Per Ted Kennedy:

“If the president abuses his power, and nominates someone who threatens to rollback the rights and freedoms of the American people, then the American people will insist that we oppose that nominee, and we intend to do so.”

Read my comments at the Politburo Diktat

(Consider this a test post. I’m having some difficulty with Jack’s MT Control Panel.)

I read with interest this guest commentary by Pennywit on Random Fate. He seemed to go out of the way to criticize me for pointing out the hypocrisy of those who strongly advocate the war in Iraq, but are unwilling to sacrifice anything to the cause.

In his post below, Mr. Anderson assays a chickenhawk lite argument, that is:

Rhetoric is rhetoric, and while I agree that it can get a bit ridiculous at times discussing this issue, I believe the assumption that those most strongly advocating something, should be willing to sacrifice themselves for the cause they advocate… Is not an unreasonable position.

The problem with chickenhawk lite is that it’s really no better than the usual “chickenhawk” ad hominem. It’s just another attempt to shut down debate by asserting that the opponent’s point is invalid because the opponet himself doesn’t behave a certain way. Only instead of calling his fellow belligerent “chickenhawk” or “coward,” Mr. Anderson would simply call him “hypocrite.”

Unfortunately, name-calling, of whatever stripe, is not reasoned debate or discourse, but rather an attempt to choke off the same.

He conveniently ignores the venom evident in the comments to my post. Which go a long way toward demonstrating the smug arrogance many on the Right, (And the ones I am addressing with my post, have)… Whatever…

I am not into name calling, but for the sake of argument I will venture to look at the last line of his post.

“Unfortunately, name-calling, of whatever stripe, is not reasoned debate or discourse, but rather an attempt to choke off the same.”

First off, Mr. Pennywit obviously knows nothing about me or my blog, and obviously has made no attempt to educate himself. My Blog is probably the most open to debate in the Blogsphere. (Eh, take a look at my Guest Bloggers PW.) My position is simply part of the debate, and I find it interesting that so many are trying to CHOKE OFF that position, while claiming that my position is the one trying to eliminate debate. So I call out Pennywit, and any one else who took offense to my position. I offer you an opportunity to guest blog on ISOU and explain your position as you will. You see, in reality, I believe in discussion, not sarcasm or personal attacks. Like I said in the original post, I walk the walk IN ALL of my life’s endeavors.

I think my issue with War Supporting Bloggers is pretty clear. I am not insisting that anyone strap on a gun and go to war to support their argument, or to have a voice in the discussion. I am simply saying that I find it most ironic that the ones who are most vehement in their support for the war, are often the ones who have made no sacrifice for the cause of winning it. I stand by the position…

Crossposted to ISOU