One of the points I often try to make with my more ideological friends, particularly some libertarians, is that there isn’t enough time in a day to make every principled conflict a high priority. I agree with most of the arguments made by gun rights advocates, but it’s not an area that grabs my passion all that often — save perhaps when it serves to highlight the hypocrisies of the left. For others, it’s their top priority. Similarly, I am sure that the there are plenty of second amendment enthusiasts who also agree with the pro-life movement. But they put their energies elsewhere. I meet a lot of libertarians who are very thoughtful and persuasive on a lot of issues, but their blood only seems to boil about the drug war, gay rights etc. I think some people fail to appreciate the degree to which your overall philosophy becomes subordinated to the battles you decide to pick.

Anyway, this is probably painfully obvious. I bring it up because, frankly, I cannot get passionate about Martha Stewart. I don’t like her. I think she lived the sort of life which all but begged for a huge karmic backlash. It may be true that as a matter of principle that she doesn’t deserve her fate and I am open to that argument and, if persuaded, I’ll gladly say so. But even if she’s a total scapegoat I will leave it to others on the Right to carry the fight on the issue of Martha’s Martyrdom.