First, I want to thank David Anderson for this comment:
I have no particular regard for Senator Kennedy, his record, or his work. That said, I wish people would not use a tribute thread to attack him. It is disrespectful to the feelings of those who admire him. My condolences to his family and many fans. I think Tennessee did a fine job at DP with an appropriate tribute. I also congratulate U. I. on a well put together piece. I would also commend this [article] to friend and foe.
I remember when President Reagan died when I was a writer for Daily Kos, and many of my liberal friends there took the opportunity to refight old battles they had with him, and to denounce him anew. I said then it was not appropriate, and that was not a very popular opinion. I was accused of abetting a haliography of Reagan, when all I wanted is to respect the man and the family, no matter my vehement disagreements with his policies. And in my own way, I am sure I have showed the same disrespect at times, like when Jerry Falwell died. It is all too tempting to forget that our political adversaries are in fact human beings with families and friends and admirers that love them, as polarizing politics of the last twenty years if not longer make that appear impossible.
Conservatives will face this dilemma again when Presidents Carter and Clinton pass away, and we liberals will face it again when Dick Cheney and George W. Bush pass away. I think it is helpful to remember how you felt when a loved one died, and then imagine how you would feel if someone said to you about that loved one what you want to say about a dead political adversary.
Finally, unconnected to Mr. Anderson or the late great Senator Kennedy, I wanted to repost a comment I just made to Steve Newton’s post over at Delaware Libertarian.
If Mucho Cowardo dares to engage in such activity, it will only have the opposite affect. I may be fired from my job, but that will only mean I will have MORE time to expose CRI and anyone and everyone connected to it.
Dave Burris and Charlie Copeland, if you both think this fool is only hurting your cause, then it is in your best interest to take immediate action to denounce and stop him, especially if he is someone connected to you. If you have no control over him, then all you can do is denounce his comments and actions, and I accept that.
But if he is someone acting at your behest (and his identity will eventually be discovered, especially if he engages in the type of activity he says he will engage in), then all bets are off.
I will not be intimidated. None of my colleagues at Delaware Liberal will be intimidated. And I think it is safe to assume that you, Steve, will not be intimidated. If those behind CRI cannot stand the criticism and debate of their actions, opinions, work and funding, and their only recourse is this naked threat of intimidation meant to silence that debate and criticism, they prove our point.
I will add the most amusing aspect to all of this: Mucho Cowardo (nee Macho Camacho) is attempting to out all of us who criticize the Caesar Rodney Institute, and now threatens to harass us at our workplaces, doing this all under an pseudonym. The irony. As I have said elsewhere, we are rapidly approaching the point where I will embrace a key teaching of the Old Testament.