People kill people, not religion or the lack of it. Religion, economics or diplomacy are justifications, not causes.

Posted at July 3, 2008 7:00 AM in response to How Politically Stupid Are We?

My brother made a big difference in my life, he passed away a week ago. I'm on here (in the middle of the night) trying to get my mind off the services I'll be attending in the next few days by catching up on the politics I've missed these past few days.

Thank you for this post, it reminds me that there is a helluva lot more to life than politics - and that politics still has the ability to bring people together, not tear them apart.

I will sorely miss the passionate debates and conversations my brother and I had about politics and life in general.

Posted at July 3, 2008 6:41 AM in response to Who Made A Difference In Your Life?

I cannot leave my atheism at the door, I am offended when I am expected to - but, there is a time and a place for expressing belief/disbelief. Tolerance is NOT asking people to do the impossible and set aside the beliefs that define them - and it's a two way street.

I do happen to think that religious groups are in the business of exploiting people's weaknesses/vices in order to gain new converts/followers - that doesn't mean they can't provide a valuable public service to the community at the same time. As long as we don't let it become a bottomless pit of fraud and waste (i.e. Medicaid/Medicare).

I've encountered fanatical Christian groups that have attempted to bypass me and my husband in an effort to 'proselytize' to my young children with candy/toys etc. - I just tell my kids its a trick =-) It is a free country after all, as long as aid /services/assistance isn't attached to some religious oath or 'test' I'm okay with people that like their social services with a little Jesus mixed in.

As a fervent atheist - I don't like the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, especially when it was created by such a fuckwit as Bush - but I think I can live with it with someone like Obama at the helm.

One man can't be all things to all people, expecting Obama to transcend every issue and micro-issue is bound to lead to disappointment. He can't possibly be the embodiment of everything liberal/progressive and get elected - give the man credit for understanding what it takes to get elected during these times.

Posted at July 3, 2008 6:28 AM in response to Obama is NOT sympathetic to atheists/secularists

Like needing a license/permit/background check has anything to do with harming another human being in this manner. Same guy would have brained him with tire iron to get what it was he wanted from him if a gun weren't available.

I'm not a gun owner, but I do like the availability should I see a purpose to own one in the future (I happen to live in Alaska and protection against wildlife whilst enjoying the great outdoors is something I think about seriously, ref. grizzly mauling of the girl mountain biking through an urban greenbelt in Anchorage, Alaska this past weekend). I'm not interested in killing a wild animal for sport but given the choice between my kids and the animal... there really isn't a choice.

One need not own a gun to appreciate the right to own one - not unlike thinking abortion IS killing a child, but still feeling just as strongly that it should still remain safe and available to those who feel it is necessary for THEIR pursuit of life, liberty and happiness - I'm not interesting in regulating people's personal lives.

I'll be thinking about this young man and his family - although his injury is serious and the mugging surely terrifying - they must be celebrating his survival, I would be.

Posted at July 3, 2008 5:31 AM in response to Well Known Liberal Blogger Shot In Washington, D.C.

"Conservatives who support John McCain are either doing so because their meal ticket is connected to his victory..."

My meal ticket resides in the oil & construction industries. Both of which McCain demonstrates a deep disdain for - and utter lack of understanding of.

As a conservative I would rather spend public money on infrastructure (that create jobs and a 'trickle up' effect in our economy) than continue to give more and more tax breaks to the people that haven't demonstrated competent stewardship of our economy as a whole, (i.e. the supposed richer, smarter upper class that knows better than most how to handle money - a belief to which I do not subscribe).

MSM keeps referring to the 'dog whistle' of racial politics, Obama has been 'dog whistling' to many of us who believe we may have to spend our way out of this economic ditch. I'd rather create a union construction job than subsidize the purchase of some executive's vacation home.

McCain has been using Alaska as the whipping post for the bad behavior of Republicans for the past 7+ years. He has consistently voted against and spoke out against the development of ANWR - an issue near and dear to Alaskans of EVERY political stripe. McCain is also one of the Senate's biggest union busters. Alaska is a fiercely pro-union state.

I find it really interesting that the MSM continues to declare Alaska 'in the bag' for McCain, but with his rhetorical war against everything Alaskans are looking for - I just don't see it happening that way.

Mark my words, we may surprise you.

Posted at June 16, 2008 4:51 PM in response to The Choice before us as conservatives.

We are judged by how well we treat those who least deserve it. Judged by the rest of the world, by our children and by history.

Posted at June 16, 2008 3:27 AM in response to Supreme Court v. Bush

Great post. This is the fork in the road we'll all look back on and ponder.

As a conservative I vote my conscience, not a particular party. Conservatism isn't a party its a way of life and a personal world view.

Self proclaimed conservatives betrayed themselves by believing one party is the answer to its concerns, they fell for the Republicans one-stop-shopping sales pitch - and not surprisingly... ended up deeply disappointed.

The only vote for a true conservative is a vote of conscience. A vote for McCain will only serve to reward the disgusting behavior demonstrated by this administrations Republicans - I for one cannot fathom the thinking that declares war on our civil liberties, it certainly isn't conservatism.

Posted at June 16, 2008 3:21 AM in response to The Choice before us as conservatives.

I think we have digital satellite to thank.

Posted at June 14, 2008 7:17 PM in response to "Baby mama".

He's from the Southside of Chicago - where whoop-ass is produced. I'm not worried one bit.

Posted at June 14, 2008 7:10 PM in response to Obama: If They Bring A Knife, We Bring A Gun

My upbringing taught me that using such phrases even when accurate is incredibly low-class behavior. I think I'd rather see my daughter on a girls gone wild commercial before seeing her face next to that ticker.

I can't help but wonder what kind of collective upbringing resides at Fox News that produced a ticker on a national cable news network - that describes our next first lady as such.

Posted at June 14, 2008 7:00 PM in response to "Baby mama".