King of the Hill
It was so uplifting to read about Bill Clinton and the various journeys of his current life rather than all the negativity brought about by the Bush administration [“Bill Clinton’s Plan for World Domination,” by Jennifer Senior, August 22]. Former president Clinton is a man of deep thought and global vision, contrary to our current president, a man of simple ideologies, chopping wood in Texas. I pray that the next three and a half years go by really fast before Bush does much more damage.
—Jim Jacobs, Montclair, N.J.
I’m amazed that some remain in total denial regarding the unethical Clinton administration. Jennifer Senior is ready to give this malfeasant a third term? I hope she’s being sarcastic. The endless scandals of Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, Monicagate, Pardongate, etc., have undermined the Democrats’ credibility. The unprincipled Bill Clinton was the second president to be impeached in our history, and his sad legacy has bolstered and empowered the opposition. He wasted his time telephoning a chubby intern some 50 times, squandering his place in the most powerful office in the world.
—William Holl, Manhattan
Understudied
It’s easy to see why Tim Robbins is so defensive [“Agitator: Tim Robbins,” by Emma Rosenblum, August 22], but what is the source of his gargantuan self-righteousness? Did he become an expert in government and politics by talking to Susan? By being a mediocre, unpopular actor? He merrily bashes “the media,” but he gets a free ride from reporters who don’t seem to even attempt to verify his credibility.
—Ralph Novak, Tenafly, N.J.
Belle Epoque
After reading “The Beautiful People” [August 15], I thought of Marcel Proust and what he wrote in À la Recherche du Temps Perdu: “Let us leave pretty women to men without imagination.”
—Les Rreyer, Manhattan
Swing and a Miss
Gary Sheffield is having another banner year, but to claim he’s “easily” the team’s most consistent player is wrong [“Gary Sheffield is the Yankees’ MVP. Just Ask Him,” by Stephen Rodrick, August 15]. A-Rod started the season on fire and has not let up since. He has more hits, homers, and RBIs than Sheffield. He also has a higher on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Mariano Rivera saved 31 straight games. These facts shouldn’t have been so “easily” overlooked.
—Jerry Mazza, North Massapequa, N.Y.
Weird Science
I was disappointed to read the narrow and harsh treatment Em & Lo gave HPV in “Dropping the H Bomb” [“Mating,” August 15]. They failed to mention that HPV is not just an STD that sometimes results in genital warts: It’s also the growth of precancerous, damaged cells. I experienced the latter due to malnutrition from an eating disorder. At the time that I was being biopsied, my OB/GYN had a patient who was a nun with HPV who had never had any form of sexual contact, needless to say.
—Bonnie McLaughlin, Manhattan
Legend Has It
Thanks for your thorough article on Bruce Kovner [“George Soros’s Right-Wing Twin,” by Philip Weiss, August 1–8]. I worked at Caxton from 1990 to 1993 as a lowly assistant on the doorstep of my own career in finance. Kovner’s words of wisdom were whispered and repeated in the hallways like folklore.
—Cheryl Galante, Manhattan
The Who’s Who
Regarding Kurt Andersen’s “Damned If We Do, and Don’t” [“The Imperial City,” August 15]: If the terrorists wanted to get a bomb onto a subway, bus, etc., what would stop them from slipping small, discreetly packaged explosives into the shopping bags of “old black ladies” or the Prada man-bags of “Wasp bankers” if they knew they wouldn’t be searched? Random searches are unconstitutional and impractical—and do we really want to further marginalize Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian New Yorkers?
—Ilene Leventhal, Manhattan
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