Comments on nuggets of logic: Mark Levin Clip

Well, a couple responses. The clip I posted was o...

2009-08-07T20:16:38.910-05:00

Well, a couple responses.

The clip I posted was only of Levin ranting. He's pretty passionate and is known to do this, which I find quite entertaining, but this was pretty long even by his standards. He's going off on Democrat members of Congress who are dismissing citizens expressing their points of view at town halls. He's spoke many times about ideas for reform.

You have every right to be annoyed with those who disagree with you on gay marriage, just as they have a right to be annoyed with you. However, you tend to say it's "conservatives" that are putting a stop to gay marriage in this country. I think this is an issue that crosses party lines. There are plenty on the left who disagree with gay marriage, including Obama. If you can't pass it in California, you have no business blaming conservatives.

As far as NPR, it sounds like they did present both sides of the issue. You still have to choose one. My comment about NPR has to do with the fact that from the times I've listened to it, it would serve as a great backup if Ambien just won't do the trick. :-)

First, I am not opposed to disagreements or a good...

2009-08-07T11:18:41.050-05:00

First, I am not opposed to disagreements or a good debate. Without such things, change would not happen. If health care reform is the consensus then where was that in Levin's tirade? Disagreement is one thing but I dont see how anyone could talk to some ideological fanatic. (remind me, I need to return his book to you)

I bring the issue of gay marriage up just because it annoys me. I spent time in Midland this last week and when politics came up it was all about 'my rights' to do this or that. Then turn around and deny a right to another person and use the constitution to defend it. Its these same people that kept innerracial marriage illegal for so long.

There is a book I will let you borrow by a man named Andrew Baceivich. Its called The American Empire. He is a conservative history professor and Vietnam Vet that talks about the militaries role in the US. Its a short read.

Ok, I have only listened to Levin once and my parents listened to Limbaugh when I was growing up. Any time someone called in with a opposing view they make accusation of tyranny and accuse the guest of wanting to destroy America or God. Yesterday on NPR's All Things Considered, they had doctors on who opposed health care reform in the way it is being talked about now. They also had two physicians that were more or less for it. Does NPR lean a certain way, sure, but they did offer both sides.

Conservatives "rant and rave" not about small gove...

2009-08-06T23:49:33.766-05:00

Conservatives "rant and rave" not about small government, but about limiting the federal government to the constraints placed on it by the Constitution, which says nothing about gay marriage nor heterosexual marriage.

This seems to be the example you continuously go back to both here and on diaspora. It's really pretty simple. Legally, what constitutes a marriage that is recognized by the government is decided at the state level. Hence, a couple of states have gay marriage and the majority don't, based on the wishes of it's citizens. This falls perfectly in line with what the 10th Amendment stipulates based on items not specifically outlined in the Constitution.

The reason most conservatives don't mind large spending on the military is that the Constitution tasks the federal government with providing national security and defense of the homeland. It's actually a job the government is supposed to do.

In your last post and others, you keep coming back to reaching consensus. Why is this so important? If I'm having an argument with someone who tells me that 3+3=2, should we reach a consensus that 3+3=4? I just don't get it. Why should there be compromise if you truly feel the person(s) you are dealing with are flat-out wrong?

BTW, there really actually is consensus on some level. Pretty much everyone agrees that there needs to be health care reform. That's about where it ends though. Personally, I've said multiple times that a government-run option is a deal breaker for me. I'm happy to listen to other options though.

On a final note, how can you possibly get burned out on Levin, yet put yourself through the sheer mind-numbing agony of NPR?

Ok, so Mark's indignation will do what? On both si...

2009-08-06T22:58:49.658-05:00

Ok, so Mark's indignation will do what? On both sides, right and left, it is becoming more and more difficult to find reasonable people. I got 5:23 into his tirade and got burned out. It would be the same if it was Rachel Maddow.

One thing that does amaze me about conservative talk show hosts like this is that they rant and rave about the freedom of individual citizens. The rights of all people should be protected. Keep government small....Yet, when it comes to gays, their rights dont matter, and small government unless its its the military.

I know the extreme left is no better and this is why people are moving in droves to people like Andrew Sullivan and organizations like PICO and Faith in Public life.