UPDATE: This one has suddenly become topical too so I'm topping it.
Some folks have been giving Helen some guff because she's a strong supporter of a certain right-wing weblog. Right off the bat I have a low opinion of them. You get to the point where you think you should be telling other people how to think and you are past the point of rational discourse in my book. What really burns my butt here is the weblog these people are complaining about. You're all familiar with it to some extent because you're reading it right now.
Yeah, isn't that a kick and a half for your ass? Snooze Button Dreams viewed as a right-wing blog?
I ended up at 0,0 on the Political Compass. I voted for Al "Watch Me Implode" Gore, y'all. That's how right-wing I am.
If I had to be pigeon holed into a major party I'd have to pick "fuck you, no I don't either". I am one of those rare breed of citizens who looks at issues instead of parties. All politicians are scum to one extent or another. I firmly believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with anybody who would run for public office. There's a mental disjoin required for anybody to want to be a politician. I am most certainly not going to align myself with any group of fundamentally unsound persons.
There are some parts of a traditional Republican agenda that I agree with. There are some parts of a traditional Democratic agenda that I agree with. Same with Libertarians, Reformists and even a bit of Green. I do not fall neatly (or even sloppily) into any of these groups.
So why do casual viewers think I'm a conservative? There are a couple of reasons that I can think of:
- I think that Michael Moore is a bag of puss.
- I absolutely despise the Clintons.
- I am hawkish on actions in Afghaniraq.
- I have an American flag in my sidebar. (I've got one on my van too. And two on my house.)
- I believe that the War on Terror is a real war that we need to pursue vigilantly and mercilessly.
- I believe that it is wrong to slaughter Jews.
These items have become associated with the Republican party and therefore these people are painting me with the conservative brush. That happens when you rush to a snap decision or when you are small-minded enough that you must stick people into your own preconceived categories. People who have taken the time to know me have discovered why I think that Michael Moore is a bag of puss (because he's a lying bastard), why I despise the Clintons (because they are lying bastards; also, Hillary is one shade light of Stalin), why I'm hawkish on actions in the Middle East (because that is where the terrorists come from), why I have American flags all over (because I love my country; I love being a part of the greatest nation in the world and I am proud to show everybody how much I support her), why I'm so pro-War on Terror (because these people are wrong and evil and won't ever stop until we kill all of them; think mini-Terminators only not so tough), and why I am against killing Jews (do I really need something in the parenthesis for this one?).
Add to that my dislike of waste and big government, my intolerance of idiocy and my perfect willingness to write off any person, group, country or continent that does not agree with the last two items on that list and that probably explains why these people have jumped to the wrong conclusion about my politics.
Who are these people anyway? I don't know them and I doubt I ever will. The reason why is probably another reason that they've incorrectly assumed I'm a right-wing type. If you look at my blogroll you won't see many political blogs but most of the ones you see are right leaning. There is a very good reason for this. I have found leftish blogs to be increasingly strident and angry over the past year. I have lost a few blogs from my blogroll, written by people I liked, because it became painful to read them. I honestly can't hear any more from the Bush Lied crowd. I can't stand hearing explanations of moral equivalence, bashing against America, and hysterical hyperbole about the government any longer. People that polarize and publish to the left just seem to be getting bitchier and bitchier and I'm sick of listening to it.
Besides, I read political blogs mainly for the news perspectives. I can get the lefty slant on news items through Reuters and AP feeds or any number of regular newspapers.
To sum up, if you happen to be one of the people giving Helen a hard time please knock it the hell off. First, you are a jackass for doing it. Second, you are wrong. Third, I really mean it - you are a jackass.
Here, Here!!! Bravo!!! (and very well written I might add)
Make sure you put this one in the "Best of" category too.
Your wish is my command. "Best of" it is.
Clancy took the words right out of my mouth. Very very well said. Everything you said gets praise in my book.
Did I miss something with Helen? I don't remember hearing/seeing anything.
Oh well. Good for you. No... Good for us.
Who. Tell me who. I won't be able to sleep until I find out, and with her kiting off to Venice (the nerve, Helen, don't you know your fans need you?) I won't be able to get her to tell me.
Jim~
Were gonna start a riot if you don't tell us what happened!
Just warnin' ya.
I'm afraid we'll all need to wait for Helen's return from Venice. The lass departed without imparting that critical info to me.
As one of Helen's regulars...huh? What are you talking about? Has this been in comments? I read them pretty regularly, and I don't remember seeing anything like that.
I can certainly understand people being upset about her supporting you, Jim (and who couldn't understand it?), I just haven't heard anything.
Well sure, it's easy to see why just about anybody could be upset with anybody else supporting me. They just need to be doing it for the correct reasons - my acidic personality and attraction to shaven rodents, for example.
It wasn't in her comments as far as I could see. Most likely via email, I'm guessing.
Well written, Jim. It's eerily similar to my way of thinking.
Now once H's is back you let Ilyka and me know and we'll go and have a little chat with whomever it is. (Yes, whomever, not whoever.)
"I firmly believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with anybody who would run for public office. "
Um. Define "fundamentatlly wrong."
Or did you mean unless you're running for POTUS or vPOTUS on the flying pig ticket?
I thought it went without saying that the Flying Pig Party was exempted from that characterization. Besides, it really comes down to what your definition of "is" is.
Whoinhell would be that rude? And, pardon me but what's wrong with leaning towards conservativism?
P.S. Thank you for coming out of the closet. I, too, voted for Borebot. I've been too ashamed until this date to admit it. I just. Could. Not. Vote for Nader. Ever. But the last 12 years has found me searching for the "None of the Above" box on the ballot.
Good for you Jim that you have the temerity to actually think for yourself, rather than mindlessly jerk your knee at every issue. I've been voting for over 20 years, and I have yet to vote in a Presidental election where I didn't hold my nose and vote against someone instead of for someone. I'm noticing extremists on both the right and the left are ready to label anyone who doesn't agree entirely with them as a member of their opposition. I've been labeled a liberal weenie by conservatives and a conservative jerk by liberals.
As I quoted on my weblog:
Extremists think "communication" means agreeing with them.
-Leo Rosten
Gee, Helen links to me, and I am very conservative. I own lots of guns, I hate taxes and I shall live my life the way I want to, not the way a bunch of leftists would decree.
I guess they ought to really give her more shit about linking to me and commenting on my blog?
Amazingly well said. May I join your thrilled audience in standing to cheer and shouting bravo?
Bravo!
No matter how you vote; people who deeply love this country and take citizenship seriously are sexy as hell.