Panetta Makes A Gaffe*

*A gaffe in politics is when you say something truthful. The New Yorker has a long article on Leon Panetta, the new CIA Director. It's definitely worth a read. Panetta…

The Problem With Republican Philosophy: Is It Just Stale?

John Cole proposes a question:

My question is: is there anything inherent in whatever conservatism is supposed to be that makes it less interested in reality? Anything in liberalism that makes it more interested in reality? Or is this all a historical accident? And is there a big political disadvantage to focusing on governing as opposed to pontificating?

He has some pretty spot-on observations about the differences between conservatives and liberals, mainly that conservatives are focused on philosophy and liberals are more focused on results and outcomes. He goes on to make this observation:

Honestly, though, I don’t see how it is possible for a movement to govern effectively with a focus on theory and fantasy. That’s not to say that conservatives can’t do a good job governing at the local level, where the issues are too concrete and boring to be dealt with by John Galt. But at the national level, I just don’t see how conservatives have a chance of being effective, given that their base, their media, and their intellectual infrastructure is more interested in rhetoric, “philosophy”, and fantasy than in any kind of policy specifics.

You see discussions like this almost daily on this blog. Conservatism in general seems to be more focused on individuals while liberalism is more focused on community. Actually, I think that would be a healthy balance if the discussions were actually balanced. Modern conservatism has turned into “this is what I’m afraid of” and “this is what I don’t like,” but doesn’t really have an answer for exceptions.

You could see this in the discussion of same sex marriage. The objections to same sex marriage from conservatives fall into two general categories: “it’s against my religion” and “I don’t like it because it’s different.” These objections don’t really conform to real life though, I mean, how do you handle the fact that some people are gay and that not everyone believes in the tenets of your religion? Their theoretical argument is basically “don’t be gay.” You see this same dynamic with abstinence-only eduction, there is nothing other than “don’t have sex” with no acknowledgment that people will have sex eventually (more than 95% pre-maritally), what then? The same thing happens with abortion – “don’t have one” does not cover all the possible real life situations that people face.

The Balloon Juice discussion was quite interesting.

Rioting In Iran

Yesteday's stunning surprise announcement of Ahmadinejad as the winner of the Iranian election has led to protests and riots in Iran, news agencies are reporting. Some of these riots are…

Dispatch From An Alternate Reality #2

As we highlighted earlier in the week, Shepard Smith called out Fox News viewers after the murder of security guard Stephen Johns. Instead of taking time to think about what Smith said and admitting that the DHS report was perhaps correct, the reaction by the right wing has been predictably furious (from Media Matters):

During his June 11 radio program, Rush Limbaugh said of Smith’s remarks: “For liberals to now claim that the atmosphere is somehow more violently anti-Obama is simply preposterous.” Limbaugh also said Smith was “whining and moaning and complaining about emails.” After stating that he, too, got “vile, sick emails,” Limbaugh said, “Shep, you got nothing on anybody out there.”

Many on the right, including Glenn Beck, won’t accept that Von Brunn was a right winger (from digby’s Hullaballoo):

Two very important things are happening here: First, the go-go-go mentality of our enemies. Our country is vulnerable; our enemies know it as much as we do and groups like Al Qaeda are even planning to work with white supremacists (which police say this guy might be), coming through our southern border.

…

Second, there’s going to be a witch-hunt for two groups: the Jews and conservatives. Two years ago, I spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu and I told him to look out, because Israel is being set up. Iran’s goal of nuclear weapons is putting Israel in the crosshairs.

…

Meanwhile, there have been Department of Homeland Security reports about right-wing extremists. And left-wing bloggers and others have blamed conservative talk radio hosts like me for stirring the pot, even though we’re just pointing out that it’s boiling.

I still have a hard time believing this guy is on TV. That’s a whole lotta paranoid and crazy there. Or, as digby said:

It doesn’t have to make sense, folks. It just has to hit a certain emotional truth. And his audience’s “truth” is that al Qaeda is in cahoots with lone nuts to kill Jews and blame it on conservatives — and they are sneaking in from Mexico with “illegals” to do it. This makes perfect sense to them.

One more example (below the fold, warning – adult content):

HB1 Signed Into Law

At 2 p.m., Governor Markell signed the open government bill, HB1 into law. (I’m sorry for my crappy photography, I just got a new camera phone.) He made short remarks about how he campaigned on open government. With him at the signing were Senator Karen Peterson, House Speaker Bob Gilligan and Representative John Kowalko.

HB1 Signing Today

At 2 p.m. Governor Markell will be signing the HB1 Open Government bill at the Old New Castle Courthouse. At least one Delaware Liberal blogger will be there. Stop by…

QOTD

Whatever happened to Joe the Plumber? I miss his deep thoughts on the issues of the day. :twisted:

You’re Invited!

A message from Rebecca Young: Gov. Markell will sign HB01 into law on Friday, June 12, at 2:00 PM at the Old New Castle Courthouse Museum. All DL'ers are invited…