1. William Knight on October 30, 2004 3:08 PM writes...

I'd be in heaven with nine Clarence Thomases on the bench.

This is the only person on the Supreme Court who voted against the fundamental right of habeas corpus in a recent 8-1 decision. Let's see, that legal principle has been around since when, the signing of the Magna Carta, about 800 years ago.

McArdle is clueless, about the threat to our rights at home as well as the consequences of the Bush adminstration's foreign policy.

2. steve on October 30, 2004 8:55 PM writes...

that's the same Instapundit which, before the videotape came out, said about Al Qaqaa that

1) The explosives were looted before the war
2) They weren't very powerful anyway, geez, it's not like it was Semtex
3) It wasn't 377 tons, it was 3 tons
4) they've never been used against us
5) Russian Special Forces removed them before the war
6) CBS sucks for talking about the story

Then after the videotape came out, briefly mentioned it might be inaccurate, then dropped the story like a hot potato.

3. steve on October 30, 2004 8:58 PM writes...

There is no limit to the incompetence that some people will accept from Bush. As for me, successfully fighting terrorism's one of my top priorities, so like Paul Berman, I'm voting for Kerry.

4. lisamancelynlowe on October 31, 2004 11:32 AM writes...

I stumbled upon Derek Lowe's website because it said he was "an Arkansan" when I was searching for possible Lowe relatives of mine since many are "Arkansans". I was very disppointed to see this Lowe's stance on the upcoming election and very much hope we are not related. Maybe he is a distant part of my family tree but the Lowe branch I am from...is likely much more related to the commenter Steve...at least in spirit. The Bush Administration shows itself to be selfish, greedy, and appears to want to keep power at any cost. The Lowes I know are unselfish, giving and for the common good --- humanitarians. My kind minister grandfather, and wonderful teacher grandmother must look down from heaven and be very saddened by what the Bush Administration has done. Thankfully, they also were always hopeful and optimistic that goodness would eventually prevail for all, not just a select few.

5. steve on October 31, 2004 6:47 PM writes...

Stick around though, it's a good blog. 95% of the posts are about pharmacological chemistry and practice, which Derek's an expert in. Experts writing about their area of expertise make for the best blogs. Like den Beste, back when he wrote about engineering. When Derek starts writing 5000-word essays full of naive politics and history, we'll know to start tuning out.

6. William Knight on October 31, 2004 9:24 PM writes...

I think discussion of political beliefs is important in blogs like Derek Lowe's, because of the potential impact on the public. The political discussions can also be fairly interesting, even though I strongly disagree with his point of view.

7. Derek Lowe on November 1, 2004 7:47 AM writes...

That's really why I bring up politics at all, just to give people a calibration curve for the rest of my views. Fear not, I'm not capable of SdBestian-length pieces, even if I had the time to write them. I certainly miss being able to read them now and again, though.

8. Dr Toot on November 1, 2004 1:25 PM writes...

I agree with Kerry on more issues, particuarly social & probably economic, than I ever would with Bush. But we don't vote for a Commander-in-Chief based on which flavor of interest groups they pander to. The role of American President is mainly to act as a figurehead for our foreign policy, although in practice the typical trog uses the election to react to their immediate economic circumstances. We are in the middle of a struggle with dangerous totalitarian forces (read Arab Fumdamentalists) who are not just the enemy of America but of the civilized world as a whole. And France too, for that matter. This struggle is not unlike the fight against the German & Russian variants of totalitarianism which we won over the last 60 years. And we did not win those fights by a lack of resolve or a lack of brute force. If we vote Bush out, it will be seen as the sign of weakness & decadence that it is, & we will pay the piper 'ere long for our ignorance of historical perspective. I don't like the idea of Bush stacking the Supreme Court or further cowtowing to the evangelicals, but those are prices I am prepared to pay to achieve a Greater Good.