I agree that that crowd seems to yearn for a theocracy in which everything that is not compulsory is forbidden, but they say they're talking about the Constitution. I think it's rather remarkably self-centered to believe that it's going to be your religion that's running the show in a theocracy.

I think their ideal world is a sort of Puritan theology for everyone, mixed with stereotyped Victorian and 1950's middle-class domesticity for the women (with a side of Jane Austen, only a narrow reading that misses all the inherent snark and tension and that I'm sure has Jane spinning in her grave), and a sort of Patriot and Confederate militarism for the men (Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee are held up as ideal figures), but one that is relatively rarely translated into actual military service.

really more than once this happened?

Well, once for Providence, once for New Canaan, CT -- I think it happened several times, just that they didn't all name their new town Providence, RI.

I saw a couple ads for the John Adams HBO series, and couldn't get over the accent. It just didn't sound quite right coming out of Paul Giamatti's mouth -- I can't really pinpoint its wrongness, just that it sounded wrong. (And I'm totally aware I'm basing that sensibility on a modern ear for local accents to boot.)

Dear Colleagues,

I am sick of you all.

Now I want to read the rest of the letter.

It's much easier to be brave and dashing if you haven't been exposed to actual war.

The Wirehead in me wants it to end: "Fuck *all* y'all." But I'd say that about "Survivor" too.

I saw a couple ads for the John Adams HBO series, and couldn't get over the accent. It just didn't sound quite right coming out of Paul Giamatti's mouth -- I can't really pinpoint its wrongness, just that it sounded wrong.

It was disconcerting for a while, but once I got used to it he did a really consistent job with it, I thought. Whether it's accurate, I don't know.

The regionalisms of all the characters were kind of throwing me though, because I couldn't necessarily figure who was from where when they were speaking.

It's much easier to be brave and dashing if you haven't been exposed to actual war.

Yeah, and these days the actual military might expect them to take orders from (horrors!) women NCOs and officers!

ETA I'm speaking of the extreme patriarchal arm of the religious right here, though I think the idea that women don't belong in prominent leadership roles goes a little deeper.

And that takes me to a Glengarry Glen Ross place, with the best exit line on stage evar*: "Aw, fuck you! Fuck the lot of you! Fuck you all!".

* as opposed to the best exit stage direction ever, which is Exit, pursued by a bear

I'm pretty sure my spiritual ancestor Roger Williams was driven out of Massachusetts. (Spiritual ancestor on both sides! My father is a Baptist, and my mother was from Rhode Island.)

From this day forward you must never speak aloud of our founding fathers.

"Okay, this is the last page of the paperwork, Grandma, I've marked where you need to sign your John Hotcock -- HANCOCK HANCOCK HANCOCK, oh god, um, your signature goes here."