There are plenty men of the type Moxie describes, but when she uses the word "most men" our b.s. detectors should be on full alert.

We tend to say, Oh she's so pretty and smart, why won't some guy marry her? The truth is, many women like that drive men away, all the while complaining that no guy wants them.

They're so in love with the idea of how special they are that no man's good enough.

Given that we're all fallen, nobody's special.

Especially after the bit about Nancy Pelosi trying to legalize killing live babies...

She does raise some interesting questions about male fidelity, though. How many guys are faithful only becaus they figure they can't get anyone else? In other words, how many do the right thing for the wrong reason?

The sexual revolution, far from liberating people, has done more to poison relations between the sexes than anything short of Sharia ever could do.

Party apparently runs thicker than gender - you kind of wish she'd show some sympathy for the liberal women out there trying to find a man that has moved beyond the barefoot-and-pregnant model. I'll avoid the word "most" here as I know better.

Blaming liberals for the seed-spreading nature of a lot of men is pretty out of bounds.

I did tell Moxie she's more than welcome to contact my lifetime-Republican wife - she's happily (as far as I know) married to a liberal-leaning man. We're no Matlin/Carville - and definitely no Ahnuld/Shriver - but we make it work.

John wrote: "They're so in love with the idea of how special they are that no man's good enough."

Where did I say that I'm so precious and special?

The point was not "I'm so great", the point was that at 35, I have not found single men with the right values.

Having been married for going on 25 years to a man I met apparently before he could be indoctrinated into the ways and thinkings of "most men", I suppose I have yet one more thing to be grateful for this particular season of the year.

Or maybe I just got lucky.

I know *he* did. ;-)

Moxie-"They" doesn't mean "you."

But that's my fault for clumsy writing. Sorry.

It might be because of where I spent part of my day today, but I immediately thought of one perfectly good reason why heterosexual couples should get married.

If you can qualify for the tax filing status of Married Filing Jointly, you save a lot of money over, say, filing Single.

And if your live-in person-of-opposite-sex is contributing nothing to the household upkeep except between the sheets, and the two of you aren't married, you might as well imagine the IRS is in the bed with you and getting the best of it.

So the screwing you're getting is supposed to keep you from thinking about the screwing you're getting?

Charles!

But seriously, values compatibility is critical to marital harmony -- or to any other kind of interpersonal harmony. Moxie's insistence on finding someone who shares her values is entirely correct. That some of the commenters here differ with her values is of no moment.

Most of us wouldn't keep company with someone whose values we disdain, regardless of what other assets he might possess. We might trade with him, if he possesses a skill we could use, but we wouldn't make him a close friend. And how much more important is a spouse?

It's rather a shame that politics should have intruded into this area, but then, politics and government have so completely burst their Constitutional bonds that it would have been a huge surprise if they hadn't invaded the world of romance.

My only problem is that "Moral = Conservative" thing? Many (i didnt say "most) "conservative" (and liberal for that matter) folks have deep seated, totally repressed (until triggered)opposite leanings ... lets say "anti-morals" just to be snarky. Simple declarations of leanings are important to establish common ground at times but I am usually afraid of folks who constantly throw out their conservative (or liberal values) and "morals" to the world like some kind of incantation. My experience has shown there is usually a smoldering ember of something on the flip side. It would behoove anyone searching for a a mate to seek out the values of kindess, genuine care for their fellow humans, an easy-going nature, and a fondness for the ole mother in law and any pets in the household. These can transcend the superficial nature of declared values. Neither conservatives nor liberals have ever held exclusive dominion over those values. :)

Many (i didnt say "most) "conservative" (and liberal for that matter) folks have deep seated, totally repressed (until triggered)opposite leanings ... lets say "anti-morals" just to be snarky.

Hence the need for the morals.

Which, that's basically what us conservatives have been saying about pretty much everyone all along.

I suspect that one factor contributing to my conservative bent is my deep, dark suspicion that people, contrary to Official Political Doctrine but consistent with what I learned in church, are not necessarily bright, shining examples of goodness.

Or, quoting Andrea Harris quoting John McGinley on Scrubs:

Lady, people aren't chocolates. But you know what they are, mostly? Bastards. Bastard-coated bastards with bastard filling.

I don't think I've gotten to that level of disgruntlement. Yet.

What the hell? Should someone that's posted the kinds of pictures that Moxie has posted really be bringing up the "why buy the cow" argument? Not that I think that there's anything wrong with The Blonde One's sexy photo moments... just that it seems a wee bit hypocritical

I suppose that depends on whether display constitutes an offering. I assume by default that it doesn't, but your mileage may vary.

It's simple Veronica -- I am a professional photographer who doesn't always have a model around to practice my craft.

You must be referring to a photo in my bikini, lying on a bed, done in black & white with interesting light filtering through the windows.

There was no offer and I am by nature not a woman with loose morals, so there is no hypocrisy whatsoever.

I guess I'm just saying that while you may not have seen it as a "offer" your more modesty-obsessed sisters over there in Moralton (is, Ms. Eden. Ms. Shallit.) might not be as... forgiving? And, that's your competition for the hard-core Republican types...

*shrugs*

Maybe you'd get the kind of man you're looking for if you were more, I hate the word.. but Prudish seeming.

Whatever the case, hell, if I were as gorgeous as you are, I'd want to preserve it photographically, too. More power to you!

Veronica, that's very sweet, but I must say, I'm just average looking at best...and no, I'm not being modest, it's my indirect self-compliment about what a good photographer I am!

I'm not sure why anyone center left or right would have a problem with me wearing swim wear in a disappointingly modest pose. Prudish is something different altogether. Like the Mormon's magic underpants.

My site seems to be down right now, but perhaps this might make for a good post topic in the future. Along with the now infamous modest, artistic bikini photo :)

Cheers,
mox

From what I can remember from my brief sojourn in Southern California, the average might be a smidgen higher there. (Of course, it could be that they're all from Iowa and they're trying to get into show biz.)