1. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95120 by espadre on December 7, 2007 at 11:39 am

Scarsick,

Sorry for the confusion. No, that's not what I meant at all. I agree with you completely. This particular essay by Christopher Hitchens is lucid and cogent.

What I was referring to was Mr. Hitchens' penchant for polemics. I have watched several of his debates and read a number of his essays where he goes beyond just making the rational argument; where he seems to relish antagonizing his adversaries - sometimes at the expense of the point he was trying to make. That's what I meant about the shallow intellectual wounds he inflicts on them. I think he is more effective staying on point - like he did in this essay. Plus when you antagonize fanatics you never know what harm they may try to do...

As far as the self-loathing comment: I have read some biographical stuff and watched him on CSPAN where he seemed remorseful and somewhat pained by his personal life. It was just my impression; I may be totally mistaken.

2. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95018 by espadre on December 7, 2007 at 7:17 am

Check out Christopher Hitchens response here: http://www.slate.com/id/2179404

I love it when Hitch stays on topic and target. Unfortunately, it seems to be a rare occurrence these days. Latley, he tends to wield his razor-sharp wit rather like a blunt butter knife. He does some damage - but it takes forever and the wounds are pretty shallow. I am beginning to think the man is stricken with self-loathing and may even have a death wish. Or maybe it's all that whiskey he's purported to consume...

3. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95007 by espadre on December 7, 2007 at 6:46 am

This is a letter I sent to my local newspaper in response to this horrible speech. It really flabbergasted me that he spent so much time saying so very little. And the implication that nonbelievers should not be afforded the same rights as others really offended me. I am not sure the dolt knows what he's actually saying. I think he is just beating the proverbial drum...


"Based on the sheer volume of irrationality that Mitt Romney espoused in his "Faith in America" speech, I believe he was being intentionally equivocal. I also suspect that he is delusional."

"Mr. Romney asserted that religion should be seriously considered "in the context of the weighty threats that face us". But then, in an apparent contradiction, he claimed religious worldviews, which he called faith, should not be an issue in one's candidacy. Furthermore, he neglected to tell us anything at all about his specific religious beliefs. I was left to seriously consider nothing. This is blatant equivocation."

"Mr. Romney also avowed that, if elected president, he would not put church doctrine "above the plain duties of the office…and the authority of the law". This implied that he is somehow able to separate his own sense of morality from the moral instructions inherent in the particular ideology with which he is indoctrinated. How deluded must one be to believe such a thing is possible?"

4. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #84763 by espadre on November 3, 2007 at 1:19 pm

This jesus and mohammed cartoon is a perfect complement to this article:

http://www.jesusandmo.net/

Be sure to use the arrows at the top to scroll through the previous cartoons. They are all hilarious!