Fire-Breathing Liberal
That’s the title of the great new book by Florida Congressman Robert Wexler, who will be appearing on both my shows this coming week.
The book contains the wonderful statement JFK made upon receiving the New York Liberal Party endrosement in 1960:
What do our opponents mean when they apply to us the label “Liberal?” If by “Liberal” they mean, as they want people to believe, someone who is soft in his policies abroad, who is against local government, and who is unconcerned with the taxpayer’s dollar, then the record of this party and its members demonstrate that we are not that kind of “Liberal.” But if by a “Liberal” they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a “Liberal,” then I’m proud to say I’m a “Liberal.”
And, while we’re on the subject of books, I’m proud to say that my wife will have her second book out this fall, Defiant Dads, which looks at America’s fathers’ rights movement from both sides.
Alan~ your wife is really cool. I’m a single mom, and I’ve always been supportive of single moms AND dads. Most deadbeats are the fathers, but there are lots of fathers who work hard to be a part of their children’s lives. I especially like the new groups that have recently popped up to support them, such as fatherhood.org. But my son’s birthday party is today, and his dad won’t be attending. He hasn’t seen my son in months. What a shithead.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Oh yeah… “First!”
This JFK quote is interesting… liberals have been stereotyped as prolific tax spenders and soft on national security for decades. Wow.
National security is one of the most important issues for me. Obama may not be as weak on national security as many people think. Here is his summary on Homeland Security from ontheissues.org
* No torture; no renditions; no operating out of fear. (Apr 2008)
* Unacceptable to have veterans drive 250 miles to a hospital. (Feb 2008)
* Pursue goal of a world without nuclear weapons. (Feb 2008)
* Al Qaida is stronger now than in 2001 as Iraq distracted us. (Jan 2008)
* Colleges must allow military recruiters for ROTC on campus. (Jan 2008)
* Rebuild a nuclear nonproliferation strategy. (Jan 2008)
* FactCheck: Promised to repeal Patriot Act, then voted for it. (Jan 2008)
* No presidential power for secret surveillance. (Dec 2007)
* No holding US citizens as unlawful enemy combatants. (Dec 2007)
* Congress decides what constitutes torture, not president. (Dec 2007)
* No torture; defiance of FISA; no military commissions. (Dec 2007)
* Restore habeas corpus to reach Muslims abroad. (Dec 2007)
* Human rights and national security are complementary. (Nov 2007)
* Don’t allow our politics to be driven by fear of terrorism. (Nov 2007)
* 2006: Obama-Lugar bill restricted conventional weapons. (Oct 2007)
* Judgment is as important as experience. (Oct 2007)
* If attacked, first help victims then prevent further attacks. (Oct 2007)
* America cannot sanction torture; no loopholes or exceptions. (Sep 2007)
* Repeal Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell. (Aug 2007)
* 2005: Passed bill to reduce conventional weapon stockpiles. (Aug 2007)
* We are no safer now than we were after 9/11. (Aug 2007)
* Close Guantanamo and restore the right of habeas corpus. (Jun 2007)
* Get first responders the healthcare and equipment they need. (Mar 2007)
* Need to be both strong and smart on national defense. (Oct 2006)
* Grow size of military to maintain rotation schedules. (Oct 2006)
* Battling terrorism must go beyond belligerence vs. isolation. (Oct 2006)
* Going after Al Qaeda in Pakistan is not Bush-style invasion. (Jan 2006)
* Rebuild the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Jan 2006)
* We are currently inspecting 3% of all incoming cargo. (Oct 2004)
* Increase funding to decommission Russian nukes. (Jul 2004)
* Give our soldiers the best equipment and training available. (Jul 2004)
* Balance domestic intelligence reform with civil liberty risk. (Jul 2004)
National Service
* Expand Peace Corps and AmeriCorps to 266,000 slots. (Feb 2008)
* Put forward a national service program. (Jan 2008)
* Give 18-year-old women opportunity to serve. (Dec 2007)
* Register women for draft, but not for combat. (Jul 2007)
Veterans
* Improve veterans’ mental health treatment & PTSD benefits. (Feb 2008)
* Address the deficiencies in the VA system. (Jun 2007)
* The cost of the Iraq war should not shortchange VA benefits. (Jun 2007)
* Make sure the outpatient facilities work for veterans. (Jun 2007)
* Comprehensive plan for our veterans healthcare. (Mar 2007)
Voting Record
* Support veterans via the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act. (Aug 2007)
* Voted NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
* Voted YES on limiting soldiers’ deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
* Voted YES on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
* Voted YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
* Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
* Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act’s wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
* Voted YES on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism. (Jul 2005)
* Voted YES on restoring $565M for states’ and ports’ first responders. (Mar 2005)
* Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget. (Jun 2006)
* Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror. (Jun 2007)
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:43 am
Sounds like a cool book out by your wife. Have her on Hannity & Colmes! I guess that would be mixing your personal and professional lives but it’d be nice to see her live.
As to the abortion issue, I honestly think while abortion is legal then fathers should be able to “opt out” of fatherhood.
A mother has a right to kill her child, so why does the father get screwed? It’s purely dependent on the whim of the mother as to whether or not the child lives. The father has ZERO say in the end: he may WANT the child to be aborted, in which case he shouldn’t have to pay child support, or he may WANT to be a good father/support the child and the mother kills the baby off.
If killing an unborn child were illegal then it would obviously be a non-issue.
June 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
flap,
Get back to us when you have as much concern for the born, as for the embryo.
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
OldL~ Just because someone views that “clump of cells” or “potential” human growing inside a woman’s womb as an actual baby, and prefers not to see that baby killed, doesn’t mean that they don’t give a shit about living people already here. Please don’t make that assumption, b/c it’s not fair.
Flap~ I kind of agree with your point. However, it’s important for men and women to always remember that the potential for pregnancy is always there. Even birth control pills are only 99% effective. Before engaging in sex, I’ve always discussed that potential with my partners and let them know that there will be no abortions on my babies. If it gets there, then it gets there and we both have to deal with it. I definitely had that discussion with my son’s piece of shit father (who opted out of attending his bday party today. Bastard).
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
What does Robert Wexler have to do with Alan Colmes’ wife?
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
OldLefty, who says I don’t have concern for the born? Isn’t that a red herring?
However, do you have more concern for children than adults? Many people do. I could say, “Get back to me when you have as much concern for adults as for children.” What the hell is the difference? I have the most concern for very young human life. But that INFRINGES on people’s rights to kill their own progeny, dang it!
Alan mentioned his wife’s new book after Wexler. Since Alan’s wife is better looking and almost definitely 10x smarter than Wexler (which isn’t necessarily saying much…*rimshot*), I mentioned it. Pay attention, OldLefty!
Cheryl, you made some good points. Yeah, I think optimally you should know someone’s stance on that stuff before potentially conceiving a child. But a lot of people don’t do that and then problems arise. Make no mistake: if a person fathers a child he SHOULD be 100% accountable. But abortion SHOULD also be mostly illegal, especially late-term. Catch my drift? I’m just saying as the law stands now the “opt-out” notion seems pretty fair to me. All about “choice,” right? Father needs to be able to “choose” as well.
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Alan, I agree with your wife that the currect child custody problems esspecially here in the United States. We have social works who are suppose to look out for the best interest of the children, yet when they are abused they look the other way. Some fathers can not afford to obtain partial child custody when they want it because it is so expensive.
The other book is interesting slightly, but I more relate to the other one as one could likely see.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
damn Alan, your wife is hot!
I guess money talks, eh?
lol
just joking!
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 am
hey Alan. I like to watch H&C because it gives both views.
If you can possibly help me out, I need to know if I am actually a democrat, or a republican. I asked my dad, who is a republican, and he just questioned me with ‘Do you believe that everyone should have the chance to be wealthy and prosperous?’ Of course I said ‘Yes’. He said, then you are a republican. Websters dictionary only says that republican is the opposite of Democrat. I believe that abortion is a womans right, I believe in gay marriage, and I also believe that we should begin to repay the national debt. On that, I believe that we should all pay our own share, and those that happen to have made themselves wealthy should not be penalized for their ‘good luck, with money’. Help me please. Thanks Alan.
Mosby
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:34 am
mosby: I think you’re confusing ideology with political party.
I’m an American Conservative (I believe in adhering to a strict Federalism as delineated in the Constitution)
I am not a Republican though. If there’s a Republican candidate who agrees with my ideas, then I will support him, otherwise I wont.
Some people put the Party first. I put the party last. I put America first, my ideas second, and party third.
You can usually tell which people are all about Party because it is through the Party that you get Power.
One way to tell is if the person ever criticizes his party in public. Or if that person is completely unable to abide by anyone criticiing his party.
Leftists are the worst , in my experience, they Never Do Any Wrong. You will never see any self-evaluation from them. And instead of addressing any criticism sent their they always try to divert the conversion to their counter-examples. I have yet to see a lefty refrain from trying to whitewash what is being dicussed by saying something like “Well in 1867 Bush made this mistake”
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
flap said,
“However, do you have more concern for children than adults? Many people do. I could say, “Get back to me when you have as much concern for adults as for children.” What the hell is the difference? I have the most concern for very young human life. But that INFRINGES on people’s rights to kill their own progeny, dang it!”
……………………
In the old burning building (fertility clinic) scenario, will you waste valuable time deciding to save the embryo in the dish, or the baby in the stroller?
That’s the difference.
What about the rights of the people (of all ages who died horrible deaths in “Shock and Awe”?
Is it different if you call it “Collateral Damage” instead of ‘Civilian Casualties?
The anti choice people ALWAYS claim Judea-Christian values but from http://www.myjewishlearning.com/ideas_belief/bioethics:
“An unborn fetus in Jewish law is not considered a person (Heb. nefesh, lit. “soul”) until it has been born. The fetus is regarded as a part of the mother’s body and not a separate being until it begins to egress from the womb during parturition (childbirth). In fact, until forty days after conception, the fertilized egg is considered as “mere fluid.” These facts form the basis for the Jewish legal view on abortion. Biblical, talmudic, and rabbinic support for these statements will now be presented.”
Not EVERYONE thinks the same!
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 am
Methinks Vince P brushes with very broad strokes. All liberals and/or all conservatives hardly defines any. Each of us has views on different areas which may trend more conservative or more liberal…whatever floats our boat. That’s the beauty of our country! Having an opinion which varies with mine does not define the goodness of either you or me…simply that our opinions vary. Respect for each is what makes civilization run smoothly with ebbs and flows in each direction over time. Argue your case as best you can, my friend, but please don’t denigrate mine. In the end we’ll agree on what we agree on, and agree to disagree on the rest! Cheers!
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:28 am
Mosby~ go to http://www.alan.com and click on the thing that says “World’s Smallest Political Quiz”. It’s on the bottom right. Quizzes like that are a great way to help you identify political ideology and party affiliation.
I’m pretty moderate, and parties tend to piss me off so I’m an Independent.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
spy: of course I generalize. of course people dont always fit broad categories. most breathing people know this.
>Respect for each is what makes civilization run smoothly with ebbs and flows in each direction over time.
I might be inclined you believe this.. have you ever told this to the Lefties here? I didn’t see this appeal to civility when they were all mangling my name in response to the first few comments i made the other day
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Old Lefty:
I agree with you 100%. Flap thinks it’s immoral to destroy the embryo, but it’s okay to send an 18-year old off to die for Bush’s oil.
Hmmm, maybe Flap should enlist.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Hey Mosby you could be like me.
A Moder-UlteraConservitive (Moderate & Ultra Conservitive), Christian, & independent Republican.
Yeah there is such a thing — me.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hey Alan,
WOW- you are a piece of work- nice comments pal on Gov. Palin’s baby.
You are a LOSER! I await the day that Hannity gets up and kicks your ass in front of the entire country.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:45 am