"If your initial proposal is totally unpopular with the electorate, i.e. a fringe position, it's called being an idiot, and how to lose elections."

I think your problem here is that you are seeing things as either "centrist" or "totally unpopular with the electorate"; as if there's nothing whatsoever in between. (I believe the term is "Manichean.") That's why I'm not so quick to compromise. Because I stand for things, much like Glenn, that are completely reasonable, and not "totally" out of touch with the electorate. Yet, we are branded as "fringe" by the likes of you and the right wing, anyway.

Like I said earlier, your many (mis)characterizations of the positions held by the people you have been arguing with here betray quite a few of your prejudices and paranoias. They might as well be tattooed on your forehead.

ps--speaking of compromise, I haven't seen YOU do any of that today. You are as stubborn as they come. What a shock!

It's a trick question, right? Because "we" aren't the ones who are fighting, are we? "We" are sitting here in the relative comforts of our homes and offices typing away as we please while the troops are over there fighting (and getting shot at and killed).

I thought Hannity and Colmes disagreed about stuff? Not only that, but neither Helen nor Glenn ever said "the enemy is bad because we made them that way." That's your own Manichean extrapolation of what they have suggested. However, they've neither said nor suggested as much. Ever. Once again, distortion, lies and misinformation rule the day in the neocon world.

Whether or not Bush is a "sincere" Christian is irrelevant. Not only is it impossible to know for sure, it's impossible to know for sure about anybody who claims to be a Christian. It's between that person and God. All we can judge him on is his actions--just like anybody else--and he's made that determination fairly easy.

But you still never know. All you have to go on is someone's word, and we all know what that's worth anymore. People can have all sorts of motivations for saying they're this or that. Even if it doesn't make sense. Especially if it doesn't make sense. He could be a "sincere" Christian, but have a profound misunderstanding of what it means to be one. It's a fools game to try and figure it out, that's why you just have to go on his actions. Same as anyone else.

is how few people actually care what Cheney's been up to. Tim Grieve listed some scary numbers on people who still think Saddam was in on 9/11, and that some even think bin Laden has been brought to justice. That's what keeps me up at night.

tiberius is such a classic Authoritarian Follower that it's almost funny. Almost.

Why do you care more about Hicks' treatment than say... Osama bin Laden being brought to justice? You rarely mention him, if at all. Don't you think the mastermind of 9/11 should be caught and punished? Why aren't you up in arms over the administration's inaction on this front? I mean, Bush has made it as clear as he ever makes anything that he doesn't think bin Laden is a priority; but to me, his crime was pretty heinous. I think bin Laden should be caught and tried. But that just my liberal bias, I guess. And the difference is that you conservatives care more about people like Padilla and Hicks than bin Laden.

tiberius says he'll "play extremes" with Glenn this time, as though it's a tactic he's unaccustomed to using, when in fact it's the only tactic he's ever used here. Funny little man, that tiberius--even though it's unintentional.

you don't believe bin Laden should be brought to justice. Nice. Well, now we know where you stand. You've said lots of ridiculous things here, but I think you've just topped yourself with that post. Or bottomed out like never before. However you want to look at it. But man, there's more going on in your reply than I have time to address, that's for sure.

Just in case anyone still thinks that the Republicans are the "law and order" party, we have yet more evidence showing how they really feel. "Only Republicans go to jail." My god, what a howler that one is. Maybe if they stopped committing so many crimes, they wouldn't go to jail, now would they?

Is there any way we can post that last reply by shooter on the sidebar for posterity? Sort of a "Hall of Shame" kind of thing? He's said some remarkably stupid thangs that are equally telling as they are shameful, but it would be nice for all to see, since a lot of people don't get to read the letters every day.

God... Shooter actually thought about what he wrote, typed it, and then hit the "Publish my letter" button on that one... amazing!

I know... I know... my bad. It's just that sometimes that little boy in me comes out and I just can't help it. The one who wants to poke the squirrel carcass one last time just to see if there's any maggots still left inside. I'll do my best to refrain from now on.

ps--But shooter's post really was remarkable, even for him.

What can you say when your opponent says it all?

Come on now... we all know that Jefferson hasn't been prosecuted yet because he hasn't "gone to Iraq." He's "not a priority." See how it all works?