MrC_5150
being a Jew hater

Huh,C? One of the reasons I can’t get too worked up over Ms. Schlussel’s (whom I like) post on Hyde is the dependence on just such over-the-top language. e.g. since National Review Online thought he was a good Senator they are “drug addled” instead of just “wrong”.

Rich Lowry on Henry Hyde:
“He had principles, but was never a fanatic. He was partisan, but never a bomb-thrower.”

I was totally unaware that Henry Hyde was bad on this issue. I will have to do some research on this. It would be a shame.

I have been heartbroken to find out that people I used to admire greatly (Jude Wanniski and Grover Norquist come to mind) had leanings that were anti-semitic or at the least unsympathetic to Israel. It does not invalidate supply side economics, but it would prevent me from shaking their hands (when Wanniski was alive).

I hope Ms. Schleussel is wrong about Mr. Hyde. If she turns out to be right, I will sadly accept what I find. I cannot ignore truth or I would become a liberal.

Respectfully,

eric aka the Tygrrrr Express

One of the biggest problems of the internet – to be taken with the good things – is it doesn’t offer any “digestion” time…

Very true, peep.
And for other readers who may think I’m picking on her, I’m not commenting on Debbie’s experience or her writing or her opinion. Only that, and particularly as those who rise above the “soundbite” mentality so prevalent on the left (”drive-by media”, anyone?), we should seek to understand the facts before allowing ourselves such easy sway. I want to be able to give a reason for the truth that I believe.
I’m also a Zionist, BTW.

Salt said:
I certainly did not intend to start any red-on-red battles here.

I didn’t take it that way, salt. I think your central point was – and for my money it’s a fine one – is the day of a Senator’s death the day to attack him? Extract the politics and we’re just talkin’ a question of good timing.

Corona- I would consider calling Debbie a rabid Zionist uncalled for as well. I like to consider myself pro-Israel. Purplepeep has expressed himself (herself?) on this much more eloquently than I did.

In hindsight, my own initial response was a bit tainted emotionally, I admit. However, it wasn’t to defend Henry Hyde, but rather that the timing coupled with the vehemence was a little off-putting. I was certainly willing to read something I may not have known and am continuing my own (somewhat lame) methods of looking for other references and sources that support Debbie’s position. I freely admit there might be something here I didn’t know. It just struck me as odd that after all this time this was the first I ever heard of it.

I certainly did not intend to start any red-on-red battles here.

vickisoup said:
A good ballast will give mental, moral, or political stability or steadiness.

Yup, indeedy, Vicki. Otherwise a person would go to page to page on the web, ending up hopelessly lost mentally and emotionally!

One of the biggest problems of the internet – to be taken with the good things – is it doesn’t offer any “digestion” time (much less “rumination” time). It’s instantaneous, which is barely semi-OK for coffee and surely not very helpful in the forming, or doing a 360 change, of an opinion.

It does boggle, doesn’t it, Vicki? It’s like the folks who have no idea whether they’re going to vote for the GOP, the Dem or other Presidential candidate until they actually get into the voting booth.

A lot of people were convinced when Debbie Schlussel wrote about Fred Thompson’s support of Spencer Abraham: http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2007/07/jihad_fred_fred.html Many, including Michelle, linked to it, and it caused many GOP voters to think twice about Fred Thompson. It was the beginning of his plunge in the polls.

It is about being informed. For all the good things Hyde did, his support for terrorists on American soil and his anti-Israel stance (and Debbie Schlussel provides a lot of evidence for it) should affect opinion about his legacy, especially when we see the fruit of some of his policies–September 11.

vickisoup said:
I’m sorry that Debbie was so wounded by his staffer, but who should be persuaded in a single day to abandon an opinion they’ve held for some time, based on a single opinion piece? I don’t know what to make of such proclamations here.

It does boggle, doesn’t it, Vicki? It’s like the folks who have no idea whether they’re going to vote for the GOP, the Dem or other Presidential candidate until they actually get into the voting booth.

Debbie Schlussel said:
Hmmm . . . I know what that word means when Louis Farrakhan uses it. I knew Henry Hyde was an anti-Semite. So, it’s nor surprise that a good number of his fans are, too.

Indeed it should raise an eyebrow, Ms. Schlussel, when terms are prefaced with “rabid” and offered as a perjorative.

If someone wants to say “Jew”, let them just do it outright instead of the cute tippytoeing around with “Zionist”.

Though not Jewish, I am quite happy and proud to be very Zionist. Don’t mind if people call me that if they know the meaning of the word they toss about.

My point of disagreement here would be that not all who believe Senator Hyde was a good public servant in many respects are uniformed, drug users or liars.

I believe all of us have, rightly or wrongly, boosters and detractors. This was true even with someone as highly esteemed as was President Reagan.

But for all things there is a time and a season. I would submit that a person’s day of passing probably isn’t the best time for some things. A person will still be dead a week later, a month later, a year later – to my thinking, at least, there’s no need to rush to condemnation.