Comments on: Wherein Marty demonstrates how the Right gets it wrong, twice http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/ It's not all caviar and baby wipes, mate Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:28:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/comment-page-1/#comment-1839 Paul Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:39:50 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/#comment-1839 I'm undecided about whether he should resign from the Senate, to be honest - clearly Foley should have and did, but Hastert's case is just a little more cloudy. I understand that being ousted at the ballot box is a good reflection of the idea that they work for us, and I'm always in favor of that whoever the candidate. But that's because the candidate isn't doing what I want him to (I almost went back and changed that to him/her, but not sure there's much point given the current makeup of the House), or is doing it ineffectually. What Hastert did was ignore evidence of a pervert in his party. Undoubtedly that means he should resign as speaker (he failed in his leadership duties), but I would argue that he transgressed from what the overwhelming majority of society would consider acceptable that he's simply not fit to be a Senator. I'm aware that if we started to reject Senators based on their fitness we could have a pretty empty Senate, but that's a separate argument. I want to emphasize that there's a line to be observed here. The fact that Bush took us to war for undefined reasons is, to me, offensive, but being able to take a country to war is one of the things a President can do. Leaving people without medical care is similarly wrong, but one of the things you can do. Sheltering pedophiles isn't. I’m undecided about whether he should resign from the Senate, to be honest – clearly Foley should have and did, but Hastert’s case is just a little more cloudy. I understand that being ousted at the ballot box is a good reflection of the idea that they work for us, and I’m always in favor of that whoever the candidate. But that’s because the candidate isn’t doing what I want him to (I almost went back and changed that to him/her, but not sure there’s much point given the current makeup of the House), or is doing it ineffectually. What Hastert did was ignore evidence of a pervert in his party. Undoubtedly that means he should resign as speaker (he failed in his leadership duties), but I would argue that he transgressed from what the overwhelming majority of society would consider acceptable that he’s simply not fit to be a Senator.

I’m aware that if we started to reject Senators based on their fitness we could have a pretty empty Senate, but that’s a separate argument.

I want to emphasize that there’s a line to be observed here. The fact that Bush took us to war for undefined reasons is, to me, offensive, but being able to take a country to war is one of the things a President can do. Leaving people without medical care is similarly wrong, but one of the things you can do. Sheltering pedophiles isn’t.

]]> By: Colonel Nikolai http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/comment-page-1/#comment-1838 Colonel Nikolai Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:50:45 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/#comment-1838 I meant polling place. I meant polling place.

]]> By: Colonel Nikolai http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/comment-page-1/#comment-1837 Colonel Nikolai Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:49:56 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/#comment-1837 I agree with your criticisms in general. However, while I'm not a fan of the Republican leadership from an philosophical standpoint and from an overall fitness-for-office standpoint, I stand by Hastert's decision to not step down over this -- sorry for the extendedly clunky metaphor. It's not Hastert's fault that Foley did this. It's Hastert's fault for not handling the situation like, well, like a leader should have. But it's not something he should lose his job over unless it's decided from the polling both. I agree with your criticisms in general. However, while I’m not a fan of the Republican leadership from an philosophical standpoint and from an overall fitness-for-office standpoint, I stand by Hastert’s decision to not step down over this — sorry for the extendedly clunky metaphor. It’s not Hastert’s fault that Foley did this. It’s Hastert’s fault for not handling the situation like, well, like a leader should have. But it’s not something he should lose his job over unless it’s decided from the polling both.

]]> By: SpeckBlog » Blog Archive » Those Homophobic Republicans http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/comment-page-1/#comment-1836 SpeckBlog » Blog Archive » Those Homophobic Republicans Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:17:31 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2006/10/wherein-marty-demonstrates-how-the-right-gets-it-wrong-twice/#comment-1836 [...] Update: Paul @ BoPL: “But instead, as Marty phrases it, “he told Foley to knock it off.” I’m no expert, but “Please don’t be a pedophile” doesn’t strike me as being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.” [...] [...] Update: Paul @ BoPL: “But instead, as Marty phrases it, “he told Foley to knock it off.” I’m no expert, but “Please don’t be a pedophile” doesn’t strike me as being tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.” [...]

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