Ann is taken to the woodshed here: http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/ ?id=110010321
Blogress Ann Althouse quotes Vitter: "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. . . . Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there--with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way." Althouse lets Vitter have it:
I hate seeing people publicly humiliated for the sexual things they do in private. But the government is criminally prosecuting a woman, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, for what it says was a prostitution ring. These are federal charges, and the senator, David Vitter, has some responsibility for the laws that make this prosecution possible. . . .
Palfrey can't say God has forgiven her and walk free. In fact, Vitter's statement hurts Palfrey because it strongly implies that Palfrey was doing what she's accused of. Vitter's confession--intended to move us to mercy--links him to criminal activity, but only she is facing criminal punishment.
Shouldn't the expiation of Vitter's sins wait until he has introduced a bill that would create a federal right to engage in the business of prostitution? It's not a matter to be resolved within the realm of church and family as long as Palfrey is being prosecuted.
How would advocating the legalization of prostitution expiate Vitter's sins? Prostitution is illegal because it is wrong, not the other way around. The reason we have laws at all is not so that "good" people can impose their will on "bad" people, but because everyone has the capacity to do bad things. Thus it's not surprising that moralists sometimes turn out to be hypocrites. They are moralists because they are closely acquainted with the temptation to do wrong.
Larry Flynt does a better job in living up to his own moral standards than David Vitter does in living up to his. But that is because Flynt has no standards, not because he is some sort of exemplar.
James Taranto said: “Thus it's not surprising that moralists sometimes turn out to be hypocrites. They are moralists because they are closely acquainted with the temptation to do wrong.”
Apparently, Mr. Taranto lives in a world where bad faith and duplicity, self-dealing and corruption, have ceased to exist.
Maybe he telecommutes from New Jersey or something.
Mr. Taranto would have demonstrated at least a lesser sort of courage had he declared that Vitter is a useful scoundrel.
peter hoh said... Once I brug a man to see a flower like that.
But it wasn't on your first date...er...uh was it? ---------------------------- Ann Althouse said... Thank you, Meade! The puzzle is solved!!!
De nada, Ann Alt...a. Datura. ---------------------------- Ann Althouse said... And when I am done, I quaff Nun's Oath Ale.
¡Salud!,Professora, but heads up for the prissy priggish pub police! ---------------------------- Ruth Anne, You are one cute earth nun. your friend, Edema (2. Botany. Extended swelling in plant organs caused primarily by an excessive accumulation of water.)
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37 comments:
Abasing Rum
A Gamin Rubs
Airman Bug
And a little dab'll do you in...
Ann is taken to the woodshed here: http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/
?id=110010321
Blogress Ann Althouse quotes Vitter: "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. . . . Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there--with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way." Althouse lets Vitter have it:
I hate seeing people publicly humiliated for the sexual things they do in private. But the government is criminally prosecuting a woman, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, for what it says was a prostitution ring. These are federal charges, and the senator, David Vitter, has some responsibility for the laws that make this prosecution possible. . . .
Palfrey can't say God has forgiven her and walk free. In fact, Vitter's statement hurts Palfrey because it strongly implies that Palfrey was doing what she's accused of. Vitter's confession--intended to move us to mercy--links him to criminal activity, but only she is facing criminal punishment.
Shouldn't the expiation of Vitter's sins wait until he has introduced a bill that would create a federal right to engage in the business of prostitution? It's not a matter to be resolved within the realm of church and family as long as Palfrey is being prosecuted.
How would advocating the legalization of prostitution expiate Vitter's sins? Prostitution is illegal because it is wrong, not the other way around. The reason we have laws at all is not so that "good" people can impose their will on "bad" people, but because everyone has the capacity to do bad things. Thus it's not surprising that moralists sometimes turn out to be hypocrites. They are moralists because they are closely acquainted with the temptation to do wrong.
Larry Flynt does a better job in living up to his own moral standards than David Vitter does in living up to his. But that is because Flynt has no standards, not because he is some sort of exemplar.
Barium sang
bargain sum
Hey, I've been off-line for almost 3 hours... and no one has figured this one out yet????
Come on!
James Taranto said: “Thus it's not surprising that moralists sometimes turn out to be hypocrites. They are moralists because they are closely acquainted with the temptation to do wrong.”
Apparently, Mr. Taranto lives in a world where bad faith and duplicity, self-dealing and corruption, have ceased to exist.
Maybe he telecommutes from New Jersey or something.
Mr. Taranto would have demonstrated at least a lesser sort of courage had he declared that Vitter is a useful scoundrel.
P.S. Vet sends bet man ice.
Angel's Trumpets
Brugmansia
Thank you, Meade! The puzzle is solved!!!
Once I brug a man to see a flower like that.
Aw, just missed the cut.
Peter, that was good!
DStevens: Go back to the original post. I destroy James Taranto. I use my Sonata Ramjet.
I use my Raja Meat Snot.
My Aorta Jam Nets.
I push him away with a Jetsam Ant Oar.
And when I am done, I quaff Nun's Oath Ale.
Yeah, don't tell Sleeves Mist.
Spare me that unashamed rant.
peter hoh said...
Once I brug a man to see a flower like that.
But it wasn't on your first date...er...uh was it?
----------------------------
Ann Althouse said...
Thank you, Meade! The puzzle is solved!!!
De nada, Ann Alt...a. Datura.
----------------------------
Ann Althouse said...
And when I am done, I quaff Nun's Oath Ale.
¡Salud!,Professora, but heads up for the prissy priggish pub police!
----------------------------
Ruth Anne,
You are one cute earth nun.
your friend,
Edema
(2. Botany. Extended swelling in plant organs caused primarily by an excessive accumulation of water.)
Slap forehead.
Laugh out loud.
Snort.
Meade: It's a really bad habit.
Good gracious!
Still, adorably nun too bad.
Meade: Into the abbess with you!
"Into the abbess with you!"
Abbotsolutely, but please don't be crosier with me.
I mitre not try to top that.
Cantor you sleep?
RAA asked for it, and by golly, here it is: A photo of the universally acclaimed COMIC CITRUS PIP with the onion ring of his desire!
Did I miss a hidden rule somewhere?
My comment (the first in the queue, BTW, barely 30 minutes after the post was put up) answered the question three times, in a poetic form at that!
Plus, there was that handy little toxicology item!!
You mean you wanted a mundane botanical name?
Burgess: I saw you as perceiving that these were anagrams but not having the name of the plant.
Okey dokey. I'll be less subtle in the future.
I did think the toxicology ('And a little dab'll do you in...') might have suggested knowledge of the identity, but I guess not....
I was soooo looking forward to my prize, though. Now, I'll settle for a photo of a weeping willow, or as it's also known, 'Gel Wine Lip Wow'
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