Comments on: Truthers and other Strangers http://smartgirlnation.com/2009/04/truthers-and-other-strangers/ Powered by Smart Girl Politics Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:50:32 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: martyred_cars http://smartgirlnation.com/2009/04/truthers-and-other-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-990 martyred_cars Tue, 12 May 2009 00:26:04 +0000 http://smartgirlnation.com/?p=225#comment-990 I meant to clarify -- I'm definitely not advocating a move toward the center. Good riddance to Arlen Specter, I say. I meant to clarify — I’m definitely not advocating a move toward the center. Good riddance to Arlen Specter, I say.

]]> By: martyred_cars http://smartgirlnation.com/2009/04/truthers-and-other-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-989 martyred_cars Mon, 11 May 2009 23:57:33 +0000 http://smartgirlnation.com/?p=225#comment-989 As a libertarian grappling with this marriage of convenience you've written about, I've been concerned lately about all the people who may be shut out of the "tent". I don't disagree with you about Truthers (though I think Alex Jones tells a compelling bedtime story when he's on the radio), but I don't know how the GOP/conservative/libertarian coalition can get any traction on the economic and personal liberty issues of the day if we can't learn how to work around each other's differences. The left, I think, has found a way to embrace and include its fringe, even when they don't follow through on their gestures toward them, and I think the right should consider how this ultimately affects the numbers. I'm not suggesting the right should play the same game, exactly, but I do think there are sensible ways to allow for a diversity of opinions. The stakes are, afterall, staggeringly high right now. And it's not just the libertarian fringe that has a hard time fitting inside the tent -- plenty of people with more reasonable differences from the conservative core find themselves mocked on a regular basis. The thing is, people have a vast mix of opinions and priorities, and it seems to me that the right sees things in more narrow demographic terms than is realistic. And then bloggers and talk show hosts spend a lot of time mocking people who do things like buy CFR lightbulbs and eat arugala (both of which I do, by the way), which hasn't helped keep the statists out of power. Millions of people with diverse opinions supported Ron Paul, and I think their passion and organizing experiences are an asset to the tea party movement. The Huffington Post is going to spew a bunch of nonsense about the tea parties no matter what, so I think instead of trying to narrow the agenda, it might be wise to consider emphasizing the first amendment and grassroots nature of the tea parties, which allows for kooks to hold their signs right alongside the more sensible folk. As a libertarian grappling with this marriage of convenience you’ve written about, I’ve been concerned lately about all the people who may be shut out of the “tent”. I don’t disagree with you about Truthers (though I think Alex Jones tells a compelling bedtime story when he’s on the radio), but I don’t know how the GOP/conservative/libertarian coalition can get any traction on the economic and personal liberty issues of the day if we can’t learn how to work around each other’s differences. The left, I think, has found a way to embrace and include its fringe, even when they don’t follow through on their gestures toward them, and I think the right should consider how this ultimately affects the numbers. I’m not suggesting the right should play the same game, exactly, but I do think there are sensible ways to allow for a diversity of opinions. The stakes are, afterall, staggeringly high right now. And it’s not just the libertarian fringe that has a hard time fitting inside the tent — plenty of people with more reasonable differences from the conservative core find themselves mocked on a regular basis. The thing is, people have a vast mix of opinions and priorities, and it seems to me that the right sees things in more narrow demographic terms than is realistic. And then bloggers and talk show hosts spend a lot of time mocking people who do things like buy CFR lightbulbs and eat arugala (both of which I do, by the way), which hasn’t helped keep the statists out of power.

Millions of people with diverse opinions supported Ron Paul, and I think their passion and organizing experiences are an asset to the tea party movement. The Huffington Post is going to spew a bunch of nonsense about the tea parties no matter what, so I think instead of trying to narrow the agenda, it might be wise to consider emphasizing the first amendment and grassroots nature of the tea parties, which allows for kooks to hold their signs right alongside the more sensible folk.

]]> By: Topics about China » Archive » Truthers and other Strangers http://smartgirlnation.com/2009/04/truthers-and-other-strangers/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Topics about China » Archive » Truthers and other Strangers Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:17:51 +0000 http://smartgirlnation.com/?p=225#comment-44 [...] Home Improvement added an interesting post today on Truthers and other StrangersHere’s a small reading…with conspiracy nuts who are as impervious to facts and objective … you’re railing against indebting our children to China, remember to keep [...] [...] Home Improvement added an interesting post today on Truthers and other StrangersHere’s a small reading…with conspiracy nuts who are as impervious to facts and objective … you’re railing against indebting our children to China, remember to keep [...]

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