# Finally! The DNC grows some balls. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248 "2009-10-09T22:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/61 "2009-10-13T02:43:44Z")
Yeah, look how he promised to bring us together, and then see all the trouble he has stirred up with his headlong and relentless pursuit of this prize! I mean, isn’t it a little like Captain Ahab and the Great White Hope, or something? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/62 "2009-10-13T03:16:13Z")
i think having Nobel Prize Winner in front of your name is a good thing to have. He is lucky they chose him and he should be feeling honored. The prize money is nice too. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/63 "2009-10-13T03:22:52Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > I’d actually care if Obama had actually agreed with any of the ridiculous gibberish about despicable theft and the like, but he kinda sorta didn’t. Turns out it was you who phrased it as “megalomaniacal idiocy.” If you’d stuck to “I don’t think he deserves this award,” neither one of us would be here. See, your over the top nonsense is where my “high horse” comment came from. Not your clever little turn of Obama’s phrase. Nice job on the warning though. Really. It’s very impressive. If you’d actually addressed the parts I cared about (theft, megalomaniacal hoopla, spoiled teenage whatnot, y’know, the stuff I’ve been repeating) instead of crowing over your little trap, I’d feel well and truly “pwned.” I’m almost moved enough to post a large font “zing.” Almost. Not quite there, and still a ways away from a large and colored “zing.” Certainly not time for that. > > Also, this is my electronic childish taunt machine. I’m a little hurt that you didn’t notice. Do your gears strip when you try to throw it in reverse that hard? You thought I was wrong when you thought I said it … but now that you know Obama said it, you’re falling over yourself trying to explain your foolishness. Nice try at regaining your balance, though, the fast footwork alone merits a 6.7 or a 6.8. It seems you think that Obama was the most deserving of the nominees. I don’t understand why you think that. I’m still waiting for you to tell us about all of the great stuff Obama did in 2008. It was a blinding insight to tell us “that man [Nobel] is dead and his work has been passed to a committee”. Good detecting. Was it the fact that the Prize was set up in Nobel’s will that gave you the first clue? I didn’t say it was Obama’s fault that the Committee is ignoring Nobel’s clear instructions. I said it was wrong for Obama to accept it, because by the terms of the will he has done nothing to deserve it. It was a divisive action, as we can see by this very discussion, and by the host of people passionately disputing the award around the world … quite the thing for a man of peace, innit? Your silence on matters of substance is deafening. For example, I still haven’t seen anything from you about the DNC saying that Lech Walesa has “thrown [his] lot in with terrorists”. Cat got your tongue? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/64 "2009-10-13T04:26:13Z")
On this one point, it’s fair to say that the Republicans have indeed decided to side with the terrorists and against the United States. That the DNC was only talking about this one point is made clear in the statement. It’s also true that conservatives rooted against the US in the Olympics competition. not a word in the DNC statement was false. Suck on the truth. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/65 "2009-10-13T05:20:58Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > On this one point, it’s fair to say that the Republicans have indeed decided to side with the terrorists and against the United States. That the DNC was only talking about this one point is made clear in the statement. > > It’s also true that conservatives rooted against the US in the Olympics competition. not a word in the DNC statement was false. Suck on the truth. **Diogenes** , I’m not sure what “this one point” you are talking about. Are you agreeing that Lech Walesa is siding with the terrorists? It’s not clear what you are saying here. It’s also not clear what you mean by “against the United States”. Is disagreeing with the President accepting the Peace Prize somehow “against the United States”? And if so, how? Please fight my ignorance on exactly what you mean here. Thanks. PS - I also didn’t understand the DNC position on the Olympics. I was glad that they didn’t go to Chicago, there’s enough corruption there already, thank you very much. There’s also not enough money to pay for them, who is going to foot the bill? Montreal spent thirty years paying off the billion dollar debt from their Olympics … and Chicago was supposed to cost $4.8 billion. Nor am I alone in this. There are a large number of people from Chicago who didn’t want the Olympics there. A Google search on \ brings up seventeen million pages … I suppose they’re all siding with the terrorists and “against the United States” too. Here’s an example, from [Slate Magazine](http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/10/02/chicago_olympics/index.html): > [@](#): > > Chicago’s Olympic bid has divided the city right down the middle, and brought out the resentment of those who eat at Al’s Italian Beef toward those who meet for lunch at Spiaggia. According to a recent Chicago Tribune/WGN poll, only 47 percent of Chicagoans favor bringing the Games here, while 45 percent oppose it. On Tuesday, six people were arrested for torching an Olympic banner and hassling workmen trying to hang a giant medal around the Picasso statue in Daley Plaza. A site called Chicagoans for Rio is an Internet hit. Is not wanting the Olympics in Chicago “against the United States”? Not from where I stand. This brainless chanting of “U-S-A, U-S-A”, this insistence that we need to support whatever happens to occur in America, this claim that we have to say our President is always right or we’re “siding with terrorists”, is pathetic provincial boosterism. Lots of patriotic folks didn’t want the Olympics in Chicago, and lots of patriotic folks disapprove of Obama accepting the Peace Prize. We’re not “against the US”, we’re not “siding with terrorists”, we just happen to disagree with you. The DNC is not helping the Democratic Party by calling us names and insulting us just because we don’t agree with you. Let’s leave that kind of pettiness to the Republicans. That’s not “growing some balls” as the OP states. That’s insulting our friends and allies, which is generally regarded as … well, despite this being The Pit, let me call it “poor tactics” and leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/66 "2009-10-13T05:59:41Z")
Here’s my thing: we all agree that Bush’s attempt to justify things by saying “Because then the terrorists would win.” Is bad. Why is this any different. Why is it bad when one side does it, but not the other? To me, getting some backbone (or balls, as y’all put it) would involve actually pushing through legislation. It would involve standing up for an issue that will help America, not one that is essentially pointless. Some guys in Norway gave our president a prize? How does disagreeing with them hurt America? How does agreeing help? They picked an issue that doesn’t matter to get all upset about. This doesn’t sound like they have “grown some balls”. It sounds like they want to dupe the gullible into thinking they have. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/67 "2009-10-13T06:11:57Z")
Could be it, or it could just as easily be that some guy who works for the DNC, and ought to know better, shot his mouth off. Perhaps they should have gone the whole “denounce, renounce and condemn” route, but maybe they just thought “ah, fuck it, who cares?”. Not exactly earth-shattering news, now is it? ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/68 "2009-10-13T06:51:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Could be it, or it could just as easily be that some guy who works for the DNC, and ought to know better, shot his mouth off. Perhaps they should have gone the whole “denounce, renounce and condemn” route, but maybe they just thought “ah, fuck it, who cares?”. Not exactly earth-shattering news, now is it? It was DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse. Hardly “some guy who works for the DNC”. It is not earth-shattering, but it does hand our opponents a club to beat us with. Here’s the full statement: > [@](#): > > The Republican Party has thrown in its lot with the terrorists – the Taliban and Hamas this morning – in criticizing the President for receiving the Nobel Peace prize. Republicans cheered when America failed to land the Olympics and now they are criticizing the President of the United States for receiving the Nobel Peace prize – an award he did not seek but that is nonetheless an honor in which every American can take great pride – unless of course you are the Republican Party. The 2009 version of the Republican Party has no boundaries, has no shame and has proved that they will put politics above patriotism at every turn. It’s no wonder only 20 percent of Americans admit to being Republicans anymore - it’s an embarrassing label to claim. Unfortunately, this quote makes me embarrassed to be a Democrat. I am (perhaps inordinately) proud that we elected Obama, but I take absolutely no pride in the President being given a phoney honor by five suckup Norwegians for something he hasn’t done yet. I reserve my pride for real accomplishments. And I was glad that we were not saddled with the Chicago Olympics, that would have been a five-alarm disaster. So what? Is this the current measure of patriotism, whether we cheer when Mayor Daley doesn’t get his way? My concern here is that the Democrats are being sucked into acting just like the Republicans. This is the kind of nonsense that I expect from Rush and Glen Beck and Nancy Whatsit with the funny hair, Nancy Grace. But not from the DNC. Saying that people who happen to disagree with you are siding with terrorists does not do our side any good. And accusing people of lining up with the terrorists simply because they disapprove of accepting awards for things we haven’t done just makes us look both desperate for recognition and terminally foolish. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/69 "2009-10-13T07:34:40Z")
It is a stupid, messed up thing. _Gotterdamerung_, it is not. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/70 "2009-10-13T07:50:04Z")
And while we’re about it, where does that say anything about Lech Walensca? Or is that a clarification of your own? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/71 "2009-10-13T08:35:00Z")
> **[Obama should be sued!](http://www.mountainhomenews.com/blogs/1290/entry/30644/)** > > When the battle in the small village of Wanat, a remote U.S. outpost in eastern Afghanistan ended, nine U.S. soldiers lay dead and 27 more were wounded. After investigating the battle it was determined that the weapons the American soldiers used kept... > [@Lech Walesa](#): > > “So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act,” said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate. > > “This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let’s see if he perseveres. Let’s give him time to act,” Walesa said. So after weighing various considerations, Walesa concludes that the award might be construed as premature. Hamas sourly opposes the award: “He did not do anything for the Palestinians except make promises,” said Hamas spokesman Samir Abu Zuhri. “At the same time, he is giving his absolute support for the (Israeli) occupation.” The Taliban: “He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan,” wrote Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. “…We condemn the institute’s awarding him the peace prize. We condemn this year’s peace prize as unjust.” Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC) (via TPM): “Congratulations to President Obama on his prize. I’m not sure what the international community loved best; his waffling on Afghanistan, pulling defense missiles out of Eastern Europe, turning his back on freedom fighters in Honduras, coddling Castro, siding with Palestinians against Israel, or almost getting tough on Iran.” So Hamas, Taliban and the RNC scrunch their noses. I won’t bother quoting Limbaugh. None of them sounded remotely like Walesa. John McCain, it must be said, was gracious: “I think part of their decision-making was expectations. And I’m sure the president understands that he now has even more to live up to. But as Americans, we’re proud when our president receives an award of that prestigious category.” ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/72 "2009-10-13T09:01:32Z")
Man. I can’t think of any other circumstance in which _winning the Nobel Peace Prize_ would turn out to be a political liability. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/73 "2009-10-13T09:56:26Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Man. I can’t think of any other circumstance in which _winning the Nobel Peace Prize_ would turn out to be a political liability. Well, this is what happens when you have a ‘fifth column’ of traitors who would rather their country fail than let a democrat succeed and lunatics making up a significant part of the political opposition. ---
**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/74 "2009-10-13T10:20:54Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > Well, this is what happens when you have a ‘fifth column’ of traitors who would rather their country fail than let a democrat succeed and lunatics making up a significant part of the political opposition. What happens? Well, in this case what happens is the Democratic National Committee decides to “grow some balls” and become as crazy as the opposition. Yeah, that’s the ticket, that’ll show’em … Again I say, demonizing the opposition is a loser of a tactic. For the Republicans to do it is understandable. For the Democratic National Committee to do it is execrable. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/75 "2009-10-13T10:26:50Z")
> [@intention](#): > > Do your gears strip when you try to throw it in reverse that hard? Well it has been a while since I’ve driven stick and…hey wait a sec. I don’t think you’re talking about driving at all. You really are slick. > [@](#): > > You thought I was wrong when you thought I said it … but now that you know Obama said it, you’re falling over yourself trying to explain your foolishness. Nice try at regaining your balance, though, the fast footwork alone merits a 6.7 or a 6.8. “You said no Miami fans would call, so here I am. I’m calling.” I didn’t say that the general undertone of what you said was wrong. I am saying that the rather dramatic way you phrased it was ridiculous. Think I’ve been rather clear on that. I really have been repeating it to the point where I’m sick of it: megalomaniacal idiocy, despicable theft, actions of a spoiled teenager. Probably the most extreme reaction I’ve seen to this here. Thought it was a bunch of malarkey. > [@](#): > > It seems you think that Obama was the most deserving of the nominees. Nope. No idea if he was, but the Nobel committee does and that’s what counts. > [@](#): > > I don’t understand why you think that. Don’t have to. I’m not the one who thinks it. The nobel committee is. If only there were a link to their reasoning. > [@](#): > > I’m still waiting for you to tell us about all of the great stuff Obama did in 2008. You may want to grab a book. It’ll pass the time while I think of something to not say. > [@](#): > > It was a blinding insight to tell us “that man [Nobel] is dead and his work has been passed to a committee”. Good detecting. Blinding insight is an upgrade from nonsense, right? > [@](#): > > Was it the fact that the Prize was set up in Nobel’s will that gave you the first clue? I didn’t say it was Obama’s fault that the Committee is ignoring Nobel’s clear instructions. Actually it was all Velma’s deduction. I was in the abandoned kitchen fixing a giant sandwich which my huge talking dog ate when she reached that conclusion. It was funny when Fred tried to unmask Nobel’s corpse though. > [@](#): > > I said it was wrong for Obama to accept it, because by the terms of the will he has done nothing to deserve it. Actually you said a bit more than it was merely wrong for him to accept it. Again, why I’m mocking you. > [@](#): > > It was a divisive action, as we can see by this very discussion, and by the host of people passionately disputing the award around the world … quite the thing for a man of peace, innit? He’s less of a man of peace because you’re a dick? It’s also important to point out that most of those “passionately disputing the award” are doing so in a far more reasonable fashion than you are…except for the RNC, Limbaugh et al, and (dramatic music stinger) THE TERRORISTS!!! > [@](#): > > Your silence on matters of substance is deafening. I’m often silent on matters of substance. Fortunately for me this isn’t a matter of substance. > [@](#): > > For example, I still haven’t seen anything from you about the DNC saying that Lech Walesa has “thrown [his] lot in with terrorists”. What Lech Walesa said is between him and the guards at Gitmo. Best to not get in the middle. > [@](#): > > Cat got your tongue? Ah. You’re not being literal, are you? Fool me once… ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/76 "2009-10-13T12:07:43Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Man. I can’t think of any other circumstance in which _winning the Nobel Peace Prize_ would turn out to be a political liability. Well… it took a long time for Marisa Tomei’s career to recover from that Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/77 "2009-10-13T13:31:30Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > John McCain, it must be said, was gracious: “I think part of their decision-making was expectations. And I’m sure the president understands that he now has even more to live up to. But as Americans, we’re proud when our president receives an award of that prestigious category.” I must say I’m very pleased that John McCain has turned back into John McCain now that the election is over. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/78 "2009-10-13T14:22:21Z")
Which is excellent news for one or the other of the McCain Campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/79 "2009-10-13T15:28:49Z")
> [@intention](#): > > What happens? Well, in this case what happens is the Democratic National Committee decides to “grow some balls” and become as crazy as the opposition. Yeah, that’s the ticket, that’ll show’em … > > Again I say, demonizing the opposition is a loser of a tactic. For the Republicans to do it is understandable. For the Democratic National Committee to do it is execrable. Bollocks. When the opposition actually are traitors and lunatics turn-around is fair play. Playing nice gets the Dems nowhere. This is simply, for once, punching the bully in the face. They should keep punching, kicking and biting until the Republicans silence the traitors, kicks out the loons and starts being a responsible political party again. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248/80 "2009-10-13T16:49:45Z")
Traitors, huh? To defeat the enemy, we must become the enemy. Got it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-the-dnc-grows-some-balls/513248.md?page=5)