re: What Joe Biden Needs to do to Beat Trump

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/opinion/axelrod-plouffe-joe-biden.html

To the Editor:
        It is not impossible to beat a incumbent president. The pattern of two four-year terms is merely tradition. But it's tradition going back to Geo. Washington, and we are not lightly lifted out of our rut.  The few* who have beaten an incumbent are instructive:
FDR beat incumbent Hoover; FDR had a program of change
Reagan beat incumbent Carter; Reagan had a movement of change
Bill Clinton beat incumbent Bush41; Bill represented generational change

Biden brings none of this himself.  "YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok" won't fix what he lacks. But if he names and empowers Warren, that might be enough.

*I suppose Woodrow Wilson and TR together beat incumbent Taft, make of that what you will.
Barry Levine

: re: Having a Torturer Lead the C.I.A.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Tue, Mar 13, 2018 at 9:16 PM
Subject: re: Having a Torturer Lead the C.I.A.
To: "letters@nytimes.com"

To the Editor:
  If we are to disregard  Ms. Haspel's record of extraordinary rendition, and torture, and destroying evidence, and thwarting due oversight, she would be unfit to be director of the CIA for lack of experience. If we are to consider Ms. Haspel's criminal record, she is unfit for her violations of U.S. statute, of our treaty obligations, and of human decency. Whether "she forcefully renounces the use of torture during her confirmation hearing" or not, this is a nomination that no Senator should confirm. There is no place to equivocate here.
Barry Haskell Levine

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/13/opinion/cia-torture-gina-haspel.html

it's golden

Steele's dossier's more prurient than hot
material that no one needs to see
the GRU's collected kompromat
was not to be disseminated free.
Trump tried to claim the whole thing was a bluff
but women verified that they'd been paid
like bridge, in which an elegant cross-ruff
takes many tricks before the ace is played.
Mike Pence pretends he doesn't know this guy
refusing meals unless they're with his wife
But Kaine got him repeatedly to lie
he's chained to Trumpty-Dumpty now for life.
It's time that we  impeach, the face what's next.
At least, let's argue policy, not sex.

: re: Turkey’s President Calls U.S. Indictments of His Guards a ‘Scandal’

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Mon, Sep 4, 2017 at 4:18 PM
Subject: re: Turkey’s President Calls U.S. Indictments of His Guards a ‘Scandal’
To: "letters@nytimes.com"

To the Editor:

  The scandal is that the police of the District of Columbia didn't  protect Americans from Erdogan's thugs in May. It is shameful that they stood by as peaceful protesters were beaten in their own country, and ridiculous that the perpetrators were allowed to flee to Turkey. Indictment now it toothless.

Barry Haskell Levine

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/01/world/europe/erdogan-turkey-washington-bodyguards-indicted.html

: re: Why Trump’s Pardon of Arpaio Follows Law, Yet Challenges It

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Sun, Aug 27, 2017 at 7:20 AM
Subject: re: Why Trump’s Pardon of Arpaio Follows Law, Yet Challenges It
To: "letters@nytimes.com"

To the Editor:

     The president's pardon power is broad; it "extends to every offense known to the law". But wielding that broad power for corrupt ends could still constitute an impeachable offense. Obviously, Congress could detect an impeachable offense if e.g. the president were to advertise that felons could buy pardons from him/her for cash, or for sexual favors. Likewise, Congress could impeach the president if it could be shown that the pardon of Arpaio were intended as a signal to Mike Flynn and to Paul Manafort that they could get such pardons themselves if they defied Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquest. That would constitute 'witness tampering' and clearly fits among "high crimes and misdemeanors".

Barry Haskell Levine

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/26/us/politics/trump-pardon-joe-arpaio-constitution.html

: re: Michelle Carter Didn’t Kill With a Text

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Fri, Jun 16, 2017 at 8:24 PM
Subject: re: Michelle Carter Didn’t Kill With a Text
To: "letters@nytimes.com"

To the Editor:

    Michelle Carter may in fact be innocent by reason of insanity; that is for her lawyer to plead and for the court to weigh. Her speech, however, is not protected by the First Amendment. Broad though our constitutional guarantee of Free Speech is, it is not without bounds. Ms. Carter incited imminent lawless action. The Supreme Court has found (Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 44) that such speech is not protected, and may indeed be criminal.

Barry Haskell Levine

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/opinion/michelle-carter-didnt-kill-with-a-text.html

: re: Russian Military Says It Might Have Killed ISIS Leader

From: barry levine 
Date: Fri, Jun 16, 2017 at 6:26 AM
Subject: re: Russian Military Says It Might Have Killed ISIS Leader
To: "letters@nytimes.com"

To the Editor:

    If it is confirmed, the killing of Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi is a blow both to ISIS/DAESH and to Saudi prince Mohammed bin-Salman.  The latter desperately needs a big win on his resume to justify his position in the royal succession at his young age.  Killing al-Baghdadi would have been such a trophy. As the succession fight looms closer (Salman is 81) the only remaining trophy of such stature would be Bashar al-Assad, whom the Russians protect. 

Barry Haskell Levine

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/world/middleeast/baghdadi-russia-isis.html