Look, I'm known to go both ways (insert whatever jokes you like here).
I've been critical of Mr. Orange Website when he chose to mock John McCain's (or possibly his web design team) yellow teeth and I've sung his praises for the very creation of DKos itself.
So, I hope it won't seem like too much of a smoocherooni on the 'ol toilet-warmer when I, retroactively, stand up, slap palms and doff my cap at Sir Markos' choice to ban those who pushed all the conspiracy talk about the attacks on the World Trade Centers.
While some have called it censorship, one need only look at the Once Grand Old Party to see that crying crazy in the face of crazy is sometimes the only way to identify the adults from the enablers.
I write, of course... of the birthers.
Unlike Mr. M to the Z., the Republicans are stuck between a rock and three hundred busloads of xenophobic racists because they can't seem to get it through their 15% approval ratings that every once in awhile its to one's advantage to piss off some surefire voters in defense of the obvious.
Barack Obama was born in Hawaii... and Republicans know that, but to SAY IT ALOUD means, well...
Look, on the surface Kos gained nothing by banning "Truthers". Page clicks are clicks and nothing says page clicks like shut-ins with a worldview that can't be denied because it comes with infinite logic loops.
Such was the mindset of those who felt America was actively behind 9-11 ("Were there explosives inserted in the towers?!?") and such is the mindset of those who currently believe that President Obama was born... well wherever outside America they think he was born.
And yet... point me to the conservative website (or politician really) that has been willing to not only take a stand against that viewpoint, but BACK UP THAT STAND by banning people who espouse it.
Cue crickets on steroids, please.
Argue "FREE SPEECH, DAMNIT!" all you like, but if you want "FREE SPEECH, DAMNIT!" there are a million street corners waiting for sandwich-boards and bumper-sticker-festooned megaphones.
And to the "FREE SPEECH, DAMNIT" crowd I now pass the popcorn and roll film, on the continuing, downward electoral spiral of the party without soul or conscience.
Because, on a few, select occasions there is value in someone -- anyone -- standing up and saying, "That is a fucking nut-fruitcake and we're not buying nor eating."
So, as days turn from weeks to months and Conservatives continue to allow wacky Uncle Feely to sit in the living room and shout crazy to the neighbors, lets take a moment to give credit where credit is due.