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May 24, 2004

Moderation, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

Posted by nerdling | May 24, 2004 03:09 PM

Being neither a Republican nor a Democrat (for equal amounts of the ridiculous inherent in both parties), I enjoy my place as a fairly staunch middle-grounder. I have lots of opinions on any number of political topics and being without a party allows me to pick and choose candidates based on qualifications rather than any nagging feelings of allegiance to a group. That being said, I have long mourned the defeat of Senator John McCain as the Republican candidate for the Presidency in 2000.

I have no more bias against the GOP than I do for any other party—in general, political parties are made up of fanatics and zealots, two groups that make little-to-no sense on any issue. Partisanship is a curse that plagues all houses equally.

Because of my feelings about political parties, I have a hard time getting fully behind candidates (mostly because I feel they are puppets, obligingly nodding to the beat of the party drum). My opinions generally run further left than right according to the current party scheme, and McCain is one of the first conservatives that ever made sense to me; mostly, the word "conservative" inspires frightening visions of church+state, back-alley abortions, deteriorating care for the poor, tax breaks for the rich, unmitigated xenophobia (if not all-out warmongering), intolerance and a frightening thirst for wealth and power. (I could give a similar list for the Dems but I'm not bitching about them today.)

But in the midst of all that negative conservatism comes McCain, who could very well have given Bush a fight for the nomination by lying about his views. Instead, he was vocal about what he thinks and what he would do; not that I believe everything he said, but I appreciate a politican who can be honest despite the consequence of certain defeat. I was really quite sad when McCain lost the nomination, and I have been hoping ever since that the Republicans would come to their senses and send him in to save the day.

It won't happen—thus ending any chance that I would vote Republican in the near future—but a girl can dream, can't she? I mean, how can you not love a man who keeps a list of porkbarrel policies currently in play on his website? He's just enough of an outspoken asshole to be endearing.

Speaking of outspoken assholes, check out these memos, which are Evelyn Waugh's response to Hollywood's treatments of Brideshead Revisted and Scoop. An excellent example of the kind of biting condescention you don't find in the wild anymore; this is what they aren't teaching the children in school!

Kris Kristofferson to release a new album.

Jawbox's For Your Own Special Sweetheart and Jawbox to be re-released this year on DeSoto, possibly including a live DVD.