i mean, it is the same secret service that protects mccain that protects obama, correct? i would think they’re having some difficulties determining just how to deal with all this. especially in the immediate situation where palin is riling up the mob against the media that is right there in their midst.

such behaviors cry out for discipline, someone imposing the rules of grownup civility on the unruly brats. the way this sort of thing has become “acceptable,” the way the threshold has been lowered so far, is through all the hate talk shows on radio and tv.

this situation brings up so many human issues, but perhaps it will force us to deal with the dangers it exposes. i just pray, as we all do, it won’t involve bloodshed.

That is what SPOTLIGHT is for! Start copying and pasting your short introductory blurb into an email that will go directly to Presidents of news divisions and Washington DC – beat reporters!

They will have their jobs cut out for them. Apart from routine work, there will be resuscitating the civil rights, anti-organized crime, anti-corporate crime groups that the Bush administration has sedated or disbanded. There will be new ReichWing hate groups hiding behind the First Amendment that Bush has done so much to gut.

There will also be the need to redo much of the OLC’s work from the past eight years, especially on national security issues and the law of war, and the need to craft novel fixes to the “known unknown” problems Bush will leave behind. That will include the need to rebuild the federal bureaucracy without himself gutting the civil service laws that Bush has most abused.

Now, imvho, We ought to return to Our seats – and develop a Greater Understanding of these events, so that We can adapt to them in such a way that We draw the Rational and Sensible members of the Right towards US.

We’re not going to ‘Win Over’ the hardcore Ideological Right – all the Extremist, Separatist, ‘Exceptional’ True Beleivers with Narratives Featuring Apocalyptic Endings. They are like members of Cults unwelcoming of clear thinking and sensible action, instead locked into Ideological Frameworks that posit thier Privately Subscribed Narratives as the Literal Truth for All of US. When their Narratives separate from the Facts of Our Living Circumstances, they View this as “the End” and – like lemmings – fling themselves into the Irrationality of their End-Beliefs.

But, They are Small in Numbers as against the Rest of US – those of US who do take into account Our Circumstances as a Basis of Action. And, yet, amongst Them, there are many, many who have strong reservations and fears regarding Martyring themselves for Something that Doesn’t Really Make Sense to Them – but they are stuck ‘acting like Romans in Rome.’ They, it would seem, would welcome an Opportunity to Get Out.

Imvho, We should think about how We can reach-out to those on the Right who can ’see’ what is happening, and are Horrified by it, but don’t know what to do.

In the meantime, We’ll ’see’ what the response will be to the alarm raised on incitement – Our Country needs to Come Together in this Time of Crisis, and not Cut And Run:

- Let’s see if the McCain/Palin Campaign addresses the issue – in words and deeds, and

- Let’s see what the State of Readiness is of Our National Counter-Terrorism organizations

Nobody’s worried about any real insurrectionist activities by the Left – we don’t generally have guns, we prefer Peace, and have great faith in talking through Our Problems under a Big Tent of Inclusion.

So, for all practical purposes, those Troops are here to protect US.

And, if the Extremists think that the Government’s Response – in the Time of an Election – will be Weak, well that’s Just Crazy-Talk. They are Badly Underestimating Our Support – the 70% Majority of US – for the Rule of Law, as embodied in the Constitution. Together, US and the Constitution represent Stability, itself, in the Affairs of Men and Women. The Beliefs of 30% will Not Prevail. Chaos will not be allowed to beget Chaos in the Land of the Free and Civilized.

So, imvho, while all that Ideological Anger is absorbing the True Believers, We ought to figure-out how to throw Safety-lines to the Shocked amongst them, Horrified by the Crazy-Talk, and at least Try to give them an Opportunity to Get Off the Bus…before the Edge comes into view…and the doors are locked.

For five long years I experienced an excruciating personal transformation as violence was remorselessly visited on my body. Loathing, fear, endless agonizing pain, and a hot enduring hate formed the crucible in which my truest and best self was remade. The innocence of childhood, all the sentimental and positive aspirations, the sense of an inherent goodness in the world — all put away with the toys of childhood, for good. Only hard, hot, bloody vengeance would matter any more.

Now, my friends, it’s your turn.

I’m John McCain, and I bitterly resent that circumstances forced me to approve this message.

[Paid for by McCain ‘09]