[Quincy Lehr]

Oh, Chuckems, you do realize that the largest avowedly socialist organization in the U.S. (the rather mild Democratic Socialists of America) has about 14,000 members, right? No, you clearly have no interest in knowing who contemporary socialists and communists are and what they believe. I am, vaguely curious in what you think actual leftists believe, though. It might be enlightening.

[Charlie Southerland]

Contemporary?*#!

[Michael Cantor]

Charlie, in a long history of idiotic statements, your latest takes the cake. I'd like to be funny about it, but I can't. A minority of Americans elected a dangerous and narcissistic crackpot as President, and good old Charlie is looking for what? Another Congressional investigation of Hillary? What's next? Will you accuse Obama of being born in Kenya?

[Charlie Southerland]

Actually, Michael, a majority of voters in states won by Trump is what got him elected. Thank God in Heaven for the Founders and the Electoral College. You have no excuse for running a very flawed candidate on the democratic ticket. You only have yourselves to blame. I bet even ol' Quincy would agree with that. "Our" candidate was flawed too, just least flawed than yours. Don't you think it's amazing that in a land of 330 million people we couldn't come up with better candidates? Surely, you must agree with that. Surely. Funny? Yep, ya' gotta' laugh, because ya' can't make this stuff up now, can ya'? Trump made a perfect speech at the joint session of congress. Absolutely perfect. If he follows through on it, he's got me. I have some doubts. Hypocrisy is still thick on this thread after so long.

[Jim Moonan]

Charlie, you have aligned yourself with the past. We will miss you and your beautiful poetry. We need to move on.

The benghazi argument is a specious one.

The swamp is Trump.

[Julie Steiner]

Perhaps we could stop calling each other cockroaches and dung beetles and such. We're all human beings here. Members of a species that has an ugly history of attempting to dehumanize and exterminate each other.

But we are also members of a species that can, sometimes, learn from the past, and have changes of heart. I'll leave this thread open for now in the hope that that might happen.

Certain violent and contemptuous metaphors are not conducive to changing anyone's heart, though. They also have an unfortunate tendency to be taken literally, and there's been a rash of violence against those labeled The Other in the real world lately. So let's keep the discussion on the merits of various points of view, rather than on the shortcomings of those who don't share our own point of view, please.

[Simon Hunt]

I know Julie's last post speaks wisdom, as she usually does. But I really would like Charlie to answer my question, which was pretty straightforward. I'd like to be clear on the point:

Charlie, do you wish me dead because I am a "Leftist?"

[Charlie Southerland]

Heavens no, Simon, elections are what's killing Leftists in America these days, again, metaphorically speaking. Not so much on the West coast or the Northeast bastions of such as yourself, but nearly everyplace else. Conservatism is the deet for extremist Statists. The battle for the soul of America has been rejoined at last. You don't like the taste of it. I understand. But the majority of America wishes to remain free without the boot of Statists on our necks. I don't want my grandchildren to be taught by Leftist ideologues. Neither do I want them to be taught by extreme theists. Let conservative and liberal thought be taught equally and fairly. It hasn't been for many years now. A conservative turn to our past ideals is not a bad thing. I don't know if Trump is the guy to get us there. I have my doubts. I'm willing to give him a chance or two though. I don't understand why you guys hate him so much. I see it on TV and in the papers. It is total hate for the guy. I wonder about your ideology.

[Jim Moonan]

Not hate, Charlie. No hate for Trump from me. Just disgust.

He is so far from representing a return to our "past ideals" that it is a real shock to me that someone such as yourself, with all your intelligence, thinks he is, or even might be. How much do you need to see before making up your mind?

Consider this: he's damaging the conservative cause you care so much about. Time to tell him. Loud and clear. He won't listen to us. He needs to hear it from you. Do something, if only for your own peace of mind.

[Andrew Mandelbaum]

The simple truth, Jim, is that Charlie doesn't have even a rudimentary grasp of any of the political categories or ideas that he mouths off about. He throws out words like leftist, Statist, and communist like a parrot talking about crackers. He is fully indoctrinated and a complete waste of time to speak with. No one that can put up the last few posts he has can still be taken seriously as a thinker, even with the most generous allowances on that account imaginable. There has to be some common agreement about basic logic, historical accuracy, and coherent terms to have a discussion like this. I don't agree with conservative thinkers on most issues. But I recognize in some of them open minds capable of learning and teaching, and most importantly self criticism and a concern for the truth that isn't akin to chest thumping for their team. That is not this. This is Polly-want-a-Cracker speak, doing the wave, painted red, with its shirt off, and going home thinking it just did up some philosophy.