As background, its always fun to watch how everyone reads their own views into what is said by Glenn, Obama, or whatever...

That said, what spoke to me was that Obama said of Wright "I love him, but I don't agree with him on what he said". I saw the rest of the speech the same way- "people have many reasons to be angry at each other. There has been much unfairnes and hurt. But the fact that someone disagrees with you doesn't make them "bad".

When you demonize someone you disagree with,you put an end to rationale discourse. Rove and his ilk have perfected the art of the opposite- "we good, they evil. Whatever we do to win is OK". (Too bad they now feel the same way).

"Remember that your enemy is never evil in his own eyes. This may offer a way to make him your friend. At worst, it will allow you to kill him quickly, without hate".

Robert A. Heinlein, "Time Enough for Love"

Please, please, PLEASE....

STFU!!!!!

I came to this site becuase it provided the best critical analysis available of the most important issues of our time. But now, as all of you do your best imitations of 5th graders, the signal-to-noise ratio drops lower and lower. Unless someone sells a content-analyzer/filter, I'm just going to stop reading after the first 20 posts...WTF is WRONG with all of you? This thread is making SHOOTER sound reasoned and thoughtful, for God's sake!!!

Rant off...

BTW, I use the same handle everywhere- guess I'm not part of the "cool" group...

Anonymust-

thanks for the response. It's probably just a coincidnce, but it does appear that after my rant, the discussion became at least somewhat more topical.

There is a concept in family therapy known as the inadvertent intervention- once, in training, I was working with a toally chaotic, out of control family, and lost my own cool- screamed "will all of you SHUT UP FOR ONE SECOND???" They all stared at me in stunned silence, then after a moment th father said "are we really that bad?". I said "you're not bad people, but you need to learn how to liten to each other- this isn't working!" From that point, we actually started working on the concept of boundaries, taking turns spaeking and listening, disagreeing with an idea without attacking the person, etc., etc. Sometimes we do the right thing for the wreong reason..

As I think about it, therewas some discussion about the issue of geting people to face reality when its not waht they want it to be. All I can say is that its difficult if the person is aware that its not working- if they are unaware, its impossible...

Omooex/Aycharaych

I deeply sympathize with both of you. I have spoken at times of the “perversion of patriotism” that this administration has pulled off. Here in SW Ohio, where they think El Presidente’s poop don’t stink, to question anything about “The War” in public is to piss on the Flag, or worse. I see young people who truly want to believe in something meaningful and more important than themselves (not to mention looking for a future besides Burger King), volunteer and are truly seen as heroes. When they come back, if they speak ill of the mission they are ostracized (in an understanding way- that PTSD, ya know…)

To admit to the terrible truth that is the Iraq disaster is to own up to the worst of ourselves. The fraction of the population that can face this is very small indeed…

On a separate note, perhaps we can isolate the virus that ate Shooter’s brain, aerosolize it, and release it into the ventilation system at the Republican Convention???

Sadly, it's not exactly news that ex-military folks move into the privatized war sector,using their connections to solicit business and in turn supporting politicians who will buy their product. What is new(er) is the co-opting of the MSM into being the advertising agency. The neorepugs do know how to work a crowd...

I see a parallel in the recent (and still frequently ignored) requirement that medical researchers must disclose ANY financial relationships with drugs or instruments they are publishing on. If these military "experts" at least had a subtext scrolling showing their current employer,boards they are on, etc., it might at least remind the viewer that these guys are indeed biased. Of course that assumes the viewer CAN read...

BTW, the trolls are particularly incoherent today.

"Again, I ask: Why can't we get any funding or other financial information about the "Center for American Progress Action Fund," for which Amanda Terkel and Matt Corley work, and for whom they "report"?

The Center for American Progress Action Fund is 501(c)(4). Donations are not tax deductible and, as far as I know, aren't publicly reported on the 'net, except that we know that the secretive left-wing billionaire George Soros pumps untold millions into it.

By comparison to the Center for American Progress, the Fox News Channel is an open book.

-- Elephantman"

from the Center for American Progress Website:

"The Center for American Progress is a non-profit, non-partisan organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. Donations are tax-deductible.

For more information, read our 2007 annual report (PDF)."

What a surprise- Elephantpoop would "mis-speak" the facts to make an attack on partisan grounds. I'm shocked- truly!

Hmmm...Is E-poop so crazy as to believe his own crap, too stupid and/or lazy to do a 30 second Google search, or just a baldfaced liar? Cheer up, E-pooper, it's not all bad- I hear Mr. Rove is interviewing for interns. You have demonstrated your willingness to lie for the Noble Cause! Remember your kneepads and Listerene...