Hearing people -- even Newsom -- waxing rhapsodic about Kirk's willingness to "debate" is turning my stomach.

[pat_k]

2. I believe Newsom is flat wrong in his statement on how to "honor" Kirk.

I am a member of Braver Angels and occasionally participate in Living Room Conversations events.

I dedicate hours each month to finding ways to honestly connect across seemingly insurmountable divides. But the key word there is "honestly."

I have had productive conversations with conservatives who are speaking honestly from the heart. Asking genuinely curious questions -- not "gotcha questions" -- is key. Listening, fully, is key. Sharing personal experiences that led to this or that set of beliefs is key. Going beyond tossing conclusions at each other is key.

Charlie Kirk NEVER engaged in an honest, truly heartfelt, curious conversation in his life.

He was a propagandists and liar to his core.

That is not "engagement." His purpose was transparently to humiliate and subjugate. And I personally think Newsom has brains enough to recognize it.

I enthusiastically applaud the productive things Newsom has done, and is doing. On this (and on some other things) I don't think he is being genuine. And if genuine, he is misguided.