she can't take the heat

that Clinton's soon to be dethroned

Listen, Kate, I'm black and, outside of my family, I've lived in "white society" my whole life.

Nearly all of my friends have been and continue to be white. Some of them Americans, others Europeans.

I love them, deeply.

Sometimes they say racist things. Most of them don't, but over the years, some of them have said things that make me cringe.

I don't know you.

I do know that you've written some lovely things about the springtime in Texas. I also know that you've written other things that come from a perspective that I can't but consider racist. Now, we can argue about the terminology. Maybe "racist" isn't the most accurate term. Fine, whatever.

The point is that, from my point of view, it's disturbing.

I don't know what to say, really.

This is such a sensitive topic and I know it's nearly impossible to talk about without hitting raw nerves and creating more rancor than it alleviates.

I don't know what to do, though?

Do you have any ideas how to begin to move past the stalemate Obama talks about?

Or does anyone here, btw?

I'm making an effort, as best as I know how.

I'm not here to run into a dead-end or to be incendiary or to waste my time.

So if you've got any better approaches, now would be a good time to share.

Perceived as having better chance than Clinton of winning in November

A new Gallup Panel survey finds a majority of both Republicans and Democrats saying Barack Obama has a better chance than Hillary Clinton of defeating Republican John McCain in the November presidential election.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/105904/Dems-Reps-Agree-Obama-Tougher-Opponent-McCain.aspx

This should lay to rest all the Klinton blather of McCain in the GE

One more thing, Kate. I can appreciate that you've been under siege. This was why I was trying to talk directly to you and why I asked Tom to give us the space to do so.

Again, I can only ask that you take me at my word when I say that I'm not here to accuse or convict you. Whether I think you're a racist or not or harbor racial animosities or not or however you might want to put it, should be beside the point.

You're welcome to think what you want about me and I, likewise, will promise to try not to become offended to the point of shutting down dialogue.

i implies the pain is feigned. that "race" is used, insincerely, just to "trump" argument. it is MEAN. check who uses this expression. once you've done so, you've by and large selected the racists. weepy, you've lived in the enemy camp so long you feel that it's either them - or nothing. it's not so. it's enough (and hard enough) to understand your *friends* - you don't have to bother with your enemies - which in this case are basically 48% of america. during the time you spend trying to win Kate over you could have patched up the misunderstanding with chhabili who is an ALLY (obaman). for me, LIKING either clinton is already a BAD SIGN. i care as little for them as i would for those who wish McCain to reinstall Baby Burning like in vietnam 40 years ago. Most humans are wretches. Obama can stand them - i can't.

I agree that the very expression "playing the race card" is racist. Nice explanation.

As to the rest, I certainly appreciate what you're saying, but it's just too misanthropic for me.

That's not who I am.

I can see the point objectively, and I've this same point of conflict with other friends and allies, but it's just not me.

It used to be, so I do understand it.

I just think it's too zero-sum and personally, I believe that zero-sum thinking is the greatest obstacle to world peace.

Honestly.

I want no part of it. (Is it zero-sum to reject zero sum?)

"Don't you know that you can count me out (in!). DOn't you know it's gonna be..."

And I did try to patch things up with chhabili, didn't I?

I addressed (or at least tried to) his/her criticism about my comparing Kate to Pastor Wright.

Go back and read it, it's there.

If my explanation needs clarification or elaboration, here I am, but please don't say I'm not trying.

CRT = Critical Race Theory.

I asked you if you introduced it into the discussion or if someone else did.

By the way, I didn't take your wanting to deliberate with Kate minus the interruptions as anything more than exactly that. It seems that some are criticizing you for that which is basically the stuff of our profession--seeking knowledge and engaging others in that pursuit.

Cheers.

Ah, of course. Thanks. Yeah, I did introduce it, though I forget the context.

(I'm not its best champion, by any means, btw. I've never studied it formally and only understand it insofar as it's "in the air," as it were.)

And thank you for the vote of confidence and recognition.

Another thing: I'm not trying to "win Kate over."

I'm not a salesman.

I'm trying to cultivate mutual understanding.

Mutual.

I'd like to understand her and I'd like her to understand me.

Two-way street.

I have to say that this misunderstanding you're dealing with is an example of what I meant yesterday when I said that these boards disturb me sometimes. I realize the medium has limitations (and that many are here just to vent, pass the time, or pick a fight), but if those of us who disagree can't discuss things calmly, how on earth can we carry the Democratic message into and throughout the general election?

Dewey said that one of the vital habits of democracy was to "grasp the point of view of another." So, my friend, carry on and godspeed.

My last word on the subject because to continue is pointless.

Calling someone a racist is an insult. Are you shocked by that? You act like it.

Name calling is not some high-level concept that needs to be parsed to the point of absurdity. Name calling is insulting, period. Sugarman, Payne, Manos meant it as an insult, an intentional one, and you are too intelligent not to know it. And not only did you not call them out for it, you agreed with them and encouraged them. When your "allies", as Sugarman put it, used the term racist, did you explain to them that they are racist too? Everyone is? No you didn't. Did you ask them not to use such inflammatory language? No. You used it yourself. "I think you are a moron, I'm not labelling you a moron, I just think you are. But I'm willing to talk to you anyway." Give me a break. If you can't see how outrageous this is, then there is no point talking. You can try to make some slick semantic case, but I don't buy it.

"I, likewise, will promise to try not to become offended to the point of shutting down dialogue."

Sorry, intentionally insulting people tends to shut down dialogue. And you just did.