Bachmann: "Not All Cultures Are Equal"

Passing myself off "as sophisticated" was actually not on my agenda, I was just trying to engage in some argument with my limited knowledge and limited command of the English language (not my mother tongue, sorry!). But your censorship is probably well-founded: no say in the matter for unknowledgeable non-native liberals. Having wielded BOTH the sword and the pen in the course of your career, you certainly know how to shame and silent opponents.

I have no desire to censor, shame or silence you. Speak your mind as you wish. But be prepared to defend your rhetoric. If you are not a native speaker of English, I commend you for doing as well as you do. If I said something critical of your use of the language earlier, it was without understanding English was not your first language. And know this - I believe people can be adversarial without being enemies.

Thanks for the compliment about my English writing skills.
I certainly never saw you as an enemy, I'm convinced just like you of the virtue of exchanging antagonistic views without yielding to "procès d'intention" (perhaps you may find some satisfactory translation of the phrase, I could not).
Far from me the assumption that YOU are a populist, or that conservatives can't be intellectuals or enlightened theoreticians.I can't have such a manichean approach, or I wouldn't be arguing with you.

@bibliognosthere - You disappoint me! Should someone be Governor of something to be entitled to criticize? Then how dare you lambast Obama and liberal congressmen and women? Do you think you can resort to sarcasm (a poor rhetorical weapon) because you are 56, a former military who's "been around" and knows the arcanes of power and politics? Or perhaps because you "deal" with books? Am I "stuffy, vain and self-important" because I can't compete with you or because I disagree with you?

dharpage -You certainly don't need my permission to criticize whatever you wish to, and goodness knows you wouldnt solicit it if you did. Since your premise is mistaken, all else that follows makes little sense to me. I "lambast" Obama because I wish to. And what does "dealing with books" have to do with this? I never suggested a book dealer has more of a right to criticize govt. It's a complete non sequitur on your part. And no ofcourse not as to the stuffy..etc..you are merely mistaken.

So let me finally confess I'm puzzled as to how someone like you with such a passion for the realm of knowledge and ideas, with such a voluminous personal library, can waste any time defending Mrs Bachmann or Palin's brutal and populist reasoning?
A Happy New Year to you.

A Happy New Year to you as well. I do not consider myself a populist,but rather, a conservative. Bachmann and Palin both hold to conservative ideas, perhaps some as well that you might call populist.But "brutal?" I find nothing "brutal" in Bachmann or Palin's comments or demeanor or reasoning.Why do you think the "realm of knowledge and ideas" is only applicable to liberals?I know, and know of- many fine Christian intellectuals. I find conservative values consistent with intellectual integrity.

What I found "brutal" in Mrs Palin's speech was for instance her hockey-mum/pitbull campaign joke: it was very demagogic, and the imagery used was rather aggressive.
What I find brutal in Mrs Bachmann's speech is how she bluntly assimilates French suburban youths to insecurity. Some of them prove to be antisocial and violent, but I have so many examples of successful "integration" around me, whatever the area. Besides I fail to grasp the concept of "equality" when dealing with cultures.

I know myself fine Christian intellectuals. I was baptised, but I'm not a believer. However I think I have a spirituality of my own. I'm interested in religion when it meets philosophy and metaphysics, when it helps us reflect on our human condition. I'm very wary of religion when used to exercise superstitious beliefs or to relieve one's reptilian angst.

Send along a link or info about your blog, I'll check it out. I am sorry I was not familiar with "The Game of .." I did check it out. Read the author's comments about what he intended to write. I confess, I am least familiar with modern novels. My reading interests are more theological, philosophical, historical and books concerned with social issues.Likewise, I tend to deal in non-fiction books, though I do handle a certain amount of collectible firsts.Thanks for the note.