Friday, February 11, 2005
The Christian Taliban
Terry Michael of Real Clear Politics has a post today entitled "A Return to Liberalism's Jeffersonian Roots". I'm always interested to read about my old party's latest attempts at changing without really changing. They remind me of a bourbon drunk suddenly switching to whiskey and calling it progress.
Anyway, as I meandered through the piece, I came across this:
From our Jeffersonian roots, we have the glue to make the brand sticky again. The new desktop-empowered generation, turned on by Republican economic choice, but turned off by the social-cultural intolerance of the GOP Taliban wing, could embrace Democrats if we return to our founder's philosophy -- a back-to-the-future Jeffersonian liberalism.
Man those social conservative are evil aren't they? Against abortion AND gay marriage! Yeah, I see the similarities between them and a masochistic/homicidal group of Islamic extremists so clearly now. Sheesh! Since they are able to caricature social conservatives that way, then they should not get upset when someone might call them a bunch of America hating, baby killing, pinko-commies. See, words can be devastating. I understand, that to capture the center in politics, it helps to paint the otherside as extremist wackos. But both sides should take note that all this accomplishes in the end, is add to an ever increasing shrillness that makes both sides appear untrustworthy.
We need a new story. Here's rough cut: "Government: Assure liberty by staying as far away as possible from our bank accounts, our bedrooms and our bodies..."
It's funny to me that liberals don't see any irony in defending a "right" obtained by judicial fiat (abortion) while blasting the denial of a "right" by every states' voters that have had the option on the ballot (gay marriage). Not allowing same-sex couples to marry is not the same as placing sodomy police under every bed, so let's ratchet down the rhetoric. Also, you have every right to your body except when you happen to be housing another body, then that body should have the same rights as you.
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Anyway, as I meandered through the piece, I came across this:
From our Jeffersonian roots, we have the glue to make the brand sticky again. The new desktop-empowered generation, turned on by Republican economic choice, but turned off by the social-cultural intolerance of the GOP Taliban wing, could embrace Democrats if we return to our founder's philosophy -- a back-to-the-future Jeffersonian liberalism.
Man those social conservative are evil aren't they? Against abortion AND gay marriage! Yeah, I see the similarities between them and a masochistic/homicidal group of Islamic extremists so clearly now. Sheesh! Since they are able to caricature social conservatives that way, then they should not get upset when someone might call them a bunch of America hating, baby killing, pinko-commies. See, words can be devastating. I understand, that to capture the center in politics, it helps to paint the otherside as extremist wackos. But both sides should take note that all this accomplishes in the end, is add to an ever increasing shrillness that makes both sides appear untrustworthy.
We need a new story. Here's rough cut: "Government: Assure liberty by staying as far away as possible from our bank accounts, our bedrooms and our bodies..."
It's funny to me that liberals don't see any irony in defending a "right" obtained by judicial fiat (abortion) while blasting the denial of a "right" by every states' voters that have had the option on the ballot (gay marriage). Not allowing same-sex couples to marry is not the same as placing sodomy police under every bed, so let's ratchet down the rhetoric. Also, you have every right to your body except when you happen to be housing another body, then that body should have the same rights as you.
# posted by Joe Florida @ 5:31 AM 
