clearly GGIAC is in the running for dickhead of the year as well. "I've worked in local politics and this is business as usual move along" is precisely what is wrong with the situation but of course your supercrapspactacular abilities as a local politician have nothing to do with the current fucked up state of political affairs in America. Right? Everything is gravy and all the legacies are doing yoeman's work at all levels of local, state, and federal government. All work exactly the same and have the same national implications. Right? C'mon GGIAC why don't you divulge your mysterious accomplishments in politics so we can have a look see at the glorious work you and your colleagues are doing. You want to have your good old boys screwed up backwater system in whatever backwater community you live in, have at it. But this here, until recently, was a real powerful nation capable of exercising the collective will in some very unpalatable amoral ways and one only has to be intellectually honest to understand "part of the why" is the insular thinking that is bred of nepotism. That you don't understand that simply makes you a moron and probably one of the enlightened 46%.

Piss off douche.

"In short, it is because many of the blacks and hispanics who voted for Mr Obama voted against the gay marriage proposals and many hunters who voted for Mr Obama are very much opposed to gun control, and, well, etc. If you consider the 46% who voted against Obama and add in those who voted for him but hold conservative views on gay marriage, abortion, gun control, the military, taxes, etc., you almost certainly arrive at a figure of well over 50% (a majority) who are basically conservative . . . Perhaps when liberals start identifying themselves in public as such (as we conservatives do) rather than hide behind the moderate or independent label, there will be evidence that that American people are not, basically, conservative."

Interesting analysis. But I think your drawing the wrong conclusion. Once you factor out the hearty lunatic fringe of 28%-33% that clings irrationally to the four pillars of conservative thought (guns, god, military and taxes . . . you forgot the fifth illegal immigration) what you have is a moderately liberal country that finally realized how idiotic a 5 issue political worldview is and wants to see America return to its liberal pragmatic senses.

And by the way not that there is anything wrong with being liberal but the more appropriate label would likely be progressive meaning those who support sane humane workable cost effective foreign, economic, environmental, social, drug, military, education, immigration, and taxation policies that deal in long term thinking, don't revolve around cultural arrogance and faux American exceptionalism, adhere to the Constitution, observes the separation of church and state, recognizes the value of real work as opposed to investment/speculative wealth, etc. etc. etc. . . .

I doubt you get the picture but labels are necessarily loaded with inapposit meaning though sometimes useful. And I've never not identified openly as a progressive liberal. It's conservatives who are starting to hide because your constricted worldview is patently wrong, has never worked, and people are starting to realize that fact.

BTW what is the conservative view on the military anyway? Stormtroopering all over the planet trying to solve every problem at the point of the barrel of a gun is good bidness, good morals, and good foreign policy. Genius. Really. The military has a role set out by the Constitution that is far removed from the role it is currently playing at the behest of conservatives. And just for the dimbulbs in the cheap seats, acts of terrorism should and could be combated as an international criminal justice problem quite cost effectively if there was the will on the part of America. And yeah certain elements of the military could play a role, but that role isn't to go around preemptively invading sovereign nations who aren't planning and capable of being an imminent threat to us, our citizens, or our allies. Catch a clue, put down the koolaid dixie cups, and pay attention. Assuming your conservative brethren/sisters in the pews in the House/Senate don't attempt to thwart everything we do, we just might be able to start cleaning up some of the messes made by conservatives over the last 35 years.

and we've praised the crap out of him for taking the correct unequivocal stance on this torture insanity. Now I'm going to have to get on the phone everyday for a month and bash the crap out of him until he comes to his senses again.

And Wbgonne, you should read what JPK1000 wrote. If you don't understand the proper role of government in our society you must have been smoking dope in civics class you frightened little baby. You know what's really sad, but it's people like the majority of commenters at this site that would give their lives to try to stop the government from coming and taking you in the dead of night for a little "enhanced interrogation" for "alleged imminent crimes". I doubt the same could be said for you.

Torture is immoral and a sin (for those religious readers), it is ineffective, and it creates risk rather than prevents it. The America I believe in is done if we get this wrong. And it'll be the straw the broke the camels back. I'm outta here if the Dems and Obama cave on this. Because a county that tortures isn't one I want to be affiliated with. Shit I might as well have been born in Uganda because this if flipping insane that we are even having this discussion over and over and over and over . . .