The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

In light of the horrific shooting at a Congressional Republican baseball practice this past week, while many GOPers stayed respectful to their colleagues on the other side of the aisle, some were uncoy to speak out about shooter James Hodgkinson's anti-Republican Party leanings. These individuals went as far as to blame liberals' hateful rhetoric, the recent New York City rendition of Julius Caesar , and yes, I even read at least one report of a Republican Congressman partially blaming former President Barack Obama. If that weren't enough, a far right-wing pastor called for a liberal/Democratic-purge. Look, no matter what this man's political affiliation was (or religious affiliation for that matter), there's absolutely no excuse for what he did. In saying that, however, as I've said numerous times before, one person does not make a group, and therefore no group should be seen as represented by one person. James Hodgkinson may have been a self-described liberal,...

It appears as if former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford will be holding office once again, as he won a special election last night to represent South Carolina's 1st district in the House of Representatives. Keep in mind that Sanford is just two years removed from confessing that he had been cheating on his wife and even had to reimburse taxpayers for some of his travels to and from Argentina where his soul-mate-on-the-side resided. Also keep in mind that Sanford is a member of the Republican Party, which prides itself on being the party of God, faith, family values, traditional marriage, etc., and has moved so far to the right, cult leaders have even begun to say, "We want nothing to do with them! They're crazy!" So, how in the world did Mark Sanford win these people's vote? I have to imagine he persuaded them all with a speech like this: "Hello, South Carolina! How's it going? I've missed you. I went to Argentina so many times to visit my girl...