I Can't Believe I'm Going To Say This, But I'm Starting To Respect Ted Olson

[Beetwasher]

His awesome work on prop 8 and now this are revealing his core values to me.

9/11 Widower Ted Olson: Obama Was Right On Cordoba House (VIDEO)

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/911-widower-ted-olson-obama-was-right-on-cordoba-house.php?ref=fpb

I dunno if this is an awakening for him, or if perhaps his Bush v. Gore work was because he was a lawyer representing his client despite his ideals. But I'm coming around to respect him. If he's a conservative, he's an old school one, and I can have grudging respect for that dying species.

[racaulk]

1. I don't know if I can ever forgive him for his role in Bush v. Gore.

But his work in the Prop 8 trial, both inside and outside of the courtroom, has been quite impressive. We really needed someone with his legal acumen in this fight, and I am so glad that he's on our side. :thumbsup:

K&R

ETA: Of course he's right on Cordoba House as well. :hi:

[FreeState]

10. I think its important to not define people by one or even several actions

This is something I struggle with too. I tend to see someone as an action (i.e. a murderer is a murderer). I've come to the conclusion, for me, that is not a healthy way of looking at people. A person who killed someone one, or even several people, still has many other aspects to their life that are surely worthy and apart from that action. I try to look at it from the angle of what limits am I putting on myself by labeling others? What limits do I put on myself if I see Mr. Olson as only his actions I disagree with?

Just rambling...

[Warpy]

2. Olsen, like Bob Barr before him, is a born again constitutionalist

and both are staunch defenders of the first amendment and of the country against mob rule.

Don't kid yourself that their pernicious social and economic dogma has changed, it hasn't. However, they're both aware of the rights and restrictions conferred upon the majority by the constitution.

[Beetwasher]

9. Oh, Not Kidding Myself

Never said I'd trust or admire him. Grudging respect is as far as I'd probably go. Though I'm not sure what his economic positions are, I'd argue his prop 8 work would argue in his favor regarding some "pernicious" social agenda.

[backscatter712]

3. Good for him. Something to debunk the pearl-clutchers.

"But the victims of 9/11 are offended by Cordoba House!" No, this particular victim isn't, and stands up for American values.

[damntexdem]

4. People can change: think of George Wallace.

But another interpretation is that Olsen hasn't changed, so has not dived deeper into the sewer with his RW milieu.

[bluesmail]

5. Respect and trust are not the same thing, I doubt I'll ever trust

Theodore Olson.

[Beetwasher]

7. I Agree, Never Said I'd Trust Him

Grudging respect is as far as I'd go.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. He lost his wife on 9/11.

If anybody knows the dirty business that W and Cheney were involved with, it would be him. What better way to get even but to break away from the right-wing and follow your conscience.

[AnArmyVeteran]

I remember watching his wife on CSPAN two days earlier.

It was strange. Although I didn't agree with anything she said on CSPAN it was sad to see her die just a couple of days later.

[AnArmyVeteran]

8. I remember watching his wife on CSPAN two days earlier.

It was strange. Although I didn't agree with anything she said on CSPAN it was sad to see her die just a couple of days later.