well, we do have it, but it isn't seen as something spiritual, just as an ultra-free-market economic doctrine

No mere ultra-"free market" doctrine approaches the "hyper-individualism" (as you call it) you'll find here. And you'll find it virtually everywhere, in every school, backyard, and driver's seat---not just gun shops and think tanks.

And while it's not always tied to religion, the idea that "God wants Christian women to be the most beautiful in the world," as Tammi Faye Bakker put it (i.e., rich, materialistic, etc.), is certainly uniquely American.

You simply cannot propose the smallest public effort without hearing complaints about individual rights.

No. The point I'm making is the opposite. I'm not going to referee and try to navigate childish claims of "who started it." That's the whole point. I'm asking the participants -- all of whom otherwise contribute content of value here and all of whom I'm assuming to be adults -- to regulate themselves and refrain from that conduct, even if they think that the other person "started it".

I see. Then you are inviting a few to hurl invective, insult, smears, and so forth and the target will then either leave here or stay and ignore it. (lessons from the playground)

For you sake, I hope your message works. You are becoming an important voice in American politics; a welcome one at that. You are highlighted at commondreams, counterpunch, lewrockwell, Salon and several others that span the opinion spectrum. I would hate to see that influence reduced in any way, and this issue is one worth addressing. I am glad you did.

As a reserve option:

I recommend giving Paul Dirks (if he would take it) the power to suspend posters for a month at a time; or forever perhaps. Plus, arch, prunes, and two or three others of your choice. It works well for Ubuntu and other Linux sites that have been subject to flame wars it the past --- works well.

Some TV stars, generals, politico's, GOPS, and goo-goo-presidents, are upside down doing cartwheels with no underclothes on...

while wearing a prom dress skirt...

skirting a substantial discussion,

about the world's greater issue!

We may as well sit on a ostrich egg.

Maybe let's hatch a brown quail bird?

We sure need Nature's intervening assistence ~help ~ wisdoms. Sophia. A females advice. LWM. Thanks. We can chew and spit out the wish-bones here so we don't croak prematurely. LWM. I spoke with three vets who had reconstrutive jaw surgery.

Threee failed suicide attempts!

What a message they shared!

And while it's not always tied to religion, the idea that "God wants Christian women to be the most beautiful in the world," as Tammi Faye Bakker put it (i.e., rich, materialistic, etc.), is certainly uniquely American.

And I would argue that they are, we would have to agree that th above is a "uniquely American perversion or distortion" of what was and is and hopefully remains uniquely American.

He must have noticed that I have snuck up on his unguarded flank, carefully disarming as many as possible of his usual polemical weapons in advance. He must be out there, consulting with his armorers ...

I'm asking the participants -- all of whom otherwise contribute content of value here and all of whom I'm assuming to be adults -- to regulate themselves and refrain from that conduct, even if they think that the other person "started it".

When doing a blog that relies on character assassination and unrelenting criticism, what else do you expect from the commentariat? When the franchise is based on beating up people for the lack of ideological purity, it tends to bleed over into the audience. And ideological purity, when contested, has no way to settle disputes. Nothing is possible other than personal attacks between the disputants based on hypotheticals and suppositions. It is the liberal curse to endlessly fight about things which can never come to pass.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080507/sc_livescience/conservativeshappierthanliberals

Stop hyperventilating.

If this was one of your "Right Wing Pro Bush" blogs, the rest of us would have been banned in under 60 seconds. You are still here, ain't you? You never fail to remind us of that.

They dine with clones of themselves, yes, yes, yes. Kiss faces. Yes. Outside in the playground, the children carry scroll pickets fax-printouts... Yes. We neoconservatives who rioned conservatism want sugar water soda drank forever through real hay straws. 'Um feed the world garbage-poison,

just sugar coated sugar cubes, gunk for the GOPS.

Dining with others searching for a clone is no fun.

Search for some semblance of honest reflections.

This is not true. One can get people together to form a program to feed the hungry and homeless and there will be no outcry about individual rights. It is when you leave the area of voluntary cooperation and force people to do your will that you will hear an outcry. Even if you think an action is "for everyone's own good", others may well disagree with you.

It may seem odd to some people here, but the human being does not enjoy being forced to do things that he otherwise would not do.

Travelling. I can relate. Likely I'll be heading out to Arizona and parts east later today, rumbling up and over the Tehachapis and across the desert wastes. I'll assume WT is cruising 395, up the backside of the Sierras, and when he gets to Reno will think about turning west and paying a call on Sather Gate for old times' sake, and then say, "Nah," and head up toward Portola and Susanville just for the fun of it, agents of the Law hot on his tail -- at a discreet distance, of course.

Hm. Arizona. Goldwater almost seems like a smart liberal nowadays, compared to cranks like McCain. Did ya'll see his ad that was running at Atrios's place the other day? "President" McCain? With scratchy newsreel footage of him after being released by the NVA Devils, aboard whatever carrier it was, saluting smartly, not unlike John Kerry at the 2004 Dem convention, and looking just as handsome as he likes to remember himself being? Princess McCain, indeed. The man is incomparably, insufferably vain.

And a certified, full-blooded Crank.

Much like the personalities of the media scrum that follows him everywhere, basking in his reflected glory. They're all so vain.

Media loves what is like unto them, and apart from McCain's agedness, they've got a neary perfect avatar in their darling ex-flyboy.

Please. No more pilots in the White House. Please.

Have a nice trip, WT. Peer into the Owens Valley and Hetch Hetchy and imagine what used to be, what might be once again.

Yrs,