Centerfield

Two thoughts.

One, I think Joe is overreacting a bit. The guy seems like basically a nut-case to me, and I wouldn't worry what the things at all.

Two, it illustrates the dangers of trying to label individuals as to their politics. Once we label someone, whether as "lefty", "righty", or even "centery", we begin to assume that they must agree on most or all issues with other people who share that same label. It is much better, I think, to stick to policy discussions, not attacking individuals on any level. Of what political relevance is it whether an individual making a particluar argument is a "Bush Toady" or not? Either the argument is a good one or a bad one. The motives of the arguer are not material, unless he or she is making a factual claim on which we must rely on his or her credibility.

While I'm convinced that moonbats of this crazy e-mailer's type do in fact exist, Joe might be on to something in suggesting that this e-mail is fake, or from a Republican pretending to be a Dem. This is so clearly over-the-top irrational, that even the rants of a lot of the hardcore anti-war protesters seem coherent by comparison.

Obviously, the Democrats aren't going to embrace this guy, and the far-right has HIGH-PROFILE people just as extreme.

Both sides have enough ranting gasbags that emails like that don't even need to be assigned to one side or another. Just filed in the nut box.

anti-bush derangement syndrome

I've gone to the generic "Political Derangement Syndrome." Mutli-purpose, doesn't go out of date.

The irony here is that Gandelman gives the guy currency by highlighting him. For those of us who class ourselves centrists/moderates, leaning away from both sides, maybe this is a good short-term strategy.

But ultimately, such knuckleheads are best dismissed with a waynian "asphincter sez wot?" and placed in the wingnut file.

Because otherwise we increase the volume of the noisiest zealots, which reinforces the notion that when you add up both wings' nuts, that group comprises the vast majority. Moderates/centrists who believe this then have an easier time opting out, since they can easily think participation has no efficacy.

What a stupid email. People of that extreme (right or left) are why opinion polls for Presidents NEVER go above 91% or so.

Also, I thought the discussion that ensued after the the email was equally stupid. Listening to certain posters use this idiotic parody of a lefty as fodder to start his "this is why I vote GOP" speech just makes me shake my head.

Though it may have some merit and/or truth, ANYONE who uses extremists and moronic ideologues as an excuse for their closet or overt partisan loyalty to the opposition of those forces, is a shallow thinker or just a liar.