Have we become Republicans, Raider? Are we now at the point where the only positive things we can say about the opponent are that his vileness is not all his fault? Are we so desperate to win that we're willing to depict our adversary as a monster to do so?

John McCain would make a lousy, perhaps a disastrous president. He's emotionally unstable, intellectually and politically dishonest, hypocritical, unintelligent, and almost as incurious and anti-intellectual as the current guy.

But give him (and us) a break. He's just a venal politician, not some psychic orc. Although it has been completely swamped by his ambition, he has actually shown courage in the past, and might actually do so again if he accomplishes his goal.

We needn't resort to demonization, which the voting public that matters -- swing voters -- often see through in any case.

Posted at July 24, 2008 3:31 PM in response to McTrolling For Votes

The Internet is just a click away.

No kiddin'????

Posted at July 24, 2008 1:28 PM in response to CBS Violates the Airwaves - Do Something

Of course I'm still watching. I left a philosophical child behind here, and blogging is all about me. I'm really disappointed in you for not knowing that.

I'm sure you are sincere about your cynicism (is this possible??), your lack of illusion, and your vision. But you know what they say about scratching a cynic and finding a hopeless romantic underneath. Be careful.

IMNSHO, my candor and my sarcasm are both strengths.

And as-salaam alaykum right back atcha.

Posted at July 24, 2008 1:26 PM in response to CBS Violates the Airwaves - Do Something

Tankard's info is woefully out of date. Powell hasn't been a commissioner for a while.

Yeah, I said that.

And unlike his claim of 3 commissioners, there are 5.

Congratulations on having caught me in a mistake. Are there more Bushies than Dems? That's the point. Are they going to go after CBS for favoring McBush? That's the point.

Talk about woeful.

Posted at July 24, 2008 12:07 PM in response to CBS Violates the Airwaves - Do Something

Oh yeah. You didn't know that? I'm just as stupid as an unconscious bucket full of ball-peen hammers on heroin.

In fact, I am barely intelligent enough not to try to talk sense to someone who ends an argument by calling me stupid.

Posted at July 24, 2008 11:57 AM in response to John McCain's Scurrilous, Digraceful Campaign

I guess I misunderstood you when you said "adios."

Posted at July 24, 2008 11:16 AM in response to John McCain's Scurrilous, Digraceful Campaign

Please pardon the cynicism of a bitter old man, Raider. I've just spent too much time hanging around big corporations and radio and TV stations.

I applaud your efforts, even though I have grave doubts about their efficacy. I would just add one word of caution: Be very careful about spending all your energy and idealism on lost causes. Your chances of making any difference at all this way are slim, and you can become what Graham Greene called "A Burnt-Out Case" like me.

You're a clever person.

Now you're making me doubt your judgement.

What would you do?

I don't have the kind of specific answers you are looking for, but in general, do what you can and live with the results. I know that sounds rather Zen/New Age-y and I guess it is. Maybe it contradicts what I'm saying above.

As you may know, I don't hold beliefs of any sort, but it makes sense to me that when we call ourselves to account, we should ask ourselves if we have done the right thing for the right reasons. Sometimes doing the right thing yields the outcome we hoped for. Sometimes the opposite. Sometimes nothing. But we should hold ourselves responsible for our behavior rather than the product of our behavior. The universe is what it is and delivers consequences based on rules (or lack thereof) that no one will never understand completely.

Phew! Is that ethereal and diaphanous enuf 4 U?

Posted at July 24, 2008 11:12 AM in response to CBS Violates the Airwaves - Do Something

From the Funk & Wagnalls's Wingnut to English Dictionary:

support the troops v.i. phrase: kill the troops for power and profit.

Posted at July 24, 2008 10:42 AM in response to John McCain's Scurrilous, Digraceful Campaign

Well, I could debate you over that ridiculous statement that the war was lost in 2003

Could you? That would be interesting to see. So far, I haven't actually seen you do any debating at all.

I remember your sarcastic response when I tried to be nice to you.

Well, it's good to see that you remember something. You seem to have forgotten how Pres. Cheney, er, Bush sent too few troops into Iraq with no justification, too little planning, and pallets of dollars. You seem to forget how Sen. McCain dragged out his pom poms and cheered as American troops died for years and for nothing. You seem to forget how the Bushies completely ignored terrorism, despite repeated warnings, until they discovered post-9/11 that it made an even better political gimmick than cutting taxes for the rich and services for the poor.

And where it comes to sarcasm, let me suggest this you may have some difficulty attracting sympathy based on this complaint. If you or Sen. McCain can't deal with sarcasm, you both might want to avoid political debate (as Sen. McCain already does), and you both might want to cut down on its use yourselves.

So, again, adios.

And may the Flying Spaghetti Monster grant you parmesan on your meatball.

Posted at July 24, 2008 10:22 AM in response to John McCain's Scurrilous, Digraceful Campaign

there was little or nothing genuinely new or otherwise informative in the content. And I think you know that.

No, I doubt that Rush even mentioned that.

Posted at July 24, 2008 9:44 AM in response to CBS Violates the Airwaves - Do Something