TechnoChitlins

This is stated so eloquently, I'll just put up a bit:

What is most missing from the left in America is an element of grace--of civic grace, democratic grace, the kind that assumes disagreements are part of the fabric, but we can make the fabric hold together. The Democratic Party hasn't had enough of this kind of thing since Bobby Kennedy died. What also seems missing is the courage to ask a question. Conservatives these days are asking themselves very many questions, but I wonder if the left could tolerate asking itself even a few. Such as: Why are we producing so many adherents who defy the old liberal virtues of free and open inquiry, free and open speech? Why are we producing so many bullies? And dim dullard ones, at that.

I have nothing to add, except you should read it all here. Political discourse in this country has fallen so far into disarray I wonder if we can resurrect it.

via the Godfather

Posted by Jay-Dubya at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

via Ace

Posted by Jay-Dubya at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Man I hurt in every possible place but what a cool place to work! I think I'll be able to resume faster than I originally thought...

Posted by Jay-Dubya at 07:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I don't know how to say this, so, as is my wont, I'll be blunt. I am starting a new job next Monday, and I need to give it my primary attention. This has been fun, but for now the free ice cream stops. If I can find a way to continue posting I will, but a full-time day job and a love of WoW makes it unlikely.

I'm sure new stuff will turn up here from time to time, and who knows? maybe I will have time to continue this, so check back occasionally and see...

Posted by Jay-Dubya at 08:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

On the ongoing tragedy of school killings, Dr. Helen quotes from the comments on her talk with Hugh Hewitt last night-

Mr. Hewitt, like everyone else is America, is struggling to understand what would lead a man to kill innocent young Amish girls execution-style yesterday. One of Mr. Hewitt's commenters is wary of psychologists who discuss psychological reasons for extreme acts of violence:

We have become inured to the idea that such a thing as "pure evil" exists, despite the constant evidence of its existence.

I heard a bit of Dr. Smith's commentary. In my opinion, to try to find a pschological root cause for this man's behavior is to attempt to excuse it.

What could be more evil than terrorizing the children of one of the most innocuous and inoffensive religious sects in existence?

I understand this suspicion of mental health professionals, after all, many of us are Whores of the Court. That said, psychologists can add to the discussion of why people commit mass murder. After all, who has more access to the minds of killers and criminals than we do? If information is used in the proper way, without a political agenda, mental health professionals can help laypeople to understand and make sense of the worldview of a murderer. Does this excuse it? No. Does it mean that evil does not exist in the world? Not in my opinion. However, psychological data can be useful in preventing the next round of senseless killings, and I, for one, am not willing to say that doing nothing is the best tactic to take in protecting innocent victims from the next atrocity.

RTWT here. We've come to a bad patch in this country, and I am at a loss as to what should be done.

Posted by Jay-Dubya at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I was going to have a bit of fun with the Foley thing, but one of the guest-posters at AoS trumped me:

I don't think I've ever seen such a look of misery and dejection on the face of my daughter as I just did a moment ago. She just couldn't understand why Republican voters would be willing to surrender the 2006 election to the Democrats. "Even my precinct captain sounds like a Kos kid?" she asked pitifully.

I sat down with her on the sofa and (as calmly as I could) tried to explain to her why many conservatives had become so disenchanted with their own that they saw no difference between a Senate Majority Leader McConnell or a Senate Majority Leader Reid.

What kills me is the hubris of the Dems- the party of Billybob Clinton (of blue dress fame) and Barney Frank- crowing over the shameful behavior of one Republican (like he represents the whole party). I predict this will blow right up in their faces come November.

If I'm wrong, then, as a country we are well and truly screwed.

UPDATE: To prove my point, Gerry Studds.

Posted by Jay-Dubya at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)