I am a Liberal!
Have never pretended to be anything but. A middle of the road liberal perhaps. I might even be considered conservative on some issues. But I most identify with the term Liberal, even more so than Progressive.

I don't like President Bush. Never have. Decided that the day in 2000 when I saw him walking around with a certain smugness before the election was even decided. But I don't hate him. I draw the line at hate. It is a very personal emotion for me, and one I reserve for people who have done me great personal wrong.

I try to be fair and open minded on this Blog. Sometimes I succeed. Sometimes I don't. Because like 99% of the rest of the Polisphere, I am a partisan. I make no bones about it. I don't agree with MOST of what Republicans and Conservatives claim to stand for. I say claim, because I believe that many beat the drum but don't march to the tune.

I didn't support the War in Iraq. I think it was a war based on assumptions and perhaps lies that was unnecessary for the time. Perhaps there would have been a time to go to War against Iraq, but I, and I believe many Americans agree would have preferred to fight it with Osama in jail or dead. Nevertheless, I believe it is a war we must win, and to that end, I support our Military in their efforts to do so. Regardless of the outcome, I believe that the legacy of the war will be a shameful one for our country and this President, with thousands dead and little likelihood that the austere goals (the current ones) of the administration, that the New Iraq will serve as a shining light of democracy in the region will come to pass. I am pessimistic in that way.

I am a Christian, but I don't believe that Jesus would be a member of the Christian Right.

I am a black man, but I don't believe that race should shield one from criticism, on the Right or Left. I have equal contempt for Sharpton, Jackson, Rice and Powell (Father and Son).

Despite strong views, sometimes defended emotionally... (I am not a Googlenaut, and have neither the time nor the inclination to defend every rant with the internet's version of footnotes), I am not so Dogmatic as to deny ever being wrong. It pretty much disgust me when I see this on either side.

I as a rule don't insult people. I think using the terms Wingnut, Asshat, Moonbat, etc., to describe one's political opponents just distracts from the real debate. And for the most part I have managed to stay above it. But there is one thing that just gets to me. Hypocrisy...

During the campaign calling Bush a Nazi or accusing him of fascism, even though such things as loyalty oaths to attend campaign events did merit such comparisons at times, was a declaration of war against the Right, you would be pretty much out of the discussion before it started. Questioning Bush's Military record was also high heresy. Interestingly enough Kerry was called by some of the same people a traitor, a liar, a coward, and worse, and that seemed to be okay.

During the campaign, one of the favorite tools of the Right, was Photoshop. Every week it seemed, there were picture captioning contest. Kerry was made fun of weekly in these contest and I will never forget the ones of him in the Clean Room Suit at NASA that made him look like a big assed Teletubbie. Yesterday I post a funny about Bush Wearing IKE style military jackets, and one of the same people who used to run those Kerry pictures, finds it to be foul and heinous. I don't know what I find funnier, the pictures of Bush wearing his warrior look, or someone who just two months ago was making fun of every Kerry Picture they saw, taking offense to me finding this one so damned funny.

But that's just the point isn't it. There are two sets of rules. We get to play as dirty as we like, when you do the same we will cry foul and insist that you are unreasonable until someone believes it. Aint gonna happen boys….

Now I would be out of line if I did not point out that there are perfectly rational and reasonable conservatives and republicans out there that I dig and respect. People like Boyd and the Commissar, and even Chad and Digger who I am always fighting with, but whom I respect. And there are others who I can and do disagree with on a regular basis, but whom I really like... I think it is a question of maturity. The Conservatives I tend to like and get along with, even in disagreement, are the ones who don't take politics personal…

Originaly Posted December 9th 2004, recovered via Google Cache. I think it is probably appropriate considering the fights I have been in lately.

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Posted by: that colored fella at July 9, 2005 03:15 AM

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