TK:  Seeing the Republicans botch their side's arguments so badly is painful.

 

From the 2008 Republican Party Platform
http://www.gop.com/2008Platform/

The Industrial Revolution treated people like machines; today’s economy must treat them as individuals. ... such as removing outdated distinctions between full time and part time, clock-punching and overtime.  ... For increasing numbers of workers, especially those with children, the choice of working from home will be good for families, profitable for business, and energy efficient.

The symbol of our unity, to which we all pledge allegiance, is the flag. By whatever legislative method is most feasible, Old Glory should be given legal protection against desecration. We condemn decisions by activist judges to deny children the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance in public school.

Faithful to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence, we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.

Because our children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman...

The public display of the Ten Commandments does not violate the U.S. Constitution and accurately reflects the Judeo-Christian heritage of our country. We support the right of students to engage in student-initiated, student-led prayer in public schools, athletic events, and graduation ceremonies, when done in conformity with constitutional standards.

The federal government has a special responsibility to the people in Indian country and a unique trust relationship with them, which has been insufficiently honored. The social and economic problems that plague Indian country have grown worse over the last several decades, and we must reverse that trend.
[That lays the blame on the administrations of Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush... and the Republican majorities in both houses of Congress. I will not even bother to address the obviously destructive paterrnalism of that so-called "special relationship."  MEM]

 In other words, you are willing to accept the privilege of getting rich from government subsidies for your business, in exchange for homophobic and misogynist laws and a nationalist government religion taught in the public schools? 

TK:  Lay off the fake homophobe-"concern" condescension you bug-eyed fuck.
MEM: Does this mean we're not friends any more?

Ted, your profanity on RoR was not uncharacteristic. In fact, over the last year, I have seen you more than once write things that were embarrassing to read. So, yes, I was embarrassed, though not for myself. We all have bad days and I have cut you a lot of slack because I perceive you as a complicated and intelligent person. However, through all of that, something that Barbara Branden said here about a failed friendship stayed with me.

I assure you here and now -- and I will repeat this on RoR -- that I had little regard at all for your homosexuality qua se and cited the GOP Platform on "Marriage" only as one point among several to underscore the difference between the political principles of the Republican Party and Objectivism, for instance on the question of prayer in public schools -- again, that among others.

If you wish to show that other principles -- such as support for the free market -- are more important as points of agreement, then that is a debate we can have. ... or could have, had you not just now threatened to punch me in the face, a phrase you have used before in other contexts. I can only take you at your word and will stand clear of you should we ever be in the same place at the same time.