We are the last best hope of Western civilization. When we go under, Western civilization goes under.

What was it that Ghandi said when asked about Western civilization? “I think it’s a great idea”?

No, he said, “I think it *would* be a good idea.”

He meant there really wasn’t yet a Western Civilization, despite all the PR and press it got. We’ve clearly gotta keep working on it.

Frank33 @ 62:

Wolfie is still married but separated.

Takes a strange man to be both married/separated AND dumped by a mistress.

I know it’s not popular here, but 24is a very popular show precisely because most of the American people do want us to use Jack Bauer techniques on suspected terrorists. Guantanamo is still popular amongst the American people who don’t want terrorists walking the streets.

I haven’t been watching the show this year, but I have watched in past years.

I don’t watch for the torture. I get enough of that reading the news about the Bush administration.

No, I watched 24 because of it’s waaaay over the top story-lines and in-office political intrigue going throughout the 24-administration, including the President himself and his pesky good wife (played brilliantly last year by Jean Smart).

Fantastic plot and little character development is unusual and curious to watch.

GeorgeSimian @ 14

The Ron Paul quote was encouraging in that he said what someone in government should have been saying for a long time. But it was also discouraging because it was followed by a quick one-liner by Rudy 9/11 Guilliani aiming to make Ron Paul look like an idiot for even trying to have a rational conversation about terrorism – and then the audience cheered Guiliani for his bullshit highmindedness.

… The Repugs call Ron Paul a libertarian freak, if that’s another indicator about his leanings and his fit within his own party.

If the Republican candidate doesn’t want the votes of Libertarian-leaning Truth-knowers, then we Democrats should find some way of accomodating them and all their western state electoral votes!

Rayne.. I am here….want to help me phrase the question?

Scarecrow @67:

See comment #17. I got the “zed” for “My Weekly Reader.” Sadly, I must admit to going to elementary school in the ’50’s.

-MS

You’re right. My fault. We were so focused on the toobz problem early on I just missed you.

…If we forfeit our values by signaling that they are negotiable in situations of grave or imminent danger, we drive those undecideds into the arms of the enemy. This way lies defeat, and we are well down the road to it…

*Charles C. Krulak was commandant of the Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999. Joseph P. Hoar was commander in chief of U.S. Central Command from 1991 to 1994.

Thanks for clarifying, interesting about Cato Institute – am very appreciative of this kind of differentiation.

Most (but not all) Libertarians these days are Ayn Randians – they believe that the world is run best by the greediest, since they will maximize everything for their own benefit. It is a philosophy totally discredited by simply observing an unsupervised kindergarten playground for ten minutes.

Cato Institute is the major home of “respectable” Libertarians. They are particularly fond of “scholarly” and “honest” discussions about race. Dick Armey is basically a “reasonable” libertarian (who, like Ron Paul, joined the GOP because Libertarian Party candidates never get elected).