Are you saying that your dad’s values of tolerance, respect for others, kindness, thoughtfulness, etc. apply to your blog entries? As a “conservative” (who tries to be thoughtful — hopefully not an oxymoron), your entry sounds like you lump together most of us on the right and consider us inherently “less” than you — at least in intellectual curiousity, good will, ability and willingness to consider hard issues rationally.

Disagreeing with your politics or the effects of the policies they promote is not to claim that you are “inherently less.” If you are a Conservative and understand what the word means, you should realize that the Bu$h Crime Family are far from conservative – radical is a much better choice of word. Maybe you should check out how some real conservatives a feeling about the Chimp these days; maybe start with the godfather hisself William F. Buckley.

We don’t all support the war in Iraq; many of us work for social justice and drive small, efficient cars

If you understand what you just said and support
Bu$h, Cheney et.al. you much have some kind of logical disconnect happening.

Bravo Zulu!

Just catching you this morning, but Thank You, Thank you, for this post.

You have evoked your family and your South in a way that makes them feel alive to me.

Thank you for letting us know them.

Oh, and thank you for you. You give me hope.

I read your post this morning and I loved it. I’m sitting in Georgia right now so it has particular resonance.

However, I must take exception to your constant use of the word “rightard” to describe the right-wing cowardly thugs that run this country. The word depends on its association with a word that’s used to debase and dehumanize people with cognitive disabilities. They too are having a horrible time leading independent lives because of this administration’s policies. And they too want the same freedom you and I want for ourselves. So please reconsider using “rightards.”