Originally Posted By Mr X ***Mr X I've always considered you a bit of a pit bull and I think your presence on these boards can be... interesting.*** Sans lipstick, I hope.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Although I'm starting to think you're a closet McCain supporter as your posts are taking a softer turn.*** Oh good lord no. Any respect or consideration I had for the man vanished with his incredibly irresponsible VP choice. Before that point, I'd have been okay with a McCain victory (happier with Obama though). After that...well, let's just say I think it's a very dangerous and irresponsible position he's put the world in right now, and I hope he loses. As for me "softening", I'd say I've sort of moved on from outrage to near amusement at the viciousness and stupidity of this whole thing (mostly from him, a little from Obama too), to the point where it's just impossible to feel so angry day after day when the vitriol becomes more and more ludicrous. I suppose the part that really amuses me is not the campaign acting like schoolyard thugs, but the fact that such tactics work...says a lot about the collective brainpower of average Americans.
Originally Posted By gadzuux There's a "bigger picture" perspective to this sex education bill. Forget the inflammatory rhetoric about five year olds and look at what the bill is trying to accomplish. At its core, it's a response the GOP push for "abstinence only" education. For the life of me, I have no idea what comprises "abstinence only". The bush administration has thrown countless hundreds of millions of dollars into an education program that seeks to prohibit any actual education. It proscribes everything that CANNOT be taught - actual useful information about conception - and prevention of conception. So what do they talk about in 'abstinence' class? How much money does it take to say "don't do it"? How much time is wasted in an effort to make human sexuality a dark and scary subject, shrouded in mystery? There needs to be a more reasoned and enlightened alternative, and this bill is the result. If you favor our tax dollars being funneled into abstinence only sex education (an oxymoron if ever I heard one) then you're not going to like this bill. On the other hand, if you want to see the education budget actually allocated to educating - rather than moralizing - then this bill presents a better alternative. And if this bill has a provision included so that if parents are feeling all squirrelly about their children being taught real science and health, they can opt out and have their kid sit in the library and study the bible while the rest of the class receives some of the most important information they'll ever get.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***yes, I can't refute it*** Thank you for admitting the McCain campaign is nothing but lies. Takes a big man to admit such a thing, given how you have admired the man so faithfully. (see what I did there?)
Originally Posted By Hannibal 8 dshyate, thanks for the link. I will read it and make a informed opinion. I honestly like both men and I think their campaigns (not them personally) will do and say same dumb things for our entertainment over the next few months. I tend to take everything with a grain of salt. Obama is going to try to tie McCain to Bush (even though they don't like each other going way back.) And McCain's going to say Obama is not experienced enough. And both sides will say, "This is the most important election of our generation... plus one... plus one and infinity". I do vote every time and that's what is important. Enjoy the debates and happy voting. Listen... I'm I going to be canceling you out or will you be canceling me out. I think last time I cancelled you out, so this November it's your turn to cancel me out.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Obama is going to try to tie McCain to Bush (even though they don't like each other going way back.)*** He doesn't have to "try", the ties are clear to see. The record speaks for itself, and McCain wants more Bush policies. Just because they might not get along personally doesn't mean they don't want the same things.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <Thank you for admitting the McCain campaign is nothing but lies.> I didn't. <(see what I did there?)> Yes, you distorted what I said, rather than engaging in honest debate. Are you proud of that?
Originally Posted By Mr X Neither proud nor ashamed, just making a point. It's like when Obama comments on McCain policy similarities to Bush, and then his campaign screams "LOOK WHAT HE SAID ABOUT SARAH PALIN! HE CALLED HER A PIG!". See how that works? It's not appropriate to do such things. And I fully expected you to call me out on it. Interesting, huh?
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <It's not appropriate to do such things.> And yet you've been doing it for months, if not years.
Originally Posted By Mr X No, I never do that. I always quote people completely, unless I'm doing something sarcastic like I just did here. In fact, I recently took others to task here for doing the same thing to Palin, who's candidacy I vehemently oppose. You should try integrity sometime, Douglas. It's refreshing.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> (even though they don't like each other going way back.) << McCain is even disingenuous about that. I agree with you that McCain loathes bush, with good reason. Yet McCain repeatedly 'pretends' that he likes and admires him - endless hugs, grinning embraces, birthday parties on the tarmac while new orleans drowns. Perhaps some people excuse it by thinking that McCain "has to" - but the truth is he doesn't really. I wouldn't. Neither would Obama. But McCain does. He'll kiss anybody's ass if there's something in it for him. He'll pander up, he'll pander down. He doesn't care. And that's not leadership. That's not change.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh <You should try integrity sometime, Douglas.> I don't have to try it. I do it.
Originally Posted By Hannibal 8 "He'll kiss anybody's ass if there's something in it for him. He'll pander up, he'll pander down. He doesn't care". Again.... it's not true to some extent, but I'm sticking with... they all do it. The last thing Hillary ever wanted to do was go up during the Democratic Convention and say, "Vote for Obama". What she really wanted to say was, "Vote for Obama... although I still have some reservations about Florida and Michigan, and come on people I did win most of the big states. Awwww... but what the heck... he's who the party has decided to go with because Bill and I have way too much baggage and I am being told in my ear piece that Nancy Pelosi may be pointing a rifle at me up there next to the CBS cameramen, which reminds me of another sniper story when I was in Bosnia, but now the music is coming up for commercial break, so heck... just vote for Obama." Interestingly enough, it was just announced today that Bill Clinton, who really doesn't like Obama, will be campaigning for him. Strange things can happen when you are down in the polls a bit. But all of these favors come with a pay back. I guess politics and real life aren't that different.
Originally Posted By ImTempest Hannibal 8, I couldn't agree with you more. May I borrow your umbrella to keep the foam off me? (They are leashed, aren't they?) My politics? I'm a Disneycrat, a Republiresort, and a WhigWorld. Oh, and don't forget Independepark. Hope you all have fun, but the ride you're on would be the one that makes me hurl.
Originally Posted By ImTempest SPP, down! (Smack on the nose with a rolled up newspaper). This is what I meant. You don't know me, anything about me, don't even know whether I'm voting for McCain or Obama, yet politics led you to such a comment. This is who I am: I will vote in this election for one of the candidates. I always vote (even when I was living in another country for a year, I voted). I hope the one I vote for wins. No matter what, when the election is over the person chosen will be the President of the United States of America, a country I am so proud to live in. He will be my President. If he's not the one I voted for, I will try again in four years, and I won't whine or sulk about it. I won't be saying anyone is stupid, an idiot, a liar, or anything else I SHOULD BE ashamed of upon calmer reflection. Anger is the stomach-churner, it truly is, and I see very good people go over the edge of reason every four years by thinking they can change somebody's mind by shouting at them. When all is said and done - SHUT UP and JUST VOTE!
