I accept Dan's mild-mannered and reasoned rebuke. I still resent being told that my (admittedly dramatic) stance toward the core members of the administration was meant by me to apply to "anyone who disagrees" with me. And THAT most definitely was the phrase used. There is no way on this (still somewhat) green planet that I was unjustified in calling that a damned, knowing lie.
And while I have backed off on occasional outbursts, I have yet to hear a scintilla of retraction about that wretched statement. Still. I cannot deny that my own tension over this election has spilled over into hastily typed words on-list. I regret that. As for my position as a public figure, I am willing to undergo sacrifices, if it might draw attention to the intolerable and the obscene hijacking of the right... and our nation. My article at: http://www.davidbrin.com/libertarianarticle1.html shows how deeply committed I am to competition among pragmatic political solutions. My childrens' future is harmed when conservatism, instead of offering "right-handed solutions" becomes a vehicle for raiding the treasury and wrecking the credibility and safety of Pax Americana. I know I've lost fans and readers by stepping forth so forcefully. But I gotta call it as I see it. I've been active in every election in my adult life, but you'll not find any time that I've used language like this. Oh, here's another datum. Stop looking at the bulge in his back and instead look at his face. We have all seen footage, taken just moments before Dubya's speech to the nation about going to war, with him smirking and mugging and pumping his fist like a boy crowing over touchdowns. It just staggers me that someone responsible for starting a war, seeing the destruction start, wouldn't feel some humility or AT LEAST MORAL SERIOUSNESS about launching a war that will certainly send thousands, including innocent civilians, to their deaths. Reagan and Bush Sr. at least offered sobriety and decorum when they went to war. Eisenhower made this kind of adult behavior an article of faith, modeling it after his hero (and mine) George Marshall. (Three republicans and a democrat.) BTW, this is consistent with Bush's comment when, as governor of Texas, he was asked about the execution in Texas of a woman, Faye Tucker. He MOCKED her in a high, whiny voice, whimpering, "please, don't kill me." See the expression on his face at http://www.cuadp.org/bush.html This is a man who can kill people without even a modicum of moral seriousness. Regardless of what kind of religious faith this man may officially profess, you have to wonder... _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
