Another one jumps the fence

On one issue at least.

Read the amazing true story af a real-live liberal journalist who decided to reconsider his position on the Iraqi elections and maybe just maybe on the whole thing after meeting (gasp) real live Iraqis!

He says:

You may think that you have felt dumb before, but let me tell you something: until you have stood in front of a man who knows real pain and told him that you are against your country's alleviation of his country's state-sponsored murderous suffering, you have not felt truly, deeply, like a total fucking moron.

And:

I can't tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys, and I want a clear cut mandate, some lines to believe along. But there aren't any. There's just right and wrong and following your heart of hearts. And for the first time in my life, I can say that I was wrong to be compulsively critical of the current administration without seeking my own truth.

But here's the kicker, and he's absolutely right:

The level of discourse in Amaerica [sic] has plummeted to a name-calling ping-pong match with a turd for a ball. It doesn’t matter how wicked the serve is, both sides are still smacking a bunch of shit around.

A-freaking-men! You need to read the whole thing. It is ART. And, because he got Instalanched, the comments are nearly as interesting. Strangely enough, here's the one I found myself relating to most. A woman calling herself "Judith" writes (in part):

"I would have preferred to vote for Leiberman [sic] and have hawkish foreign policy and liberal domestic policy all in one candidate, but more people felt differently.

Therefore I had a choice, and it was a no-brainer. Keeping up the momentum for demoratic change in the Middle East and continuing to take the battle to the terrorists is way more pressing right now than the social issues I care about. Now that Bush is re-elected I intend to defend those social issues, but it would be a lot easier if the scruffy protestors with "Bush=Hitler" signs were not the public face of environmantal [sic] protection, civil liberties, and abortion rights. You folks have set us back considerably, especially the hypocrisy of Western feminists who refuse to be enthusiastic about their Arab sisters' progress when a Republican makes it possible. Feminism should be bi-partisan.

If a lot more leftists were like you, then we could all have thoughtful dialogue about how to proceed. But the antiwar left is so snotty and sneering and narcissistic and hypocritical, and so WRONG about everything, that the right just dismisses you guys and all your concerns, which means some of my concerns get dismissed too.

The good news is that there is now a sizable constituency of "liberal Republicans" or "centrist Democrats" who voted for Bush but are not on board for some of the Republican agenda, and all we need is a label and some catchy slogans so people like you can find us and so we can build a movement. There are a lot of us out there and we can combine the best of left and right if we can identify each other."
(emphasis added--Ed.)

Wishful thinking perhaps, but it heartens me to know that there are still some people out there who have morals and a conscience. For the record, I would have voted for Joe L. too. I think he's a good man. Too bad the Democratic party doesn't anymore.

Less interesting, but more catchy is this little ditty, set to the title tune of one of my favorite musicals: "Paint Your Finger". The author describes it as "jingoisitic" and it is, but it made me laugh because it is at the very least hopeful.

Go be amazed at the power of independent thought!

(h/t Beth)

Update: SMASH responds, and Jeff answers, clarifying his position further.