"I guess one of the issues that I have been puzzling over is the seeming willingness of people on the left to swallow MSM and Republican talking points about Obama."

You know, come to think of it, whatever happened to Gotalife and Marginal Player?

Posted at July 5, 2008 2:40 PM in response to Absolutism, The Far Left, and the Abandonment of Reason

"Nazis...I hate those guys."

Posted at July 5, 2008 1:59 PM in response to Nazi professors

I'm glad you posted this, Chrono. Good work.

Posted at July 5, 2008 1:55 PM in response to Absolutism, The Far Left, and the Abandonment of Reason

Oh, I agree entirely. Compromise is as necessary and eternal as death and taxes. My point was more that in many ways, it matters less what you say then how you articulate, stand by, and well, 'live' by your ideas. Which is to say that the crass constitutionalism tearing through the liberal blogosphere isn't articulated with the same nobility and virtue that made those truths so 'self-evident' to begin with. Robespierre, after all, certainly adhered to Republican virtues...but, well, let's just say he 'executed' those principles pretty poorly (ho ho ho).

You don't have to be a blackshirt to be a thug. Or a hate-filled evangelical to be a hopeless dogmatist. That a goon is a goon has to do with their humanness, not their politics.

I don't mean to say that those who feel betrayed at Obama's FISA decision are in the wrong here. But these histrionics have grown tiring and, more importantly, childish. I used to identify myself as a liberal. I suppose in our current political climate, the contrast between parties is so stark that I came to associate everything that was good and high-minded with the left. This included a more mature, I'd even argue enlightened, sense of humanity. Compromise, compassion, and sure, righteous anger, but ultimately a shared outlook that existed in a realm of advanced understanding. Not so much, I've come to realize. Smallness exists everywhere, only people seem to think that ideals are a justification for acting however they please.

Posted at July 4, 2008 12:40 PM in response to Obama Responds To FISA Group On His Web Site

True, there are plenty of cracked foghorns defending Obama on this issue. I won't deny it. People make principles, principles don't make people, so there are plenty of intelligent voices on both sides. Point is, at this point, these voices have all disappeared.

Some Obama supporters are pretty blind when it comes to their support, which is certainly irritating, but what gets me so angry about these FISA people is just how sanctimonious they sound. The whole "we're fighting for the Constitution" line is getting really tired, because I don't believe they're all that selfless. And given that Obama's decision, even if he were to go back on it, won't deliver any significant results, what this comes down to is a matter of principles. All these Constitution rants are beginning to sound too much like "when you pry this from my cold, dead hands." Personally, I was far more disappointed and dismayed when he rebuked Wes Clark for his comments on McCain then this throwaway ideological issue.

There are 300 million people in this country. Obama doesn't need to constantly coddle and seek validation from liberal netroots communities. Consider climate change. Consider all the critical, generation-defining issues where Obama differs from McCain. Now consider a McCain victory.

Dad has to work late tonight, honey. He doesn't have time to take you out for ice cream like he promised.

Posted at July 4, 2008 10:50 AM in response to Obama Responds To FISA Group On His Web Site

What began as a heated debate has turned into the most self-righteous swill. Every post about Obama's FISA stance is like letting rats out of a bag.

You know, regardless of the issue itself, the liberal netroots community is brimming with self-righteousness and self-importance. The way people on dailykos have been talking, you'd think they consider themselves kingmakers. And ugh, shut up about your rights already. I have an entirely apolitical hispanic friend who has been on some (perhaps not THE, but possibly) government terrorist watch list since our sophomore year of college, and I have never heard him complain about this disturbing situation the way some of you are rambling on about violations that will never, ever happen to you. Don't get me wrong, being vocal is one thing, but my god, how shrill some of you sound.

Posted at July 4, 2008 12:57 AM in response to Obama Responds To FISA Group On His Web Site

Posted this on Ripper's thread, just wanted to make sure you got it:

First of all, ::white flag::

Secondly,

Yeah, I have a hard time seeing redemption in that book. I think I understand that other blurb about "regeneration through violence," which I always thought had to do with the idea that "War is God." You know, war serving as that unknown ultimate that divines morality not through the limited realm of argument but by determining what continues to exist and what vanishes...the testing of human wills within the larger will. And that it is this way that humanity progresses and will forever progress.

So, to answer your question, I don't really know. I would have to read the book again. If there is redemption in Blood Meridian, I'd suspect it has to do with this notion of war being God or the absolute -- that "higher court" that the Judge claims all men eventually must answer to. Definitely in that framework, if it's there at all.

Also, I'm not Japanese and don't speak Japanese. I was/am an East Asian Studies major, so I study a lot of Japanese history, but I don't know the language. I can speak Chinese, though. At least 3 1/2 years worth of it.

I know Mishima, but haven't read him yet. Temple of The Golden Pavilion is high on my list, but right now I've been getting my Kobo Abe on.

Posted at June 27, 2008 3:44 PM in response to I Know More Than You Do

Yeah, I have a hard time seeing redemption in that book. I think I understand that other blurb about "regeneration through violence," which I always thought had to do with the idea that "War is God." You know, war serving as that unknown ultimate that divines morality not through the limited realm of argument but by determining what continues to exist and what vanishes...the testing of human wills within the larger will. And that it is this way that humanity progresses and will forever progress.

So, to answer your question, I don't really know. I would have to read the book again. If there is redemption in Blood Meridian, I'd suspect it has to do with this notion of war being God or the absolute -- that "higher court" that the Judge claims all men eventually must answer to. But that's all I got.

Also, I'm not Japanese and don't speak Japanese. I was/am an East Asian Studies major, so I study a lot of Japanese history, but I don't know the language. I can speak Chinese, though. At least 3 1/2 years worth of it.

I know Mishima, but haven't read yet. Temple of The Golden Pavilion is high on my list, but right now I've been getting my Kobo Abe on.

::white flag::

Posted at June 27, 2008 3:40 PM in response to FISA Grumblers, Get the Hell Over It

It's okay Ripper. This whole issue is a farce anyway. No one's opinion is going to change. Make the most of it.

Posted at June 27, 2008 1:43 PM in response to FISA Grumblers, Get the Hell Over It

Thanks, NERD.

Posted at June 27, 2008 1:35 PM in response to FISA Grumblers, Get the Hell Over It