ETA: Also I'm totally going to hell for writing "Chief of Staff" and "that's what she said" in the same sentence...I don't believe I did that!

In some ways, I know how you feel, Shari, as I tend to be a liberal surrounded by conservatives in work life (although I was raised as a liberal to libertarian) , and I have ended up disliking people that I previously liked when they posted political stuff that I disagree with. I am actually in the process of trying to understand conservatism and particularly Republicanism, as I feel that a core tenant of my liberal feeling is tolerance.

But I feel very harsh things toward certain right wing people, and I can't get over it, and I feel that these people are taking advantage of rank and file Republicans and their core values, which seem to me to be fiscal conservatism and weak central government, and doing those very things themselves!

But I also feel that Democrats have whipped people up who want ends to poverty and injustice, and good healthcare for all, and aren't really doing anything to make a big change. So I don't know.

But I am sorry if I have said anything hurtful, as I really value (for myself) not being mean to people. That is sort of my core value.

Also I'm totally going to hell for writing "Chief of Staff" and "that's what she said" in the same sentence...I don't believe I did that!

Frankly, I'm surprised it took you this long!

Shari, I don't know when you started reading here, but you are aware this board started on Salon.com, right? Liberal politics were pretty much built in from the get go.

I keep typing and deleting things. If you don't feel that waterboarding is torture... I certainly don't speak on behalf of all Buffistas, but... I just don't know how much common political ground we're going to find.

It does suck when you find out that people you care about disparage your political views. I have people like that on FB who are climate change deniers and such, and I just scroll on by.

There are Republicans who share (or come closer) to your view on those issues than the caricature so often held up.

Maybe it's just my filter, but my impression is that people rant about specific politicians (Cheney), subgroups (wingnuts, tea partiers), platform planks (anti-abortion, anti-gay marriage), or laws (Utah's current nuttiness) than saying ALL REPUBLICANS ARE EVOL.

This post may self-destruct if I think better of it.

One last vestige of maidenly virtue,or civic pride, or something...that's all I can say. Oh, well, at least I'll see people I know in Special Hell.

was given Miranda rights, which are rights held by Americans

Miranda rights are are for humans, not solely for Americans. Speaking as a member of a select group which has been routinely denied rights that at least one other select group takes for granted, I'm a big fan of not taking human rights away from select groups just to make privileged groups feel secure. A person never knows when s/he is going to be summarily included in a select group chosen to have their rights denied them.

Well said, Windsparrow.

But, I still think the guy deserved Miranda Rights, waterboarding is torture and gays should both be able to serve in the military and get married, and I still can't understand why people wouldn't, but I am trying to understand.

Just one more thing about the "Christmas Bomber". He has given up actionable intelligence that is in fact being acted upon.

[link]

True, he did clam up for five weeks, but there's no way of knowing if he would have given up good information no matter what happened. They got him to cooperate with the help of his family.

Sophia, smonster, and WindSparrow all make points I'd want to make if I were more articulate.