OPINION
Response to “Sometimes, football is like a Jane Austen novel” Opinion, Dec. 1
Maureen Dowd is disappointing me and, most probably, thousands of readers, with the insipid, uninteresting and irrelevant columns she has written lately (such as the piece in which she talks about football).
It seems she opted to stay away from controversial issues that are not reflecting a very positive light on the present administration, so she can remain politically correct among her circle of friends, and remain a loyal liberal Democrat — regardless of what’s going on in the country.
Where is the real Maureen Dowd — the pugnacious journalist who so aggressively criticized every move made by the previous administration, and still gets fired up over Liz Cheney’s desire to become a senator?
How sad it is when a fine and combative journalist takes a side, and gets out of the frying pan when it is convenient.
ORLANDO LLERANDI, WOODSTOCK
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Commentary on the Middle East insults Israel, U.S.
The political cartoon published Dec. 1 (“The Puppetmaster,” Opinion) insults the president, the Israelis, and the American people.
To suggest the Israeli prime minister is Barack Obama’s puppeteer (even if Obama defies him in the case of Iranian detente) says that the president doesn’t think for himself. To suggest that Benjamin Netanyahu tries to control Barack Obama overlooks that every nation tries to convince allies to act in the nation’s interest — especially in this case, where Israel has been threatened with total annihilation by Iran. Finally, the implication of the cartoon is that the American people don’t understand that the best interests of the U.S. and of Israel sometimes coincide.
ED JACOBSON, DECATUR
OBAMACARE
Accepting the ACA and its changes is American thing to do
As a retiree on a Medicare Advantage plan, I have found that the government-sponsored and defined Medicare insurance policies for seniors operate smoothly. I look somewhat skeptically at negative comments in the AJC regarding the ACA. There will be glitches at the start of such a complex program.
I logged on to HealthCare.gov, and looked at plans offered to single young people and families. I didn’t have any trouble finding information. So, I have to come to the conclusion that those dissing the new process are computer naifs, or have an axe to grind.
Why aren’t we cheering the fact that all people now have the opportunity to obtain health insurance and get financial help if they qualify? Why aren’t we happy that seniors will see the doughnut hole close? Why aren’t we glad that young people can continue on their parents’ insurance up to age 26? Why aren’t we ecstatic for those with a precondition who now can get health insurance?
Why not give the ACA a chance? That seems like the American thing to do.
TOM MCMANUS, ROSWELL
Premature to call Kentucky’s rollout a success
I saw the headline “Health law has success in Ky.” (News, Nov. 30), and couldn’t help but laugh. The article reports that about 12,000 people have actually enrolled in individual insurance plans. The remaining 48,500 are Medicaid rollovers (for a total of about 62,500). This is what the AJC calls “success?” The program hasn’t started, and you are already calling it a “success”! Is this the AJC’s redux of Bush’s “Mission accomplished,” or Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize before he had done a thing?
I am opposed to Obamacare. At least I openly say so without trying to paint myself as objective, like the AJC tries to do (while repeatedly showing its true blue color). This kind of headline belongs in your Opinion space.
DAVID R. BOAG, FAYETTEVILLE
