Free Republic's Leader Mentioned in Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal On Line ^ | October 30, 2003 | Hal Friedman

[Moonman62]

I think you wrote the WSJ reply because you know that deep down in your heart you are becoming a FReeper, and that in a year or two you won't be able to refer to yourself as a liberal without a gag reflex. BTW, many of us here consider ourselves to be at least in part, classic liberals.

[Hal 2004]

So I won't go away, huh? Well, you are the ones who invited me to this dance. I mean, I didn't write to you, I wrote to the WSJ but it was you folks who took it upon yourselves to create this thread, so, perhaps, like Frankenstein's monster, you've created something beyond your control!

Those who complain about Democratic obstruction of Bush's judicial nominees forget that 168 of 174 of these nominees have been approved. That's over 96%, somewhat better than the 63 of 248 Clinton judicial nominees approved. Do I detect the powerful odor of hypocrisy? Or what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander? Or hoist upon your own petard? Choose your metaphor.

Uncertainty is a virtue. It's what's needed if our Constitutional system is to work. If you think you've got Absolute Truth and/or God on your side, you can't see the other's point of view, you can't compromise, and, eventually, you'll end up blowing yourself up in a pizza parlor or starting a crusade or jihad. At best, you'll get gridlock,which is already happening here. Is that what you really want? Sure, the base of each party contains a certain number of true believers (anyone ever read that book by Eric Hoffer? If not, you should!), but I don't think the swing voters appreciate fanaticism. So perhaps, as a liberal Dem, I should wish you all the best, since if you push the GOP into a "no compromise" position, it'll redound to the benefit of us liberals.

Now let's play nice or not at all. I won't call anyone "nuclear waste" or a "chew toy". Can we be mature about this and reserve our invective, if that is what's needed, for our respective points of view? If not, well, I tried!

God bless!

Hal 2004 from Brooklyn