56 Comments

1. chuck:

Roger,

It has been my experience that if you come to someone’s aid, or stand up to bullies, you will usually be alone, at least in the beginning. Some folks may suddenly get up the nerve to help you, or afterward others will come up to you in private and offer their support and say you did a good thing, but the initial courage has to be your own. Kudos on having moral courage, the rarer sort, and I will add my voice to help count your blessings in having a worthy companion.

Chuck

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:10 pm 2. Kevin P:

Roger:

Congratulations on your anniversary! So few couples make it to double figures these days that you and your wife should be very proud along with with being very happy.As regards to your friend scolding you for thinking for yourself just ignore him.There is an orthodoxy of thought on the war and people like Mr. Turner are zealots that would make the men of the Inquisition proud.Because you have come to a conclusion that is different on this issue you have committed an unpardonable sin to that spectrum of political thinking and thus you are “evil”, although only one of the lesser ones, and of course you will be banished until you repent.The fact that you might still hold some beliefs that fit into their cannon makes no difference because you have crossed the line on the big one so of course you are no longer considered human and you have joined the tribe of the lesser mortals of their world.Your friends who disagree with you yet still respect you are the ones worth keeping. The ones who brand you as unfit to wear the big L on your chest were never worth keeping in the first place. Once again, Congratulations and wishes for many more happy years ahead.

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:22 pm 3. Knucklehead:

Roger,

Happy anniversary! And remember, as William Munny said to Little Bill, “Deserve’s got nothin’ to do with it.” Count your blessings and unbelievable good fortune and run with it for all you’re worth. Best wishes for the next 10 and all after that.

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:24 pm 4. Allah:

I was not used to being so hated. I guess it comes with the territory of having a “public” opinion, but I don’t take to it so well. Without Sheryl, I would be a lonely, depressed man indeed.

Welcome to my nightmare.

P.S. Happy anniversary to you and Mrs. S!

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:25 pm 5. mrp:

Hooray for Roger and Sheryl!

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:31 pm 6. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

Roger,

Happy Anniversary to You and Sheryl!

To those who hate you, well, they show their lack of intelligence or taste by doing so. You and I disagree on the issues you mentioned, with no rancor. I guess it’s true that hell hath no fury like a left winger scorned. Just think of them like hack critics.

As far as I can tell, you are a liberal, still – just a war liberal. I think Moses Wine could handle that with a bit of work

Those who study Bush recognize that no simple label applies to him – he’s a “compassionate conservative” deep in his soul. That drives everyone nuts – conservatives because he uses government to address social problems, liberals because he does some liberal things, but is conservative on certain social issues ( abortion and gay marriage) and splits the difference on stem cells (where it is important for people to recognize that adult stem cells are in fact preferred in many cases – certainly neurological research and potential treatment). Furthermore, he is a compassionate person who has won two wars. Labels don’t fit too well.

I am a bit confused by “Or that the descent into junk terminology of the terms “right” and “left” has been one of the principal themes of this blog for over a year” as I have been several times when it comes up. Somewhere I am simply not getting it.

Anyhow, you two have a happy and many more.

John

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:31 pm 7. John Pearley Huffman:

Of course, congratulations on your anniversary.

What’s disappointing to me about your “lesser evil” status is how slight the deviation(s) from orthodoxy need to be these days for either the right or the left to label someone as traitorous and part of either the “radical left” or “radical right.”

Whatever it is you’ve become during your ongoing ideological evolution, it isn’t “radical.”

Maybe this is something new in politics or maybe it’s just something I’ve come to notice recently. But this spread and acceptance of “with us or against us” political tribalism within the United States is heartbreaking.

That you find being “hated” by anyone disturbing indicates, to me at least, that you still have a general respect even for the opinions of strangers. That presumptive respect for others should be a common part of our humanity. You’ll know you’re in trouble when you can hate them back just as casually and dismissively.

Jul 17, 2004 - 5:50 pm 8. Swopa:

You don’t expect discernment from people like this.

So says the person who has no problems tossing around vicious accusations at people like Joseph Wilson (who, as I’ve occasion to remind Roger before, has stood up to Saddam more directly than he — or any of his commenters here, or Glenn Reynolds, or Bryan Preston, or anyone on the Senate intelligence committee, for that matter — ever has) or Salam Pax (for a recommendation that was eventually endorsed by Jerry Bremer and the current Iraqi government), or ordinary folks who just happen to disagree with him on the war (remember “objectively pro-fascist”?).

So be careful about calling Jim Turner a hater, Roger — because he’s just like you, someone leaping to emotional conclusions without checking all the facts.

Happy anniversary. Hope Sheryl bought you a mirror as a present.

Jul 17, 2004 - 6:07 pm 9. PeterUK:

Roger,Congratulations to you and your good lady.

It must be disappointing only to have reached lesser evil status,perhaps you are wearing the wrong hat.Still rubbing shoulders with the stormtroopers on your site will earn you promotion,who knows, one day,evil incarnate? It’s something to aspire to.

But seriously how can liberals justify the name when they are so viciously intolerant? Outside the extremes hating somebody for their political views is no better than racism.

Anyway have a good one.

Peter

Jul 17, 2004 - 6:14 pm 10. chuck:

John Moore:

I am not sure what exactly Roger means, but my own version along the same lines has always been: how a person believes is more important that what they believe. Even a Nazi could believe in a decent way, as the German ambassador to China did when he complained of the Japanese behaviour during the rape of Nanjing. A man of compassion and kindness is worthy, no matter what he believes, while a man of fanaticism and cruelty is an evil, no matter how worthy the cause. That’s how I see it any way.

Jul 17, 2004 - 6:15 pm 11. JK Ribera:

The man or woman posting above as Swopa certainly is a “true believer.” I also have read Mr. Wilson’s accounts of his encounter with Saddam, but since they are only Mr. Wilson’s accounts (he having been the only one there with the dictator), they are now, of course, thrown in doubt by the accepted legal principle of lying in one lying in all. How are we to trust Mr. Wilson about this when he has obviously prevaricated about so many other things?

Jul 17, 2004 - 6:21 pm 12. Erik:

Roger,

congratulations!!!

I can only hope to someday have the same good fortune that you have had.

I know about being hated, I have received similar comments, and I’m way less public than you are. It’s just the way some people are. Personally, I dont mind those comments that much, I’m much more bothered that a lot of those people seem to be accepted in major political parties…

In fact I am amazed at these blogs, and the fact that I could end up in disagreement with people here, and still keep it a civil discussion, with facts and opinions presented in a civil way.

I really enjoy that, it is severely lacking in my part of the world. Thank you for providing that opportunity here.

Jul 17, 2004 - 6:32 pm 13. Knucklehead:

Erik,

I’d wager that Roger “found” what has become his hapiness shortly after he stopped looking for it. That’s how it worked for me. Now 25 years is right around the corner. Don’t go looking for it, be yourself and move around and it will find you when you least expect it. After that you gotta dig in and work, but hey, nothing worthwhile is free. Best regards.

Jul 17, 2004 - 6:56 pm 14. Charles Johnson:

Congratulations, Cheryl and Roger. May there be many more.

Re: hate mail — comes with the territory. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Jul 17, 2004 - 7:07 pm 15. dougf:

Roger,Happy Anniversary.

And when the b******s start to grind you down,please remember that anyone who would send you abusive and fanatical e-mails or attack you here simply for expressing ‘reasoned & reasonable’opinions,is not worthy of even a passing thought.

Be proud that they ‘hate’you.It is a badge of honour.The time to be worried is when people such as that praise you.Then you should be depressed.

Take care and thanks as always for an excellent blog.

Jul 17, 2004 - 8:16 pm 16. Roberts:

Congratulations Roger. Anniversaries, the milestones of happy marriages, are the grandest of days.

As for the “fan” mail, Roger, that is of course the cost of taking public opinions. And one of the reasons I have great respect for you. You swim upstream, Roger, but that’s where the accomplishment resides.

I take joy in the ignorance of the haters. When my own hate mail starts to look halfway intelligent, that’s when I worry .

And I seldom worry.

Jul 17, 2004 - 8:29 pm 17. TmjUtah:

Happy anniversary, the both of ye’…!

Roger,

One of the unconsciously assumed powers we citizens exercise is that of calling the shots as we see them, and acting on our calls. The founders figured if enough people voted their honest interest we stood a better chance of doing the right thing than not.

Seems that some people would rather you toe a line than think, eh? Matter of fact, seems that some folks assume that if you DON’T toe the line, you must be not merely disagreed with but belittled, slandered, libelled, and destroyed…

…even be targetted by VICIOUS ACCUSATIONS.

I wouldn’t worry about any of it. Not until you are shown to be a stone liar by at least two foreign intelligence services, a friendly foreign government, the archives of a deposed dictator, and a unanimous Senate Intelligence Committee report.

After that, the only thing left for you will be a six-figure salary working for a vaguely defined entity funded by Saudi Arabia, a democratic presidential campaign, or a job on Air America, if they are still around.

Jul 17, 2004 - 8:55 pm 18. Samuel:

Roger and Sheryl

Congratulations! I give you much credit for while you went above ground I went under ground. Of course the circumstances are different since politics was much of what I had been engaged in, getting out of the way was the best I could do nonetheless.

Swopa

Your comparisons are so ridiculous they do not even merit addressing, but I will. Right and wrong is all that matters in life and whether one agrees with Roger or not he is calling it as straight as he can, something the Democrats have lost all bearings on. Anyone that accepts Joe Wilson’s accounts of anything at this point plays a fools game, using him as an example against Roger, this President or anyone is a joke and even more foolish.

I would perceive that to you and many others truth leads to the end of some ideological road and what goes on in between is just fair game, Michael Moore subscribes to such a theory. Maybe some on the right do this and I will reject them as well, but this President isn’t one of those and the Democrats endeavoring to drag him in the pit of such crap is very dangerous, he may just come out smelling like roses while others end up smelling like, well like crap. People who call this President a deceiver, find Joe Wilson’s work an example to hang one’s hat on and delight in Michael Moore’s work is worthy of whatever they get out of it, that I can assure you.

The media can cover for John Kerry all they want and if Bush is smart he’ll have as many debates as possible because I know John Kerry and he is a narcisstic asshole with out Clinton’s charm. Bush will answer the falsely stated questions about supposed lies and deceptions with ease and will do fine because he is an honest man and many undecideds care about this. To those that don’t care about these type things, I doubt Bush gives a rats ass what they think because they have nothing but ambush in their hearts and are just not worthy of such respect (NAACP anyone?).

The media and the Democrats and other groups taking such tactics and other dishonest routes are playing a very high stake game and they deserve what they will get from this. This President has risked honor and his personal self for the sake of this nation.

Not all of us “heretics” are so shallow as justify away civilization for winning an election unless of course one still believes that Reagan was a shallow thinking “B” actor with little to do about the fall of Communism or the booming neo-liberal supply side economy we live in. If that is the case then I leave you to your blind self to wallow is such foolishness.

As for me? I got tired of looking at history and seeing myself on the wrong side of it. If one sees themselves on the right side of history voting Mondale and Dukakis, or having fought against Welfare Reform and other type initiatives all while taking retro credit for such (Clintonian credit). If this same person in turn bashes this President for doing similar centrist things they would have praised Clinton, for you I just say is deal with it graciously. How many things has this President done domestically that Clinton would have been praised for? Medicare Reform? No Child Left Behind Act? How about Aid for Africa? How about 3 African Americans in his cabinet?

Young people in this nation are more conservative then the Boomers, sure they are more moderate than John Birchers, but they lean right to be sure. The last time something similar happened was in the 1960?s during Civil Rights when the youth began to go left.

Bush got under 10% of the African American vote how long until they wise up and realize that they marginalize themselves doing this? Especially when so many issues they are naturally conservative on such as school choice and moral values. They are just better represented among Republicans for such beliefs.

I predict that younger African American’s will eventually rebel against liberalism as well. If the Democrats lose many minorities then their goose is cooked. Julian Bond, keep preaching fear and Swopa keep defining truth in the terms you do as Roger would say? Hooray for you! I smell that goose it is almost done.

To you Bush supporting worry warts, Bush will get 53-57% of the vote I guarantee, but if you are weak stomached wait for the debates and the Republican Convention to pay much notice because as Evan Thomas referred to it, “the 15 point Media spot” is still in effect. I smell resentment of the media in the air. Another cooked goose? My world is still Democratic and while they are gloating at the polls and where things are politically, there is this nervous sense about when is that “other shoe” going to drop. Don’t worry it is coming.

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:02 pm 19. Barry Dauphin:

Happy Anniversary to you and Sheryl and many more!

As for the hate mail you receive in e-mail or comments here:

“Hatred is the coward’s revenge for being intimidated.”

-George Bernard Shaw

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:09 pm 20. MaryMargaret:

Happy Anniversary to you both.

Roger, yours is one of my favorite blogs, in fact I’m starting to read you each day first, then Instapundit. I think it’s probably because I identify so closely with your evolvement after Sept 11, 2001. We’ve been walking the same path here. I’ve had venom directed at me also, and yes it hurts. So glad you and Sheryl are together, and look what a little beauty you both produced.

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:13 pm 21. Samuel:

I would like to add that many have called Evan’s “15 point spot” by the media as over the top. I will just say this. If Kerry hold’s a five point+ lead (and it will grow) and Bush ends up winning by 7-10 point’s what is that? I’d say about 15 points.

Mickey “I need a time out to vote for Kerry” Kaus would call that a “Liberal Cocoon”. My they have spun a big one!

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:14 pm 22. Rick Ballard:

Happy tenth anniversary, Sheryly and Roger. May your twentieth be celebrated in a time of peace.

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:23 pm 23. richard mcenroe:

Happy Anniversary, Roger and Sheryl! (he’s good for another ten, easy, lady)

As for your loneliness, remember the words of another fine Texan:

Back in the 1800’s a Texas cowtown was beset by a rampaging mob. The panicked mayor wired the Governor for assistance. The next day, the train pulled… and a single Texas Ranger stepped down.

“One Ranger?” the mayer cried. “What was the governor thinking?”

“You’ve only got one mob,” the Ranger answered. “Nobody can stand up to a man in the right who keeps on coming.”

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:36 pm 24. chuck:

Samuel,

I wish I had your crystal ball. I agree that a major political realignment is underway, I just have to look at myself, at Roger, at you, to see this. But how many are we, really? If the future were that transparent, we would all be rich, no?

I’m curious if you have more specifics to support your case. Do you really know Kerry personally, or just know a lot about him from being in the neighborhood? Do you get the sense that some of your neighbors are likely to change their minds? So on and so forth.

No attack intended here, I just want the reassurance of facts. Bye the way, your sentiment seems to have hardened considerably in recent days. Has something happened that brought this about?

Jul 17, 2004 - 9:43 pm 25. chuck:

Way off topic, but Stephen den Beste has just posted a terrific discussion of gay marriage, one of the best I have ever seen. Go take a look.

USS Clueless

Jul 17, 2004 - 10:18 pm 26. jbrown:

Happy Anniversary Roger and Sheryl!

If it’s any consolation I have read that Moses Wine has come to see things a bit differently too lately, though he’s no more “radical right” than you are.

Thanks for braving the trolls every day and keeping your blog alive.

All the best,

Jeremy & Cara

Jul 17, 2004 - 10:18 pm 27. Sandy P:

–I was not used to being so hated. I guess it comes with the territory of having a “public” opinion, but I don’t take to it so well. –

Nah, just comes with the territory of being an American.

You’d be more disgusted w/yourself if you sold out your beliefs to be liked. The price is too high.

HAPPY 10th!!!!

Jul 17, 2004 - 10:21 pm 28. Sandy P:

–My world is still Democratic and while they are gloating at the polls and where things are politically, there is this nervous sense about when is that “other shoe” going to drop. Don’t worry it is coming.–

Your mouth to God’s ear, Samuel.

And keep your ear to the ground, please.

Jul 17, 2004 - 10:29 pm 29. john.cunningham:

Roger, all the best to you and Sheryl on your anniversary! I got a copy of Director’s Cut in the mail today, and started it on the exercycle. I am only 30 pages into it, but it is certainly a great read. It made me quite nostalgic for Prague, which I visited back in 1990.

keep up the superb blogging, and keep pounding away also on the Moses Wein work as well.

I fear that the extreme Left in this country is headed to some kind of really sick end, I am not sure what, but the contempt and loathing for Bush, the GOP, and anything Christian that I hear from some acquaintances is chilling.

Jul 17, 2004 - 10:43 pm 30. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

Simon

Good to see your participation.

One strong area of friction I see in the conservative world is between social and libertarian conservatives. These are conservatives who will come down on the “liberal” side on abortion, gay marriage, and various other values issues. Ramesh Ponnuru (see Instapundit) sees this is the crucial battleground in politics for a while, and a possible fatal crack in the Republican base.

I encounter this tension all the time. Somehow libertarianism has infected a lot of people, in strange ways. The internet has long had a libertarian ethos, and I suspect that as more people interact with it, they develop these values. Furthermore, the social conservative side places prohibitions on what people can do. The libertarian side says you can do just about anything, which appeals to the hedonism inherent in young men and being pushed by our popular entertainment.

Jul 17, 2004 - 11:10 pm 31. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

Chuck

I don’t find den Beste’s analysis to be that good. He is careful to apply reasoning to the issue, destroying Andrew Sullivan’s arguments, but that isn’t particularly hard to do.

Where Den Beste fails is in stating, as a crucial part of his argument, that nobody but the gays getting married have an interest in that event.

He ignores the many impications, the most significant of which involve adoption or creation of children.

Jul 17, 2004 - 11:14 pm 32. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

ARGH… I mean Samuel, not Simon up above.

Jul 17, 2004 - 11:15 pm 33. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

Roger

I’ve been involved in online political discussions since 1980.

It’s pretty normal to get hate email. I used to get hate phone calls from Sandalistas back in the old days of usenet, when folks put their phone numbers on their postings.

If you don’t get hate mail and illogical mail, then you don’t have enough people paying attention.

It doesn’t mean a damned thing, even though some will do their best to make you feel bad. Just remember, they don’t know who you really are – to them, you are just a symbol that they don’t like, not a human being.

The one you listed on this thread was actually pretty mild as these things go. The only odd thing was the “radical right” characterization – so completely absurd as to be weird. Clearly you were being relatively gently assaulted by a moonbat of some species.

Jul 18, 2004 - 12:24 am 34. Sam_S:

For Sheryl;

Congratulations on staying married to one of the “lesser evils”. Coulda ended up with a “truly evil”, like me, for instance!

I’m beginning to get a little hate mail due to my blog, too. I guess I’ve arrived, in a small way. No fan mail yet, though for posting nudity from the Tour de France.

By the way, two pertinent observations from the Tour de France (it’s not as strained a reference as it might seem at first).

A Texas writer on why Lance is catching so much grief from the French: “The tall trees catch the wind”.

Sheldon Brown on why the French hate Lance Armstrong: “Because he’s American, and he’s winning.”

Sam

Jul 18, 2004 - 1:27 am 35. David Thomson:

ìNever mind that the last I heard the “radical right” is not supporting gay marriage and stem cell research.î

Congratulations to Roger and Sheryl on their tenth Anniversary. May God bless them and their family. I now reluctantly support stem cell research. My own anti-abortion views have long been inconsistent, if not even downright hypocritical. Gay marriage continues to concern me, but I have no problem supporting civil unions. I merely want the voters in each state to decide the matter and not elitist judges.

Jim Turner is obviously one of those knee jerk liberals who refuses to think for himself. In other words—he is not a liberal! The man is actually a dogmatic reactionary. Turner is existentially terrified that his true believer ideology cannot withstand a few hard questions. We should feel sorry for him.

Jul 18, 2004 - 1:27 am 36. Samuel:

chuck

I wish I had your crystal ball. I agree that a major political realignment is underway, I just have to look at myself, at Roger, at you, to see this. But how many are we, really? If the future were that transparent, we would all be rich, no?

Actually the realignment is not with Boomers like me or Roger, it is among our children. We are nothing more than swing voters from a statistical point of view. My wife is hard Democrat and while she admits the Democrats are making mistakes I hold little hope any time soon for this to change. My change is more personal, I’ll address that another time. My daughter is 17 years old and will miss being able to vote by months. She is almost prejudicial against Democrats and absolutely hates political correctness. She will register as a Republican I guarantee it. While she is somewhat libertarian about people’s behavior (you know live and let live) she is very sympathetic to pro-Life sentiments and has no use for the demonization of people who have such beliefs. She is no “John Bircher” but what she calls a “Social Justice Conservative”. She totally buys the idea of “Compassionate Conservatism”, “Faith based Initiatives” and “No Child Left Behind”. Use of government with measured efficiency and effectiveness to her is fine. She wants tough environmental laws but is not a “Chicken Little the Sky is Falling” about things like global warning, she is also pro business. I don’t think she is or will be that unique. She is a suburban moderate that finds the values of the Democrats lacking to put it kindly. At 17 years old Bill Clinton and George Bush is all she knows. A man chasing girls more then half his age (Clinton) regardless of his talents is not an inspiring picture to her, however the principled nature of President Bush is, again she is not unique.

The trouble for Democrats is not now, it is tomorrow, especially if they donít get their crap together. The average Republican is younger than the average Democrat, this did not used to be the case. History repeats itself to one degree or another and the Republicans made similar mistakes in the past. This doesnít mean the Democrats won’t win the Presidency as people on the whole will vote for leadership more than a party at that level. Were it bodes badly for them is in Congress, they will be out of power for a while.

–

I’m curious if you have more specifics to support your case. Do you really know Kerry personally, or just know a lot about him from being in the neighborhood? Do you get the sense that some of your neighbors are likely to change their minds? So on and so forth.

I will only say that I do know Kerry personally and I will leave it at that. If I wanted to show forth evidence and prove anything I wouldn’t do it here, Iíd write a book, but that I will never do. As far as people changing their minds, I know very few people that have. In my family 3 have changed from Gore to Bush. I know one that has gone from Bush to Kerry. Very few need to change to cause a strong swing. If 45% are committed on either side then 10% is “swing”. I have a lot of experience in campaigning and it appears that Kerry has an angle on these people however you will just have to trust me when I say Bush will clean Kerry’s clock. Bush could be beaten, Kerry is not the man, after his unworthiness is proven Bush will get 7-8% of that vote and that translates to 53% for Bush. I believe the polling favors Democrats in a distorted way anyway, but that is for another time, I’ll just say Democrats usually poll better especially this far out from the election. Bush will get 53-57% and I predict it will not be the last time he is under estimated. The MSM and Democrats are just bound and determined to turn him into a political legend.

–

Bye the way, your sentiment seems to have hardened considerably in recent days. Has something happened that brought this about?

No, my sentiment is no harder then when I re-registered as a Republican. My anger and disgust has however. I know what the Democrats are up to, tactics and all. I talk to certain Democrats regularly but also Republicans as well (actually more with them of late), but it is all for personal consumption. What has happened is accumulative in affect and inside knowledge. Some people I will never respect again period. I still consider myself liberal by Republican standards, the ends justifies the means tactics of the Democrats is what I hold in the highest contempt. Bottom line is I want the truth, the Democrats aren’t selling that these days.

Jul 18, 2004 - 1:39 am 37. too many steves:

Congratulations Roger and Sheryl!

As for hate mail, don’t worry about it. As the old saying goes: you can’t please all the people all the time. No matter what your position on a particular topic there will be some that will send you hate mail.

You have a wonderful blog and a vibrant comments section. Keep up the good work.

Jul 18, 2004 - 4:15 am 38. Cap'n Billy:

Let me join the chorus in wishing you a happy anniversary, Roger! I had reached my early sixties having had a good and fulfilling life in most respects except a happy marriage, and most unexpectedly achieved that some seven years ago. I guess Sinatra was right, because it has worked out far better than I could have ever hoped, and my life is now complete with my Lovely & Vivacious Bride (with a good many years to go, I hope & believe!).

So far as the hate mail is concerned, I have developed the habit of sending letters to the editor of my local newspaper and they occasionally publish one. I have received some interesting responses, but the best was an anonymous postcard that started “Dear Adolf” (sic) and went downhill from there. Made my day!

Jul 18, 2004 - 6:00 am 39. ricpic:

What — no Sheryl pictures?

I know that left-right talk is discouraged on this site. That said, it’s been my experience that hate is a more frequent, more spontaneous eruption on the left than on the right. It probably relates to the fact that for a leftist politics is all. Right wingers, for the most part, have other interests.

I repeat: what — no Sheryl pictures?

Jul 18, 2004 - 6:28 am 40. Mark Poling:

Congratulations, Roger and Sheryl!

For what it’s worth, there’s an old saw about judging a man by the qualities of his enemies. By that standard, you must have a heart of gold.

Jul 18, 2004 - 7:01 am 41. DennisThePeasant:

Roger-

Jim Turner, no doubt a common variety of the genus Leftus Dimwittus Moronicus, has not been able to summon enough working brain cells to achieve clarity. I will help in this regard.

While you are not a member of the “Radical Right” (whatever that may exactly be), you are an apostate. That would be the specific offense of which you are guilty in Turner’s eyes.

But more importantly to Turner and his cadres, in your present state of apostasy you are of no use. Were you a liar and fabricator of the first order, perhaps even on a level of Joe Wilson, you would always be able to find at least one Anti-Liberationista liar/fabricator (such as Swopa) to defend you on the basis of your potential future usefulness to the cause.

Forget these schmucks. They never cared a whit about you.

Jul 18, 2004 - 7:57 am 42. chuck:

Samuel,

Thanks much for your detailed response, I learned much from reading it. The distinction in voting for congress and the presidency that you pointed out brought a little ah-ha on this end. The founders did know what they were up to, didn’t they?

Your comments on compaigning were also informative. It is a subject that I know little about and so any remarks by a knowledgeable person are like a mini education. I would *love* to see a short, succinct, book on the subject along the lines of the classic “How to Lie with Statistics.”

From what you say, I conclude that you feel that the times call for serious discourse and finding solutions to real problems, but all you see are opportunistic and cynical attempts to gain back the Whitehouse. That burns me too. The Democrats aren’t fiddling while Rome burns, they are having a party with group sex in the upstairs bedroom while the parents are on their way home.

Jul 18, 2004 - 8:00 am 43. chuck:

John Moore:

Stephen makes the point that he is coming at this from a libertarian perspective, so I can see that this will make little impact if you are a social conservative.

Myself? I am personally a social conservative and have always made the point that social conventions enshrine centuries of social trial and error. Like most evolutionary solutions, the reason things are done a certain way is not very clear, but that does not mean that there is no reason, or that changeing things will not have an adverse effect. So I tend to the conservative side here.

On the other hand, I do have a strong libertarian streak, and know that in my own work that I am attracted to the new, the offbeat, the untried. So it is always good if a more conservative person is involved in making crucial decisions. There is a useful balance that can be achieved here.

Jul 18, 2004 - 8:42 am 44. Pat Curley:

Happy Anniversary indeed!

I’ll confess to sometimes having a hard time differentiating between you and Moses; I find myself wanting to ask you about your wife’s FBI experiences (and saying, wait a minute, wasn’t her name Samantha?).

Jul 18, 2004 - 9:16 am 45. Charlie (Colorado):

“Forget these schmucks. They never cared a whit about you.”

Yeah, what he said.

Jul 18, 2004 - 9:18 am 46. Syl:

Congratulations Roger and Sheryl!! Though ‘happiness comes from inside’ it needs a partner to allow it to bloom.

And, please, don’t be so defensive about ‘right’ and ‘left’. Those who learn that they no longer fit either label completely have these days already moved ‘right’. The ones who don’t yet see the nuance write hate mail.

Jul 18, 2004 - 9:19 am 47. Fausta:

Congratulations on your anniversary, and wishing you many more happy anniversaries with your lady!

Jul 18, 2004 - 9:25 am 48. Paul:

Roger and Sheryl,

Congratulations on your anniversary. Few things in life are as rewarding and important as a strong, happy marriage, and you are amongst the fortunate few so consider yourselves blessed indeed.

As for your former “liberal” cohort’s venomous expressions they are to be expected because you are what they hate the most…a heretic.

Anyone can see that leftism is based on a philosophical idealism and as such is faith based rather than fact based (remember the 60’s mantra to “keep the faith, baby!”). It functions as a crypto-religion for its adherents and a special contempt is reserved for the apostate, as ignorance cannot be used to excuse the error of their thinking. No, they MUST be morally corrupt to turn away deliberately from the “truth” of the leftist dogma. Leftists will patronize, and even pretend to themselves to feel pity or compassion for the unenlightened, but they have nothing but seething hatred for those that abandon their creed and become “radical” right wingers.

Any leftist who faces the actual facts on the ground is eventually put in the painful position of realizing his beliefs and assumptions are erroneous for the most part, and is forced to either retreat to a haven of repression and denial, or endure the insecurity and confusion of the transitory phase of a political realignment. It is disturbing in the same way as “losing one’s religion”, because that is exactly what it is.

In a speech by Michael Chrichton on environmentalism as religion he makes a good point about religious fundamentalism that can be applied to any fundamentalist, dogmatic mindset, including what we commonly see today on the left:

“Most of us have had some experience interacting with religious fundamentalists, and we understand that one of the problems with fundamentalists is that they have no perspective on themselves. They never recognize that their way of thinking is just one of many other possible ways of thinking, which may be equally useful or good. On the contrary, they believe their way is the right way, everyone else is wrong; they are in the business of salvation, and they want to help you to see things the right way. They want to help you be saved. They are totally rigid and totally uninterested in opposing points of view. In our modern complex world, fundamentalism is dangerous because of its rigidity and its imperviousness to other ideas.”

“no perspective on themselves”…Yup.

May you have many more happy anniversaries and continued success with both your career and your great blog.

Jul 18, 2004 - 9:51 am 49. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

Chuck

I am personally a social conservative and have always made the point that social conventions enshrine centuries of social trial and error. Like most evolutionary solutions, the reason things are done a certain way is not very clear, but that does not mean that there is no reason, or that changeing things will not have an adverse effect. So I tend to the conservative side here.

That’s where I come from on many issues. I think a central conceit of my (baby boom) generation was the casual and arrogant overthrow of social traditions (”don’t trust anyone over thirty”) without the slightest understanding of them. This was especially truth with the “sexual revolution” because of objective situational changes: birth control pills and Roe v. Wade (where the court itself, as it has been wont to do for decades now, decided it was smarter than the framers of the Constitution – a process which continues at our peril – the latest being the ruling which gave rights to illegal combatant foreigners captured and held not on US soil).

My view on tradition (and ideology, for that matter) is that it should be a very strong check on impulsees, but not so much as to stop questioning. For example, the traditions of racial discrimination and gay bashing should not be respected.

My daughter is late gen-X and says her generation is strongly hedonistic and amoral – to the point that cheating in college is de rigeur, as is the taking of nootropic drugs (ritalin) for tests. But kids a few years younger are showing signs of adopting at least parts of social conservatism.

Jul 18, 2004 - 11:09 am 50. Dave Schuler:

Roger:

Happy Anniversay! I heard an interview with Will Smith the other day in which he held forth on his theory of romance. I’ll try to quote as verbatim as possible.

You’ve got to go 100%. Be the full package. I mean, it should be roses and candlelight and soft music but you’ve also got to be ready to punch a guy out to defend her if the occasion calls for it. That’s pretty much the perfect date—where you get to do both.

May your anniversary be all rose petals and no black eyes! Try and restrain your inner tough guy detective!

Jul 18, 2004 - 11:14 am 51. Charlie (Colorado):

John, this is a side-issue, but why do you include “nootropic” (ie, “of, relating to, or promoting the enhancement of cognition and memory and the facilitation of learning”, had to look it up myself) drugs as an indication of amorality? Caffeine is a nootropic drug — is it also amoral to drink coffee before class, or before an exam?

(Note, by the way, I’m I’m not questioning the use of cheating as amoral.)

Jul 18, 2004 - 11:38 am 52. richard mcenroe:

Just a parting thought on the esteemed Mr. Turner. Trust a 70’s reactionary to assume he knows how a writer’s character would feel better than the writer.

Jul 18, 2004 - 3:32 pm 53. John Moore ( Useful Fools ):

Charlie

The reason I included nootropics is because students are illegally using powerful drugs, not just caffeine. I recognie that caffeine and ritalin work on some of the same receptor systems, but to take ritalin for a test that is graded on a curve is to cheat, and to do so in an amoral way, because you are quietly and illegally temporarily boosting yourself in ways that law abiding students cannot do, driving their scores down.

Chuck

A libertarian analysis takes into account all parties affected by an action. Hence that does not explain Den Beste’s lapses in the analysis.

When I argue abortion, I use a pure libertarian analysis, because it doesn’t require a particular religious position. Libertarianism has many insights to give – if you can show that a behavior is inappropriate from a libertarian viewpoint, that is an especially powerful argument.

Besides, I was once a libertarian… in fact even a Libertarian.

Ultimately there are two axes of political argumentation. One is in the area of unarguable axioms – such as religious values or deeply felt values. The other involves argumentation on how to apply such values, and on where such values are necessary and where they are irrelevant.

I tend to take a libertarian approach to the latter axis.

Jul 18, 2004 - 6:26 pm 54. Tom Grey:

Happy Happy Happy Anniversary.

(Remember? Fred & Barney singing, slightly to the William Tell Overture rhythm:

Happy Anniversary,

Happy Anniversary,

Happy Anniversary,

Ha – py Anniversary.)

You beat my wife and I by some 4 months.

Jul 19, 2004 - 2:34 am 55. Good Ole Charlie:

Congratulations Roger and Sheryl! Once again…

First, having survived 44 plus years of marriage, I can only say that the first 43 years are the hardest. But the happiness and wisdom keep accumulating…go for it. Getting there is half the fun.

Second, more congratulations on being attacked by absolute wackoes. I don’t agree with all your stands (let’s not go into that now…), but one thing you do have is my respect, both as a man and a writer. You have your convictions and the courage to change your opinions when your analysis convinces you to do so. The sign of a ‘mensch’.

As far as the left is concerned, they in general fall under the diagnosis of a fanatic: when the goal is unattainable and unwise, they redouble their efforts. Theirs is an emotional commitment not to truth, goodness, or beauty but to pure emotional prejudice. Lord help all of us when we draw one in the seat next to us on a long plane ride…

Roger, keep living, keep writing, keep thinking. Remember the wisdom of Freud: “What makes a sane, healthy, happy individual? Leben und Arbeiten…Love and Work.”

Again, Best Wishes and Many Long Years Together to you both.

Jul 19, 2004 - 7:32 am 56. Sam Barnes:

Happy Anniversary, Roger and Sheryl. May you have many more years of happiness ahead of you. Don’t worry about the hate mail; you have an abundance of friends out here that wish you only the best.

Jul 19, 2004 - 8:16 pm

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