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Post by DE Sinclair on Aug 7, 2015 13:30:33 GMT -5
In the hopes of cooling down the discussion, let me remind everyone that we each have a right to vote and feel the way we choose. That includes choosing not to participate in the system. It's not the choice all of us would make, but those who do have a right to do so whether everyone agrees or not.
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Post by DE Sinclair on Aug 7, 2015 13:33:55 GMT -5
Here's a question for the folks who think the Democrats are only slightly better than the GOP: Did you watch the debates last night? Part of my original statement was that political apathy is caused by people not paying enough attention. (I apologize in advance if my generalizations about people who see little difference between the major parties don't quite jibe with the members who have commented here.) People who say the parties are just the same remind me of people who say the Civil War wasn't about slavery. They think they know enough about the subject to have an opinion because they hear the meme so much, and maybe they've done some cursory research. But I've been a political junky since I was 8. I got really curious about politics because of Watergate. I thought the president had killed somebody because of the snippets of news I heard in passing. So I started reading the local newspapers and Newsweek as much as I could. So I've been living and breathing politics for more than 40 years! So it gets very frustrating to keep hearing vague memes that the two parties are just as bad from people who have very little to back it up. Take a look at this thread. What have we had supporting the idea that the Democrats are really awful? Well, one member used an episode of South Park to illustrate his political stance. I called it the "South Park justification" for not voting. It really should have a name because I've heard it before. Almost every time I get into a real world discussion about politics with someone who thinks the parties are just as bad, they fail to offer any substantial criticism of the Democrats and they use the "South Park justification." It's not actually very convincing to people who follow politics. I really don't know why people use it. I think South Park is frequently very funny, but I can't imagine using it to prove that Britney Spears is stupid or that Bono is a bowel movement or that Al Gore is a crazy zealot because of his paranoid obsession with the ManBearPig. Let's look at the few specific accusations against Democrats. Remember we had a discussion about how Elizabeth Warren was a terrible person because she said she was par Cherokee. You know, even if the very worst interpretation of this story was true, I really don't see why a reasonable person would still be holding it against her. And there's never been a shred of evidence that she didn't sincerely believe she was part-Cherokee. There's never been a shred of evidence that she isn't part-Cherokee. There's never been a shred of evidence that she used her identification as part-Cherokee for advancement. It's the very definition of a non-story. Even the worst interpretation is a non-story. Now contrast that with my criticism of Republicans. I've been occasionally posting stories about the GOP candidates, always about what they did or said, and always about events that have just happened. And then there's all the stuff I didn't post. The Democrats are not perfect. I'm sorry for all the times I ever tried to persuade citizens to vote Democratic with my "Vote for the Democrats because they are perfect!" banners and bumper stickers. But they are 100 times better than the GOP on every issue. I've been following the two parties for 40 years. And I'm speaking right now as someone who watched both the debates last night. And I saw the horror that the GOP is going to unleash upon the world if any of these horrible people is elected president. But if you want to use the "South Park justification" for your political philosophy, feel free. Some people also develop political apathy from paying too much attention to politics. Much like the adage of not seeing how sausage is made. It's not my point of view, but I can understand how one could get there. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 7, 2015 13:35:12 GMT -5
Never mind. Now I remember why I intended to stay out of this & any other political threads. Because I don't meet up to certain towering political savants' standards for being "principled" or "thoughtful." Dan B.
I apologize if I have offended you.
I admit that I have no real standing to say that you, as an individual, do not have a stance that is "principled" or "thoughtful."
I'm just going by my previous experience with people who say "the major political parties are just as bad" or "the Democrats are only a little better than the GOP."
However, there is certainly nothing anywhere on this thread to make me change my mind.
I offered up several areas where there is a world of difference between the two parties. Feel free to explain your position in a little more detail.
This offer is open to anyone, especially to anyone who watched the debates last night and still feels the two parties are pretty much the same.
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 7, 2015 13:43:09 GMT -5
Undoubtedly, the Republican party is packed with more racists, homophobes, religious zealots and gun lovers per square inch. However, the Democrats have just as many power hungry, special interest whores, out and out liars and thieves .Probably more horn-dogs and they will tax you more. Any way you go they are both poison to me Tax who more? At least at a federal level this statement has no basis in truth. I could give less than a rat's ass if someone is a horndog. Unless they're screwing small children or large animals I just don't care. Oh no! A favorite conservative meme disproven by FACTS! That's RUDE! |
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Post by Rob Allen on Aug 7, 2015 13:55:29 GMT -5
I saw this on a car the other day:  |
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 7, 2015 14:32:11 GMT -5
Donald Trump's victory lapTrump made at least three statements last night that should have made honest decent people reconsider their support. He wouldn't promise not to run as an independent if he wasn't the GOP candidate. His response to Megyn Kelly's question about his many sexist remarks was ridiculous and hypocritical. He got really pissy with all the "political correctness" (he seems to think calling Rosie O'Donnell a fat pig and a slob helps fight competition from China) and then he also started to get in Megyn's face for even asking such a question. I think it's bizarre that Trump, as thin-skinned as he is about ANY criticism, has so much damn gall that he can even talk about "political correctness." But his personal response to Megyn Kelly especially made him look mean and petty, and that should make honest decent people reconsider the idea that he is presidential material. He was asked about all the bankruptcies that his companies have been through. And he admitted that he was just using the system the way "everybody" does. He said that's how it is, and he will use that same corporate wiliness to run the country (or something). It was a pretty bad answer. The logical conclusion is that when he runs America into bankruptcy, he's just move on to another country. New Zealand maybe? There was more, but that's a start. Even sensible conservatives should be able to see how vile this man is. And hypocritical. And ignorant. And egomaniacal. But the people supporting Trump are not honest decent people. I have a very bad feeling the next batch of polls will show that none of his gibberish last night hurt him a bit. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 7, 2015 22:21:45 GMT -5
Here's my one-sentence assessments of the contenders for the GOP nomination for president:
Donald Trump - Nothing says "I'm a contrarian tool" like being a Trump supporter.
Jeb Bush - He looks like an inbred barn cat.
Scott Walker - Governor Walker is known for being moody because he always displays the characteristics of the last person whose brain he ate.
Ted Cruz - Senator Cruz looks like a pencil eraser with a face drawn on it.
Rand Paul - He always looks like he was dressed by a ventriloquist's-doll manufacturer.
Mike Huckabee - Mike is the full-time pastor of the Church of Jesus Bloodthirsty Psychopath.
Ben Carson - He seems nice. He might have been hit on the head lately and he should get that looked at. He needs to either make fewer Hitler comparisons or to get better at making them.
Marco Rubio - Little Marco is famous as "Scotty" in the "Our Gang" revival.
Chris Christie - He always wants to know if you're going to eat all those fries. I would recommend saying "no."
John Kasich - It's a little-known fact that John Kasich was carved from a potato.
The Junior Varsity:
Rick Perry - Wasn't he Marcy's second husband on "Married ... with Children"?
Carly Fiorina - She impressed the pundits because she knew the difference between Iran and Iraq.
Rick Santorum - Four out of five pundits agree that he deserves his Google problem.
Bobby Jindal - He had to appear in the early debate because the later one was on past his bedtime.
Lindsey Graham - He's like ... What if Colonel Sanders was a Gestapo agent?
George Pataki - In this group, he's the one that most resembles a regular person.
Millard Fillmore - Former president of the U.S. (1850 - 1853). Know-Nothing party candidate for the presidency in the 1856 election.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2015 4:33:07 GMT -5
Undoubtedly, the Republican party is packed with more racists, homophobes, religious zealots and gun lovers per square inch. However, the Democrats have just as many power hungry, special interest whores, out and out liars and thieves .Probably more horn-dogs and they will tax you more. Any way you go they are both poison to me If by "Special interest" you mean every single American who isn't a wealthy WASP, then yeah, they represent a lot of interest groups. Then again, if you are like me, you won't consider 99.99% of Americans as a collection of special interest groups. You'll consider it America. The alternative is a party who only represents one interest group. Young Earth Creationist white Christian heterosexual male billionaires. As far as horn dogs are concerned, the RNC is a big event for male prostitutes, who are bussed and flown in from all over the country. Haven't heard the same about the DNC. I was going to post a story, but when I Googled "RNC male prostitutes" there were simply too many results to choose one, but lets just say it's the Black Friday of male prostitution. Conversely, when I Googled "DNC male prostitute" to make sure it wasn't something to be expected from either convention, the very first result is a fake prostitution scandal attempt by Republicans being exposed, and the rest were just unrelated results. Now, being gay is fine. I wonder how many of those prostitutes are sex slaves, teens or kids, or carrying diseases that these men could be bringing home to their wives though. I'm sure there are plenty of liars and thieves in the Democratic party too, but "just as many" would be a statistical impossibility according to fact checks of their statements as well as the number of R and D candidates and representatives being investigated, convicted, or impeached. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 8, 2015 12:58:37 GMT -5
To be fair, I'm planning an assessment of the Democrats similar to the one I did for the Republicans. It's a lot harder because of the paucity of ignoramuses and psychopaths and Jesus humpers. If you think the Democrats are as bad as or only a little better than the Republicans, take a look at the Dem field and try to come up with similar (allegedly) humorous rejoinders.
I've been trying to come up with something funny about Martin O'Malley for 30 minutes. His eyes are a little far apart. And he has played in a Celtic rock band.
But he never claims to know that Iranians are liars because of his experience working in a pool hall. He doesn't compare his political opponents to Hitler or their positions to the Holocaust. He doesn't wave the bible around and lie about what's in it.
I admit that Jim Webb's a little easier to write about. |
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Post by Phil Maurice on Aug 8, 2015 16:29:10 GMT -5
This cartoon was produced to make a point about a specific issue in Texas, but it has implications that apply to the entire country:
The people who wield true power for change have become convinced that they are powerless. It isn't so. VOTE! Make yourself heard! |
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Post by the4thpip on Aug 8, 2015 18:10:25 GMT -5
Hillary is trolling the GOP now:  |
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Post by Hoosier X on Aug 8, 2015 22:15:01 GMT -5
The GOP loves Hillary Clinton because she's tough. She killed Vince Foster with her bare hands, you know.
We need that in a president who might have to negotiate with somebody like Putin. Or when Netanyahu shows up and expects the US to say "How high?" when he says "Jump!"
After watching Donald Trump on the verge of tears because of mean Megyn Kelly's questions, I really can't see that tribble-headed man-baby getting tough with anybody.
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Post by spoon on Aug 9, 2015 0:00:13 GMT -5
Hillary is trolling the GOP now: I remember there were lots praise for Hillary (and Bill) from Republicans when they thought it would undermine Obama. They wanted to contrast him unfavorable with the Clintons and pretend not to be so blatantly partisan. Now, when she's a Presidential candidate, they pivot 180 degrees. But I'm not a big fan of Hillary. I think 98% of conspiracy theories are BS, but I think it's possible that supposed Black Lives Matter activists protesting Bernie Sanders are operatives of Hillary (or perhaps some GOP group). Supposedly, some Hillary people started a Birther whispering campaign back in the 2008 primary season. Then, various GOP people ran with it. |
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Post by spoon on Aug 9, 2015 0:03:13 GMT -5
The GOP loves Hillary Clinton because she's tough. She killed Vince Foster with her bare hands, you know. We need that in a president who might have to negotiate with somebody like Putin. Or when Netanyahu shows up and expects the US to say "How high?" when he says "Jump!" After watching Donald Trump on the verge of tears because of mean Megyn Kelly's questions, I really can't see that tribble-headed man-baby getting tough with anybody. Trump has a very one-dimensional playbook. If someone criticizes him, he doesn't try to show that the criticism is wrong (probably because the critics are often right). Instead he goes after the critic personally, usually claiming they are far less successful than him. But many people like one-dimensional simplicity. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2015 4:12:24 GMT -5
So it was reported that the Black Lives Matter organization shut down another Bernie Sanders event. I was starting to develop a George Soros/Hillary Clinton/BLM conspiracy theory, but then word came out it wasn't even the official BLM responsible. Just a couple people operating under that name. BLM denied responsibility and apologized. Then recanted the apology, then deleted all statements concerning the incident, but it's pretty clear that whatever is going on is showing the negative sides of naming your organization after a popular protest slogan that had already been used by potentially millions of people nationwide. They got the built in name recognition and following, and now they get acts attributed to them that they never sanctioned.
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