“…an empty vessel into which [her detractors] can pour everything they detest.” (In this she is the counterpart of George W. Bush, who serves much the same function for many liberals.)”

My hatred for the policies inflicted on this nation and the world by W and his enablers (which include far too many Democrats) is hardly irrational. In fact, to the extent he has denigrated and politicized science and intellectual pursuits in general, I’d say it is hyper-rational.

You want a list? Here you go for starters:
Given the greatest gift any president ever received–$200+ billion in government budget surpluses, he turned it into $400+ billion deficits, without improving Americans’ health, infrastructure, education, or inequality;
After receiving warnings (”Bin Laden Determined to Attack in US”), he failed to prevent the 9/11 attacks;
Took resources away from the attack on the country that harbored the 9/11 attackers (Afghanistan) to attack Iraq, which didn’t have anything to do with it, while ignoring (and cutting deals with) others that did (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan);
Hell, it will take historians volumes to document this stuff and I’ve got work to do, so I’ll cut this off and just say: Terri Schiavo.

Now, as for W himself, as a human being? Hell, I still actually can feel something for him. Beloved sister dead as a young child, heroic father gone all the time (”you’ll never measure up”), overbearing mother, difficulty in school or performing as expected (”George, you’re such a fuck-up”, “Why can’t you be more like Jeb?”, “OK, but this is the last time my buddies and I bail you out!”). What chance did he have?

Unfortunately, the world has been to one to pay the price for him. He hasn’t learned a damn thing. He needs to be slowly and carefully talked out of the Oval Office, away from the nookular button, taken someplace he can never hurt anyone again (The Hague?), and never paid attention to again (except as a cautionary tale).

It is the Iraq vote and her refusal to see any wrong on her part.

The vote itself makes her unelectable for me.

Her dogged refusal to see any wrong in it makes me really not like her.

In terms of intellect, the only difference between younger people and older people is experience. In addition to having experienced more, tried more, failed more, succeeded more, in short, learned more, older people have been young. Younger people have never been older. Do you really think you have some idea that previous generations have not considered? Particularly in regard to political leadership. Look, kid, I like Obama, and value his tone of optimism, but he ain’t offering anything new. At best, he can offer a return to the opportunities and fairness which existed a short seven years ago. It will be a wonder if anyone can achieve that.

Finally, regarding this look ahead, not back stuff. History is to a society what memory is to an individual. It’s imperfect and subject to all the rationalization and contortion that memory is, but without it we have no social memory. Your are truly born into a new world every morning.

Now wipe your nose and go play.