# Say something nice about a pack of serial extortionists who are turning our gov't into a clown show **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 3, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980 "2013-01-03T17:48:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/1 "2013-01-03T17:48:18Z")
Because that’s what the opposing political party is, in my case, and [there’s really no reason on God’s green earth to stretch to say something nice about them](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=677298). Any more than I’d try to find something nice to say about Sauron, Lord Voldemort, Charles Manson, or the late Osama bin Laden, to mix real and fictional villains. Look, we just came through the “fiscal cliff,” an artificially-created crisis brought into being by the GOP as part of the price for getting out of a previous artificially-created crisis, the refusal to raise the debt ceiling if they didn’t get their way on a whole bunch of stuff. And we’re headed for three more such artificially-created crises in the next few months: (1) the sequester, which begins on March 1; (2) the debt ceiling again, which we’ll hit probably sometime in March, and (3) the expiration on March 27 of the continuing resolution that funds the U.S. government. The multiplying of these artificial crises has been the work of a party bent on accomplishing through these extortion opportunities what they couldn’t achieve through winning elections and passing legislation. It is an uprooting of democracy. They are willing to destroy the normal functioning of our government, they are willing to undermine our democratic institutions, they are willing to do major damage to our economy, unless they get their way, or in order to get their way. As Abraham Lincoln said under different circumstances, they will rule or ruin. I will not find anything nice to say about this pack of malevolent lunatics bent on destruction. A latter-day resurrection of [National Brotherhood Week](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6RbfaoX5Hw) isn’t going to improve things here, any more than it helped matters for President Obama to play a round of golf with John Boehner. I can only hope that I outlive most of the [Seniors Wildly Indignant about Nearly Everything](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capp#The_1960s_and_1970s) that provide such a large chunk of the votes for the GOP, so that I can, in time, dance on its grave. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/2 "2013-01-03T17:56:11Z")
Conservatives (or at least many in the halls of power these days) think government is a harmful institution and want it to fail. Is it any surprise many of 'em are sabotaging it now that they’re in it? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/3 "2013-01-03T18:04:22Z")
Oh, it’s no surprise. But it’s part of the reason why I think it’s not just silly, but wrongheaded, for someone to start a thread for saying nice things about the other party. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/4 "2013-01-03T18:15:12Z")
But George W Bush’s shoe-fu was really pretty noteworthy. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/5 "2013-01-03T18:16:06Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Look, we just came through the “fiscal cliff,” an artificially-created crisis brought into being by the GOP as part of the price for getting out of a previous artificially-created crisis, the refusal to raise the debt ceiling if they didn’t get their way on a whole bunch of stuff. Hang on. The Fiscal Cliff was created by a bipartisan group to establish some kind of benchmark for responsible government spending. I agree with the pitting of those that choose to ignore it wholesale and kick the can further down the road, but a number of democrats are on that particular shit list as well. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/6 "2013-01-03T18:19:52Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Hang on. The Fiscal Cliff was created by a bipartisan group to establish some kind of benchmark for responsible government spending. > > I agree with the pitting of those that choose to ignore it wholesale and kick the can further down the road, but a number of democrats are on that particular shit list as well. And that bipartisan group created the Fiscal Cliff in response to…what? [QUOTE=the OP] a previous artificially-created crisis, the refusal to raise the debt ceiling if they didn’t get their way on a whole bunch of stuff. [/QUOTE] IOW, the Fiscal Cliff was the best deal that the Dems in that bipartisan group could get from the extortionists. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/7 "2013-01-03T18:20:56Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Conservatives (or at least many in the halls of power these days) think government is a harmful institution and want it to fail. Is it any surprise many of 'em are sabotaging it now that they’re in it? They only think government is a harmful institution when it’s doing stuff they don’t like. When it’s time to do stuff they do like, say, prevent abortion or gay marriage, or buying truckloads of guns to arm all the nation’s teachers, then there’s no amount of government (or government money) that will satisfy them. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/8 "2013-01-03T18:23:40Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > And that bipartisan group created the Fiscal Cliff in response to…what? You’re right, only one political party and philosophy is to blame for our mismanaged government. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/9 "2013-01-03T18:23:57Z")
Well, Obama, has a nice smile. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/10 "2013-01-03T18:28:16Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > You’re right, only one political party and philosophy is to blame for our mismanaged government. > > :rolleyes: I tend to blame the terrorist more than the hostage, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/11 "2013-01-03T18:37:48Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > You’re right, only one political party and philosophy is to blame for our mismanaged government. > > :rolleyes: Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/12 "2013-01-03T18:43:15Z")
Perhaps the GOP can just change their name to support their principles. They don’t seem to be so concerned with any type of republic, or the public for that matter. I suggest changing from Republican to the Passive-Aggressive party. This might fit the whole supernatural aspect, like “God told me to run for president” and equating science with “all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell.” Also may fit view on women. Yeah, you guys don’t rape but if a pregnancy happens, women clearly didn’t turn on their pregnancy rejection mechanism and you should “carry it full term.” Then for funding, like the recent Sandy assistance avoidance, you’ll get the money when we feel like it. Maybe middle of the month we’ll discuss getting trains and bridges to work. Taxes? Ryan claimed to have an aggressive plan with Romney for a new economy, but “there’s too many details.” I am NOT happy with either party wasting their time on passing a budget, mainly because they don’t seem to want to work on it, but the GOP is clearly a filibuster en masse by never wanting to compromise. This really might fit the Passive-Aggressive party name change I’m submitting. Of course, liberals will take no time equating the new P.A.G. party with fag party. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/13 "2013-01-03T18:43:30Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Because that’s what the opposing political party is, in my case, and [there’s really no reason on God’s green earth to stretch to say something nice about them](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=677298). Any more than I’d try to find something nice to say about Sauron, Lord Voldemort, Charles Manson, or the late Osama bin Laden, to mix real and fictional villains. If roughly half the country supported those people, there would be reason to say nice things about them too. The ultimate purpose of civility in politics is to avoid civil war. Consider this. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/14 "2013-01-03T18:45:09Z")
At least for the Fiscal Cliff, all the recent polling show a very solid majority of Americans blame House Republicans. Denial. Live it, Love it. > [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > The ultimate purpose of civility in politics is to avoid civil war. Consider this. Where did this come from? A simple reading of history (US or otherwise) shows this isn’t true at all. The post-war period (WWII, that is) was the exception for all the civility in politics, not the historical norm. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/15 "2013-01-03T18:51:28Z")
If you are truly incapable of saying a single nice thing about any of your political opponents, you’re a small minded partisan douchebag. Grow the fuck up already. Rational minds can differ on political matters. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/16 "2013-01-03T18:55:48Z")
I think he’s saying not that he can’t, but “what’s the point?” I can think of nice things to say about Charles Manson, but why should I? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/17 "2013-01-03T18:58:30Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > You’re right, only one political party and philosophy is to blame for our mismanaged government. > > :rolleyes: Take that “They do it toooo!” false equivalence crap elsewhere-this isn’t Fox. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/18 "2013-01-03T19:00:58Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > If you are truly incapable of saying a single nice thing about any of your political opponents, you’re a small minded partisan douchebag. Grow the fuck up already. Rational minds can differ on political matters. I’d consider that if they had rational minds. This is “burning the village in order to save it” politics we’re dealing with here. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/19 "2013-01-03T19:08:11Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Where did this come from? A simple reading of history (US or otherwise) shows this isn’t true at all. > > The post-war period (WWII, that is) was the exception for all the civility in politics, not the historical norm. Well considering that there actually has been a civil war in this country, along with a few armed uprisings along the way, I’m not sure how much that proves. Plus, although I’m aware that politicians said many nasty things about each other back then, I’m not sure how far this extended to the common people. In any event, it seems commonsensical to me. Demonizing the opposition leads to harsh treatment and effective disenfranchisement, which leads to frustration and rebellion. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980/20 "2013-01-03T19:13:52Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Demonizing the opposition leads to harsh treatment and effective disenfranchisement, which leads to frustration and rebellion. Translation: The people on the left and middle should just shut up and take all the demonization they get from the Right without complaining. Because to the Right, “fairness” means “take all the abuse we can dish out, give us everything we demand, _and_ admit that you’re all scum while you do it!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-something-nice-about-a-pack-of-serial-extortionists-who-are-turning-our-govt-into-a-clown-show/645980.md?page=2)