The modern incarnation of a conservative does not believe in individual freedoms. Their positions concerning abortion related issues and the recent SCROTUS decision are but two of the latest examples of their scorn for the fundamental principals which guided our Founders. This is a debate I would like to hear. I don't believe the American people, if given the choice, after a rational exploration of the arguments, would side against their individual rights and Constitutional protections. Why the left is so timid about engaging on these core arguments and calling out their opponents for their radical beliefs concerning the Constitution is beyond me. Politically, patriotism should be the underlying message. This is the Achilles Tendon of the "Right". Alas...The Democratic Party doesn't have a coherent messaging strategy that is heard. The "Right" does. They even have networks to broadcast them. They even have the discipline and means to speak largely in unison from the same scripts. Witness yesterday: Sen. James Inhofe, and at least 2 other of his compatriots, Rush, Sean, and Glen all came out using the snowstorm as a foil to mock and mislead over the issue of Global Climate Change. They aren't even constrained by truth or rationality so long as no one is able to effectively challenge their lies. Why do we tolerate lies so readily?

Global Warming

Overheating produced more ocean evaporation, putting more moisture into the atmosphere. What was the major component of the recent huge snowstorm on the Atlantic coast? MORE MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE!

Never a Populist

Richard Wolffe, who wrote the book Renegade about Barack Obama, said on MSNBC this morning, when asked about Obama's statement on bankers' huge bonuses (that he did not “begrudge people success or wealth,” as it was “part of the free-market system"), "Obama was never a populist."

I guess that says it all. Get it while you can...

Obama needs a HUGE push-back from us. 'Too bad we have to postpone calling the White House 'til Washington gets shoveled out --- next week.

Thom,

I am a sci-fi junkie, and your mentions of Jack Vance and Carl Sagan, I’m assuming you are at least a fan. I happened upon a podcast done by an Emory University professor that you might be intereted in giving a quick listen to:

http://www.courtneybrown.com/classes/podcasts.html

Specifically, the Science Fiction and Politics class. I was listening to the classes on “The Forever War,” (my favorite book of all time) where the professor was comparing the war in the novel to the Vietnam War to the Iraq war (the podcast was taped in 2004, I think). I found a lot of the points he was making quite fascinating and still quite pertinant.

I know you are always looking for different perspectives and ways of presenting things, and this is just one more. The professor might make an interesting guest one day, and at the very least, he presents one more way to look at our recent history and politics, and one more set of parallels to draw upon, this time fictional.

Our Founding Truth: Nature kills babies all the time, it's a human moral that preserves the sanctity of children.

There are just two Laws of Thermodynamics, aren't there?

Regarding stem cells, my sentiment is a rift off of Thoms "viable fetus" perspective:

As a world culture, despite the danger of appearing too removed and logical (though only to ourselves), we must not focus solely on the individuality of the potential life, but also, the state of affairs that potential (stem cell or human) is entering into, and what that potential means to the whole (accepting the potential as a part of the whole).

When we approach "life potential" we often think of it as at first "just another piece of the wide world of biology", then eventually, a human, and somehow, "separate". I think we need to brake down the concept of the human as separate (theology aside), and that would allow us to approach advances like this in a more practical matter.

Where do stem cells fit within the larger human question?

If the stem cells are being used for toward the persistence of our collective ethic (which in my mind are conceptual, biological, and individual harmony and persistence) then they should be propagated.

In this case, I believe stem cells have amazing potential regarding the ethic of the human race.

Lets be a "we" society, not a "me" one!

What's fascinating about the stem cells debate and the abortion debate is this, it is all a smoke screen about the real issue with these people who oppose both so aggresively. The real issue is about sex, specifically, female sexuality. It is based on fear of this act, the power of it (to create life and inflame desire in males) and it is very anti-woman in it's nature. The people who power these movements are anti-sex, and it is safe to say are not "in touch" with their sexuality, and do not want you to feel natural and whole about your sexuality either.

Isn't saying a man should have no say in discussing abortion or reproductive issues sort of like saying a woman can have no opinion in anything relating to erectile dysfunction or medications for it? I don't think there's anything wrong in hearing men's opinions since men are intelligent and even though they can't get pregnant themselves, they do have wives, sisters, daughters, etc. and so things relating to this issue does affect them. Although I don't want men making laws about my reproduction, as I'm sure men don't want women preventing them from having Viagra. But the discussion is important, at least in terms of getting men to realize (like women) their role in preventing unwanted pregnancies.

@Ruffian: I hate word problems! Can't you make it multiple-choice?

@Jeanie: re: my hair: I can't ask it, it left me long ago. It was like a parable on "white flight". When i was a kid, I was a cotton-top. In my '30's, I noticed darker curly hair creeping -up my head from 3 sides. My fine, blond hair promptly left, leaving my crown bald. However, some of them became survivalists; springing-up in the caves and crannies of my ears and nose. Many moved to the suburbs on my back. Ironically, however, they turned dark in the process.