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Dracon II
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Communist Party of Apolyton
Jan 1970
time: 15:23
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Hi... I've just been reading book reviews on "Human Events"... in particular Michael Savage's "Liberalism is a mental disorder", Ann Coulter's "How to talk to a liberal (if you must)", and Thomas Wood's "The Politically incorrect guide to American History"
http://www.conservativebookclub.com...p?prod_cd=c6621
http://www.conservativebookclub.com...p?prod_cd=c6550
http://www.conservativebookclub.com...p?prod_cd=c6550
.... Probably some of the most pestiferous bile I've ever sampled.... (although some of Wood's claims might be true... I'm not an expert on American history).
How do these polemics sit in american political culture, are they taken seriously? They sound like the kind of stuff teenagers would be reading. And I thought Michael Moore and John Pilger were bad journalists....
Being an outsider, I find the left/right divide quite interesting.... there really is no serious debate over socialism in the US; the closest the US came to socialism was the New Deal. Welfare statism is not socialism. I think that perhaps the ad hominems, the hyperbole and the enormous clout given to the cultural side of the right/left debate in the states is due in part to the fact that the differences aren't really that great and that there is not a great deal of change at stake. Each side of the debate seems to want to paint the opposition as extremist, despite the incredibly moderate differences that exist in mainstream US Politics. Real left/right divisions are not a problem that the US, or Australia have to deal with, they are in essence European problems... and even there it is not what it used to be.
I'm interested to understand this political culture, because it seems to be on the ascent in Australia as well. The hystericization of politics of which these books are symptomatic seems to me that there is a real danger of extremist politics becoming more of a force in US Politics.
Oh, and please, for the love of god stop calling leftists "Liberals"... it's just plain ridiculous.
For the record, I'm not making a statement against conservative journalists in general... there are reasonable ones out there I'm sure. I watch the Newshour everyday on SBS and I find the Shields and Brooks debates quite informative and balanced. David Brooks is a good pundit, in my opinion, despite his partisanship... I can respect him because he doesn't resort to emotion and actually tries to properly argue a point.
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DanS
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Kickball Capital of the World
Jan 1970
time: 00:23
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Realize that a lot of these pundits are really entertainers.
quote:
there really is no serious debate over socialism in the US |
Of course not. Socialism has no credibility here, despite many socialist policies from the government. It's unfortunate that the politicians push these policies.
Last edited by DanS on 05-06-2005 at 09:02
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MrFun
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of Iowa
Nov 2000
time: 23:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Dracon II
.... Probably some of the most pestiferous bile I've ever sampled.... (although some of Wood's claims might be true... I'm not an expert on American history).
How do these polemics sit in american political culture, are they taken seriously? They sound like the kind of stuff teenagers would be reading. And I thought Michael Moore and John Pilger were bad journalists....
Being an outsider, I find the left/right divide quite interesting.... there really is no serious debate over socialism in the US; the closest the US came to socialism was the New Deal. Welfare statism is not socialism. I think that perhaps the ad hominems, the hyperbole and the enormous clout given to the cultural side of the right/left debate in the states is due in part to the fact that the differences aren't really that great and that there is not a great deal of change at stake. Each side of the debate seems to want to paint the opposition as extremist, despite the incredibly moderate differences that exist in mainstream US Politics. Real left/right divisions are not a problem that the US, or Australia have to deal with, they are in essence European problems... and even there it is not what it used to be.
I'm interested to understand this political culture, because it seems to be on the ascent in Australia as well. The hystericization of politics of which these books are symptomatic seems to me that there is a real danger of extremist politics becoming more of a force in US Politics.
Oh, and please, for the love of god stop calling leftists "Liberals"... it's just plain ridiculous.
For the record, I'm not making a statement against conservative journalists in general... there are reasonable ones out there I'm sure. I watch the Newshour everyday on SBS and I find the Shields and Brooks debates quite informative and balanced. David Brooks is a good pundit, in my opinion, despite his partisanship... I can respect him because he doesn't resort to emotion and actually tries to properly argue a point. |
You should have seen the bitter partisan fighting in the 1790s -- ah, those were the days.  
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Ted Striker
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United States of America
Jan 1970
time: 21:23
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Dracon II,
Even though many Americans will tell you they despise Socialist programs, some of the most popular socialist programs are completley untouchable because it's politically impossible to get rid of them. These 2 programs are Social Security and Unemployment Benefits. I support both programs and find that a safety net is important, and I think that this safety net needs to be expanded to include basic health coverage.
Conservatives will teach the horrors of these programs, but many of them will benefit from them at one point or another. Instead, they will pick on programs for the poor, such as food stamps and Welfare. The people who benefit from these programs have no power to fight back, and what I find particularly annoying from conservatives is how they character assassinate these people.
Conservatives believe that people who are in a bad spot in their lives are there because they deserve it. Either they are lazy, or made a bad decision. This is the most morally repugnant part of the philosophy that I find disgusting. This is illustrated by the urban legend that used to go around about "black welfare mothers who have another baby so they can get another welfare check."
You are right, there are no liberals anymore, they all died out by 1970. I do think that many of us support the Progressive ideals that were put forth by FDR, and my personal favorite, Robert F. Kennedy.
But back to your original point, there are many who look up to those people you mentioned in your original post. 
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Berzerker
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topeka, kansas,USA
May 1999
time: 23:23
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quote:
Liberals and the military: "The only time liberals pretend to like the military is when they claim to love soldiers so much they don't want them to get hurt fighting a war" |
Soldiers need more of that kind of love, pretend or not.
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Media bias: "Fox News should agree to admit it is conservative if all other media outlets will admit they are liberal" |
But the fact Fox doesn't admit it's bias makes it even more repugnant than liberal media, Fox condemns media bias and pretends shilling for the GOP is "fair and balanced" because some liberal media shills for the Dems.
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Modern anti-Christian bias: "There is no surer proof of Christ's divinity than that he is still so hated some 2,000 years after his death" |
If Hitler is still hated in 1950 years does that make him divine? Btw, Ann, I rarely if ever hear a bad word about Jesus, it's just the nutcases who use his name to promote their BS - like you.
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The Episcopal church: "The Episcopalians don't demand much in the way of actual religious belief. They have girl priests, gay priests, gay bishops, gay marriages -- it's much like the New York Times editorial board" |
Interesting how Ann's mind works, excluding people is an actual religious belief but not including people.
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Hugh Hefner: "Like the Democrats, Playboy just wants to liberate women to behave like pigs, have sex without consequences, prance about naked, and abort children" |
Don't worry Ann, we dont want to see you prance around naked.
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The parties: "Both parties run for office as conservatives. Once they have fooled the voters and are safely in office, Republicans sometimes double-cross the voters. Democrats always do" |
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. How many times have you been fooled, Ann? And yet you shill for the GOP... 
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Liberals and Christianity: "The only religion that can be constantly defamed and insulted is the one liberals pretend to be terrified of" |
Umm...what exactly about Christianity has been so insulted? Is it what Jesus taught or is it the "good Christians" who go around killing people for not being Christians? To call oneself "Catholic" is akin to claiming membership in the Nazi party. Does that defame Jesus or does it give us an idea how brutal some people have been in Jesus' name?
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Ronald Reagan: how he differed from all other modern presidents |
Never vetoed a spending bill? Oh, wait, our current "conservative" in the White House hasn't either.
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Dracon II
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Communist Party of Apolyton
Jan 1970
time: 15:23
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There seems to be a lot of money to be made from polemical "journalism". Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, etc etc... those "Michael Moore is a big fat stupid white man" guys (I don't care what's in the book.... that title is horrible), etc etc.
If this is modern conservatism... then they're in trouble. The stuff that they say, especially that Savage guy, strikes me as mildly "fascistic". They all talk about rescuing America from a decadent culture and social malaise, and they all single out the same enemies, turning them into straw scapegoats. If such simplicity, acidity and dogged certainty combined doesn't constitute an "authoritarian personality", I don't know what does...
Fascistic style politics differs according to the national culture in which it is situated. Just because they're not like NAZIs, doesn't mean they don't pose a similar danger. Thankfully I think the US Political system is secure enough, and the democratic political culture strong enough, to immunize against fascism somewhat.... but the combination of fear, crisis and widespread acceptance of tripe like Coulter's would be a deadly combination.
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ajbera
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of the Cookieville Minimum Security Orphanarium
Apr 1999
time: 05:23
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Drudge Report ^ | April 27, 2005 | Matt Drudge
Posted on 04/27/2005 5:55:47 AM PDT by Quilla
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED APRIL 27, 2005 09:01:25 ET XXXXX
AIR AMERICA RADIO INVESTIGATED AFTER BUSH 'GUNSHOTS'
**Exclusive**
The red-hot rhetoric over Social Security on liberal talkradio network AIR AMERICA has caught the attention of the Secret Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Government officials are reviewing a skit which aired on the network Monday evening -- a skit featuring an apparent gunshot warning to the president!
The announcer: "A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [audio sound of 4 gunshots being fired.] Just try it, you little bastard. [audio of gun being cocked]."
The audio production at the center of the controversy aired during opening minutes of The Randi Rhodes Show.
"What is with all the killing?" Rhodes said, laughing, after the clip aired.
"Even joking about shooting the president is a crime, let alone doing it on national radio... we are taking this very seriously," a government source explained.
[A Randi Rhodes Fan site is offering an mp3 clip of the broadcast.]
http://server2.whiterosesociety.org...des/RhodesShow-(25-04-2005).mp3
Developing...
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DRoseDARs
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"My god, it's full of peas..."
Jul 2002
time: 21:23
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quote:
Originally posted by ajbera
Drudge Report ^ | April 27, 2005 | Matt Drudge
Posted on 04/27/2005 5:55:47 AM PDT by Quilla
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX WED APRIL 27, 2005 09:01:25 ET XXXXX
AIR AMERICA RADIO INVESTIGATED AFTER BUSH 'GUNSHOTS'
**Exclusive**
The red-hot rhetoric over Social Security on liberal talkradio network AIR AMERICA has caught the attention of the Secret Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
Government officials are reviewing a skit which aired on the network Monday evening -- a skit featuring an apparent gunshot warning to the president!
The announcer: "A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn't safe anymore, so he is going to fix it for us. Well, here's your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [audio sound of 4 gunshots being fired.] Just try it, you little bastard. [audio of gun being cocked]."
The audio production at the center of the controversy aired during opening minutes of The Randi Rhodes Show.
"What is with all the killing?" Rhodes said, laughing, after the clip aired.
"Even joking about shooting the president is a crime, let alone doing it on national radio... we are taking this very seriously," a government source explained.
[A Randi Rhodes Fan site is offering an mp3 clip of the broadcast.]
http://server2.whiterosesociety.org...des/RhodesShow-(25-04-2005).mp3
Developing... |
I heard about that. Pretty tactless. Any others? Oh, and they have to top Ann calling for the death of New York Times employees and Jim Gibbons calling for liberals to be used as Human shields in Iraq (that day it was discovered the asshat plagerized that speech).
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05-06-2005 07:10
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