rtf100: "Of course, the lefties like Greenwald, will go berserk because this smacks of classic "imperialism", but I believe the pragmatists like Hillary, Biden, and 80% of the American people will see this as the best deal we can cut and it will prevail."

LOL, so we're all "leftists" now, including the anti-imperialist libertarians? Just like every other meaningful distinction has been flattened by war propaganda.

In truth, what's happened is the libertarians' two-dimensional "political compass" has tilted 90 degrees on its axis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_compass

Just as the Repugs no longer exemplify fundamental conservative principles, there really isn't any traditionally "left-wing" opposition to US military aggression. As Glenn has eloquently documented in his essays, what has superceded conservatism is overt authoritarianism. The opposition that has arisen to this tyranny is not leftist, it is anti-imperialist and libertarian in nature.

What remains of left-wing activism in the US is represented by labor union support of the Democratic Party. But so much of the unionized American workforce is employed by military contractors and their sub-contractors, that neither unions nor Democrats can afford to oppose the US war machine. They like to call themselves "pragmatists" or "centrists", but they're really more like left-wing authoritarians.

While most Republicans spout right-wing ideology, the Neo-cons who have hijacked the party care nothing for left/right distinctions. They are pure and shameless authoritarians.

From my point of view, the consolidation of left-wing and libertarian into a united anti-imperialist opposition is exactly what we need. The ideological distinctions no longer matter any more as we are no longer debating against liberals on matters of social policy. Our opponents are authoritarian neo-fascists bent on acquiring as much power and profit as they can get away with. We shouldn't care whether they call themselves Republicans or Democrats, any more than we care about what they call us.

Congressional Democrats have drawn their own line in the sand, choosing to betray us and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Republican soulmates. MoveOn is now the insurgent face of the new Democratic Party, the only viable alternative to one-party Republicrat rule.

Glenn wrote:

"(1) Republicans keep using formal governmental condemnation as a political weapon, or

(2) Democrats take the same weapon and apply it to Republicans, thereby eliminating the advantage of this pernicious tool, thereby causing it to end.

(3) The weapon is never used at all."

How about this one:

(4) We say to hell with Republicrat bullshit and put our full support behind MoveOn.

WinSmith just wants us to affirm that:

"You think there are key Jews with allegiance to Israel over America who are working behind the scenes to fund and support the Neo-Con movement."

Oh yes, I totally agree. Their names are Joe Lieberman, Michael Ledeen, and William Kristol. I have no doubt that they work behind the scenes, as well as in broad daylight, to fund and support the Neo-Con movement.

I'm just dying for WinSmith to notice me, I even let him put his words in my mouth and cheerfully regurgitated them for him. But still he won't even refer to me by name:

"Many people in this thread today alone made allegations that ..some American born Jews are secretly working behind the scenes against American interests as a form of duplicitous cabal."

I know I only came up with three names (Joe Lieberman, Michael Ledeen, and William Kristol), and that barely qualifies as "some" American born Jews. But I can do better, I promise!

Diane Feinstein

See! I'm bi-partisan too! Pick me!

John Aravosis wrote:

"It is simply not p.c. in the gay community to question how and why the T got added on to the LGB, let alone ask what I as a gay man have in common with a man who wants to cut off his penis, surgically construct a vagina, and become a woman. I'm not passing judgment, I respect transgendered people and sympathize with their cause.

This petulant complaint demonstrates that Aravosis has no respect whatsoever for trans people. By describing transwomen as men who want to mutilate themselves, Aravosis betrays his adamant refusal to accept the validity of gender identities outside his own narrow experience. His claim to respect and sympathize with trans people is contradicted by his own bigotted words.

Aravosis does not represent the mainstream LGBT community, he represents straight-laced assimilated Democratic Party operatives like himself, Barney Frank, and Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign. This episode represents yet another example of how beltway Democrats have BETRAYED US.

Now that Salon has provided the reactionary HRC wing of the LGBT movement with a forum to promote their case, when will we see equal time offered to the overwhelming majority of LGBT organizations who immediately voiced their opposition to the Congressional Democrats' gutting of ENDA?

John Aravosis wrote:

"...what I as a gay man have in common with a man who wants to cut off his penis, surgically construct a vagina, and become a woman."

"What did I get wrong, Lish? I'm sorry if not using buzz words and code words that people don't understand, like gender identity, offends you, but I think I gave a pretty accurate definition of pre-op transsexual, did I not?"

No John, you made an ignorant and offensive insult, which said it all about your complete lack of understanding or compassion for trans people. And if you honestly consider "gender identity" to be a buzz word that people you know won't understand, then why don't you do us all a big favor:

1. Look up "gender identity" on Wikipedia (or any modern LGBT source).

2. Try to put thoughts about penises (cut off or not) out of your mind for a while.

3. Call up your beltway Democrat friends and clients and patiently explain what you've finally learned about trans people.

I would like to apologize, however, for assuming that your blatantly transphobic remarks were evidence of prejudice and disrespect. I see now that you were completely unaware of how narrow-minded your tabloid stereotyping of trans people makes you look.