Originally Posted By Labuda skinnerbox, I think I've said this before, and I'm certain I'll say it again: I think I love you! Seriously, your politics seem to align perfectly with mine, at least based on how much of your stuff I've read here in WE. It's very rare for me to find someone other than my brother who thinks like this, so a major YAY to you for existing! Thank you!
Originally Posted By onlyme Saying that Obama is the Antichrist is stupid, for sure. But level-headed people that do not care for some of the things he's doing/trying to do, are not racist. They simply don't care for his politics. Sure, a lot of people don't like him because he's half black, but that's not the case for all. And, referring back to a previous post basically stating that the GOP base is stupid, I don't feel that to be quite accurate. Now, saying that Obama is the antichrist, or hating him JUST because he's half black, is very stupid, of course. But, please, it's quite narrow-minded to throw all conservatives in the same box. I'm saying this, knowing full well that a lot of people here feel that ALL conservatives are stupid. And, there's nothing that can be said to change that opinion. But, believe it or not, it's quite possible to disagree with Obama without bringing race into the equation.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Saying that Obama is the Antichrist is stupid, for sure. But level-headed people that do not care for some of the things he's doing/trying to do, are not racist. They simply don't care for his politics.*** That's why I was careful to point out several times that the *racists* I'm talking about are the ones who would buy into the Hitler/Mussolini/Satan crap. Sure, there are plenty of folks out there who are simply opposed to his administration on policy grounds, on both sides of the aisle...those folks are definitely NOT who I'm talking about.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***But, please, it's quite narrow-minded to throw all conservatives in the same box*** I hope I made it clear that I wasn't trying to do that.
Originally Posted By onlyme In fact...not that it really matters, but nothing in my post was in reply to anything you stated. But, thanks for caring.
Originally Posted By gadzuux >> It's quite narrow-minded to throw all conservatives in the same box. I'm saying this, knowing full well that a lot of people here feel that ALL conservatives are stupid. And, there's nothing that can be said to change that opinion. << I understand why you feel that way, but here's the problem with that ... (From the OP link) >> "57 percent of Republicans believe that Obama is a Muslim; 45 percent of Republicans agree with the Birthers in their belief that Obama was "not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president"; 38 percent of Republicans say that Obama is "doing many of the things that Hitler did"; 24 percent of Republicans (14 percent overall) say that Obama "may be the Antichrist." << A solid two thirds of your fellow republicans believe absolute nonsense. And you know full-well why - because they believe what the republican leadership is telling them - "death panels", "government takeover of healthcare", "socialism", "armageddon", "the end of democracy as we know it", hitler, devil, muslim, baby-killer, anti-christ - the list of lies being spread by republicans is endless. And two out of three republicans not only believe it, but they'll say so publicly. How can you overlook that? How can anyone just shrug this off and still support republicans? I do not know. This is all a cynical ploy to regain political power that was legitimately stripped from them in the last two elections - by "us" - the american people. And if they have to deny health care to tens of millions of americans, they'll do it. If they have to obstruct a jobs creation bill as part of a gamble to regain power, they'll do that too. They will do anything - they will say anything - to claw their way back into a majority. Obviously none of these ridiculous claims have any basis in reality. So it only works with the gullible and foolish. Most people see it for exactly what it is, and distance themselves from the republicans just out of their own self respect. What you've got left after this exodus of reasonable people are the stupid and the fearful - the easily fooled and easily frightened - the easily manipulated. So if you are 'opposed to Obama's policies', you're now squarely aligned with these liars and nutcases. This is the leadership that you're siding up with. You may not like it, but it's absolutely true - there are precious few "moderate" republicans left. You've only got two choices in our american political system - republican or democrat. If you don't like the democrats, the republicans are you're only other viable alternative. Yet more and more people just cannot stomach the actions of the GOP. This too is borne out in polling over the past several years. Finally - there seems to be some expectation that I need to 'couch' my comments with "well not EVERY republican is stupid and fearful", but if that's the case, why would they voluntarily align themselves with people that so obviously are? If you run with that crowd, people have every reason to believe that you buy into their rhetoric. If you vote for them, you endorse all of their gutter tactics and reward them for lying and fearmongering to the american people. It's up to you.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Post 107 is an accurate sizing up of where things stand in the GOP these days. You don't hear a lot from moderate Republicans because they really don't like being aligned with the hateful, ignorant thing the party has become. I don't know what moderate Republicans can do at this point. They're shouted down or called RINOs by the boisterous fear mongers in the party, so they haven't much of a say at the moment. I do believe one can be philosophically opposed to Democrat policies without ramping up the rhetoric to ridiculous extremes. And what's more, I think it's important that some of the GOP's ideas be a part of healthcare reform. It would have been nice to have a good old-fashioned what's-in-the-best-interest-of-America conversation in the making of this bill. But the GOP chose politics over policy, and now pretend they were forced to the sidelines. A sizable chunk of Republicans will believe it because their radio and Fox tells them to. But a quiet portion of reasonable people have been cowed, so they can say a thing.
Originally Posted By dshyates Being an honest to God moderate, I LOATHE what the GOP has become. I believe in a lot of "real" conservative tenants. Call me a Goldwater Republican. But there are a lot of "socialist" ideas I believe to be fiscally responsible. I love capitalism, but I think single payer in the long run is MORE fiscally responible, given the state of insurance-based healthcare. I actually like Obama, but not a big fan of the Dems in the House or Senate. I bet in private Obama is not thrilled with them either.
Originally Posted By barboy ///barboy has definitely entered the twilight zone/// No, not yet..... I will enter the twilight zone in late April when I tap Tokyo's Tower of Terror, but not before I drop down to Anaheim for a quickie and put into DCA's version. But seriously, ya I do feel like I am in the Twilight since I came back to the USA 2 weeks ago to take care of a thing or two--- I don't recognize this country anymore..... too many angry liberals on this board and in the USA as a whole and a truckload of obstructionist narrow minded conservatives who don't want to share the wealth(not that there is any wealth left in the USA to share) and some key blowhards. I am going back to my reality of enjoying life by diving in Palawan and Batangas having beautiful ladies around, parties and mosquitos carrying dengue in May and I'll let the rest of you(a collective you)hotheads hash out health care, immigration and abortion. Enjoy your reality(s) while I'm in a hammock with a beer.
Originally Posted By pecos bill All well and good, but the minute something bad happens overseas, lets see how fast you come scrambling back to the states.
Originally Posted By pecos bill So Dave, am I safe in assuming you have given up on America? It's still my home, and no matter the politics, I cant help having some pride in it.
Originally Posted By ADMIN <font color="#FF0000">Message removed by an administrator. <a href="MsgBoard-Rules.asp" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the LaughingPlace.com Community Standards.</font>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>So Dave, am I safe in assuming you have given up on America?<<< No, never. I am very proud to be American. But when I weighed up where to raise my kids, I decided raising them in a place with lot's of history, access to different language and culture, social medicine (where are genetics are bad) free/affordable education up to the age of 21, and virtually no guns, we made a very difficult choice and decided to stay in the UK (my wife is British, so it was never going to be cut and dry - international romance and immigration never is). My point is, there are dozens of awesome countries outside the US that have as much if not more to offer. Truth be told, if we could aford it, we would just travel around the globe all the time. I see myself as a citizen of the world first and foremost. Wish more people did. I might one day end up back in the US, but unless there is a greater move to social justice (and there are some wonderful steps being taken now), I don't know where I will choose to die. Truth be told, I would love to live in continental Europe, but the language barrier I fear would be too great on my wife and somewhat career limiting for me. America is a great country, one of many. And I wish to sample as many as possible.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo That said, from what I witnessed on our last trip to the US, I don't know if I would be very comfortable in too many communities. Everything felt so right wing and commercial, and I find that really hard to stomach.
