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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Was It Something I Said?

Posted by on Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 11:28 AM

So... I was on Olbermann last night. And I made a gaffe—that is, I told the truth, per Kinsley—and the angry emails have been pouring in ever since. Here's an exchange I had with a right-winger...

From: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
To: Dan Savage
Sent: Tue, Sep 1, 2009 7:38 PM
Subject: you are the savage love guy, small world

Dan,

There is a local paper in St. Louis, MO called the River Front Times. I use it to start my bar-b-que coals. And I sometimes read a section called the Savage love just to see what new levels of depravity you will stoop to. I was watching MSNBC fascist propaganda this evening and I saw you on there with Olberman that nasty little man.

I got news for you, you can believe your own baloney but people are pissed off at the democrats and also the republicans. Your an idiot, if you can't fuck it you are not interested so I won't try and explain how Obama is a continuation of the progressive fascist movement of the early 20th century. Yes fascist you retard, fascism is a product of the left not the right. Nazis were what, "National SOCIALISTS" You dummies are talking about the protesters because you are afraid of them and rightly so. They are going to throw this government out of office one way or another. You don't understand people that will die for their principles because you hold nothing sacred. There a a lot of us that are not religious but we respect those nice people that you scorn. I wouldn't give a squirt of Olberman's leaking piss for anything thing you say or write. You are a nasty little man, a pathetic loser that makes his living talking about pac king fudge. Your disgusting.

From: Dan Savage
To: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
Sent: Tue, Sep 1, 2009 7:41 PM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

"you're disgusting."

dan

From: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
To: Dan Savage
Sent: September 2, 2009 4:25 AM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

that is a ironic coming from you! I don't fault you for being different but you are bitter like an old woman. You attack everything good and descent because it damns you. You are a pustule of the first order. Keep spouting your crap because you are lighting a nation on fire that will take it back from you nasty little fascists.

From: Dan Savage
To: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
Sent: Wed, Sep 2, 2009 9:30 AM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

"decent."

dan

From: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
To: Dan Savage
Sent: September 2, 2009 9:54 AM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

well you got the picture.

From: Dan Savage
To: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
Sent: Wed, Sep 2, 2009 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

"well, you got the picture."

unless you're trying to sound like Yoda: "Well you got the picture, young Skywalker."

dan

From: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
To: Dan Savage
Sent: September 2, 2009 10:18 AM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

your wonderful. the earth revolves around you. you make me wet.

From: Dan Savage
To: pz99999@XXXXXX.XXX
Sent: September 2, 2009 10:24 AM
Subject: Re: you are the savage love guy, small world

"you're wonderful."

xo
dan

 

Comments (101) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
slaggy 1
This person had no idea you were correcting their mistakes.
Posted by slaggy http://www.videowatchdog.com on September 2, 2009 at 11:35 AM
2
grats on being part of the problem
Posted by Swearengen on September 2, 2009 at 11:36 AM
3
stop it or your going to make me pee
Posted by EricC_DC on September 2, 2009 at 11:39 AM
4
Dan... I love this, but is there something a wee bit hypocritical about correcting people's grammar and spelling, but then not capitalizing your own name...? Or is that different?
Posted by FM on September 2, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Keister Button 5
Of your SLOG posts made in 2009, this is the one I have enjoyed the most, Dan.
Posted by Keister Button on September 2, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Cracker Jack 6
Dan Savage your onedurfull!

I'd love to think you do that with all the clueless masses of haters, I doubt a cadre of assistants would have the time, let alone you.
Posted by Cracker Jack on September 2, 2009 at 11:41 AM
danindowntown 7
Hilarious! Nazis were created by leftist politics? I am sure that is news to all the communists that died in concentration camps. It's a sad commentary on the American education system when someone can be that misinformed and make that many grammar and spelling errors.
Posted by danindowntown on September 2, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Rob in Baltimore 8
Here is the appearance that drove this poor fellow over the edge.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heat…
Posted by Rob in Baltimore http://www.wishbookweb.com/ on September 2, 2009 at 11:46 AM
9
I love you Dan Savage.

PS: you rocked it on Olbermann.
Posted by el ganador on September 2, 2009 at 11:46 AM
10
Dan, I love you.

You should submit this email exchange to emails from crazy people: http://emailsfromcrazypeople.com/

Thank you for making me laugh out loud in an uber quiet office. Now my co-workers think I'm even weirder than before.
Posted by TaniaLeeKarate on September 2, 2009 at 11:48 AM
11
7th post down pretty much tells it all
Posted by jiberish on September 2, 2009 at 11:49 AM
12
I don't even understand what specifically made this person mad. It looked like a bunch of hate without any references to what Dan may have said that was wrong, distasteful, or misguided. If I am going to take the time to write a hateful letter, I'll at least be sure to let the recipient know why.
Posted by Jamie in Pittsburgh http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/strawberry.limonade?ref=name on September 2, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Amy Kate Horn 13
Dan--correcting spelling and grammar!? I am proud!
Posted by Amy Kate Horn on September 2, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Fnarf 14
Sweet cakes of Jesus, you've got a new fan. How much you want to bet he's reading her way through every Savage Love she can find online right this minute, yelling at the screen and masturbating furiously?
Posted by Fnarf http://www.facebook.com/fnarf on September 2, 2009 at 11:53 AM
givesgoodemail 15
I lov yu, Dan Savege.
Posted by givesgoodemail http://www.givesgoodemail.com on September 2, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Cato the Younger Younger 16
dAn, U are cool Dude! I like you're Savage Love much! yOu brn in Hell! Praz Jesas!!
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on September 2, 2009 at 11:57 AM
gloomy gus 17
I swear, you have more fun with your own cogency than anyone. Rock on, multimedia man.
Posted by gloomy gus on September 2, 2009 at 11:58 AM
gttim 18
You missed my favorite part:

"Your an idiot"

How did he know you had "an idiot?"
Posted by gttim on September 2, 2009 at 11:58 AM
19
Brilliant!
Posted by mdurango on September 2, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Lord Basil 20
This man is correct. Nazism is the logical conclusion of liberalism/progressiveism, not conservatism, because conservatism is about freedom, and liberalism is about control. Kirby Wilbur has discussed this at length on his show, and it's facinating.

As you demonstrated so well on Keith Overbite, liberals can never persuade people to their point of view because America is a conservative country. That's why they push for socialized medicine, environmental laws based on unsound science, and programs that seek to forcibily convert children to homosexuality. They use the force of government, because if they tried relying on the ballot, they would be soundly rejected.

That's why Barack Hussein Obama ran as a moderate, keeping his socialist Chicago mob dream stealth.

And that is why there will be a Democrat Party bloodbath in 2010. I'd be surprised if you guys have 25 seats in the Senate when the smoke clears.

Glenn Beck has been airing some courageous material this week on the radicals in the Osama administration like Van Jones (known commie), and right thinking Americans must tune in. Right thinking Americans should also support Glenn's 9/12 movement. It's common sense people. Common sense is what built this great nation, and it's what can save it from the clutches of a usurper like Barack Hussein Obama.
Posted by Lord Basil http://lordbasil.blogspot.com/ on September 2, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Mike in MO 21
these are my neighbors. feel sorry for me.
Posted by Mike in MO on September 2, 2009 at 12:00 PM
22
@7: The guy's clearly been listening to (or reading, if he's capable of such a thing) Jonah Goldberg. He's been promoting the "Nazis are a product of the left" meme for a while now.

http://www.amazon.com/Liberal-Fascism-Am…
Posted by ted on September 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM
23
Dan,
You were brilliant last night.
Posted by I Got Nuthin' on September 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM
sirkowski 24
Dan, making a rightwinger wet is gross.
Posted by sirkowski http://www.missdynamite.com on September 2, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Mike in MO 25
conservatism is about freedom, and liberalism is about control

you are too stupid to try to correct. (I know, don't feed the trolls, but I can't help it sometimes.)
Posted by Mike in MO on September 2, 2009 at 12:02 PM
26
I'm about to vomit more compliments..

Thanks for the best laugh I've had all week! I love the Yoda response, I wonder if she got it.

I saw Obermen last night; you succinctly said what people need to hear and you mad Seattle look good!
Posted by sall on September 2, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Fifty-Two-Eighty 27
In addition to correcting his spelling, maybe you ought to inform him that fascists weren't liberals, too. Except he's probably too busy listening to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck for you to get through to him.
Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty http://www.nra.org on September 2, 2009 at 12:03 PM
DOUG. 28
This dude's Subject line reads like an "I Saw U".
Posted by DOUG. http://www.dougsvotersguide.com on September 2, 2009 at 12:03 PM
29
@20: "[...]conservatism is about freedom, and liberalism is about control."

So would you say that the government keeping tabs on which library books you check out is "liberal" or "conservative?" Which side of gay marriage do most "conservatives" come down on? Which side thinks that detaining people indefinitely is mostly okay if we are pretty sure they are terrorists?

Your definitions don't mesh with reality.
Posted by doceb on September 2, 2009 at 12:05 PM
COMTE 30
@14:

And no doubt people would pay to see that. He might might find himself in a lucrative new line of work. Of course, he'd be forever known as "the bat-shit crazy guy who yells at 'Savage Love' on the Internet while masturbating", but heck, that's a small price to pay for Internet fame, isn't it?
Posted by COMTE http://www.chriscomte.com on September 2, 2009 at 12:06 PM
31
@20

I guess you have the freedom then to live ignorantly.

I have no desire to change your mind, I don't wish someone that stupid to make completely uninformed attempts at supporting anything even remotely in common with what I support.
Posted by Take it all in on September 2, 2009 at 12:08 PM
32
So nice to hear someone cut through the bull shit - and the bat shit - and clearly speak the truth. You rock!
Posted by StuckinUtahHell on September 2, 2009 at 12:09 PM
33
ahahahahahaha!

xo
Posted by Valkyrie on September 2, 2009 at 12:10 PM
34
Classic Savage. Thanks for the laugh of the morning. Now, time to clean up the coffee I spat out while reading this!
Posted by CommonKnowledge on September 2, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Max Solomon 35
oh, Lord Basil, you are consistent. i'll get right out there are swallow Kirby Wilbur's & Glenn Beck's fascinating research!

praytell, were Mussolini & Franco leftists, too?
Posted by Max Solomon on September 2, 2009 at 12:12 PM
36
Dan Savage, you are my hero.
Posted by Jason on September 2, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Spiegel 37
@3 ftw, me too
Posted by Spiegel on September 2, 2009 at 12:16 PM
undead ayn rand 38
From TPM-

"I think Savage is terrific but, of course, I don't know if he's right. After all, rightists spent the weekend celebrating Ted Kennedy's death -- but, to my knowledge, none of these lunatics ever tried to kill him."

Ted wasn't an intelligent, successful *black man* with a muslim-sounding name. I mean, the GOP don't really like irish catholics, but they've gotten more genteel in their treatment of fellow whiteys now that they have to battle the mexican menace.
Posted by undead ayn rand on September 2, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Gurldoggie 39
Good responses Dan, much like the "talking to you is like talking to a bedpost" responses of Barney Frank at his town hall. Take every opportunity to demonstrate the childish lunacy of these right wing clowns.

The whole nonsensical "fascism is a liberal ideology" meme is pretty interesting too. It seems to have come from the same planet as "Obama isn't an American citizen" and "healthcare is unconstitutional." A big vocal chunk of the American right wing have truly lost their minds, and we're lucky to have prominent folks like Dan who can say so in public forums. Keep it up.
Posted by Gurldoggie http://gurldogg.blogspot.com on September 2, 2009 at 12:18 PM
40
Hey, next maybe Dan can start correcting the spelling and grammar of his own fucking retarded writers!?
Posted by mrs smith on September 2, 2009 at 12:20 PM
smade 41
I'm still waiting for any right-wing pundit to come out and say "it would be an abominable crime for anyone to kill Obama and anyone who thinks it's a good idea is fucking insane." Instead, all I hear is "hey, I'm just telling you what kind of person Obama is. I'm not saying kill him, but if someone does, it's no fault of mine."
Posted by smade on September 2, 2009 at 12:22 PM
42
I love this: "And I sometimes read a section called the Savage love just to see what new levels of depravity you will stoop to." Yeah, just to see what new levels of depravity... not because the topics interest or excite him or her at all, right? No, no - just because it's so depraved... so depraved, oh god, and so hot... mmm, Savage Love.
Posted by Regina on September 2, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Vince 43
I loved you on Countdown! Speaking truth always riles the ignorant. Keep it up! And keep showing us their ugly replies. We need to see them for what they are.
Posted by Vince on September 2, 2009 at 12:26 PM
mr. herriman 44
I LOVED you on Olberman last night! The throat slitting remark was a little unfortunate, on account of how people react to shit like that. But otherwise brilliant, honest and to the point. Thanks!!
Posted by mr. herriman on September 2, 2009 at 12:28 PM
45
that was a little slice of heaven!

btw dan, loved you on olbermann last night!! nailed it!
Posted by JB in Silver Lake on September 2, 2009 at 12:29 PM
onion 46
My lol of the day.
Posted by onion on September 2, 2009 at 12:36 PM
47
"Yes fascist you retard, fascism is a product of the left not the right. Nazis were what, "National SOCIALISTS" You dummies are talking about the protesters because you are afraid of them and rightly so."

If this moron knew anything about history and the Nazi party in general, he would know that the Nazi's stuck the word "Socialist" into their party name as a trick to make the German citizienry believe that the Nazi's were a party for the people. In actuality the Nazi's wanted to restore the "Mutterland" to it's previous "glory" and ultimately return to an agrarian lifestyle.. the way it was when the German speaking peoples basked in said glory. What could be more conservative than that?

Read a book your right wing twat.
Posted by Drapbej on September 2, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Andrew Cole 48
@43: They're not ignorant because they disagree with you. Even if they are ignorant, their disagreement doesn't make you right. Even if you're right, they may not disagree with you. Many things rile the ignorant -- the high price of gas and cigarettes, the fact that the bus is always ten minutes late OR five minutes early, that the grocery store didn't have the brand of coffee they wanted, that people are lying about them, that people are telling the truth about them -- and comments like yours that assume a strong group identity that you can dismiss (for example, you can be a huge racist and also be incredibly well-educated; you can be a huge racist and still have valid points that are informed but not dictated by your racism) are a particularly ugly form of argument that shows up over and over again in these kinds of debates. Go to Conservatives for Palin, replace all examples of "the right" with "the left" (and vice versa) and you'd find exactly the same kind of chatter and inane othering that fills the Slog's comments.

Basically what I'm saying is that there's no "them". There's just people, and people are all yahoos with slightly different aims.
Posted by Andrew Cole on September 2, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Will in Seattle 49
We saw you on TV last night, Dan - you did great!
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on September 2, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Womyn2me 50
Thanks for speaking the truth, Dan... people need to start saying this out loud.
Posted by Womyn2me http://http:\\www.shelleyandlaura.com on September 2, 2009 at 12:42 PM
51
as usual dan's political analysis is off.
why would the right kill obama?
he is the gift that keeps on giving.
he will give the gop what it could never get on it's own- control of congress in 2010...
Posted by relax dan- we won't kill him till after midterms on September 2, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Chip 52
No comment on the TPM guy quoting you calling right-wingers "bat crap crazy"? I don't think I've ever seen the phrase "bat crap" in your columns, ever.
Posted by Chip on September 2, 2009 at 12:56 PM
53
You made this copy editor very happy.
Posted by Kr on September 2, 2009 at 12:57 PM
gloomy gus 54
@51:

"its."

xo
gus
Posted by gloomy gus on September 2, 2009 at 12:58 PM
55
Well Dan, at least we can agree that Grammar Nazis are leftist now can't we?
Posted by OnyxStSyr on September 2, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Rhett Oracle 56
Lord Basil: Here's some trite bathroom graffiti to counter your addled confusion regarding gay conversion:

"My mother made me a homosexual."
"If I give her some yarn, will she make me one too?"


Good shirt, Dan - but the collar needs to be a button-down to lend stylish gravitas.
Posted by Rhett Oracle on September 2, 2009 at 1:03 PM
57
As an African-American, I would like to thank you for saying what you said. The overarching threat to the President's life has long been discussed in my community, but never put as bluntly or correctly as you did last night on Olbermann. So again, thank you.

In truth though, this is the second time, you've had to come onto National Television and lend sanity to the Race debate in this country. I still remember and honor your appearance on Colbert waaaay back in November when you were the first person in the nation to come out and say the divide over Prop 8 was generational and not racial. You really, really helped calm things down. Instead of two minority groups who SHOULD be allies, you got us all focusing on who really screwed things up in regards to Prop 8. Thanks again.
Posted by admiralmpj on September 2, 2009 at 1:04 PM
58
this is why I love Dan. and it made my day! thanks Dan!

Posted by kmac on September 2, 2009 at 1:05 PM
59
"Pac King Fudge," is that a relative of Pac Man?

You are a pustule of the first order.


I didn't realize there were different orders of pustules. Is that determined by size, painful throbbing, or what?

@10,

Great. There goes my afternoon.
Posted by keshmeshi on September 2, 2009 at 1:06 PM
60
@52,

Guano crazy is kind of creative at least.
Posted by keshmeshi on September 2, 2009 at 1:07 PM
61
well met, sir.
Posted by bellgirl on September 2, 2009 at 1:10 PM
62
You missed one: "I've got news for you ..."

Just here to help.

PS: This almost made me pee my pants.
Posted by polenta on September 2, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Violet_DaGrinder 63
Oh, christ. Awesome.
Posted by Violet_DaGrinder http://www.imeem.com/jukeboxmusic51/music/y1malqpG/prince-the-new-power-generation-featuring-eric-leeds-on-f/ on September 2, 2009 at 1:23 PM
64
Gurldoggie @39 commented:

"Good responses Dan, much like the 'talking to you is like talking to a bedpost' responses of Barney Frank at his town hall. Take every opportunity to demonstrate the childish lunacy of these right wing clowns."

A few corrections. First of all, Mr. Frank likened talking to the woman to talking to a dining room table, not a bedpost.

Secondly, Mr. Savage's response was to private email and is not at all similar to Mr. Frank rightly responding to lunacy in a public forum. What Mr. Frank did was prevent a loon from taking over the town hall meeting. What Mr. Savage did was provide the loon with a greater audience.

Along with the narcissism he reveals in his need to mention being on a television program, Mr. Savage's decision to post the private emails demonstrate his own pettiness while his own email responses clearly demonstrated Mr. Savage's childishness.

The fact that Mr. Savage has a predilection for this sort of childish repartee reflects poorly on him. Swearengen @ 2 hit the nail on the head. Mr. Savage is part of the problem.

To save the fanboys the time "he's a bad man, don't read his blog."
Posted by i'm a bad man too on September 2, 2009 at 1:30 PM
MR. Language Person 65
@ 1. "his/her"
Posted by MR. Language Person on September 2, 2009 at 1:33 PM
66
You were awesome on Olbermann, Dan, as usual. (It's kind of hysterical that one of the greatest voices of reason in this debate over the past 8 years is a man primarily known as a sex-advice columnist. That tickles me to no end).

I only wish you were on TV like this more often—like, every day!
Posted by mitten on September 2, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Aussie Steve 67
Pure gold Mr Savage. I love it.

Posted by Aussie Steve on September 2, 2009 at 2:07 PM
68
Fantastic showing. And I wish you or others at the Stranger would post notice on the slog when you are going to be on TV!! And then post the video!! You give us hope while we trudge through these battles-- You help keep the fire lit. So don't be so quiet about it here, please!

(and how did the HBO taping go?)
Posted by alion on September 2, 2009 at 2:12 PM
kim in portland 69
Thank you for the laugh.
Posted by kim in portland http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/fast-paced_video_provides_a_fu.html on September 2, 2009 at 2:13 PM
70
@20 - I'm not even going to respond to your... umm... views of facism through the ages. I will, however, question your math on the Senate issue. There are currently 59 Democrats in the Senate and two left-leaning independents. Only one-third of the Senate is up for election in any given even-numbered year. There are currently 16 Democratic senators up for re-election in 2010. Two are retiring, and one is deceased. That's a total of 19 seats that the Dems could lose, bringing them to a minimum of 30 remaining seats, barring, of course, any deaths, resignations, etc. between now and November 2010. And that 30 is also dependent on the 12 Republicans up for re-election maintaining their seats. I don't think you're going to see that happen. Best of luck, though!
Posted by EricC_DC on September 2, 2009 at 2:15 PM
71
69
Come on, the shirt wasn't THAT bad...
Posted by mommy on September 2, 2009 at 2:20 PM
72
@47: In fairness, there *was* a genuinely socialist (though still racist, anti-semitic, and gratuitously violent) wing of the Nazi party (look up "Strasserism"), but their position was repudiated early on at the Bamberg conference in 1926, and they were conclusively defeated (and a substantial number of them murdered) shortly after the Nazis came to power in the Night of the Long Knives/Roehm Purge.
Posted by christopher on September 2, 2009 at 2:24 PM
73
@20

"fascinating"

Posted by its too easy on September 2, 2009 at 2:47 PM
74
Very funny; and your advice in your Letter of the Day was quite kind as well.

Happy you are having a good day and happy to have you around. Just generally happy today.
Posted by DawginExile on September 2, 2009 at 2:53 PM
75
I love that this person uses "pustule" as an insult. Now, that's some biblical sounding stuff right there! Perhaps Dan should get an exorcism?
Posted by Slogger on September 2, 2009 at 2:57 PM
undead ayn rand 76
"why would the right kill obama?
he is the gift that keeps on giving.
he will give the gop what it could never get on it's own- control of congress in 2010... "

Conservatives don't understand why the majority of US is unhappy with Obama. It's not because he's not conservative enough.
Posted by undead ayn rand on September 2, 2009 at 3:31 PM
77
76
it doesn't matter 'why';
only that they are.
Posted by does this supermajority make me look fat? on September 2, 2009 at 3:38 PM
oh, THAT 78
I was delighted to see you on Olbermann last night. Damn, you were an excellent guest.

You certainly are correct about the Right's not so hidden agenda: Send out the subliminal message to their deranged members: Kill him.
Posted by oh, THAT on September 2, 2009 at 3:55 PM
79
thank you for posting this, i laughed so hard i snorted. i really needed the laugh!
Posted by cranky on September 2, 2009 at 4:19 PM
80
#66.

(It's kind of hysterical that one of the greatest voices of reason in this debate over the past 8 years is a man primarily known as a sex-advice columnist. That tickles me to no end).


Yep. Dan is certainly one of them. Another of the greatest voices is a comedian who got his start on MTV. It tickles me too, but it also scares the shit out of me.

You were fantastic on Olbermann last night, Dan.
Posted by jade on September 2, 2009 at 4:22 PM
81
gwuahahahahah. amazing. love you, dan!
Posted by kersy on September 2, 2009 at 4:27 PM
82
Laughed til I cried.
Posted by Brittany on September 2, 2009 at 4:49 PM
83
Lord Basil loves his freedom to shoot you, with his guns, for freedom. also.
Posted by Porkchop Sandwiches! on September 2, 2009 at 5:00 PM
Uriel-238 84
Kudos, Dan. I think you've graduated from far-left, queer, sex-specialist crackpot to respected moderate-left pundit, since you didn't once talk about sex or sexuality politics and instead were called upon merely to criticize the right. Heck, it may have been this milieu shift that piqued the ire of your objectors. I see a national political career in your future, if you want it.

To all, remember that one has to take anything that Lord Basil says with a proverbial grain of salt.

Rationalwiki had a great article on Nathan Poe's adage, but the link is dead for now.

When I was in political science, soviet communism (note lower case), was the extreme of liberalism; the extreme of conservatism was fascism. Regarding National Socialism, quoth Wikipedia, "As a generic concept, National Socialism opposes capitalism, communism, democratic socialism and liberalism."

Of course, this model, one used in political science academics in the 1990s associated moderatism with liberty and extremism with social control, but this would indicate that the US is no longer a moderate nation. If one associates the median (or the mode) with the mainline rather than the moderate, the contemporary US is then still quite conservative, notable since our leftists are still progressives (i.e. leftist Republicans) and the term liberal is still considered derisive.
More...
Posted by Uriel-238 on September 2, 2009 at 5:46 PM
85
Notes to self - do not wear white shirt while reading Savage Love. Do not drink coffee while reading Savage Love. Do not snort coffee through nose onto said white shirt while reading hysterical Savage Love.
Posted by C from Mass. on September 2, 2009 at 5:47 PM
86
When I got to 'fascist propaganda' I was pretty sure of what the letter said without even finishing it. I did finish it just in case my presuppositions were incorrect and... nope, I was right. Blah blah anti-American agenda blah blah blah.

I'm surprised you humor these letters, Dan. Most of these people are total nutbars, like 'holding signs on the street corner screaming about the apocalypse' nutbars.
Posted by Gomez http://misterstevengomez.com on September 2, 2009 at 6:37 PM
87
It just blows my mind that some people out there really believe that Fascism is a product of the left--especially Nazi fascism! Nazis are not socialists. Anyone with half a brain knows that political party names don't mean shit. North Korea is officially called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and no one would call them a democracy.

And anyone who falls back on the liberal/conservative political dichotomy as "the gospel" is an idiot. Those labels are a gross simplification of political ideology and don't make any sense. On some issues, "liberals" want more freedoms (e.g., civil rights), on others they want less freedom (e.g., guns). Same is true for "conservatives". Sometimes liberals want to conserve something (e.g., the environment) while at other times conservatives want to liberate something (e.g., industry regulation).
Posted by jinushaun on September 2, 2009 at 7:03 PM
88
Just transferred to a school in Bachman's district. In '10 I am going to do my part to bring that bitch down.
Posted by lqtm http://thenerdarium.wordpress.com/ on September 2, 2009 at 7:11 PM
89
#20 They use the force of government, because if they tried relying on the ballot, they would be soundly rejected.

I see... so how was Lala Land this past November? I hear tell that it is enchanting in autumn.
Posted by lqtm http://thenerdarium.wordpress.com/ on September 2, 2009 at 7:24 PM
90
Dan Savage, I want to have your babies.

Not really, but you know.
Posted by laurelgardner http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5877570 on September 2, 2009 at 7:32 PM
Cory 91
Awesome.
Posted by Cory on September 2, 2009 at 8:36 PM
92
Dan, you're extra-special awesome with coolness sauce.
Posted by HarmonyAk on September 2, 2009 at 8:58 PM
93
Daily Kos loves you, as do I. :) http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9…
Posted by believer on September 2, 2009 at 9:52 PM
94
I was in the gym when Dan came on Olbermann and I could not hear his comments (I will listen to them at lunch time), but one of the women in the gym was thoroughly impressed by Dan's look and demeanor! I had the pleasure of telling her that he is 100% gay and happily "married". The crestfallen look on her face was priceless! It kept me smiling through my entire workout.

Dan - I love your column and the effect you have on all sorts of people.
Posted by stormblade on September 3, 2009 at 12:54 AM
memorex 95
Daammmmnnn!! You know the party's rockin' when Lord Basil's in the house!!

p.s. Uriel-238 (84) FTW- as usual.
Posted by memorex on September 3, 2009 at 2:46 AM
96
84
If DoorKnob Licker is now seen as a "respected moderate-left pundit" it is testament to how intellectually bankrupt the Left is...
Posted by hahahoheeheehahahoheeheehahahoheeheehahahoheeheehahahoheehee on September 3, 2009 at 5:15 AM
97
After the November election, we in Europe just assumed that we could stop worrying about your religious crazies...does this really reflect the mainstream political debate on e.g. your healthcare policies, or is it a question of a few marginal (if dangerous) radicals?
Posted by euro babe on September 3, 2009 at 9:04 AM
98
97
stfu
if we want europe's input we'll beat it out of you...
Posted by love, your american cousins on September 3, 2009 at 11:55 AM
Bruce Garrett 99
It wasn't a gaffe. It needed saying. It needed smacking out into the open.
Posted by Bruce Garrett http://brucegarrett.com/brucelog on September 3, 2009 at 12:26 PM
100
honesty is the best policy.

who ever wrote that email to Dan was:

(a) drunk
(b) stupid
(c) desperate
(d) all of the above
Posted by beva on September 4, 2009 at 6:20 PM
J-Haxx 101
@100. I'm going with b&c. And thanks Dan, cause if you can't laugh at it, it will just make you cry.
Posted by J-Haxx http://defyaugury.livejournal.com on September 5, 2009 at 5:03 PM

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