# Democrat Obstructionism **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 23, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455 "2015-02-23T23:01:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/241 "2015-02-26T00:41:38Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Propaganda is the propagation of a set of ideas. The AP is most definitely a pro-establishment, inside the Beltway, one of the old boys, when reporting on matters DC. When it comes to national matters, AP is a mouthpiece, not a neutral source. I’m inclined to think it’s more along the lines of “information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view”, which is how the OED apparently defines it. Here are the first three headlines and accompanying lead sentences on AP’s newswire as of 7PM EST today. Please explain, if you would, what you think is biased and/or misleading among them. [Quote=Associated Press] **Representatives grill Kerry on aspects of Iran nuclear talks** WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State John Kerry played defense Wednesday on Capitol Hill, fielding dozens of questions from lawmakers worried about what Iran could get in a deal being negotiated to block its ability to make an atomic weapon. **Deadline near, deal sets up Homeland Security vote in Senate** WASHINGTON (AP) - Three days before a partial Homeland Security shutdown, lawmakers cleared the way Wednesday for Senate passage of legislation to fund the agency without immigration-related provisions opposed by President Barack Obama. **US-Israel quarrel intensifies over Netanyahu speech** WASHINGTON (AP) - Trading barbs, the U.S. and Israel escalated their increasingly public spat Wednesday over Benjamin Netanyahu’s GOP-engineered congressional speech next week, with the Israeli prime minister accusing world powers of rolling over to allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. [/Quote] Are you saying there is some favoring of a particular political stance there? Are you saying that these should not be reported at all, in favor of something else? I’m seriously baffled here. AP is, first and foremost, a business selling news items to subscribers composed of smaller news organizations that lack the resources to generate national or international stories on their own. If AP is indeed a propaganda organization, best to blame their customers, I would think. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/242 "2015-02-26T00:44:16Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > All you’ve done there is push the immigration issues further away while making them worse - you replaced ~3000 km of land border with 10,000 km of unsecured shoreline. > > Oh, and Mexico doesn’t necessarily _want_ to be the a state, so you probably started a war. Most of the illegal immigration into Mexico comes across their land border, not via boat. I’d have no real problem with adding Mexico to the U.S. Each Mexican state becomes a U.S. State, so they get 62 Senators, and a little above 25% of the House. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/243 "2015-02-26T02:13:39Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m genuinely curious as to how that would be accomplished. If ‘the border’ was a single set of swinging doors like an olde timey saloon, it wouldn’t be a problem. Since that’s not the case, your comment is just stupidity on a stick. Unless we’re being whooshed, of course. Step 1: give the job to people who have the will to do it. Step 2: give them the money they need to do it. Step 3: stay out of their way. Step 4: see Step 3. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/244 "2015-02-26T02:15:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > There are too many people who are looking to better their lot by crossing over… Tell that to Black America, who is most hurt but the increased supply of low-skilled workers coming across the border. I muse fondly of the days when liberals pretended to care about black people in the country… ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/245 "2015-02-26T02:19:22Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Most of the illegal immigration into Mexico comes across their land border, not via boat. > > I’d have no real problem with adding Mexico to the U.S. Each Mexican state becomes a U.S. State, so they get 62 Senators, and a little above 25% of the House. I’m not sure if you’re a lot funnier than I thought or a lot dumber. No, don’t tell me. I’d rather enjoy a laugh. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/246 "2015-02-26T02:25:40Z")
AP is a member organization whose member news organizations submit articles that are shared. They do have their own hired reporters in D.C. AP is fully on board every war drum beating exercise that goes on in this country, repeating the same talking points that are fed to every major organization. They are far less critical of those kinds of stories than anyone else. Just check out their reporting on WMDs in Iraq. > **[Associated Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press)** > > The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspapers and broadcasters. Since the award was established in 1917, the AP has earned 58 Pulitzer Prizes, including 35 for photography. It is also known for publishing the widely used AP Stylebook. > By 2016, news collected by the AP was published and rep... > **[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction)** > > Iraq actively researched and later employed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from 1962 to 1991, when it destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile and halted its biological and nuclear weapon programs as required by the United Nations Security Council. The fifth president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was internationally condemned for his use of chemical weapons during the 1980s campaign against Iranian and Kurdish civilians during and after the Iran–Iraq War. In the 1980s, Saddam pursued an extensi In... [http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2014/06/17/ap-pair-continues-no-wmds-lie-defines-anyone-who-doesnt-support-military](http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2014/06/17/ap-pair-continues-no-wmds-lie-defines-anyone-who-doesnt-support-military) The AP can be trusted for non-DC stories about non-political matters, but in my opinion is worse than Fox News on DC stuff because nobody understands that they are warmongers. That apparently includes you guys. You want to see propaganda, compare a BBC to AP report. > **[Iraq: The spies who fooled the world](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-21786506)** > > Intelligence from highly-placed sources suggesting that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction was available before the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Panorama has learned. > **[BBC NEWS | Middle East | Report concludes no WMD in Iraq](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3718150.stm)** > > Iraq had no banned weapons before the US-led invasion, the chief US weapons inspector reports. The AP on American national government could be called whores if it was not so damaging to the reputations of sex workers. There is a lot of ignorance to fight, especially at the SDMB. BBC got WMDs right in the early oughts, and they get it right now. AP were liars then about WMD and liars now. That you guys have no skepticism about the AP is so unsurprising and so disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/247 "2015-02-26T02:26:42Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Tell that to Black America, who is most hurt but the increased supply of low-skilled workers coming across the border. > > I muse fondly of the days when liberals pretended to care about black people in the country… No you don’t you piece of pig shit. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/248 "2015-02-26T02:33:53Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Tell that to Black America, who is most hurt but the increased supply of low-skilled workers coming across the border. > > I muse fondly of the days when liberals pretended to care about black people in the country… Man, you’re a fucking asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/249 "2015-02-26T02:37:31Z")
The Associated Press recently ruled that media entities are [no longer to use the phrase “illegal immigrants”](http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/no-more-illegal-immigrants/?_r=0) because it is offensive to people who prefer to deny that they are here illegally. Unbiased my ass. They have vast influence and are clearly okay with censorship. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/250 "2015-02-26T02:44:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Man, you’re a fucking asshole. So increased low-skill workers would _not_ have a disportionate effect on black workers? 'Cause I’ve seen that logic [used a shit-ton](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/03/how-voter-id-laws-are-being-used-to-disenfranchise-minorities-and-the-poor/254572/) by the oh-so-caring Lefties. Now’s a convenient time to deny it and grab the low-hanging ad hominem apples. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/251 "2015-02-26T02:55:02Z")
The hate-filled right-wing assholes of this country would love to instigate dissent between blacks and Hispanics. Blacks and Hispanics know that this would not be to the benefit of either group. And, anyway, who the hell are they going to vote for (the remnant who haven’t had their ability to vote taken away by vote-suppressing Republicans, that is?) Democrats care a lot more for both blacks and Hispanics than Republicans do, who only see them as victims to be harmed. It’s like a KKK member saying that northern liberal freedom riders are racists. Yeah? Is there a mirror handy? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/252 "2015-02-26T03:22:20Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > The Associated Press recently ruled that media entities are [no longer to use the phrase “illegal immigrants”](http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/no-more-illegal-immigrants/?_r=0) because it is offensive to people who prefer to deny that they are here illegally. > > Unbiased my ass. They have vast influence and are clearly okay with censorship. You’re a fucking asshole too. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/253 "2015-02-26T03:25:21Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You’re a fucking asshole too. What a devastating rebuttal. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/254 "2015-02-26T03:30:00Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Care to explain to the peanut gallery what the thread title has to do with the content of the first post? The thread title should be “_Yet another thread featuring Republican stupidity as Performance Art_.” > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > This is a disheartening trend. Moving threads to the Pit, where people can insult you, rather than focusing on the issues at hand. ☹ Yep. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/255 "2015-02-26T03:38:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > You’re a fucking asshole too. As a person who braved incredible hardship to be an asshole I prefer you not use the term as it offends me and my family. I petitioned the AP and I think my kind has a good shot. Maybe some day the world will simply forget that assholes exist. That’s the dream. We recommended a change to “kindness-inclined individual.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/256 "2015-02-26T03:45:18Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Most of the illegal immigration into Mexico comes across their land border, not via boat. > > I’d have no real problem with adding Mexico to the U.S. Each Mexican state becomes a U.S. State, so they get 62 Senators, and a little above 25% of the House. I don’t mind suddenly going over to a status quo where 1/4 of the U.S. population is suddenly Spanish- (or Nahuatl- or Maya-) speaking, brown-skinned and Catholic, and free to travel around and work in the present 50 states, so far as that goes. However, given what I’ve read, from Mexicans among others, on this Board over the years about how impenetrably bizarre and baroque and incomprehensible and always dysfunctional is Mexican politics, I have to shudder at the thought of throwing all that into the mix of U.S. politics. ---
**Author:** ![get\_lives](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@get\_lives](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/get_lives)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/257 "2015-02-26T04:14:26Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I don’t mind suddenly going over to a status quo where 1/4 of the U.S. population is suddenly Spanish- (or Nahuatl- or Maya-) speaking, brown-skinned and Catholic, and free to travel around and work in the present 50 states, so far as that goes. However, given what I’ve read, from Mexicans among others, on this Board over the years about how impenetrably bizarre and baroque and incomprehensible and always dysfunctional is Mexican politics, I have to shudder at the thought of throwing all that into the mix of U.S. politics. Or as Stan on “American Dad” calls Mexico, “God’s blind spot.” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/258 "2015-02-26T04:29:17Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > What a devastating rebuttal. This is the Pit, dumbshit. It’s for insulting asswipes, not debating them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/259 "2015-02-26T04:44:10Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is the Pit, dumbshit. It’s for insulting asswipes, not debating them. Hey! That isn’t fair to asswipes, which clean up after a shitstorm, instead of just causing them. M and S are insulting liberals, blacks, Mexicans, immigrants and people who care about poorer people, all in a few short lines. The conciseness of the bigotry expressed and the dismissal of others’ humanity is something to behold. But the immorality of the general attitude is nothing short of fully repugnant, expressing all the contempt they hold for people who are not just like them in thought and deed, while pretending to stand up for minorities. They come off like really old, really drunk and barely tolerated relatives that are filled with hate. All human beings are our brothers and sisters. As Christians we are called on in scripture about 3,000 times to feed the hungry, heal the sick and care for the poor. All of them. That is what we liberals are. The oppressed in voting, the hungry, the working, the not working, the sick, are our duty to help ease their suffering. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455/260 "2015-02-26T04:53:49Z")
> [@](#): > > …it’s for insulting asswipes, not debating them. Yeah, like that snotty bitch Charmin, passing for two-ply makers her hot stuff, or something… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/democrat-obstructionism/713455.md?page=14)