Comments Posted By Polimom
Displaying 1 To 10 Of 10 Comments
TOO DELICIOUS TO BE TERMED 'IRONY'
Absolutely, there's irony. The purists on the left and right are yin and yang to one another.
There's a certain beauty -- a symmetry -- to the thought process. And as far as I'm concerned, I wish them all well. I hope the purists on both sides manage to form up two hard, shiny, pure little ideological knots.
And then, when 20% or so are happy on the left, and another 20% or so are cozy on the right, the rest of us can form up a new party and finally govern the country.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 3.11.2009 @ 21:36
Rick -- I don't think you're going to get through, however passionately you argue.
And frankly, I agree with the activists that the GOP has gone so badly astray on fiscal conservatism as to require correction.
However, since the litmus test now apparently includes the so-con (social conservative) hot buttons, I really don't see any future for the GOP.
I'm thinking maybe those of us who feel horribly lost these days, are fiscally conservative and socially liberal (or at least tolerant) might do better to turn our efforts toward the libertarians.
What do you think?
Comment Posted By Polimom On 2.11.2009 @ 13:22
MEANINGLESS PROGRESS WITH IRAN HAILED AS 'TRIUMPH OF DIPLOMACY'
Rick,
While I share concerns about Iran's ultimate goals, your argument that "this proves nothing' falls a bit short.Essentially, you seem to be saying that no matter what Iran might do or say, we still won't know what else they might be hiding. Very reminiscent of "you can't prove a negative" -- and ultimately an impossible threshold to overcome.
You are basically correct. But reading Jeffrey Lewis at Arms Control Wonk, it seems there is a body of opinion over there that the Qom facility is probably just one in a string of unknown facilties. US intel evidently believes this as well as is searching very hard for more. For instance, the wonks point out that a secret enrichment facility wouldn't be very useful unless there was a secret processing plant for the Uranium hex. And secret mining operations to supply the processing plant.
Until Iran gets a smidgen of credibility, nothing they say can be realistically believed.
ed.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 3.10.2009 @ 10:15
THE ROLE OF RACE IN OPPOSITION TO THE PRESIDENT
Well done, Rick. I've been trying all week, non-stop (seems like), to say a lot of this to those leaning more leftward, with pretty limited success. Hope your effort is more productive.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 20.08.2009 @ 11:56
THE OUTING OF PUBLIUS AND THE COMFORT OF ANONYMITY
It's clear that Ed Whelan's intellectual prowess, while highly praised by everyone writing about this incident (as well as Publius in the initial offending post), has severe limits.
Very juvenile.
And I disagree with Michael Reynolds. I don't think there's anything tough about this. I've been blogging for over 4 years under my own pseudonym, and I'm certainly not 'anonymous'. If I comment as Polimom, people (who are familiar with my blog) know who I am, they generally know where my thinking originates, etc. They also know where to go if they wish to engage in debate or discussion directly. When I started writing for the Chronicle in 2006, they insisted on a 'real name' -- and I'm writing there under my maiden name. Still pseudoanonymous.
What, exactly, would that level of personal detail provide anyone with?
Established profiles and personalities, like Publius (and many others) couldn't be more different, imo, from "anonymous" (sneering, snarky, ignorant, racist-bigots-haters out there in Blog Commentville -- love that, Rick!).
Comment Posted By Polimom On 7.06.2009 @ 12:17
IF REAGAN TOLERATED MODERATES, WHY CAN'T TODAY'S CONSERVATIVES?
Gotta give ya credit, Rick, for staying in the ring and trying to fight the good fight. I saw over there that you're "PJM's own Arlen Specter" now.
The phrase that keeps circling in my head lately, btw, is "Political Bulimia". I'll probably have to put some words together soon to support that rather ugly title.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 4.05.2009 @ 13:19
OBAMA PULLS THE TRIGGER: NOW HOW ABOUT SOME FOLLOW THROUGH?
The White House played down Obama’s involvement in the situation until it resolved itself favorably. Then they were all over the press patting themselvese on the back.
Yeah - real modest.
C'mon Rick. Everybody was going nuts wondering what went on and whether Obama was actively engaged in the situation. Speculation was rampant, and the "ZOMG he's another CARTER!!!" was pretty over the top.
Is there some spin in the aftermath? No doubt. But it's really hard to complain with a straight face that they're "all over the press patting themselves on the back" in a negative way, when the situation ended so well.
Just trying to put a damper on some of Michael's gushiness. The situation calls for an "attaboy, well done" and not much more. As I say in the piece, the challenge now is to strike at the pirate's infraustructure while putting some kind of international agreement to try and stop the dumping - but only after the pirates are smashed.
ed.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 13.04.2009 @ 08:40
"So our friends on the left will excuse us if we have our doubts about Mr. Obama’s ability to act decisively when the chips are down and American lives are at stake. The manner in which he handled the hostage situation is a good start toward allaying those fears."
The Carter ineptitude, in particular, seems to be much on people's minds. Embarrassing times, those were. OTOH, there seem to be an awful lot of people on the right today (and yesterday) who are stubbornly fixed in those years -- so much so that they're still unable (or refuse) to see any difference.
"Clearly, there’s [a] problem here and it’s not western imperialism or even grasping capitalism; Somalia has no government."
Exactly right.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 13.04.2009 @ 07:57
LOOKING FOR HATE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES
Rick said:
"First of all, may I propose a truce? We on the right will stop holding liberals responsible for what unhinged lefty commenters say on their sites if liberals stop the same practice regarding idiots who comment on right wing blogs."
Unfortunately, it is very hard to tell whether the "sane" liberals or conservatives are, in fact, separate from the ravers. I think it requires more than a truce; perhaps a public purge?
Comment Posted By Polimom On 9.04.2006 @ 09:49
POLITICS AND IMMIGRATION REFORM
It's a clear indication of how divisive an issue is when, in the space of only four comments (as I write this), both sides are bitterly and rigidly represented.
I think we're overlooking a moderate (and in hindsight, obvious) solution: just annex Mexico. This would eliminate the criminals / illegals - so the right can sleep without fear, and provide automatic access to the American dream (or at least the attempt) - which will soothe the left.
Comment Posted By Polimom On 26.03.2006 @ 13:30
