I spent the whole day formatting my computer- reinstalling everything, hunting down all the drivers, transferring from back-up to the computer- in short, rebuilding the software side from scratch. We all know how pleasant that is and what kind of mood I am in.
Then, I come here, and I find some jackass has taken it upon himself to start hurling personal insults at people in the comments sections of posts.
Let’s get a few things straight here, before things get out of control:
1.) I make mistakes from time to time. I make stupid arguments from time to time. I write stupid things in moments of anger, and from time to time, I am wrong. Really wrong. Just because I have a strong opinion about something does not make me right- hell, if strength of opinion was all that mattered, Bill O’Reilly would be the smartest man on the planet, and we all know what a jack-ass he is.
2.) I am a fierce partisan, as are many bloggers, yet I hold a lot of moderate positions. Example: I am pro-choice to some extent, but I see no problem with a waiting period or parental notification. I have no problems whatsoever with CAFE standards (other than a knee-jerk distaste for government egulation), yet I support drilling in ANWR and nuclear power. You get the idea.
At any rate, since I am a fierce partisan, when I go over the top, or say something stupid (as I did here, in retrospect), thechances are that theperson who is going to call me on it is a liberal or a Democrat. Kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?
3.) When someone challenges me, I try to respond. And I try to respond to their argument. If you agree with me, I don’t mind if you do the same- respond politely.
4.) What will stop, however, is the personal attacks on people who have done nothing more than engage in honest debate. And, if you think you are doing it in my name, or doing me a favor, think again.
5.) This may come as a shock to you, but I don’t hate liberals. Not even a little bit. I hate some of the things they do, I hate that a lot of their proposals are simply idiotic, and I hate the way they have behaved regarding this President. But I don’t hate them. I actually like Oliver Willis- he and I talk frequently online, and you might be surprised to know he is a decent fellow with a lot of things to say. Dwight Meredith is one of the most decent human beings on the planet. I would have no problem living next door to someone like Kevin Drum and Matt Yglesias. And, believe it or not, despite the fact that we are always taunting each other, Ezra Klein, Jesse Taylor and I don’t hate each other.
6.) In closing, when some asshole decides that the comments section is the right time and place to start lauching vicious personal attacks at Gary Farber, someone who I like and whose presence here is appreciated, it really pisses me off (you do have some fans here, Gary).
In short, quit acting like little kids. You aren’t always right, and making fun of someone’s personal appearance, ethnicity, socio-economic status never makes you right.
Oh- and btw, Gary was right. While I do have some objections from Clarke’s term in office, most of my disgust is from his odious behavior since.
Gary Farber
Thank you most kindly, John. That was stand-up, and as I believed of you, most honorable indeed.
And, as I previously stipulated, I agree that Ramsey Clark has done some odious, extremist, foolish, and idiotic, things since leaving office; he seems to have become bizarrely credulous regarding any accusation made against the United States, and not just in a “I’m a lawyer, this case needs a defense, let’s investigate” sort of way.
But in office, he did a pretty reasonable job, as best as I remember.
So if you nominate him for Worst *Ex*-Attorney-General Ever, I won’t argue with you.
Let us now sing. Kum-bah-ya, my lord, kumbahya…. (Begin swaying.)
Ted Barlow
I can’t remember the last time I saw an apology this sincere for a regrettable post. Well played, John.
capt joe
Ted Wrote: “well played” ?
Ted, do you believe he is insincere since you used the term “played”. Just curious.
Ted Barlow
Not at all, Joe. I meant it as a synonym for “well done.”
capt joe
ok, wasn’t sure. I thought he sounded very sincere. John is passionate but he still is a fair dealer and that is why I read him regularly.
Thanks for clarifying.
regards
Trump
You don’t hate liberals? Too bad. Because they hate you. Not you personally (at least not that I know of) but they hate what you stand for, the type of life you want to lead, and your vision for this country.
If you’re white, or conservative, or religious, or from anyplace in flyover country, you’re despised. You’re looked down upon. You’re looked upon as the problem. You’re condescended to.
So you don’t hate liberals? You should. They hate us, and even though they’re nice to your face, just remember that with their very essences, they’re working to destroy you and your values, which are at odds with theirs.
LSU Student
Trump,
I go to school in LA. When not there, I live in Ark. My family is mostly lower middle class rural or small town. And plenty of my friends have been rednecks. I’ve seen lots of both ‘sides’, urbran and liberal, rural and conservative. So, I think I’m in a pretty good position to say you’re full of BS.
Beeper
No, Trump is right. We liberals despise white male conservatives, and wish you all were dead. But since you lack the courtesy to simply die off, we have taken some rather active steps to speed you along.
One of you rednecks try to get a job with a federal agency lately? Try it. A lot of agencies have an absolute moratorium on hiring white males for the indefinite future. One of those things you’d better get used to, chumps.
Kimmitt
“from anyplace in flyover country, ”
I’m *from* flyover country, jerkwad.
Mason
Hope I havn’t pissed you off with my couple of snipes at Oliver, John. I’ll gripe out loud instead of using the keyboard next time. ;)
TalkLeft
You have always been at least cordial and mostly flattering to TalkLeft for which I am grateful. The respect is mutual.