I don't pay attention to either Fox or Palin, I find them both to be superficial and vacuous.

I'm curious: Is it possible to be "gruntled"?

The one in vogue that I cannot stand, used by many journalists at present: "We'll have to leave it there." Listen to David Gregory or the Nightly Business Report Susie-whatshername: at the end of every interview, when they run out of time, they always say: "We'll have to leave it there."

Leave what there? Where, exactly? How about, "We have run out of time. Thanks for being here."

I have to admit I like Springsteen, quite a bit.

I agree on Dylan. I like some Hendrix--although he really only had a few albums of great material. A lot of what he did was throwaway stuff.

I sure wouldn't put Dave Matthews Band in the"legendary" category, but I know many people who would. I cannot stand his music. Same thing with Coldplay.

My other real "icon" group that I never got--Rolling Stones. They bore me to tears, and I can't stand Keith Richards' uninspired guitar playing.

I mostly agree with you, Trace. We do need to do a much better job at persuading, at defining terms, at making the big picture, moral argument. As an optimist, I believe that as well, and I'd like to think that if we did that, people would join us.

However:

This is where the realist/pessimist in me takes over and says, "I'm not so sure about that."

Sound bites and gotcha moments are what won Obama his re-election. He ran a campaign of zero substance, zero specifics, zero big picture philosophy. It was all childish name calling, mockery and negative broadbrushes, not a whit of "intelligent, persuasive and positive messages." 

It worked. Big time. How, I've no idea.

I'd like to think that America would respond to an inspiring, positive center-right freedom philosophy message. I really would. But when I see how the Twitterization of the electorate has dumbed down society to this degree, I think that ship may have sailed.

Why don't they call it the LoGoPo podcast?

LOng, GOldberg, POdhoretz podcast.

LoGoPoPo for short...

"Mr. President, we have plenty more questions..." 

...because you filibustered and gave 5-minute obfuscations rather than answering succinctly and honestly to the voters.

Major filibuster.

Answer. The. Questions.

I can't stand Hannity, O'Reilly, Limbaugh (gasp! heresy!), Ann Coulter or Glenn Beck. I'm sure there are others. They don't speak for me.

Have the Powers That Be (Long, Robinson, Lileks) graced this lengthy and informative thread with their presences?

I've never cared for Coulter much, but after this I refuse to ever listen to a word she has to say on any TV or radio appearance. I am the father of a wonderful 19-year old son who is severely autistic and mentally retarded. People who toss that pejorative around casually do not merit my attention, much less my respect.

The Mormons tried a socialist economic order. They found out pretty quickly that human nature needs to be radically changed before it would work.

Yes, the Mormons will be first on Mars, but only because it will look so much like home to all the missionaries from Moab, Utah.

But I can only imagine what a Transfer Day would be like in the Mars Mission. Ugh.

Mormon theology really doesn't address Heavenly Father's origin. Physical body? Yes. Created being? I dunno--but I've never heard it taught as such. To me, Heavenly Father is the Alpha and the Omega, and we are all His spirit children, including Jesus Christ whom we truly consider our brother.

The idea of kinship, being of the same species, if you will, with God the Father, IS an essential part of Mormon belief. We are His children, though we are in an imperfect body and we, through His gift of free will, are also rebellious and sinful spirits. (Edit: I'm not clear here. He doesn't want us to sin, but because we have free will, we often choose to.)

Like any loving Father, God wants us to become like Him and inherit what He has. We will eventually be resurrected with a perfect body (like His) and through Christ's atonement we will be forgiven of our sins and we will strive to align our wills with His, that we may inherit His kingdom and His glory.

Wow. That's amazing. The LDS Church only opened up a mission on Mars about 17 years ago. We're making good progress, I guess.

[continued]

Yes, I know that I believe some things that you do not believe. I read some things that you do not read. I may have certain rites that I hold sacred that others find odd or risible.

But at the heart of Christianity lies the essence that Lewis described, and that I believe wholeheartedly: Christ wants us to become like Him. He wants to turn us into a new creature, if we let Him. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, pouring out upon us His grace and mercy so we could be forgiven and return back to the Kingdom of God. I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He alone is my Savior. I seek, in my imperfect way, to be like Him and to follow His example. I often fall short, but He is forgiving and He alone will judge my heart and my life at the end of my days.

I also want to thank and commend the members here at Ricochet for a civil discussion, rather than a heated Bible bash. I have not experienced this level of maturity at other conservative sites. It is refreshing.