1. I haven’t followed the Abortion Wars closely, but what I’ve seen of extremes on both sides strikes me as repellent. Akin meets that criterion with room to spare.

2. In 2008 I was going to give McCain my grudging vote when his erratic behavior during the financial crisis changed my mind. This is more important than ideology, I thought. This guy should not be anywhere near The Button.

My reaction to Akin is similar. No way could I vote for him if I lived in MO. This is more important than ideology.

3. re: #18 Targetpractice

On that we’d agree, Akin’s is at least consistent. I hate to use the word, but I do respect someone who takes his beliefs to their logical conclusion rather than trying to weasel out of them by making “exceptions.” Men like Akin, who say there is never an exception, at least make it clear that they’re theocratic assholes than their career-minded brethren who try to carve out “exceptions” just to avoid the label that they rightly deserve.

With respect, I disagree. I consider my intellect limited and fallible. IMHO the conclusions of logical reasoning should be contrasted with belief, empirical experience, feelings, what for lack of a better term I’ll call common sense, etc. Even if logic is allowed to overrule these, it shouldn’t be followed blindly.

Akin may or may not be a hypocrite, but he is an apologist for dangerous fanaticism.

4. re: #8 Targetpractice

Then I’d ask Rep. Akin, if he believes that the child an innocent who should not be harmed, if he also believes that the government has some obligation to help the mother through the pregnancy and subsequent rearing of her rapist’s child.

This.