Honorable Republicans

[katster]

There is a legend that there are x honorable men (I've seen different totals for the value of x, but usually 8, 12, or 36) on the planet, and it is that x amount that keeps God from destroying the world for our wickedness.

I see it a little differently. God's looking for honest Republicans.

And in Washington State, there's one, by God. His name is Sam Reed, and he's their Secretary of State. And he certified the results of this last hand count that gave Democrat Christine Gregoire the win over Republican Dino Rossi, even though his party demanded that he not do that. And he said on the matter:

"There are people who think I should be using the position of secretary of state simply to weigh the scales on the side of my own party. I just don't accept that, and it would not be proper," he said.

"There are some people who have been dismayed that I wasn't a Katherine Harris who took the position, 'I'm a Republican, and by God that comes first.' "

God bless you, Mr. Reed.

(Oh yeah, if you haven't, Orcinus is a wonderful blog -- well, wonderful in that it's well-written, but Dave Neiwert, the main writer there, isn't afraid to take on scary topics. Really. Go. Read. Now.)

Comments

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

I don't like the term "$foo basher" much at all, especially as it's used these days.

More often than not it's a term used to dismiss valid criticism or verifiable facts by somehow implying that it is not. If I make a statement that's critical of, say, American foreign policy, I'm just an America-basher; my dislike of Bush makes me little more than a Bush-basher in the eyes of lots of people. Yes, I've had thoughts dismissed many, many times on those and similar grounds, generally without any attempt to consider the actual arguments.

So Kat mentions a politician who puts some honesty and integrity ahead of his and his party's welfare - in this day and age of questionable electoral politics all over the place - and is justly impressed, not to say surprised. And you go and accuse her of being "a basher" for this?

"You're just a basher" is a silly and spurious thing to say at the best of times; it's just a more dismissive way of saying "I disagree with you, therefore your words are in bad taste." I mean, really, now.

[dwhagar.livejournal.com]

Ok, thats enough...

I didn't dismiss anyone or anything. I'm not going to argue with you or anyone else (except for kat, who has not complained in the least) over this.

Kat knows me, know what I meant, I admire you being protective of your friend. But really, I've known kat since she was in the 7th grade, if she wanted to tell me that it was rude or it hurt her feelings she would. Its not your place, or anyone else's.

I would explain myself to you, but that would dignify this thread, which I don't want to do. I will say, you attribute far more to me than I put in my message. I'm sorry you are dismissed, but don't transfer anger at them onto me because I made a comment to a long standing friend in her journal.

I didn't even know you existed and don't know who you are.

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

I suppose all I can say is that you're dreadfully, spectacularly wrong in assuming I'm not a longtime friend of Kat's, as well as in declaring that I don't have the right to comment on something someone said in a public forum, here or anywhere else.

I'll let her explain that, though. After all, you don't know who I am, so why should what I say matter?

[fearghaill.livejournal.com]

*snickers*

[kuangning]

I'm laughing my ass off over here... ;)

[phenyx.livejournal.com]

De omni re scibili et quibusdam aliis, eh?

[kuangning]

Just goes to show "long standing" doesn't translate to "close" every time. ;)

I just gotta ask, though ... how'd you miss the anniversary announcements? ;)