Let's Get Something Straight Here

Man, I had to read this before I've even had my coffee today. A comment from eilandkind on my post, What We Learned.

I figured if I had so much hatred shining through in my political entries, I should share it with all of you and let you see my reply.

***

Water tangob, only water, maybe you should try that next time.
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about the confusion liberal women leave me with.
I've been trying to understand your meltdown, as demonstrated by some feminists who want to jump out of high windows, because of desperation over SP.
I realised after reading your post, about Republican men and Barbie dolls, that it is the typical old story of liberals, who cannot, for the life of them, put themselves in the shoes of a conservative. At least intellectual conservatives can look at both points of view and make a choice, but it is impossible for liberal intellectuals, who seem to only be 'tolerant' towards people who think and act exactly the way they do.
You are dead wrong when it comes to the generalisation of Rep men, none of the Rep men (and that includes my husband) think the way you think that they do.
I have to wonder how many Republicans, you've actually ever met in your life.
I am totally baffled, I must say. Politics in the USA, taught me a lot more than what a doctorate in anthropology, would have done.
Anyway, I've decided not to comment on your political entries anymore, it is hard for me to understand how so much hatred can shine through in your political entries as opposed to your other entries.

***

Dear eilandkind,

Here it is, once and for all, and then you're welcome to read or not read my blog as you see fit. I really don't care one way or another.

I am a fiscal conservative.
I am a social moderate.
I believe in the separation of powers.
I believe in the separation of church and state.
I do not believe that the government should deny any woman an abortion or access to birth control.

Back in the day, before the Republican party began to appeal to religious conservatives with the election of Ronald Reagan, you would find that this would have been their platform. I'm sure even your husband would agree that his party's ideals have shifted somewhat.

If you can tell me that George Bush and the Republican party have upheld these ideals, please illuminate me and millions of other people who are heartbroken at the shambles that this Republican president has left our country in. We are in the biggest financial crisis that our country has ever faced. My two baby nieces and children all over this country will inherit the most massive debt of any country in history. Is that fiscal conservatism? Do you remember something called the Patriot Act? An Attorney General named Roberto Gonzales? We see our constitutional rights being unraveled before our eyes. All of this wilfully done under a Republican administration.

And you think that McCain and Palin are going to be a change from the past eight years? In 2000, I would have said perhaps, because John McCain was a different candidate then. Since then, he has given up any credibility of the "maverick" qualities he once had. Now that word is completely hollow. Check out the senator's voting record.

John McCain chose a candidate who is much less tolerant than even you accuse me of being due to her strong religious beliefs. There were several other qualified Republican women (Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Elizabeth Dole or Olympia Snowe, to name a few) but he chose one with such extremist beliefs that would ensure votes from the farthest right of the political spectrum, a small portion of the electorate, but a very vocal one. Strong religious beliefs are fine, but they have no place in the political arena. Go back and read the Declaration of Independence, which makes it very clear that governments created by humanity derive their powers from the consent of the governed, not from anyone's god.

The reason many women (and not just liberals or feminists as you are so quick to assume we are) dislike Sarah Palin is that they can see she is relatively unschooled and has a very narrow view of the world. She governs a state that has fewer residents than the city I live in and little or no access to or interest in diverse opinions, all of which does not convince us that her experience is even close to being relevant to the enormous job ahead of her, whether or not McCain would live out his entire term of office. She has never encountered people from other countries until quite recently and has never developed any world view. In her time as mayor, she ran her own small town into $25 million of debt. Look it up.

You are incredibly naive. A doctorate in Anthropology or anything else doesn't matter if you don't understand what is happening before your eyes.

Now feel free to move on. You don't need to keep checking in to see if I've answered your comment. Here it is.