That depends on what you mean by “hate.” Like many other words (”fascist” “racist”), it has become a word that has seen its meaning bleed away from overuse. When it becomes obvious and cliche to point out that “hate” no longer means “has a dangerously aggressive anitpathy for”, but instead “has an opinion which I do not share” then we shall find ourselves wondering why “hate” crimes should be against the law.

Unintended consequences, they is a bitch.

When Obama was elected, but not only Prop 8 but multiple anti-gay initiatives on more than just marriage issues were passed, I considered it at best a mixed result, leaning towards the bad.

Then, almost every one of my non-gay liberal friends had the same reaction, almost verbatim: “That’s really sad and wrong, but it will be reversed in a few years. Right now, we’ve got so much to be thankful for.” I tried to imagine the left being so philisophical and dismissive if Obama had been elected, but multiple states had outlawed abortion. Of course not, the entire left would be outraged and mobilized.

So, we’ve got an active and successful targetted attack on gay rights, mobilized in many places on multiple fronts. Obama’s position already makes clear we can expect sympathetic noises and not much more on gay issues. And the rest of the “liberal alliance” can’t even be bothered to SOUND outraged, let alone move to action.

And, at least for me, that’s why I scream louder at gay issues, and focus on them more; because I can’t trust anyone else to do it. Every ounce of energy I move from gay issues to something else is an ounce of energy no one else is going to replace.

I don’t think anyone, left or right, has realized just how explosively angry the gay community is right now. And if people aren’t as angry about the issues closest to their hearts: well, tough.

I don’t exactly object to people being sure about things; it’s more that I’m wary of it.

I tend not to lay down absolute rules, for myself or anyone else.

I’m not sure you got the point of my comment about “patiently explain to the workers,” but I think Will did. I wasn’t complaining about the sharing of information, even believing one is absolutely correct, but the way it is done. “Patiently explain to the workers,” as if there were no possibility of their arriving at the information on their own.

‘Ware casual definitions of left and right. The political discourse that talks of “left” and “right” osbfuscates more than it illumines.

ACLU-left cares more deeply about the Supreme Court than “all the rest of this political stuff,” with a few exceptions which in an case it believes the Supreme Court should dictate policy on.

It matters very much indeed, to me, what policies are pursued. I think many others in this thread have expressed the same opinion. Yet between us our expectations/hopes/requirements/demands on policy issues diverge somewhat, though I’d think we’re all left — of the kind that has been called an infantile disorder

And remember, who is appointed to the Supreme Court is more important than all the rest of this political stuff.