The Dish

An ancient English tradition – and an anti-Catholic one too – submits to multicultural nonsense. Look: I’m Catholic and I loved bonfire night as a kid.

A reader writes:

I used to vote a straight Republican ticket. At a recent party, when the subject of politics came up, the best I could do was to describe myself as an embittered ex-Republican. I just can’t quite call myself a Democrat, even though I profoundly desire them to win next week.

Why do I feel this way after so many years of considering myself a conservative?  There are too many reasons to list.  The unencumbered growth of government, impulse toward theocracy, homophobia, meaningless flag-waving and fear mongering all come to mind. The biggest reason, however, is Iraq. I am a cancer surgeon.  My practice depends on a few things such as accountability, willingness to admit and learn from errors, and to incorporate new research into practice. I find it stunning that Bush has held no one accountable for the fiasco in Iraq, least of all himself. This adherence to dogma, repudiation of facts, and unwillingness to look at any new evidence all are indicative of an administration completely removed from reality. I’m afraid their brand of "conservatism" is entirely unfamiliar to me.

While I may be conflicted about how to characterize my political allegiances, I have no doubt about how I’m going to vote Tuesday. I don’t just want the Republicans to lose, I want them to lose big.

Me too. I want an earthquake, because that’s the only thing that will force this White House to face reality. But I will make no predictions.

A cover that says it all:

You can listen here to an actual interview about conservatism, Christianity and the future of the right. Maybe Hugh Hewitt could take some pointers from a fundamentalist Christian broadcaster who’s actually interested in argument, rather than cross-examination.

Breaks my heart.

Yes, I confirmed that Jerry Falwell refused to debate me on CNN. They’re scared. Hannity especially.

We now have his name confirmed: Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie. On the orders of Moqtada al-Sadr, U.S. forces withdrew from the neighborhood where al-Taayie was taken. We are now told there is "political activity" on the soldier’s behalf. Pray for him.

But know this as well: under this commander-in-chief, the U.S. military has both practised torture and abandoned a missing soldier in action. The commander-in-chief has ultimate responsibility for both decisions. he is directly responsible for betraying the honor of the armed services he is duty-bound to lead. So is Rumsfeld. So is Cheney.

Why is this not the lead item on the news? If this were a Democratic president abandoning a U.S. soldier to a Shiite militia, do you think the Republicans would not be protesting this from the rooftops? Where is McCain? Or is this another example of what has happened to him?

(AP photo: the sister of Israa Abdul-Satar, Asmaa, holds a photograph of her and her husband, a missing US soldier, Ahmed Qusai al-Taei, while her father Abdul-Satar Sultan looks on in Baghdad on Monday.)

… finds common ground:

I’ve been reading you long enough to know you are certainly not a liberal and there are many things over which you and I disagree. I look forward to the day when you and "liberals", as you’ve named them, can argue vigorously over some of the matters you’ve identified and others that will undoubtedly come to the fore.

Though these differences in opinion are serious, they are minor realtive to the current subjects that separate you, and many of the liberals who have discovered you, from today’s Republican party in power (privacy, torture, religion in school/christianism, responsible gov’t, fiscal accountability, and last but not least, competency in gov’t affairs whether foreign or domestic based upon empirical analysis and accompanying policy adjustments).

But before we return to such disagreements and policy debates we must first save our country from the people who are hell-bent on ruining it.

Until that day …

Deal.

… can’t vote for this crew any more:

I am an upper middle class, stay at home wife and mother of 2. My husband is self employed and we are very aware of the great tax burden we are to carry.  All my life, I have believed in working hard, paying our own way and voting Republican … but I just don’t see how I can at this point in time.

Watching you on CNN was a great relief, because I finally saw someone saying what I have been feeling about President Bush (I voted for him). I get sick every time I hear the President or some other rabid Republican telling me what we must do in the name of security … why we must win, whatever that means! I feel sick that I have no choice any more…this president and the leaders of the party now are on a track to nowhere and I am not aligned with the Democrats.  I feel lost as I listen to leaders hoping to hear someone speaking honestly and not finding it.

And one man who did once speak honestly, John McCain has knuckled under.

"I felt it was my responsibility to my fellow brothers and sisters, that I had to take a stand, and I cannot sit back anymore and hear (what) to me is an anti-gay message," – Mike Jones, 49, of Denver, alleging that he was a paid sexual escort for the leader of the National Association of Evangelicals. The leader, Ted Haggard, denies the accusation.

Then there’s this:

Jones, who told a bankruptcy judge last year that he is a self-employed fitness consultant, told Boyles that he was paid money by Haggard, who he says made frequent trips to Denver for sexual liaisons, that he has recorded voicemails and a letter from Haggard, and that he had also witnessed Haggard use methamphetamine.

Jones offered to take a polygraph examination, and Boyles said that will occur Friday during his morning radio show.

Some community leaders in the Colorado Springs had scheduled a rally this afternoon in support of Haggard but canceled the gathering at the request of the church.