miles120's Comments (489)

“I'm waiting for the Democrats to step forward with a more cohesive worldview. I appreciate the fact that they are a more diverse coalition than the GOP, but they do a very poor job of defining and defending core principles. One thing that really shocks me is that a lot of the internal, left-wing debate is over issues that are defined in the party platform. How in the world can you support caucus member who won't give procedural support to the platform? What is the purpose of having a party?

Sometimes the Democrats look like General Motors: they try to be all things to all people, and they wind up offering a mediocre, uninspiring product. I'm sure there are many - like me - who support them only because the GOP is an intellectual and policy nightmare, but it takes more than anti-GOP sentiment to lead. I'm still waiting for that crystal-clear message.”

“It's rather disingenuous to state that Obama has failed by not being more assertive and "owning" the legislation early in the process. After all, that was the strategy employed by President Clinton and it was a failure, a failure for which he drew much criticism. Such a claim is nothing more than armchair quaterbacking.”

“The straw-man is for those that can't make a cogent argument on the merits.”

“Very funny closing statement, Jason!”

“What are you talking about? Why do you refuse to answer a simple question? Are you here to engage in intellectual debate, or yell hateful, ignorant things?”

“It used to be that the political dance was subtle and done "behind the curtain." Lately it has become lewd and performed on busy street corners. The problem is that most of the performers no longer care or understand that everyone finds it distasteful. Just because the pundits popularized Bismarck's comment about sausage-making, doesn't mean it isn't still ugly.

Politicians like Bill Clinton, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu and Joe Lieberman are so wrapped up in maintaining power - doing the dance - that they will sacrifice any principal as well as their own integrity. Everyone in the audience sees it and is disgusted. When will the actors realize it?”

“Do you actually believe that dribble? Or are you just hateful and selfish?”

“Thank you for providing me with amusement tonight. Oh, you didn't intend to be stupid and deluded? It was greatly amusing nonetheless.”

“Microsoft has simply lost its way. They have been doing nothing innovative for the past two decades. Instead of trying to topple the iPhone, or the Apple Store, or Google, or the social networking site du jour, they need to focus on providing value in their core strengths. Has anyone worked with Exchange or SQL Server lately? You have to wonder why people would spend tens of thousands of dollars on their software when better open source code is available.”

“I wasn't aware that procreation was a prerequisite for marriage.”

“No one should be getting married anyway. If many of our friends, family, and neighbors are barred from the institution, then what does it say about the rest of us participating in it? Why would I get married and invite my gay friends to the wedding, a wedding they cannot have?”

“As great as the St. Louis Zoo is, I consider this a metaphor of the city itself.”

“I'd really love to read what Mencken or Twain would write today. I can't help but watch Washington and see Senator Dilworthy everywhere.”

“Sounds like Microsoft has launched yet another overwhelming success!”

“This has nothing to do with freedom of speech; it's a matter of copyright law. One can, however, question the sensibility of removing this content and stratifying the web. The likely outcome is that Fox will have a smaller audience for its propaganda, even on the Right.”

“I think it's nice that Mr. Murdoch could become a mogul. I hope he's enjoying it.

That said, clinging to an old-school news model is like charging for gravity, or pushing water uphill, or demanding that customers wait for your scribes to finish their copy. It isn't going to happen, so Rupert might as well cash-out now and save himself the frustration of losing 40% of his current holdings.”

“There are issues with redistricting that are affected by the gubernatorial victories. While NJ and VA might not have been unexpected, they aren't to be dismissed, either.”

“Yes bad, like when the John Birch Society purged the GOP leading up to the 1964 election. Remember Goldwater? He managed to win Arizona. Oh, but I forgot: you don't bother to learn the lessons of history, you just call yourself a patriot and live in your own little reality.

In all honesty, I think it's bad for everyone, because one of the two major parties in this country is incapable of spelling the word debate, let alone having an intelligent one.”

“Actually, I think there may be a cutesy end-game going here: if Hoffman is elected, the right-wing fringe will be vindicated and move forward with their purge. That would be bad in the long run for Republicans. If that is indeed the strategy, I just hope it isn't too cute.”

“Sam, there's something I don't understand: when a host like Wallace is sitting around the table with all the producers planning the show down to the last word, what do they think about this content? Are they proud of it? Do they think they are providing the product that their viewers want? Are they pursuing their own political agenda? Have they capitulated to the tidal forces of modern infotainment?”

“So, you want to save kids by prosecuting them as sex offenders? Well, THAT won't ruin their lives.

Also, I understand that electronic networks are not private, but is this worse than teens getting naked at a party? What about being topless on a beach? Or laying out naked in the backyard where a neighbor might spy you from the house next door? All behaviors that are less than prudent, but certainly not sex offenses.

I'm so glad I don't live in Oklahoma.”

“Thanks for the response; I appreciate the time. I guess - being one who doesn't identify strongly with a political ideology - I've always been one to grab whatever tool is useful at the time. That puts me at odds with half of the participants, although it's impossible to say which half. Still it would be far less frustrating and more intellectually stimulating if we could get past the big/small government argument and talk about why CQI is so difficult to implement (just as an example - I don't want to get hung up on CQI.) To reference the Senator Coburn clip on your website, the idea of 88 more government programs doesn't even begin to resonate with me, because there is no argument made about their merit. Frankly, this country might desperately NEED 88 more government programs.

Sorry for the ramble, but this kind of relates to your post (or I'm going to make the connection anyway): electronic communication, and more specifically social networking, has enabled civic discussion far beyond what was possible ten years ago, but the moderators of that discussion are working hard to keep most of the participants ill-prepared. I am optimistic that if intellectual leaders engaged the public in a more respectful manner, there would be more people who could argue for the merits of a plan, not just pick a side and cheer.

That's all for now! Hopefully HP will take the whole comment.”

“I have to admit that it wasn't until I visited your website that I realized who you are. I did read a couple of pages and found a definitive style and message. Because of that, I want to ask a question that has never been answered for me:

If conservatives believe with such fervor that government is less effective than the private sector, why do they bother to enter public life? It often seems that their sole purpose is to to a mediocre job, or sabotage things so that they don't work. If CQI is admirable in a private company, why aren't best practices like those embraced in government?”

“What an ugly bong. Americans have really flushed aesthetics down the toilet.”

“Here's a classic clip of Bill Moyers dissecting O'Reilly's producer Jessie Watters in Minneapolis this summer.

http://www.theseminal.com/2008/06/07/dont-mess-with-moyers/”