...our modern politics is too divisive to bear, at least according to the conventional wisdom of the punditocracy.
On that note, I give this passage from my current reading selection, a biography of Alexander Hamilton. Speaking of a young Hamilton, just entering public political discourse prior to the Revolution, the book says:
He showed himself proficient at elegant insults, an essential literary talent at the time, and possessing a precocious knowledge of history, philosophy, politics, economics, and law. In retrospect, it was clear that he had found his calling as a fearless, swashbuckling intellectual warrior who excelled in bare-knuckled controversy [emphasis mine].
Heh.
UPDATE: formatting fixed.
But I was speaking more in hypotheticals. If I were alive and in a jurisdiction that Hamilton was running for office in, I would have a hard time voting for him.
It could be just bad light in restrospect of history but it seems that whenever I read about him I either openly oppose his position or I lose trust that he was an honorable man with noble intentions. He always comes off very power hungry to me.
Posted by: Travis on December 11, 2007 09:59 PMAnd I say....we need more like him.
Posted by: John Bailo on December 11, 2007 11:12 PMAs a frequent HA poster and wingnut insult artisan par excellence, I take slight umbrage with your labelling of everyone there as "profane."
It's the HA Happy Hooligans who are the profane ones; Hooligross verbiage is de rigueur with those whose minds obsese on thoughts scatological and sexual. I, on the other hand, seek to raise the level of discourse over there (ugly job, but somebody has to do it!) by taking them on three, four, five or more at a time all without resorting to the use of four-letter words.
Drives 'em nuts!
Would that more right thinkers joined the fray to smite the heathen hip and thigh...rhetorically speaking, that is.
Of course, you'll be subject to insult and ignominy, but you'll be secure in the knowledge that you're engaged in a noble cause: the spreading of the gospel of truth and eventual conversion of heathen Hooligans.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends!
The Piper
Posted by: Piper Scott on December 12, 2007 05:21 AM