Comments on: Fighting Fire with Fire http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:18:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Brian http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire/comment-page-1#comment-45 Brian Thu, 05 Aug 2004 14:45:37 +0000 http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire#comment-45 I'm not going to vote for Kerry but your comment about ordinary guys is right on. I would prefer the president to be smarter than me. It's a hard job. I’m not going to vote for Kerry but your comment about ordinary guys is right on. I would prefer the president to be smarter than me. It’s a hard job.

]]> By: Brian http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire/comment-page-1#comment-44 Brian Thu, 05 Aug 2004 14:44:24 +0000 http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire#comment-44 Ryan, the article you cited is a classic example of "those of my type who agree with me are purer than those of my type who disagree with me." It's an argument you make when you don't have anything else. Ryan, the article you cited is a classic example of “those of my type who agree with me are purer than those of my type who disagree with me.” It’s an argument you make when you don’t have anything else.

]]> By: Ryan Freebern http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire/comment-page-1#comment-43 Ryan Freebern Thu, 05 Aug 2004 14:41:32 +0000 http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire#comment-43 Matthew, Sadly, no, I don't consider John Kerry an incredible guy. I do consider him more competent and capable than Bush, however, so I'd rather have him in the White House. Maybe in 2008 we'll get a candidate who's an incredible guy, but until then, we'll have to play the hands we're dealt. To address your other point: I probably should have included the line immediately following that 9-1-1 quote. It certainly supports my reading of that paragraph. Here it is: <blockquote>They did a good job of hiding it last week, but the Democrats are the party of libertinism, the price of which is well known to those who come when people call for help.</blockquote> Once again, he's implying (if not stating outright) that the behaviour of Democrats is what causes emergencies. I don't think he truly believes this, as it's obviously incorrect. But it's what comes across in his writing when I read it, and it's certainly a way to rally to his reader base: what conservative Republican doesn't like to believe that Democratic behaviour will lead to a disorderly and dangerous society? Matthew,
Sadly, no, I don’t consider John Kerry an incredible guy. I do consider him more competent and capable than Bush, however, so I’d rather have him in the White House. Maybe in 2008 we’ll get a candidate who’s an incredible guy, but until then, we’ll have to play the hands we’re dealt.

To address your other point: I probably should have included the line immediately following that 9-1-1 quote. It certainly supports my reading of that paragraph. Here it is:

They did a good job of hiding it last week, but the Democrats are the party of libertinism, the price of which is well known to those who come when people call for help.

Once again, he’s implying (if not stating outright) that the behaviour of Democrats is what causes emergencies. I don’t think he truly believes this, as it’s obviously incorrect. But it’s what comes across in his writing when I read it, and it’s certainly a way to rally to his reader base: what conservative Republican doesn’t like to believe that Democratic behaviour will lead to a disorderly and dangerous society?

]]> By: Matthew Murray http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire/comment-page-1#comment-42 Matthew Murray Thu, 05 Aug 2004 02:24:32 +0000 http://ryan.freebern.org/2004/08/04/fighting-fire-with-fire#comment-42 My question to you, though, and please answer it honestly: Is John Kerry an incredible guy? As for the rest of it, while I do read <cite>National Review</cite> and think there's occasionally a great deal of insight to be found there, columns like this are the kind of thing I simply can't stand. It's not my idea of humor, and it's not my idea of trenchant political analysis. But, to be fair, I think you're being harsh in claiming that he's even suggesting liberals are the only ones who cause problems that have to be sorted out by firefighters. He's merely looking at the conservative nature of the firefighter's job, what he contributes to an orderly society, and is saying that people who intentionally cause trouble go against the natural state of that orderly society. Accidents can--and do--happen to everyone. So, while I agree that some of his comments are stupid, I'm not sure that's one charge you can necessarily label against him. I'll agree with "poor writer" and "poor political philosopher," however. My question to you, though, and please answer it honestly: Is John Kerry an incredible guy?

As for the rest of it, while I do read National Review and think there’s occasionally a great deal of insight to be found there, columns like this are the kind of thing I simply can’t stand. It’s not my idea of humor, and it’s not my idea of trenchant political analysis. But, to be fair, I think you’re being harsh in claiming that he’s even suggesting liberals are the only ones who cause problems that have to be sorted out by firefighters. He’s merely looking at the conservative nature of the firefighter’s job, what he contributes to an orderly society, and is saying that people who intentionally cause trouble go against the natural state of that orderly society. Accidents can–and do–happen to everyone.

So, while I agree that some of his comments are stupid, I’m not sure that’s one charge you can necessarily label against him. I’ll agree with “poor writer” and “poor political philosopher,” however.

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