.....is the American Taliban.
Now, I'm not debating which of bin Laden or Dobson is the more evil, which of Mullah Omar or Pat Robertson deserves the hotter seat in hell. Nor even, which of the two nasty camps is responsible, in the aggregate, for the most misery in the world. I'd probably give that crown to Al Quaeda on balance, even take exception to Paul Hackett's saying they're "not much different."
But. In terms of which odious character is more dangerous to my life, liberty and happiness, me personally? It's the American Taliban, hands down.
Bin Laden in never going to invade the United States and impose Sharia law. Islamofascists will never take over my government and shove their way of life down my throat.
But Falwell will.
My access to birth control and abortion. What I read and watch and experience.
The chances of my being injured or killed in a terrorist attack are remote. The chance that I'll die or suffer from some disease curable with stem cells? Or cervical cancer, preventable by a vaccine the Christian right opposes because it deprives them of a boogeyman to make teenagers afraid of sex? Very real.
And so on. You can add your own to the list.
Today's Supreme Court decision backing assisted suicide over the objection of Scalia, Thomas and (don't kid yourself where this guy stands) Roberts really brought this home. My ultimate nightmare, religious fascists invading my death bed. Once again: my chances of getting maimed in a terrorist attack, abducted and tortured by Zawahiri's minions are, you know, not so much really. My chances of suffering an agonizing, humiliating and (for my family) financially and emotionally devastating death: Pretty fucking real.
With Clinton, we all wore the blue dress. With the American Taliban, it will be the Terri Schiavo feeding tube.
(With gratitude to the remarkable Paul Hackett, for having the nerve to say the unthinkable out loud, and loudly.)