I respectfully but strongly disagree with Prof Essig's piece on nearly every point. *cough Detroit cough*

*However* huge kudos to BigGovernment.Com for publishing this counterpoint. (I assume you all obtained her permission to do so.) And dare I say "thank you" to Prof Essig for being willing to offer her counterpoint in a forum where surely she knows it will get mauled. We can disagree with her but respect the intestinal fortitude. (I used to appreciate pro-abortion activists showing up - not protesting but just showing up - at big pro-life marches in Washington DC. "Hey thanks for coming". Seriously.)

Yes... evil nasty conservatives... never give other people a chance to voice their opinions...

Charles - one more reason why you I think you rock. Well reasoned and extremely well written. I would have been harsher and nastier but you somehow found a way to reply to Andrew Sullivan in a way that is, well, sweet. But no less forthright.

So if I accuse you of racism and you are offended can I reply "sounds like that hit a little close to home"? Flippant replies that cut both ways are a poor substitute for thoughtfulness and courtesy.

I find it tiresome when conservatives turn on each other for not being zealous enough. Who are *you* to tell me what I should be spending my time and energy doing? I thought only liberals did that sort of thing.

This is one of the worst articles I have ever read on this website.

I *am* a pastor who works with people who come to America from other countries to get their education. Notice how none of the 10 reasons Giles gives for why pastors do not fight the mighty culture wars are positive - as if there could not possibly be good reasons why I would not harp on abortion homosexuality capitalism and all that good stuff. A few of Giles' critiques may be valid - but most of them are ridiculous. We are in it for the money? Ha ha ha! Please stop before I have a hernia.

Oh and I think Obama is the worst president we have ever had. I *am* conservative on political and cultural issues (for the most part). I still resent this piece and find it offensive and outrageous.

And dang - I thought to be "green" we were supposed to buy local?

(Which principle I do not necessarily disagree with.)

When oh when is some enterprising creative conservative going to compose the next Broadway hit:

"Michelle".

<cue music> "Don't cry for me, A-MER-ica!"

You get the idea.

So Mr Ferrell. How's the career going these days?

(But I cannot bring myself to stop watching "Mad Men".)

Charles, I am always glad to see one of your pieces whether elsewhere or on BigHollywood.

I do have a question. I do not understand why/how President Obama can be so statist and leftist on nearly every issue imaginable...

And yet not be an aggressive supporter of (trying to be very careful with my language here) the "typical" LBGT social-cultural agenda.

Two pictures (whose veracity are somewhat in dispute but let us assume they are genuine for now). Two people. Out of two million. There are 600k+ people in the city where I live. There are many people *here* whom I have not *met*. Perhaps there were some real live genuine racists lurking among the 2 million people that Steven did not have the chance to meet.

Compare this however to the race baiting and racializing of politics and of political discourse done not by the odd wacko among 2 million but very publicly by the president, by some of his Cabinet, by some of his czars, by many in Congress, by many in the mainstream media. Perhaps there really are racist conservatives that Steven has not met. But there really are left wing... somethings... in our face every day.

Nice try but epic fail.

Nicely put. One can also ask,

"Do you seriously think that if President Obama were white we would suddenly agree with everything he says does and believes?"