Cynical Nation

That's a hilarious set of emails.

Still, are you sure they've kept their jobs?

John Edwards blog has this posted on it, "The tone and the sentiment of some of Amanda Marcotte's and Melissa McEwan's posts personally offended me. It's not how I talk to people, and it's not how I expect the people who work for me to talk to people. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that kind of intolerant language will not be permitted from anyone on my campaign..."

I kind of find the whole Lefty-chick who loves wanton sex thing kind of funny.

And I mean "funny strange," not "funny ha-ha."

I mean every fat doughty, dumpy, ugly chick I’ve ever met has been a hardcore Lefty. I know, there's got to be a hottie or two around those camps as well, but I'd think it's a lot easier to look hot among a bunch of very "plain women."

My two usual responses to such creatures are, "Only with humans," and "I'm sorry I vommited into the back of my mouth (gulp), did you actually say what I tink you did? Cause that's as repulsive as you look."

Geez, reading that back, I can see why some folks really don't like me at all.

I know sometimes I'm not a real nice guy, but I do always try.

Just how hard are you trying, JMK?

K, I'm all too often "socially awkward," (I think that's the euphemism) and I blurt out things that I know I shouldn't, like those sorts of things and like telling a fat joke only to suddenly realize that one of those listening is about 400 pounds.

I seriously don't mean to hurt people's feelings, but I was raised to see all emotion, all feelings as suspect and unimportant. In my family people would always say what they meant, no matter how direct, bluntly honest or even at time offensive it might seem. It's the same with the firehouse - the most outstanding characteristic of most firehouses, at least most busy ones, is what one guy I knew (Vinnie H) called "a wanton and excesive insensitivity to anyone and everyone."

After 9/11 when firefighters were briefly elevated to some form of cult status, I knew that that would be short-lived because the "charm," such as it is, wears off of us faster the closer one gets.

Like Vinnie said "We wear insensitivity like a badge of honor."

There was a time, not that long ago, when that was "par for the course" almost everywhere in America, but now it seems out of place.

In fact, I believe it's near to the point where I probably we could use a lot more honesty and somewhat less sensitivity today, certainly not as little as you'd find in a firehouse, but certainly less than we have right now.

Now I could very well be wrong on that, but I think that's the case, though I don't see it changing any time soon.

I gues they have kept their jobs!

For awhile I was under the mistaken impression that Edwards was going to distance himself from them.

"Edwards Stands by Bloggers

By KATE PHILLIPS
February 8, 2007, 12:31 pm

"John Edwards issued a statement today defending his hiring of two bloggers, Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon and Melissa McEwan of Shakespeare’s Sister, saying he believes “in giving everyone a fair shake.”

His choice of the two to help on his campaign to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 had come under fire from some conservatives, mainly Bill Donohue of the Catholic League, who called the women’s writings anti-Catholic and demanded they be fired.

Some of their work contained profanity and vulgar language, which did offend some on the right and the left. In the last few days, as they came under attack, liberal bloggers have mounted campaigns to persuade Mr. Edwards to keep them on.

Just reading the email you posted here, I find the language annoying and, I don't know... infantile. Not sure why.

As I've posted on my own blog, I don't believe there can be "bad" words. But, I do believe certain words are used to emote specific feelings while speaking/writing.

The overuse of 'fuck' or 'fucking' just seems out of place. Don't get me wrong, I say the word on a regular basis, enough to draw Mom's ire anyway, but I use it when I wish to express displeasure or an intensity in my speech or writing. Using it in every sentence doesn't ring true to me for some reason.

But then I'm far from any kind of speaking pro. I just know what sounds sincere and what sounds like using a word just to be crass. Does that make sense?

Oh well,that's my fucking 2 cents. ;)

"But then I'm far from any kind of speaking pro. I just know what sounds sincere and what sounds like using a word just to be crass. Does that make sense?" (Dan O)


Yeah, that makes sense.

If you don't fucking use a fucking word correctly, it's all fucked up and that just sucks...I know what you mean.

Overuse just reduces its impact.

Fuck JMK, I just fucking hate so much about the fucking things you choose to fucking be. You're harsing the fucking Cynical Nation mellow, fuckpop.

That's only because I didn't realize it was a mellow fuckpop.