# Great Debates **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=630 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 631 --- ## [What would you offer Hillary if you were Obama?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-offer-hillary-if-you-were-obama/451595)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 100\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-offer-hillary-if-you-were-obama/451595 "2008-06-04T19:57:40Z")
Apologies if this has come around, but with pages and pages of Obama/Clinton threads it’s difficult to look through. Assuming Obama gets the nomination (not exactly foregone but you can see it from heah), I don’t think … --- ## [Will we ever have a Jewish president?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-have-a-jewish-president/451566)
**Author:** [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Replies:** 84\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-we-ever-have-a-jewish-president/451566 "2008-06-04T18:09:05Z")
With Obama getting closer and closer to the presidency each day, we may very well have our first black president soon. But what I’m wondering is, could a Jew be elected as president in this day and age? There are Jews … --- ## [Why do some Catholics worship the "baby Jesus?"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-catholics-worship-the-baby-jesus/451294)
**Author:** [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-catholics-worship-the-baby-jesus/451294 "2008-06-04T15:25:58Z")
Throughout my hometown, there’s various shrines devoted to the baby Jesus. Some older Polish people will display an Infant of Prague doll in the back of their car; it’s basicaly the Baby Jesus in what looks like a weddi… --- ## [Why would a true Democrat vote Republican? And the Fiery Primary Season of 2008.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-true-democrat-vote-republican-and-the-fiery-primary-season-of-2008/451468)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 78\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-a-true-democrat-vote-republican-and-the-fiery-primary-season-of-2008/451468 "2008-06-04T14:47:58Z")
The time has finally come, or should I say, we are approaching the light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel being the democratic primary season of 2008. We have seen some interesting acts this primary season. -Fiery s… --- ## [Obama's Church - a problem?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-church-a-problem/451120)
**Author:** [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Replies:** 216\ **Last updated:** [June 4, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-church-a-problem/451120 "2008-06-04T03:42:19Z")
Try to put aside the inflammatory clips and just look at the churches of which each candidate is a member. And trying not to draw equivalencies between other more tangential religious figures who support each… what can … --- ## [Conversation with Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-with-mom/451587)
**Author:** [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-with-mom/451587 "2008-06-03T22:06:43Z")
This’ll probably get moved to MPSIMS, but I wanted you guys to see it first: \[QUOTE=Mom\] Better check this out\*\* Santo\*\*. FWD Msg: This is an uninterrupted 51-second video of Obama speaking; he’s telling us exactly w… --- ## [Montana & South Dakota primaries: Any surprises?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-south-dakota-primaries-any-surprises/451556)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/montana-south-dakota-primaries-any-surprises/451556 "2008-06-03T20:47:10Z")
The last two Dem primaries are tomorrow. It doesn’t matter much at this point, given the existing delegate count and the meager populations of Montana and SD, but I rather expect Clinton will sweep those almost-all-whit… --- ## [Our nation's economic woes](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-nations-economic-woes/451010)
**Author:** [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Replies:** 61\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/our-nations-economic-woes/451010 "2008-06-03T16:57:32Z")
Among our nation’s economic woes I include, our rising national debt, constant deficit spending, our trade deficit and and rising transportation fuel costs. To those of you who know what they are talking about, how woul… --- ## [The End of Food. Global age of cheap and plentiful food is coming to an end.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-food-global-age-of-cheap-and-plentiful-food-is-coming-to-an-end/450952)
**Author:** [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-of-food-global-age-of-cheap-and-plentiful-food-is-coming-to-an-end/450952 "2008-06-03T15:51:21Z")
On NPR today author Paul Roberts discussed his new book The End of Food. It was a compelling story because it brings to light something that I have been wondering in the back of my head for a long while: Are we literall… --- ## [Why the fanboyism surrounding the M1911 handgun?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fanboyism-surrounding-the-m1911-handgun/451246)
**Author:** [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-fanboyism-surrounding-the-m1911-handgun/451246 "2008-06-03T15:13:18Z")
There’s a throwaway reference inthis thread on the M1 Garand about how many people regard the Colt M1911 handgun to be the epitome of handgun development, and it’s a subject that I think merits further discussion. The o… --- ## [Are these people racist? (another Obama thread)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-people-racist-another-obama-thread/450644)
**Author:** [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Replies:** 70\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-people-racist-another-obama-thread/450644 "2008-06-03T06:07:41Z")
…or just provincial? Before I watched the clip, I didn’t put much stock in the white racists-love-Hillary position. First off, it seems hard to believe that such folks would be in the Democratic Party (I know, how naiv… --- ## [AGW: I don't fully understand the problem, but I support the solution](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agw-i-dont-fully-understand-the-problem-but-i-support-the-solution/451090)
**Author:** [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agw-i-dont-fully-understand-the-problem-but-i-support-the-solution/451090 "2008-06-03T02:46:31Z")
There are plenty of debates here about (Anthropogenic) Global Warming that I peruse with interest and usually don’t wade into. The science is frankly above my head. I was strongly persuaded by An Inconvenient Truth, ye… --- ## [how could Hillary possible win (without cheating) ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-hillary-possible-win-without-cheating/450338)
**Author:** [@Wildfire\_MM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildfire_MM)\ **Replies:** 96\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-hillary-possible-win-without-cheating/450338 "2008-06-03T01:47:56Z")
Obama now have 1965 delegates (including 307 superdelegats), while Hillary have 1779 delegates (including 279 superd.) Obama is a head with 186 delegates There are 212 superdelegats that haven’t decided yet, and only 8… --- ## [Fat Acceptance Movement](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-acceptance-movement/451066)
**Author:** [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fat-acceptance-movement/451066 "2008-06-02T23:00:00Z")
I’ve been perusing lots of blogs lately, and in particular, a lot of fat acceptance ones (Shapely Prose, Eat a Cheeseburger, Size Ate, among others), and am of two minds. A lot of them raise points about the discriminati… --- ## [FLDS child return delayed](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flds-child-return-delayed/451362)
**Author:** [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flds-child-return-delayed/451362 "2008-06-02T22:18:50Z")
In short, the judge who has been most emphatically overruled twice now has refused to sign the order releasing the children back to their parents until the parents sign an agreement. CNN How can she do this? The courts … --- ## [The other problem with outsourcing industry.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-problem-with-outsourcing-industry/451053)
**Author:** [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-other-problem-with-outsourcing-industry/451053 "2008-06-02T16:25:15Z")
I saw a program about the future lack of R @ D in America. Most research has been triggered by trying to find better ways to manufacture products. Technology from seemingly disparate industries overlap. As an example w… --- ## [Are Modern Humans the Result of Genocide?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-modern-humans-the-result-of-genocide/449510)
**Author:** [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Replies:** 56\ **Last updated:** [June 2, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-modern-humans-the-result-of-genocide/449510 "2008-06-02T15:20:21Z")
I was shocked when I first heard this theory on cable tv. But it goes something like this: Thousands of years ago there were modern homo sapiens and neanderthals roaming the earth together. Then suddenly there were only … --- ## [What should be done with MI's and FL's Dem delegates?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-with-mis-and-fls-dem-delegates/438164)
**Author:** [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Replies:** 94\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-be-done-with-mis-and-fls-dem-delegates/438164 "2008-06-01T19:41:08Z")
Possibilities: Nothing. Let them cast no votes at the convention, just as the DNC decided in the first place when both states’ legislatures moved up their primary dates in defiance of party rules. Seat them, as pr… --- ## [How (dis)honest are the Clintons, compared to other high-level pols?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dis-honest-are-the-clintons-compared-to-other-high-level-pols/450590)
**Author:** [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Replies:** 89\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-dis-honest-are-the-clintons-compared-to-other-high-level-pols/450590 "2008-06-01T18:56:28Z")
In this post in the “final forking” thread, Starving Artist says: That’s quite an assertion, and rather than hijack the ‘forking’ thread even further, it seemed to rate its own thread. Personally, I see little evidenc… --- ## [Anyone for Art versus Pornography ?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-art-versus-pornography/450677)
**Author:** [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-for-art-versus-pornography/450677 "2008-06-01T15:41:17Z")
I personally do not want to get into the debate. It is too taxing. Here is a link to the Australian debate? "ARTIST Bill Henson’s controversial photographs would be considered “in the realm of pornography” if they were … --- ## [Why Is Ted kennedy being Deified?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ted-kennedy-being-deified/450372)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ted-kennedy-being-deified/450372 "2008-06-01T04:32:11Z")
Yes, I know, I have been a bit harsh, in my critique of this man. But, the Kennedy mythos is at work again-they are praising this guy to no end? In my opinion, Kennedy was just another politician-obsessed with holding o… --- ## [Should my cousins have been born?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-cousins-have-been-born/450869)
**Author:** [@Ensign\_Edison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ensign_Edison)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-cousins-have-been-born/450869 "2008-06-01T03:30:10Z")
Inspired by This thread/post exchange about antinatalism and birth defects. I had three cousins with muscular dystrophy. Two of them are dead now. One lived a long time – almost made it to age 25. The youngest is still… --- ## [Is the current historical perception of LBJ inaccurate?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068)
**Author:** [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [June 1, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068 "2008-06-01T02:37:25Z")
I’ve been listening to CSPANs XM channel and the recently released tapes made of LBJ’s Presidential conversations. I have to admit in listening to him talk to various sophisticated political operatives he’s very adeptly … --- ## [Could Obama be the president that allows marijuana legalization?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-obama-be-the-president-that-allows-marijuana-legalization/450433)
**Author:** [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-obama-be-the-president-that-allows-marijuana-legalization/450433 "2008-05-31T23:59:22Z")
Yes, it’s a bit of a fluff question, but let’s think about that for a minute. He’s admitted to past drug use in his book that goes far beyond “I tried it, I didn’t like it, and I didn’t inhale” to the kind of admission … --- ## [Are we stealing oil from Iraq?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-stealing-oil-from-iraq/450973)
**Author:** [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-stealing-oil-from-iraq/450973 "2008-05-31T23:50:43Z")
I posted this video in the Pit. (I am not posting a link because the thread has turned out to be pretty worthless…meh) But in the video Dr. Dahlia Wasfi delivers a scathing oratory demanding the immediate and complete … --- ## [Stonhenge STILL Has Secrets?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stonhenge-still-has-secrets/443529)
**Author:** [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stonhenge-still-has-secrets/443529 "2008-05-31T19:24:22Z")
It is hard for me to belive that this thing hasn’t been studied to death, yet, new excavations are going on:http://my.att.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=7813&eeid=5787100&\_sitecat=1505&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ac=0&… --- ## [McClellan's Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellans-book/450879)
**Author:** [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Replies:** 106\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcclellans-book/450879 "2008-05-31T18:40:51Z")
Cheap shot opportunist or someone who’s past is bothering him? As much as I don’t like the Bush Administration this seems a low blow. If he hadn’t written a book and just decided to speak his mind I’d feel better about… --- ## [DRC MI/FL Debate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drc-mi-fl-debate/451265)
**Author:** [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drc-mi-fl-debate/451265 "2008-05-31T18:23:09Z")
I got up early on a saturday to watch this and I’m already bored. I liked Dean’s little speech (one of the only prominent Dems who’s got a pair), but I can see this becoming tedious really quickly. How long is this going… --- ## [Have there been any insider tell-alls about the Clinton Administration?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-insider-tell-alls-about-the-clinton-administration/451065)
**Author:** [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-been-any-insider-tell-alls-about-the-clinton-administration/451065 "2008-05-31T03:41:54Z")
There’s any number of “Bill’s Evil” and “Hillary’s Evil” and “Bill & Hillary are evil” books on the market, but are there any insider tell-alls about the administration ala Scott McLellan’s (allegedly) tell-all memoir of… --- ## [Is Alcoholics Anonymous a cult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alcoholics-anonymous-a-cult/450809)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 107\ **Last updated:** [May 31, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-alcoholics-anonymous-a-cult/450809 "2008-05-31T02:18:17Z")
Over in this thread several dopers have referred to AA as a cult. Googling “AA is a cult” brings up several web sites which argue that AA is a cult. Here is a good one. Is there a reason AA isn’t criticized as harshly… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=629) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/great-debates/13.md?page=631)