Always Positive, Sometimes Right

President Obama’s position on health care delivery systems and the need for comprehensive reform is totally consistent with the ideals and traditions of the nation. The Republican continuing assertion that an apparent populist aversion to the reforms should prevent their adoption reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the underpinnings of America.

I will assume, without much confidence in the assumption, that many of those opposed to the health-care legislation are sincere folks, albeit the victims of cynical manipulation of GOP operatives, honestly are concerned about sky-rocketing deficits (more. . .)

Almost every weekday evening I can be found in my red VW Beetle driving the 30 to 40 minutes from my Jackson Hewitt Tax Service kiosk at a nearby Walmart where I am, for 105 days, office manager of the location. The ride is not that exciting and I invariably put the radio on and listen to either Country and Western tunes or one of three stations in Tampa that dispense political talk. In central Florida that means Michael Savage, Hugh Hewitt, or some other (more. . .)

Wherein I acknowledge the error of my ways

I have to confess that, to some members of my family, I am politically a disgrace, leaning so far to the Left as to have abandoned all rational thinking! I believe (or did before my new-found appreciation for the truths of the Right) in social programs to benefit the poor and – wonderful word – the disadvantaged. I was in favor of government programs run by government aimed at promoting the general welfare of the country that being (more. . .)

Let me tell you about a Republican whose positions are diametrically opposed to those in which I believe. For example, my subject

has been a military prosecutor and has little sympathy for persons accused of a crime and, indeed, often considers accusation and conviction as a unit;

is a proponent of the death penalty and limits on appeals by convicted criminals;

has voted for and advocated wiretaps without prior judicial authorization and warrant;
is an advocate and supporter of prayer in schools;

opposes same sex marriage and supports (more. . .)

But they cannot be totally ignored!

If I have, finally, learned anything by writing political blogs it is that it is impossible to engage in rational discussions with those on the rabid right fringe. Fortunately, all the evidence seems to point to the impotency of their rants. Glenn and Rush and the stalwarts at Fox News spew irrational and inconsistent garbage, but garner only a miniscule proportion of voters and have no real influence in elections.
David Brooks, in a brilliant essay in the New York Times, (more. . .)