Voice of reason (not mine)

I don't blog much any more, and I've thinking recently about why that is.

Part of it has to do with time, of course. There are only so many hours in the day, and if middle age reminds us of anything, it's that time is not an infinite resource; it's a commodity, best used with care up to the point when it will eventually, inevitably run out. And -- no offense -- but I doubt I'll ever look back and think "Gee, I wish I'd spent more time sitting at the computer."

So, I try to focus my energy on things that matter.

And therein lies the second part of the dilemma. Because the aspect of the current state of the world that alarms and depresses me the most is the tenor of our political conversation. I mean, you can't even really use that word any more -- it's not a conversation, it's a shouting match. Precious few people even try to reason with one another any more, both because so many of us on both the left and the right have long since lost patience with the back and forth, and because there's precious little reward for being the voice of reason, when everyone else on both ends of the spectrum is busy shouting you down.

So how do you talk about things that matter, without becoming part of the problem?

An excellent example of how showed up today in the form of the most eloquent voice of reason I've heard in some time -- Theodore Olson, a lion of conservative thought and solicitor general under President George W. Bush, arguing the case for gay marriage. Take it away, Ted...

What were they defending again?

It’s time for the first edition of our occasional feature Spot The Irony:

Country Stars Morgan and Kershaw Split
Associated Press

NASHVILLE (Oct. 27) - Lorrie Morgan has filed for divorce from fellow country singer Sammy Kershaw, court records show.

Morgan cites irreconcilable differences in the Tuesday filings and asks the court to enforce a prenuptial agreement. The two have been married for six years and they separated two months ago.

Kershaw recently ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of Louisiana.
Morgan has a home in Gallatin, about 25 miles northeast of Nashville, and filed for divorce in Sumner County Chancery Court there.

Kershaw is Morgan's fifth husband while Morgan is Kershaw's fourth wife.

The thing is, you see, Kershaw ran for Lt. Governor as a conservative, “pro-family” Republican, which makes the kicker in this article kick that much harder. I mean, what would the world come to if we didn’t have conservative Republican politicians like Sammy Kershaw out there quote-unquote defending traditional marriage?

And defending it… and defending it… and defending it…