[Jane] The critiques of Tony Snow were about his job performance and not his illness. The suggestion that he should be treated with kid gloves on the former because of the latter is patronizing and dehumanizing. And your presumption to publish my email without premission is really, really disrespectful.

Have a nice trip to my auto-trash.

[Jane] You do not have permission to reprint my emails. The critiques of Tony Snow were rendered about his job performance, and you seem to think he deserves kid gloves on that front because of his illness which is thoroughly patronizing.

Smear your dehumanizing pity somewhere else.

[Douglas] wrote: I’ve had cancer. My mother died of it, and I just helped nurse a good friend through the end stages of her cancer. My problems and yours are not the issue here. I cannot believe that you can actually say that the comments I quoted are “respectful of the fact that [Tony Snow is] a functioning human being despite his illness.” How does your description apply to those who call him a “toxic human pustule”, a “career mouthpiece for lying murderers”, and a “fascist[ ] *** liar and warmonger.”

Certainly there were other comments which express sympathy and the ability to separate the human being from his actions. I guess my larger point is that this community has some growing up to do. We feed right into our enemies hands when we condone childish, hateful, gloating comments about a dying man.

Best,

Douglas

ps: I posted some of our last exchange on the site comments, but I think I will now keep our exchanges private. I want you to know that I read you and DailyKos and Firedoglake and many other rightthinking blogs faithfully. I love that they are out there; I agree with most of what they contain; and I fervently want them to fluorish.

[Jane]
Respectful of the fact that he’s still a functioning human being despite his illness.

Your attitude, however, is patroinizing [sic] and dehumanizing. As a cancer patient I’d invite you to throw a pity party for someone else, I’ll choose life, thank you very much.

[Douglas] [Responding to Jane’s assetion that I was patronizing and was mischaracterizing the comments on her site]
Well, now. These are from the first 150 comments to the Tony Snow piece. How would you characterize them? [excerpts followed, including some quoted above]

I wrote this to Jane:
The man has cancer, probably terminal. Even with the best health care program, the costs of treatment are enormous. Have a little compassion for the man and his family. These raving comments, joyous about the impending death and financial ruin of another human being, are exactly what feeds into the mainstream media spin about our community. Hate the sins (and there are plenty to hate in this case), but don’t hate the sinner.

Jane replied that she thought my comments were “mischaracterizing and patronizing.”
Here are excerpts from the first 150 comments on the Tony Snow story. You folks be the judges.

Douglas

Excerpts:

“Sorry if it sounds callous, but imo someone who is a career mouthpiece for lying murderers doesn’t deserve my sympathy.” There are many others who deserve it more.

{From TRex] *** relish the hate. It’s a healthy reaction to toxic human pustules.

“When any of ‘em show remorse, i’ll drop some of my scathing contempt, but i’ll leave the forgiveness to god/dess.”

” Snowjob is a liar and warmonger. He has plenty of money, 168K/yr.”

“Nobody in the history of the country ever went broke kissing the ass of power. Tony, grow a wart on your tongue.”

“Yes, but it’s a pitiful $160K a year, and no bloodsucking piece of Republican filth can live on that.”

“I’d like to see him get cut off and then have to apply for medicaid! He lies too much.”

You’re a fine one to be lecturing people on respect, printing emails without permission.

Those comments were critical of Tony Snow because of his job performance, not his illness. The fact that you think he is immune from the former because of the latter is quite patronizing.

I don’t think it’s about money, and I don’t think he is a fellow victim of the millions who have suffered from the mess of the health care system in this country. I think it’s that he doesn’t want to publicly admit how sick he is.

I agree. He looks pretty bad lately, and I think the chemo is taking its inevitable toll. I think he’s leaving because he is really sick.

Jane replied that she thought my comments were “mischaracterizing and patronizing.”
Here are excerpts from the first 150 comments on the Tony Snow story. You folks be the judges.

Douglas

Excerpts:

“Sorry if it sounds callous, but imo someone who is a career mouthpiece for lying murderers doesn’t deserve my sympathy.” There are many others who deserve it more.

{From TRex] *** relish the hate. It’s a healthy reaction to toxic human pustules.

“When any of ‘em show remorse, i’ll drop some of my scathing contempt, but i’ll leave the forgiveness to god/dess.”

” Snowjob is a liar and warmonger. He has plenty of money, 168K/yr.”

“Nobody in the history of the country ever went broke kissing the ass of power. Tony, grow a wart on your tongue.”

“Yes, but it’s a pitiful $160K a year, and no bloodsucking piece of Republican filth can live on that.”

“I’d like to see him get cut off and then have to apply for medicaid! He lies too much.”

Nice, very nice catch remembering Mencken.

A personal favorite.

Every single time I have watched Tony Snow conduct a press briefing I have wanted to throw something as my TV. That said, he looks very bad. Perhaps he needs to fill up the kitty to leave his family in better financial shape. As much as he infuriates me, I can’t blame him for wanting to provide as best as he can for his wife and kids. No matter who it is, cancer is a dreadful disease and those that are afflicted deserve our good wishes because cancer not only affects the patient, but the entire family as well.

I empathize with all of what you say, yet, I’ve this nagging notion of; “Rats, deserting the sinking ship!” I can’t seem to shake it…!!! ;-)

Thinking of chemo, Jane’s had her last treatment?

yes, several weeks ago (maybe a month now)