[southernnorthcarolina]

The title, and opening sentence, of the article refer, of course, to Samuel Johnson's aphorism: "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Ambrose Bierce replied, over a century later: "With all due respect to the enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first."

Whichever (if either) definition you like, I think most would agree that the use of patriotism by the likes of John Kerry is particularly stomach-churning.

[goldstategop]

Now patriotism is the last refuge of liberal cowards.

[Irene Adler]

I find that canard about patriotism being the last refuge of a scoundrel irritating. I have always maintained that the REAL last refuge of a scoundrel is "Everybody does it."