[redbaiter]

I think Democrats rely to an unhealthy degree on the government for moral affirmation. They want the government not just to perform its duties but to positively affirm who is Good and who is not. And the moral plane from which it must do this is of course that occupied by the Left. It is not enough that the government do a good job at national defense, regulatory oversight and so on. If it does not also positively affirm the moral viewpoint of the left then the universe is out of whack and must be fixed. To get an idea what the Bush presidency feels like to a Democrat, imagine if God forgot your name. Sure, He's still God and everything, but still.

I noticed a huge Kerry-Edwards lawn sign in a co-worker's office yesterday - is it just me or is displaying these things in an office setting just plain tacky? - and asked why he was voting for Kerry. His response made no mention of Kerry at all but instead rattled off a list of things Bush is damaging: Separation of church and state and human rights topped the list. I asked for an example of human rights violations; he cited Abu Graibh. I asked if the elimination of Saddam should not also be taken into account before deciding whether the human rights situation was better or worse under Bush. His response? He called me an idiot. That was his only response. Sadly, this total inability to reason is typical of the Democrats I have spoken to this year, and working in Philly I've to a great many.

[MrChips]

I think Democrats rely to an unhealthy degree on the government for moral affirmation. They want the government not just to perform its duties but to positively affirm who is Good and who is not

You are right. There is a general solipsism on the Left which denies objective truth, reasoned argument, facts and figures . . . and there is also a substitution of Government for God. Last week I presented 21 clear Bush proposals on health care to a liberal at work. He responded, "I just don't see any logic." That was his whole respnse. No reasoned argument. No debate over facts. That's the way they are.