What Democracy Means to Some of Us

From the Patt in The Hat's column, concerning the Kern County Clerk's decision that the county will no longer perform marriage ceremonies as soon as it becomes legal for Sodomites to get hitched.

[A] Kern County Ford dealership's radio ad [,] declared that "since we all know that 86 out of every 100 of us are Christians who believe in God, we at Kieffe and Sons Ford wonder why we don't just tell the other 14% to sit down and shut up." An early apology from the owner was choice: "We're obviously sorry that it offends a given segment who identifies themselves as atheist."

Ah, the wonder of Xtianity & its love for all mankind, uh, we mean humanity, sorry. We don't mean to offend a given segment who identifies themselves as homophobic closet cases. Nor do we mean to offend that portion of the other 14% who aren't atheists, but are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or what have you. And one other good one that Patt got off.

Her circumlocutions were positively Clintonesque. My favorite was when she said, apropos of the state Supreme Court decision: "It was not unanimous." By that standard, Al Gore should be job-sharing the Oval Office three days a week.

SNAP!! (That's how young people today say "touché," fellow ageing wretches.) By the way, Ms. Morrison seems to have been at The Times longer than any one in our memory, except maybe Ralph Vartabedian, whom we remember from way back as well. Congrats to both of them for resisting all the buy-outs, lay-offs, axeings, etc. Patt is wise enough, however, to have a back-up gig at KPCC wkdy. afternoons.