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Barack Obama, Ryan's Democratic opponent, responded to news of his opponent's sexcapades by saying: I don't really care about private morality, I'm more concerned with public morality.
In that statement lies the root of the great cultural divide between hard-core Democrats and religious Republicans.

Eye on Politics & Law Lords: The participants are too alienated from mainstream America to accomplish their goals
Well-meaning organizers bring thinkers and activists together to start what everyone hopes will be a pathbreaking political organization.
The participants are too alienated from mainstream America to accomplish their goals (Students for a Democratic Society, 1960s), are too much in thrall to the traditional left to articulate imaginative goals (Democratic Socialists of America, 1970s), lack the discipline to accomplish their goals (New World Alliance, 1970s-80s), are too ambivalent about leadership and money to be more than a diversion (Greens, 1980s-2000s), or are too much like attack dogs to identify -- let alone address -- our real hopes and needs (MoveOn.org, 2000s).
But along the way, a mildly entertaining time is had by all.
On the airplane, I forced myself to finally set aside my hard-eyed book about how life really works, psychologist Robert Karen’s Top Dog / Bottom Dog, and pull out my folder full of materials about the conference.
What was it, I wondered, that had tempted me to take part in this movie again, this charade? I had literally forgotten and felt some obligation to my hosts to refresh my memory.
We all share the same ‘boat’ called the United States of America. It is more essential now than ever [that we] begin to learn how to row with, rather than against, each other. . . .
· On a movement that would have us listen to and learn from each other [ via a review of books on Radical-middleness]
· · See Also Wake up, you there in the Beltway: Here come the independents!
· · · See Also What role have the third party mavericks played in US history?
· · · · See Also How political parties focus on different moralities
· · · · · See Also This the most visualised thing I have read all week:The Bush Team in Reuters News Ticker 9/11-11/15/01
· · · · · · See Also Electoral Hope: This the most soulful thing I have read all week