Simon Willison’s Weblog

Why should you feel depressed? You shouldn't need their validation for your political decisions; there is no shame in endorsing either Bush or Kerry. If you think that the issues involved should lead to a clear decision, then you certainly haven't made a balanced analysis. Rational perhaps, but not a realistic interpretation of the uncertainties involved. You have your reasons, and your former employer has theirs. Don't think that any political opinion - yours or even the majority's opinion - is necessarily correct. So one shouldn't be embarrassed or depressed (or elated) by it.

Jimmy Cerra - 31st October 2004 23:27 - #

1. You can be depressed about someone's decision because you respect them and think they've made a bad decision.
2. Where does he mention validation? It's quite the stretch to imagine that because someone is disappinted in someone's endorsement, they relied upon that for validation.
3. A 'balanced' analysis that produces a balance of opinion between two candidates, is not really balanced at all. Candidates are different, and the idea that two will have an equal amount of positivies and negatives is, frankly, stupid.
4. I'd be interested in seeing what balanced analysis can produce a positive view of Bush other than that he's a known quantity. It seems to me that the vast majority of his support base are evangelical nutjobs, or stupid enough to believe that being able to change your mind and admit you were wrong is a sign of weakness.

In any case, what's wrong with feeling depressed about the opinion of people you associated with?

Lach - 1st November 2004 00:23 - #

Depressed was the wrong word: disappointed is more accurate. I should add that I actually have an incredibly high opinion of the owners of the newspaper - they run an excellent business that is rightfully the envy of much of the industry, and they do so with unbridalled passion for the community that they serve. I just wish they'd bucked their republican leanings for once and gone with the other guy - but like I said, I knew it wouldn't happen.

Simon Willison - 1st November 2004 00:37 - #

As a courtesy to Simon Willison, I am posting my response to Lach on an entry in my journal at /..

Jimmy Cerra - 1st November 2004 03:55 - #

but it's interesting to see that of the four Kansan papers listed two endorsed Kerry, despite that state's huge Republican majority.

That's the job of the mainstream media in the U.S., to misrepresent the people in order to push their own agenda.

MH - 1st November 2004 15:13 - #

That's the job of the mainstream media in the U.S., to misrepresent the people in order to push their own agenda.

Is this a spam comment? ;-)

Or is it just a silly sentence from someone who has no clue that Kansas newspapers are far from the mainstream?

Levi - 1st November 2004 17:38 - #

See, look at all the fun you're missing out on now that you've left! I, too, have been surprised. Though, I'm a bit concerned that Bush might actually pull this off. Please tell me it isn't so...

Dean - 2nd November 2004 06:51 - #