Monday, May 23, 2005

No one likes it

So it’s possible they’re doing something right.

Chris Bowers at MyDD:

My opinion of whether the deal was a victory for Democrats has increased somewhat after looking over the rather astounding reaction from Republican blogs and netroots.

He points to Captain’s Quater’s, Powerline, Hugh Hewitt and Michelle Malkin who hate it, and Crooks and Liars has lots more.

Meanwhile, MaxSpeaks for many on the left:

It’s late for me and not all the cylinders are firing, but from what I can see this Senate deal looks like a giant steaming pile of monkey crap. As far as I can tell, we get the three wingnuts that everybody has been talking about—Pryor, Brown, and Owens—and maybe not two other nitwits. There seems to be no bar to squashing any future filibuster effort. Supposedly a filibuster might be permissable under “extraordinary” circumstances. That means not very many times, and there could be quite a few judgeships to fill with the deep bench of loonies on the Right. I see some email urging me to spin this as a victory for the Dems. Please eat me.

UPDATE: Last night Chris Bowers said:

Outside the Beltway is the only “big” Republican blog I can find that actually thinks the deal was a good thing. When Republicans are this upset, we must have done something right.

This morning James Joyner says:

The “compromise"--which is a strange term for a solution wherein the Democrats get most of what they want while the Republicans get only part of what they would have gotten without the deal--basically takes us to the status quo ante-Bork...Further, agreeing to this “compromise” weakens the Republicans’ hand in the longer run.

That ‘Prozac’ Man Defends The Gravity of a Disease

Guest post by Jen, and continuation of a thread from 22 April.

This is the title that New York Times writer Janet Maslin gives to her review of Against Depression, the newest book by Peter Kramer.

Kramer’s book emphasizes that depression, rather than being a fuel for artistic creativity, is a grave and often-fatal disease.  Says Maslin in her summary,

When regarded in purely medical terms, evaluated as a quantifiable form of degeneration, depression loses its stylishness in a hurry.

SzaszBlog reacts:

If depression is a disease, so is courage, heroism, love, and faith.

Troubling.  But Szasz’s blissful ignorance pales when compared to the active discrimination advocated by Recruiting’s official blog, which warns

So, hiring authorities, beware. Depression is a physical disease which harms the brain, not a sign of some heightened sensitivity that leads to genius.

UPDATE: Many thanks to Recruiting.com’s Canadian Headhunter for his comment.

I’d like to apologize back, Canadian Headhunter, for the melodrama of my post.

I am thankful to C.H. for his clarification, and for his original blog entry’s bringing this issue to the attention of potential employers.  The main problem depressed employees face from their employers is lack of education about mental illness.

On Heroes or villains

SoVo this week:

Both [Spokane Mayor Jim] West and [former NJ Governor James] McGreevey faced allegations of sexual improprieties and using their political power to further sexual relationships, but gay leaders interviewed this week said there are important differences in the two cases.

One politician hid his sexual orientation until outed by a newspaper, while the other came out on his own, albeit likely under pressure. One is a Republican who opposed gay rights legislation; the other is a Democrat with a more moderate record.

But the key difference between West and McGreevey is the age of the alleged subjects of their attention, gay leaders said.

McGreevey and Cipel were both adults, while West stands accused of sexual acts, or attempted sexual acts, with boys and teens.

I agree with innocent until proven guilty but I think gay groups would have done better to withhold praise for McGreevey. McGreevey reeks of using coming out to cover his political sins, and we should address that directly--either acknowledge that you stand by him despite those accusations (and explain why) or wait.

Matt Foreman of the National Lesbian and Gay Task Force is quoted in the article:

“It’s pretty obvious to me there are differences - Mayor West was preying on young people,” Foreman said. “To have sexual relationships with boys - that’s not about sexual orientation. That’s about pedophilia.â€Â�

McGreevey’s case was about the politician publicly coming out, Foreman said, and “there was no question of the exploitation of children.”

Yes, exploiting children is clearly worse. But exploiting adults and citizens through an abuse of power is still wrong.

Meanwhile, R MN Paul Koering also came out under pressure, but the pressure was much more personal and explicitly did not include any allegations of abuse of power. No comment to be found from Foreman on him.