In other words, just because we don’t find fossils of certain creatures together with humans in the fossil record, it doesn’t mean they didn’t live at the same time as man. The coelacanth proves that, Mr. Damon.

Their political views are not coherent.

And they are, necessarily, narcissists.

How much impact do they actually have when they go public with this stuff? I tend to think people laugh it off.

But, yeah, he is an exceptionally idiotic idiot.

Also, I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to respond to a statement like this—“I know no one on the left who promotes abortion.” with this photo, taken on July 11 this year in Joliet:

Actually, you’ve been on my mind lately, because I’ve been revisiting all that old Peter Gabriel Genesis we used to listen to in high school. “A flower?” It’s weird stuff and hasn’t really aged that well, but I can’t help but like it.

Speaking of music—before I go on to respond to your comments—are you a fan of Ben Folds at all? I remember discovering on one of our many reconnections that you too are an REM fan; I wondered if our musical tastes have continued on similar trajectories.

I missed out on Ben Folds during the 90s when I was busy working three teaching jobs, painting houses and starting my family. I was turned on to him earlier this year and I’ve been gobbling up his music, like we gobbled up Genesis back in the day.

Moving on to the argument, you write:

NOTE: The rest my response to Jim has been moved to a regular blog post, here.

1) He isn’t a “socialist”…and it is too bad, because many of the basic tenets of socialism aren’t a bad thing. Equality, the rich take care of the poor, everyone works for a common cause, society takes care of those who can’t take care of themselves…but Barrack isn’t a socialist.

2) My claims and the facts:
Abortion rate:
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-unitedstates.html

Looking at the data shows that many more abortions occured under the Reagan/BushI period of time than under the Clinton period of time.

Look at the ratio of abortions to live births…it has increased under Bush and was at its lowest under Clinton…

Regardless of the numbers, the president has little bearing on the number of abortions performed

As for teen pregnancies…read this:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20080711/teen-pregnancy-rates-edige-higher

Teen pregnancies started dropping in 1992…Bill Clinton was the president…they dropped until 2006 when we had 6 solid years of Republican presidency and Congress, and they’ve been going up since then…

3) Illicit sex? What is that? Sex between people who aren’t married. You mean like McCain who left his first wife or Limbaugh who has been married numerous times or do you mean Ronald Reagan who divorced his wife…isn’t EACH ONE OF THEM engaged in illicit sex with anyone other than their first wife? What about the Catholic Church that hid sex offenders for years? What exactly did the “left” have to do with that?

I know no one on the left who promotes abortion. I believe in birth control, talking to kids about sex at a very early age, teaching them to have some self respect, as well as respect for others. I teach them to be honest (unlike McCain or Bush), I teach them war is a last resort, I teach them that everyone Muslim, Jew, black, white is no better or worse than they are. If they live a good life, they will be saved.

If you want to know why I am a liberal, watch this…WARNING: it might be a little alarming.

Jim:

Who gives a flying fig about Palin’s views on creation? She’s not even running for president but for vice president.

What about OBAMA? What do we know about him, other than everyone he’s associated with is racist and hostile towards our country, that he is radically socialist, and that he voted against a bill protecting infants who survived an abortion attempt?

How can you associate your claims (and I believe abortion rates have decreased) with the “far right”? It’s the LEFT that promotes both abortion and illicit sex. And “global warming” is a big sham… that’s the fault of the “far right” too, I suppose.

You of all people should understand nuance. I realize you are probably excited about Palin as a vp choice, she is certainly as pro-life a candidate as this country as seen in a long time, but much like McCain’s camp has continuously avoided issues, Damon is simply addressing the McCain campaign on the issues that it is willing to take up…nothing of substance.

Other than the abortion issue, McCain is a vile candidate. His war mongering, his blatant, bald faced lying about EVERYTHING from Palin’s earmarks, to Obama’s positions, to HIS OWN positions…a country run by him and someone who believes being close to Russia makes her have knowledge of Russia is ludicrous.

I know you are a brilliant person with a great mind, you always were, but has your fight for one issue so blinded you that you do not see the tremendous harm the far right has caused this country over the last eight years. Abortions, teen pregnancies, all of the things you rally against have INCREASED over the last four years. Our deficit has increased, climate change-increased, poverty…you get where I’m coming from on this.

Damon’s comments are understandable given that Palin has given just ONE interview since she was selected vice president two weeks ago. What do we know about her? We know McCain will do or say anything to get elected…he has made that blatantly obvious, but what do we know about her? Is she a total creationist, does she believe in evolution? What sort of historical context does she give the world around her? How much history, constitution, civil rights, has she studied or even cared to study? And quite honestly…what does she think about dinosaurs? Sometimes the dumbest questions can reveal the most telling answers.