Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

Last night I went to a panel discussion hosted by Republican Future, a local group of young Republicans. Jim Lago was one of the panelists. Also included were the editor of the local college newspaper, the host of a local political television program (think “Meet the Press”), a Professor of Communications, a business news publisher, and a liberal/progressive radio host. The topic was Media Bias.

The discussion was pretty good, with panelists responding to questions from the hosts, and a couple from the audience. I must say Jim got the best of them all. Probably the best moment for me was my own simple and unwanted intrusion. The liberal television politico talked about the recent restaurant smoking ban imposed by the city council, and was quite proud of his support. He said his support was because he felt children were at risk in restaurants where smoking was allowed, so he wanted to protect the children. He felt conservatives should support it, too. “If you want to protect children before they are born, you should want to protect them after they are born.” I said, “And vice-versa.” A lot of audience heads nodded. He had no response.

The progressive radio host (sorry, I don’t recall his name), made a comment I really wanted to address, but never got the chance. He concluded that conservatives listen to talk radio because they like simple answers, then quoted Mencken about simple answers almost always being wrong. This must be the nuance John Kerry is so attached to.

Perhaps more to come. The progressive has a new radio show beginning in January, and I would love to do some call-in. He offered to have me on the show as well. But his show is on Saturday mornings–about the time I make the turn and tee off on the back nine. Maybe I’ll carry my cell phone.