Maybe we're beginning to see the end of "zero-tolerance" practices and the...

[LAS14]

.... need to always have someone pay, no matter how much time has passed. Sometimes life is complex and all or nothing policies in the long run aren't wise. I say "in the long run" because I grant that they're useful in breaking barriers and raising consciousness.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. How much tolerance should we have for rape and racism?

A little, a lot, depends on the political affiliations of the parties?

[Skidmore]

2. It would be better

if we could trust law enforcement and our courts and communities so people who are assaulted can receive justice without fear. We have a long way to go.

[theboss]

3. Well, we gave it a year

I guess we thought that only Republicans could be bad people.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. Aberrant behavior must be decried in all situations except those that don't inure to our benefit.

Do folks read what they are writing?

[theboss]

5. Look I'm sorry about all the rape and racism, but a Republican may be governor of VA for 18 months

What are we supposed to do?

Every election is a Flight 93 election.

Christ, now I understand why Republicans voted for Roy Moore. We totally would have voted for Left-wing Roy Moore.

[denverbill]

12. By we, I assume you mean yourself and Democratsincebirth.

Because nobody on this forum voted for any of the VA candidates since any of these revelations came out. Plenty of Republicans voted for and donated to Roy Moore even after all of the allegations at him hitting on high school girls came out.

The were MULTIPLE witnesses and physical evidence in Moore's case that he was trying to hook up with underage girls.

Two of these men are accused of unethical, but legal, behavior, when they were in college. Brett Kavanaugh was accused of drugging and raping women and lying about his alcohol consumption in his hearings, and was still appointed to the Supreme Court by Republicans in the Senate.

[earthside]

6. Democrats need to get a grip.

No human beings are perfect. Individuals learn, mature, and change -- indeed, perhaps the best acquire strength of character because they have grown. Think of Justice Hugo Black or Sen. Robert Byrd. How many times have we heard it: the perfect should not be the enemy of the good. I don't believe Northam or Herring are racists; I never believed Al Franken was a misogynist.

The willingness of Democrats and progressives to examine even their flaws and imperfections gives them the high moral ground because they recognize and accept redemption.

Unfortunately, Democrats seem to be captured by a rush to judgement ethos these days that precludes thoughtfulness.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Should we extend this empathy to Repukes?

[theboss]

8. How about Louis CK?

I mean, really, he only jacked it in front of a few people and he usually asked permission.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. LOL

When I was a young man I drove a female co-worker home from work and she invited me back to her apartment. I was sitting on the couch and she was sitting in a chair near it. She said I'm about to do something personal and do you mind? She went and got a bong, lol.

As an aside when I was a young man I was in many young women's homes, apartments, and hotel rooms. I never took that as tantamount to an invitation to have sex.

[LAS14]

9. Well said.

[2naSalit]

11. But, but, but what about...

whataboutism?