Mark Raven emails:

Something you wrote on Tuesday, Feb. 12 caught my eye. In arguing for the current successful status of various Conservative issues, you mentioned the following:
“2) The abortion issue did help Virginia Democrat Doug Wilder win in 1989.”
Granted, the clock stood at 1:39 a.m. when you hit the Enter button, so perhaps some slack should be offered.
But, ummm, Wilder’s victory took place more than 18 years ago, if we’re going by voting dates, or 19 years if you merely wish to employ calendar years as your point of reference. That’s nearly two decades.
Ago.
As in the past.
History, perhaps not ancient history, but history nonetheless. Guy named H.W. in the White House. The Muj, via Charlie Wilson and the CIA, had the Soviets down and almost out. Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers had just trounced the John Elway-misled Denver Broncos, 55-10, in the Super Bowl.
Basic math. Didn’t they get around to that at Princeton? 2008 minus 1989 equals?
Please, don’t bother Derb with this equation. . . .
In the future, may I suggest that you make your arguments about the freshness, or apparent lack thereof, of the Conservative and, especially, the Neoconservative position a wee bit more, well, current? . . .
Do enjoy your day!

All the effort that went into writing that email, and you couldn’t take the time to read my post? The fact that the 1989 example is dated was precisely my point.