by Dick Pilling | Dec 7, 2020 | Letters to the Editor
We all know that the press routinely demonizes President Trump as a racist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic bigot but, given the gains made by the GOP among these various demographics, it would appear that at least some members of these particular cohorts choose to disagree.
For instance, media stalwarts Don Lemon and Anderson Cooper as well as certain leaders of the Democrat party – Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden – have repeatedly termed President Trump – and his supporters – as racist. (more…)
by Dick Pilling | Nov 23, 2020 | Letters to the Editor
As one grows older, one notices that certain tragic events seem to recur periodically. Happily, with the knowledge bequeathed by age and experience, one can keep these incidents in perspective no matter how dire they seem to be at the time.
For instance, I remember the Asian Flu of 1958, which killed some 116,000 Americans and which, at the time, was about .07 percent of our population. Definitely serious but certainly not the end of the world. Life went on and we did not cower. (more…)
by Dick Pilling | Jul 9, 2020 | Letters to the Editor
To those who have professed interest in my scribblings but who may not receive the Sequim Gazette, here follows my latest LTE submission which was printed today, 7/8/20. The Gazette editor has historically published my letters without any changes despite the Gazette’s tendency to “lean left” as do many other Washington State newspapers. I do, however, provide footnotes reflecting my sources thereby sparing the editors the chore of further corroboration and/or verification.
LTE follows…
Some people say that presumed presidential nominee Joe Biden is two-faced but, really, that’s just not fair. Like, he has way more than just two …
For instance, there is the face presented when pandering to pro-lifers by supporting the Hyde Amendment prohibiting federally funded abortions but, later, a different one when appealing to abortion rights activists when he dropped his Hyde support (washingtonpost.com). Did he flip?
And, of course, there is the face he wore when condemning statues memorializing Confederate war heroes – “they don’t belong in public places” (ajc.com) – which was quite different from the one that he donned when publicly praising KKK member Senator Robert Byrd as a “mentor” and “friend” (donaldtrump.com). Another flip?
Not to forget Joe’s previous face on Social Security where, for 40 years he advocated cutting social security (theintercept.com) but, recently, he about-faced and claimed “I’ve been fighting to protect – and expand – Social Security for my whole career” (forbes.com). Flipped again?
Lastly, Joe’s previous position on gun control – “I never believed that gun control would reduce crime”(nbc.com) – is now moving toward a ticket that, per Lawrence G. Keane, National Shooting Sports Foundation VP, may be “the most anti-gun ever” (washingtonexaminer.com). Flipped once more?
Looks like ol’ Joe has a problem with his position on a number of issues. Or maybe all of them. Of course, he could possibly work with his advisors and, perhaps, make choices by a game of “rock, paper, scissors.”
Or he could simply flip a coin because, when it comes to flipping, he is well-practiced.
Dick Pilling
Port Angeles
by Dick Pilling | Jun 1, 2020 | Letters to the Editor
Have you noticed that some of our political leaders are of the “Do as I say not as I do” crowd whereby they officiously pontificate on what we should do in a given situation but, frequently, fail to follow their own edicts.
This has become quite apparent during the COVID-19 crisis which has closed certain establishments such as barber shops as “non-essential” because, well, you just don’t need haircuts. (more…)
by Dick Pilling | May 20, 2020 | Letters to the Editor
For those who follow my scribblings but do not subscribe to Sequim Gazette, this was printed in their 5/20/20 edition…
How can pundits be so spectacularly wrong in their predictions and yet continue to be published?
Surprisingly enough, they don’t need to be accurate to be published, just sensational. For pundits, this is a good thing.
You see, successful pundits rely upon a public “relief factor” which ensures that the community soon forgets a stunningly inaccurate prediction. For pundits, a good thing.
This “relief factor” is illustrated in, say, weather forecasting whereby a predicted hurricane that ultimately peters out produces sighs of relief and no one remembers that the weather forecast was staggeringly wrong. For pundits, a good thing.
These days pundits are falling all over themselves to predict how many people will die due to Coronavirus and, as usual, are hedging their bets to ensure that they overemphasize its severity. For pundits, a good thing.
Accordingly, they appear to be vying to have the highest possible death count … University of Washington estimated 60,308 deaths, only to quickly revise this estimate to 147,000.Whitehouse coordinators Drs. Birx’s and Fauci estimate between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths. But they are pikers compared to the Imperial College of London that envisions 2.2 million.
Because if massive death does occur, the pundit loudly demands credit for an accurate prediction and if deaths are less than forecast, the public rejoice, and the prediction is soon forgotten. For pundits, a good thing.
Accordingly, the pundits’ secret of success is to never be wrong unless being wrong is a good thing …
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