[QUOTE=stolichnaya]
That’s an interesting point. Occam’s razor being wielded already anyway, perhaps the goal of such an “endorsement” is just to get a little of that Obama magic on their ownselves.
[/QUOTE]
New hypothesis: Hamas is endorsing Obama in order to get girls.
Coming soon to DVD: Jihadis gone wild!
[QUOTE=xtisme]
And you base this entire conjecture on what exactly? Quantitatively, how much has Iraq helped recruiting for Hamas…and how much of that is associated with Republican rule exactly? I find it incredibly hard to believe that anyone in that region would want 4-8 more years of Republican rule if it means more of what Bush has given them. While I doubt Iran is shaking in it’s shoes I seriously doubt they are or have been delighted at the direction the US has taken toward the region in general and Iran specifically during the course of Bush’s administration…certainly not enough to attempt some convoluted, backhanded way to get McCain in the drivers seat.
My own Occam’s Razor seems to be indicating the the simplest explanation here is simply that Hamas favors Obama as president. It’s really as simple as that.
-XT
[/QUOTE]
Like I said in the OP, I’m not really interested in arguing who Hamas ought to support. I agree with everyone that voting based on who Hamas supports is silly. I’ve restricted my point to this: give the option between believing that Hamas is just revealing their honest opinion and that they are instead sophisticated enough to want to manipulate the US election, I pick the latter. I don’t find that to be a violation of Occam’s Razor, but I see where you’re coming from.
But it was central to the political message they put forward in their election strategy. That seems to me sufficient to presume that it had some effect. Why would they use an ineffective message, and what evidence do you have that it was ineffective?
[QUOTE=Richard Parker]
I’ve restricted my point to this: give the option between believing that Hamas is just revealing their honest opinion and that they are instead sophisticated enough to want to manipulate the US election, I pick the latter. I don’t find that to be a violation of Occam’s Razor, but I see where you’re coming from.
[/QUOTE]
Well, as I said, I think Hamas is supporting Obama just like they say they are, and not trying some sort of double think on it. And as Finn said it really doesn’t matter because seriously…who cares who Hamas supports or doesn’t support. It’s sort of like worrying about who the French support or don’t support.
McCain was an idiot for pointing this out and if I were going to vote for him (which I have zero intention of doing) then I’d be seriously inclined not to at this point.
-XT
[QUOTE=xtisme]
And as Finn said it really doesn’t matter because seriously…who cares who Hamas supports or doesn’t support. It’s sort of like worrying about who the French support or don’t support.
[/QUOTE]
Comparing Hamas to the French?
Now that’s just low. You owe Hamas an apology.
I kid because I love.
-xt
[QUOTE=Richard Parker]
But it was central to the political message they put forward in their election strategy. That seems to me sufficient to presume that it had some effect. Why would they use an ineffective message, and what evidence do you have that it was ineffective?
[/QUOTE]
It wasn’t central to the political message in their campaign. Their campaign was primarily focused around the issues “We’re not corrupt”, "We’ll actually provide you with social services, “We’ll guarantee your civil rights and not let the police beat people” and “Our attacks on Israel made them withdraw from Gaza”
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing]
It wasn’t central to the political message in their campaign. Their campaign was primarily focused around the issues “We’re not corrupt”, "We’ll actually provide you with social services, “We’ll guarantee your civil rights and not let the police beat people” and “Our attacks on Israel made them withdraw from Gaza”
[/QUOTE]
I shouldn’t have used the word central, but it was part of their message. In any case, I’m not going to look up a bunch of cites for you, since it is really beside the point. The question is only whether there are plausible reasons for Hamas to prefer McCain. Of course there are, even if we put Iraq aside. And that they are plausible is all I need defend for the point I am making.