Introduction to the Speriamo Blog

Speriamo means "We hope" in Italian. Thus we hope to add some interesting comments to various world views. Given that we are Republican and Conservative, our views will reflect this bent. However, we shall not shy from criticizing the Right when it errs or does something that we feel is more idiotic than usual.

We have no affiliations, nor do we receive support from anyone. We are avid readers and much of that reading is in the political arena. When we post, or add to an existing commentary, it may be a subject of general interest or it may be a subject of interest to only a few. In all cases we will try to support our contentions with facts. When we cannot do that, we will identify same as an opinion.

We have asked ourselves the following question: Given the number of Blogs out there, why do we want to do another? Perhaps it's ego, and perhaps it is ego, coupled to a need to engage others in spirited discussion about the issues of the day. We have often ranted about how stupid, or uninformed, the majority of the American people are, and we have looked at the data that shows the media is in fact liberal and biased. All of that was, and is, very unproductive because it does not address the underlying tunnel vision problems. To some, this statement may seem the height of egoism. Perhaps. We think not. One of the reasons for this is that we are older, have seen a great deal, and have witnessed history in the making on a number of fronts. Does that mean we know more than everyone? No. Does that mean we feel we can bring some sanity to some discussions? Yes. In any event that is what the "Speriamo" blog will try to do. You, the readers, will have to decide for yourselves whether or not we ever accomplish this goal.

In general, our commentary will reflect opinions about articles and books published by Liberal authors, Democratic legislators, and public pundits. Similarly, it will address the inability of the press and others of like mind to deal in other than conclusions. By that I mean that many on the Left who comment about just about anything do so by citing a conclusion. They do not seem capable of citing any facts to support those conclusions. To wit, I refer you to comments by Dr. Dean, the wayward physician, who is head of the Democratic party. (What happened to his "Do no Harm" oath when he received his medical degree?)

Dr. Dean's statement (Partial and excerpted from Power Line-see below)

"We now know that George Bush personally ordered American intelligence services to spy on American citizens without the consent of any court and repeatedly directed officials to take actions that explicitly violated the law."

This is a conclusion with no supporting data. John Hinderaker of Power Line responded as follows:

Really? How do we know that? What actions violated the law? What law? Dean, of course, never makes a legal argument, but assumes that his audience has been properly warmed up by the New York Times, and won't question his assertions. He (Dean) continues:

"Our courts are the last line of defense against abuses of power like this, and every judicial nominee must demonstrate that they will honor their most important responsibility: protecting our rights and freedoms.

Samuel Alito will not.

During the course of his judicial career, Samuel Alito has compiled a record of looking the other way when abuses of power threaten our basic freedoms. He has deferred to unscrupulous prosecutors who constructed all-white juries to try black defendants. He repeatedly failed to protect our right to privacy. He was even the lone judge [It was a 2-1 decision] voting to uphold the illegal strip-search of a 10-year old girl."

The problem here is that Dean is talking about Doe v. Groody, and has not the faintest idea of what Judge Alito said or meant in that opinion. Nor does he present, and seemingly does not understand, the opinions of the other judges in the case. For a more detailed discussion of this matter see Power Line (http://www.powerlineblog.com/) for January 3, 2006.

Do we expect to convert Liberals into Conservatives - No. We do expect however that some Liberals will at least begin to question what is presented as fact, and perhaps see it for what it is - opinion, and a biased one at that.

ggda
1/4/2006