RELUCTANTLY - COMMENTS OPEN AGAIN
Fact is, the “Contact Me” form was apparently disabled in the move to Hosting Matters and this seems to have angered many of you who wish to give me a piece of your minds.
So in the interest of internet harmony (and because I am a glutton for punishment), I have reactivated the comment function for the blog. I will post everything except physcial threats against me or another. So, if your vocabulary is so limited that every other word must be an obscenity, your comment will be posted for all the world to see what a moron you are.
Go ahead then. I have bared my chest and back for the lash. Deliver unto me your worst - and best if you’ve a mind to.
UPDATE
Sorry. I lied again.
In addition to scrapping comments that make threats against me or another, I will also deep six any comments that mention anyone in my family.
If you wish to say something about them, please contact them directly. Don’t be a snivelling coward and try and sneak your criticism of them onto my site. Any such comment will be deleted.
Ummmmmmm . . . Hi.
Comment by michael reynolds — 10/25/2008 @ 1:20 pm
Good move, Rick. many posters do in fact refrain from the use of truly naughty words, except for an occasional damn or hell.
In my opinion, to organize a site and set forth personal views on the ideas and events of the world is to clearly ask for comments by others on your writings. I have not yet observed anyone’s opinion to be sufficiently complete and worthwhile that no comment is necessary. To the contrary, many if not most propositions set forth on the web are one-sided, self-serving, and willfully blind to opposite views.
You do a concrete service to focus your readers on various issues, and to allow comments to take place on them, even when the comments stray significantly from the original issue, as they are wont to do.
The tactic being used in some blogs of announcing in advance the termination of a thread, and then actually terminating threads after a few days or weeks might be something to consider. This could obviously include exceptions when indicated by the value of the comments as you see them.
mannning
Comment by mannning — 10/25/2008 @ 2:01 pm
Rick,
After reading your posts on your blog, and some of your columns, I have a rather strange question for you. Why would you presume to call your web site “Right Wing Nut House? As far as I can tell from your columns and blogs, you are not a right winger, John Bircher, Strict Constructionist, or as I think of mysself and a lot of other conservatives, to far to the right to be called anything but a constitutionalist. I do find your writing entertaining, but rather tortured reading as I think you are more of a moderate Dem than anything else, much to PC to ever be a leader of anything. But that is the greatness of the Web. I will continue to look in on your posts as an alternative to some more conservative voices.
I am indeed a strict constructionist to the core. A fiscal conservative, a believer and defender of American exceptionalism, an advocate for a strong defense and robust American foreign policy, a promoter of a just and moral society, and a follower of Russel Kirk’s 10 principles of conservatism.
All of these things I have written about passionately on this site. The name of the site is what my enemies on the left call me - a right wing nut. It is a slap at their limited intelligence and lockstep stupidity not reflective of any place I occupy on some kind of conservative measuring stick.
I consider myself a conservative. If you wish to place a “moderate” or “RINO” or even “fake” in front my my self identifying term, that is your right. Just know that I ignore it. You are either a conservative or you’re not. And that’s that.
ed.
Comment by greyneck — 10/25/2008 @ 2:16 pm
I have really come to value this blog. I need to believe in the basic decency, integrity and common sense of Republicans. Republicans seem to be slightly crazy at the moment. More crazy is coming. There will be some bloody daggers before we’re done. (And yes, I’ll be munching popcorn and enjoying the show.)
But when this election is over, and after the tell-all/blame-all books are written, we still need a functioning GOP. It’s a two party system. As a moderate Democrat I rely on the GOP to rein in my party. Barney Frank wants to cut military spending by 25%. We need the GOP to yell when that kind of nonsense starts.
Free people, free markets, strong defense, skepticism about government, caution in foreign policy and a decent respect for the value of tradition. (Not that it’s my place as a Dem to design the GOP menu.) That’s what we need as Americans from the Republican party. We need a new WFB. We need a GOP reformation.
This blog is an example of what I hope for from a new and reconstituted GOP, and I hope Moran ends up with a (suitably large) place at the table as the GOP moves forward and comes back smart, strong and ready for trouble.
Comment by michael reynolds — 10/25/2008 @ 2:25 pm
“As a moderate Democrat I rely on the GOP to rein in my party. Barney Frank wants to cut military spending by 25%. We need the GOP to yell when that kind of nonsense starts.”
Hmmm.. Michael.. i hope you dont mind me asking you this question. But why are you depending on the GOP to reign in the Democrat party when Frank wants a 25% cut in defense spending ??
What exactly would YOU do as a self professed moderate Democrat ? And what exactly happens when a 40 Senate GOP and a 180 member GOP Congress cannot DO A DAMNED THING and are sure to get stream rolled when Frank’s “IDEA” is sure to come up in the next Congress ? Will you now blame the GOP for having lost the elections so disastrously ?
Just curious.
Comment by Nagarajan Sivakumar — 10/25/2008 @ 3:20 pm
Nagarajan:
You seem angry at the prospect of a 40 Rep Senate. It’s not my party’s fault that your party has decided to commit suicide.
As for me, I’ll do what I always do: express my opinion and cast my vote. Occasionally write a check.
But we have a two party system. A yin and a yang. The job of Democrats is to push for more inclusion and a bigger safety net. Sometimes our silly little ways work out pretty well. We championed civil rights, women’s rights and gay rights. We were right on all three, as most Republicans now acknowledge. Remember when we liberal Democrats pushed to open more military jobs to women? You want to undo that? No, not so much?
The point of a two party system is to allow for a push and pull. I don’t want the GOP dead because what a functional GOP does needs doing. We’re not enemies. We’re fellow Americans living in a state of dynamic tension, both sides trying to do what’s best for the United States of America, the country both sides love. When you guys pull on your end of the rope and we pull on ours we make things happen. When either party loses its freaking mind (Democrats circa McGovern, let’s say, or Republicans the last 8 years) we get nowhere.
Comment by michael reynolds — 10/25/2008 @ 5:22 pm
Seems incredibly naive for some of the high profile so-called conservatives to hope that Obama will be a centrist. Looking at his past associations, voting record, including all those “present” in Illinois Senate so he could be a stealth candidate, why would he go against his (imo) puppet masters Soros and Daley and a Ried/Pelosi led Congress to kiss out-in-cold GOP butts? Abortion on demand, paid by the taxpayers, out of Iraq asap, the “Fairness” doctrine, Union card check off, “free” health insurance, welfare tax credits for many and so on are surely all on his agenda. Not to mention all the new proposed bureaucratic cabinet agencies that easily be facilitated. So- expanded national government along with compulsory volunteerism and a civilian brownshirt corps.
Guess we may well see a parallel in the upcoming 24 Season with a more liberal Potus. I’d have no fear if Obama were anything like the original dem potus Palmer.
Comment by HE HATE ME — 10/25/2008 @ 6:38 pm
Hey Rick, you may be interested to know that I really didn’t miss the comments. Much to my surprise, I kept on coming back to your blog at the same consistency as before comments were temporarily suspended. (Trust me, it’s not because I started to agree with you any more than 10-15% of the time!) Rather, it appears that you have a good thing worth coming back to that doesn’t require reader feedback to prosper. Of course I still enjoy leaving comments, but you should know that I won’t stop reading your blog if you suspend commentary from us in the peanut gallery again.
Comment by Surabaya Stew — 10/25/2008 @ 7:53 pm
Backlash? I am just glad you re-opened your commentary. As I stated on another site, the comments are half the fun here a Nuthouse. The other half is the mood you are going to be in that particular day. Keep up the great work and if I am not careful I just might learn something.
-KnuckleDragger
Comment by Knuckledraggers Who Support Rick Moran! — 10/25/2008 @ 8:36 pm
I am so disappointed with the GOP these days. I used to be a Democrat when I was younger and became disgusted with them as well. I guess I will have to start a Party of Me so that I won’t be disappointed anymore. Not.
I am sticking with the GOP because I believe that it can be reformed. I don’t think McCain is the one to do it, but I believe that he will cut spending and at least scare our enemies enough to back them up a bit until we conservatives can get our acts together.
The problem is with the congress. I think overall the GOP did a pretty job in the minority with stopping some of the democratic craziness. Jeez, remember Harry Reid and the whole cot drama and cutting off funding for our troops? That one image alone made me shake myself out of my disappointment and realize that turning our country over to the far left whackos without a fight isn’t an option. Nancy in her scarf and selling out President Bush in Syria wasn’t a pretty picture either.
Comment by Diana — 10/26/2008 @ 12:29 am
David Sedaris wrote:
“To put [the candidates] in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. “Can I interest you in the chicken?” she asks. “Or would you prefer the platter of s—t with bits of broken glass in it?”
To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked.”
You, Rick, spend too much time critiquing the chicken. And now you’re about to be served the platter of s-t.
Comment by Staten Island — 10/26/2008 @ 4:10 am
I stopped reading most of this site a while ago, as it is obvious you are attempting to out Alla, Allapundit. You WANT to be cursed out? Really? I think you simply want more “hits”, and just like Kathy Parker et al, you’ve decided that Sarah can help. Yawn. Best of luck with the site…
You imply that I am a masochist? Such brilliant logic should be rewarded. Since you also imply that you will not be returning to this site, allow me to help you maintaining your resolve to that effect.
You’re banned.
ed.
Comment by JWS — 10/26/2008 @ 8:40 am
Rick:
I know you consider yourself a resonable man. I know you want to look at yourself in the mirror and say I am a resonable man.
These are Unreasonable times. The times demand those who can pick a side. The forces that play within politics, society and the economy are coming to a peak. This is more the time for hoisting the bloody flag and charging into the mouth of Hell. Other times are for resonable men to have quiet discussions, that you value that makes you a good man, That you fight so hard against partisanship in a desperate fight makes your goodness ineffective and wasted.
Those who opposed the Bolsheviks had too many reasonable men and the Bolsheviks overcame them with shear murderous intensity. Where do you stand and where will you stand?
The last thing I will say is do not strive to be liked by anyone including yourself.
Steve
A thinking Partisan.
Comment by Steve — 10/26/2008 @ 10:41 am
Michael,
Responding to some of your comments.
“You seem angry at the prospect of a 40 Rep Senate. It’s not my party’s fault that your party has decided to commit suicide.”
Angry? No.Disappointed ? Yes. Concerned by a Democratic behemoth absolutely having its way in every possible issue ? Absolutely.
By the way you never understood my question about what you intend to do - i understand that you make political contributions and all that, but the point that i was trying to make is that your party is now more liberal than it was and there is no real place for any moderation here.
“But we have a two party system. A yin and a yang. The job of Democrats is to push for more inclusion and a bigger safety net. Sometimes our silly little ways work out pretty well.”
I disagree on the very idea of a Government mandated safety net. Saftey nets should not be for people who can afford to save for their own retirement. Michael Jordan, Petyon Manning, Wall Street bankers will one day be receiving social security benefits… ITs a JOKE. But you know what ? This joke is going to crumble under its own weight when 70 million boomers retire. And i have not even approached the issue of Medicare funding deficit.
” We championed civil rights, women’s rights and gay rights. We were right on all three, as most Republicans now acknowledge.”
The GOP in the 60’s was still more of a northern oriented party. Republicans supported civil rights legislation. George Wallace was a Democrat -he opposed civil rights more than any one else. Of course after the legislation passed, Southern Democrats switched to the GOP in droves - but lets give credit to the GOP where it is due.
Womens rights/Gay rights movements have been progressive causes and i will readily admit that. How ever it has also promoted an environment of “you have to think like us” - any woman who does not support the views of progressives on abortion is immediately branded a traitor. The same thing happens to black conservatives. The treatment meted out to Clarence Thomas was downright shameful.
Same thing could also be said about the gay movement - when a prominent gay conservative like Andrew Sullivan was at TNR he was relentlessly attacked for being a sell out - of course now that he is an Obamophile, these feelings have subsided.
“The point of a two party system is to allow for a push and pull. I don’t want the GOP dead because what a functional GOP does needs doing.”
When Card Check, Fairness Doctrine, and Government intervention in 401K plans passes in a Pelosi-Reid led Congress within the first year, it will prove that the GOP is indeed dead.
The party has a loooong way to go. For now, it is not even existent let alone functional.
“We’re not enemies. We’re fellow Americans living in a state of dynamic tension, both sides trying to do what’s best for the United States of America, the country both sides love.”
Tell that to Obama, Pelosi and Reid. Watch if they listen.
“When you guys pull on your end of the rope and we pull on ours we make things happen.”
Vaguely rhetorical - what was this supposed to mean.?
“When either party loses its freaking mind (Democrats circa McGovern, let’s say, or Republicans the last 8 years) we get nowhere”
I agree. But Michael, we are at a point where the Democrats are busily preparing themselves to lose their mind.
Employee Card Check, Capital gains tax increases, Income tax increases on the highest 20% of income earners, payroll tax increases on employers and plans to take over 401(K) will have even more negative consequences for the economy.
I will end by saying that political thinking in this country is pretty much bankrupt. On both sides.
This nation has a 53 trillion deficit for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security alone - and on top of this Government is now going to spend more on health care ?
I have heard a lot about how the Iraq war is costly etc. It’s costs are absolutely dwarfed by what is coming up in the next 3 decades. And NOT a single question was asked of either candidates as to how their “plans” would worsen these deficits.
“Fun” times ahead.
Comment by Nagarajan Sivakumar — 10/26/2008 @ 11:52 am
Moran is now saying he won’t delete posts and block people from reading his goofy site? Nawwww, say it ain’t so. Watching Moran’s head blow up is by far the most entertaining thing about this site.
Here’s my question: can we now refer to RWNH has a time capsule? A place where it is 2003 forever? Everything Moran had advocated is now pretty much down in flames, so what is left for the tad?
Comment by Paddy O'Shea — 10/26/2008 @ 12:19 pm
Nagarajan:
I don’t think the Democratic party is about to lose its mind. I think Obama will appoint a cabinet of very respectable, very moderate technocrats.
Then he’ll moderate his stated economic views — your party has bankrupted the country so we’ll be busy hauling ourselves out of the ditch Mr. Bush and your borrow-and-spend party has driven us into.
He’s right on diplomacy, he’s right on Pakistan/Afghanistan, and he’s right that we need national health insurance. He’ll govern as a moderate democrat with a team composed of the best people he can find. I’ll bet you right now there are at least two GOP cabinet members. (I’d like to see him keep Gates at DoD.)
I do expect I’ll pay more taxes. But 90% of you won’t, so while I appreciate your deep concern for my tax rates I’m going to go right on earning as much as I can. Another few percentage points will do nothing to diminish my greed.
Colin Powell, Warren Buffet, Paul Volcker and Robert Rubin are with Obama — really doesn’t sound to me like Obama is planning on growing a mustache and turning into Joe Stalin.
Comment by michael reynolds — 10/26/2008 @ 1:05 pm
Okay, Rick. You have opened the flood gates of derision and invited all to “[d]eliver unto me your worst…” But, since no one seems to be willing to cast that first really hard hitting stone so far, I’ll cast first.
You write, “So, if you’re vocabulary is so limited that every other word must be an obscenity,…”
Are you kidding me? “…you’re vocabulary…” Surely you know the word should have been your not the contracted you are. Rookie mistake and don’t let it happen again.
Heh - I am suitably chastised. Thank you.
ed.
Comment by Indigo Red — 10/26/2008 @ 3:44 pm
Rick,
As a compromise, why not require registration or use an off-site service like typekey or disqus? ISTM that would make moderating much more friendly for you.
Comment by Andy — 10/26/2008 @ 4:00 pm
Michael,
We shall see what Obama will do if, as seems likely, he wins. I don’t think anyone can predict with any certainty what kind of cabinet Obama will have (a problem in itself), nor that he’ll somehow be more moderate than he is now. What evidence is there he’ll govern as a moderate, especially with Dem control of both houses?
Comment by Andy — 10/26/2008 @ 4:03 pm
Rick, when you stopped comments I understood as I read about 15 blogs daily and I don’t read them for their commenters but for the content of the blog itself. The blogs I read are spread across the political spectrum as I don’t believe in reading only what I agree with. Even at my great age I find that I can learn new things and even change my mind occasionally. But I also thought that if you thnk the commenters you have are often off base be hopeful that most of the commenters over at AOL’s Propelller don’t move over here.
Thank you for your blog and thank you for having the courage to write exactly how you feel. Thank you for not bowing down to PC. I would much rather read you than a blogger, either liberal or conservative, who can only follow the party line.
Comment by Gaia's Child — 10/26/2008 @ 6:46 pm
Michael,
It is kind of sad that you started out by saying we need two parties and then went on to say “your party has bankrupted the country”. Full disclosure, I am not a Republican- heck, I am not even a US citizen.
I also noticed that you did not come close to approaching the issue of 53 trillion dollar deficit that is facing this country. On top of this you would like national health insurance too. Have you tried to find out how national health insurance works in countries like England and Canada which have about a 10th of the total US population ?
I am not all impressed by the people who back a candidate. I watch what the candidate himself/herself has done in office. We are talking about a person who has zero accomplishments as a legislator till date, a person who has never taken a tough stance on a critical issue against the entrenched interests of his own party - i dont agree with Warren Buffet at all on his stance on tax rates for rich people. It is nothing more than pure class war fare. Due to Bush’s tax cuts, Buffet has had a chance to keep more of his money than before. Money that he is free to invest in what ever he wants to, be philanthrophic as much as he want to. I’d much rather trust his investment instincts than that of the Federal Govt.
At this point, all that i have indeed is “hope”. Hope that Obama is a moderate. The swiftness with which the Orwellian named Employee “Free Choice”act and “Fairness” doctrine is enacted will be an indicator of his supposed moderation.
As far as Pakistan/Afghanistan goes i have not seen a more naive candidate than Obama. His belligerent statements on Pakistan only serve to increase people’s paranoia about how the US never respects the sovereignity of an Islamic nation. And i am not talking about Pakistani extremists but average Pakistanis. If you have noticed the democratically elected govt of Pakistan has been openly signing peace deals with terrorists, continuing Musharaff’s policies.
The situation is very complex and does not lend itself to sounbytes of neophyte politicians who want to show how “tough” they are.
And as far as your comments about not minding being taxed more by Obama, you have to remember that you only speak for yourself. I absolutely mind having my taxes increase for no fault of mine and for having to cover up inefficiencies of a bloated Federal Govt. For having to pay for entrenched interest groups in the political system.
Increases in Capital gains taxes, payroll taxes are all absolute killers of economic growth, especially in this envirnoment. I dont care if Volker, Buffet support this insanity - it still is insanity.
Well, it does not really matter now, does it ? Obama is going to win in the next 10 days and I am bracing myself for more big government and more socialism.
Comment by Nagarajan Sivakumar — 10/26/2008 @ 7:43 pm
I started reading this site for the clever and witty reviews of episodes of 24 and Jack Bauer. I hope you continue those posts - most were far better than the show, especially the last few seasons.
I disagree with those who think Obama will be a “moderate”. I’m sure most have read reports of his inner circle of advisers reading books about FDR’s first 100 days. For those who have forgotten, FDR passed a huge number of laws in those first 100 days. It might be instructive to review that period to have a feel for what Obama likely intends.
His lead up to the inauguration speech will be portrayed as a “time of crisis” along the order of “like no other” and demands “swift, decisive action”. What little we know of “Obama in action”, his childhood mentors, his benefactors during college, and his Chicago ACORN days does not point to moderation. If someone has any factual basis contra, now would be a good time to publish it. All we have is a large pile of “what he’ll do” because “he’s a nice, thoughtful guy”, ala Joe Biden.
For one to think an Obama Presidency and complete control of Congress to behave somehow “moderately” is simply borderline insanity.
Honestly, one must live in a cave to not know the social engineering folks in Congress are hurriedly drafting 25% cuts in the Defense budget, tossing out 401K programs to be replaced with social security on steroids, and developing national health care at the bedside of the “lion of the Senate” just to name ones this last week.
This will not be a “lurch” to the left but a hop, skip, and jump. I’ve complied a checklist from Dem planning statements of what they will do in their first term. It’s a very, very long list. I fully expect all the items to be done in the first term. Those not thinking he will take these actions has only provided wishful supposition.
Further, I don’t anticipate any significant changes in the composition of the Congress after the 2010 election cycle. First, there will be so many changes that voters won’t realize the full impact. The Dems will reward their voting blocks and expand it with new transfers. The media will be worse than they are today. Finally, non-MSM media outlets will become even more controlled. Think Fairness Doctrine, limiting ownership, controlling content on the internet as part of the “public trust”, expanded hate crimes and add hate speech.
By the time any of these things get to the Supreme Court Obama could well be writing his memoirs in 2013 or running for his third term after making a minor change to the Constitution.
If Obama is sworn in as the next president, a rough calculation shows the American experiment in democracy will have lasted approximately 232 years, 6 months, and 16 days. That is the approximate length from July 4, 1776 to January 21, 2008.
I admit that’s an arbitrary duration. The implementation of the Constitution would hardly be recognized by the authors.
Comment by cedarhill — 10/26/2008 @ 8:43 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THzaZmqlaAg
Time for comic relief…this is hilarious and the antidote to obama girls…you’ll be singing this song…
BTW, love your blog!!
Comment by CinnamongirlUF — 10/26/2008 @ 9:05 pm
I got banned for calling out the “host”. That is SO liberal. Thank you Rick. In your haste to silence me, you legitimized me more than you know. Enjoy your faux toadies. Out
Comment by JWS — 10/26/2008 @ 9:43 pm
Moral cowardice? A week before the election? Stipulating that she parsed her response in a razor-thin election (yes, they might yet win), this does not, in any way, compare to the outright lies and associations of Obama. It seems that you have created a moral equivalence between her answering a question in a tactical manner to prevent a loss of votes to blatant, bald-faced lies from Obama.
Comment by lionheart — 10/27/2008 @ 8:18 am
I find it amusing to see people call you a Democrat, Rick.
While I don’t agree with you on most issues, you have always been your own man. And just because you don’t conform to orthodoxy, does not mean you are a Democrat.
Comment by flyerhawk — 10/27/2008 @ 10:11 am