From time-to-time I identify a post that meets certain criteria (see here).
- The poster comes to the aid of a fellow citizen of a different political persuasion.
- The poster does not compromise his/her beliefs.
While this criteria might seem easy to satisfy, in practice I do not see it happening often.
Today I found the type of post I look for at the Virginian Federalist. Cominius provided an excellent review (here) of Senator Jim Webb‘s statement about his vote for amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). As Cominius explained it:
Raising Kaine has posted Senator Webb’s statement on his vote for amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Raising Kaine post has attracted more than 85 comments, rants and whines, and many howls of betrayal at Webb’s ‘cave to the administration’. It would seem prudent then to see just what is in S 1927. and the related 4th Amendment issues.
Cominius then thoughtfully reviewed the Constitutional issues. Then he provided his conclusion:
My conclusion is the Senator Webb’s vote for S 1927, and the act itself, do not betray the Fourth Amendment, the voters of Virginia, or of the United States.
It is not our job to be perfect. It is not our job to judge each other. It is, however, occasionally our place to judge another’s conduct as best we can. Even though Senator Webb is a member of the other party, Cominius treated the Senator like one fellow citizen should treat another fellow citizen. He set aside his personal biases and worked to achieve a fair conclusion. Then he clearly stated a conclusion the defends the Senator’s vote. That makes Cominius a Bridge Maker.
