those who prolong the war by giving the enemy hope that they can merely wait until we lose our will to win are traitors even if that isn't their intent.

H. Michael Sarkisian
Sacramento, Calif.

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Ann Coulter is perfectly right when she refers to critics of the war as traitors. What we require is a completely unified citizenry marching forward together under its leader. One party, one president, one government. We need no degenerate individual thought, no cowardly compunction, only the will of the leader to carry us forward toward whatever goal is chosen infallibly for us. Anything less than thoughtless and instant obedience is treachery. Eurasia will never shake our will. Oceania forever!

Pavel Chichikov
Washington, D.C.

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Ann Coulter needs to deal with reality; the Democrats are not to blame for the failed polices of the Bush Administration in Iraq. Our troops are being shot at, and humiliated and driven from the field not from Americans who are concerned for their welfare, but by the ignorance of the present administration.

Sheila Bokenkotter
Grand Rapids, Mich.

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Ann Coulter's Defamation of Congressman Murtha

I read the disgusting attacks on Congressman Murtha by Ms. Ann Coulter. Somebody please ask Ms Coulter to volunteer to go to Iraq to demonstrate her courage and patriotism. Some one should also remind her that it does not take that much courage to advocate for a war that she, and her fellow "chickenhawks," are not currently serving in. How dare her call a decorated soldier a traitor.

Nathan Katungi

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On Duplicity

Re: It's Your War Now, Part IV: The Mistake

May I point out that your arguments against such duplicity, in the American press, seem to me to be most compelling... most amusing, even, if the whole issue were not so tragic?

Robert Rose
Mont-Royal (Qc), Canada