Reply #14: I totally identify with you, Island Blue

[beachmom]

But I have this grand scheme about the Democrats taking over Congress, so I feel like I have to act AS IF we're already in power. But you know that when I'm OUT THERE (in red world), it's not that I yearn to call people names. It's that I don't want them to call my guys names. One guy I talked to called Kerry a "boob", and I really should have said, "well, define boob, because you're not giving me much to work with here". Sort of to say that name calling means you don't have much to say and are simply justifying your vote for *, by demonizing the other guy with vague characteristics of "boobness".

I agree that there are certain conversations I refuse to have, like I don't discuss abortion with ardent pro-life supporters. It's a conversation that will go nowhere and end up with hurt feelings all the way around. Iraq I can discuss, because it is very complex, so you can often find one aspect of it to agree on. The deficit and government spending is always a good one to discuss with Repub. friends -- just go to andrewsullivan.com for talking points on that.

So I'm not saying you shouldn't name call, but . . . I seriously don't think Kerry name calls (unless crooks and liars counts -- no, it doesn't because it's a fact). And if I do dive in, I want people to not look at me as a total partisan, and instead someone who has really mulled things over to come to certain conclusions . . .

(Exception to name calling rule: George Allen is and always will be Senator Barfbag!)