Sympathy for the devil

My estimation of James Lileks as a man has just plummeted immeasurably. Lileks is a family man who dotes on his daughter. Now he sympathizes with a fictional character that has brutally betrayed and abandoned a wife and two children? I always knew he was well to the left on social issues, but I couldn’t have imagined this. Has the entire world gone barking mad?

One partially sound mind still remains (on the TV), strangely enough it’s that of Philly Leotardo. When Tony claims that Vito’s acts are “a victimless crime”*, Philly reminds Tony of a few of the victims of this crime, even if he only begins to scratch the surface. Who’d have thought that Phil Leotardo would be the only character on the show to demonstrate honor, consistent application of a meaningful moral standard (even if that standard is too low in most areas) and intelligence!

AJ’s debacle, like Christopher’s debauch and Paulie’s tantrum in previous weeks, was completely predictable. I would hope that they don’t reuse the reset button they’ve used with Christopher and Paulie. AJ needs to face some consequences for his insistent stupidity, as does Tony for his spinelessness in dealing with Vito, Paulie, Christopher, AJ and so many others.

* Here Tony’s moral standard is substantially higher than that of the U.S. government which in GWB’s first term mandated the decriminalization of homosexual sodomy.