Shut up or I’ll throw my Collected Works of Bakunin at you.
Y’know, it might just not be the best campaign strategy to dismiss people who don’t agree with you as mentally impaired.
If there was ever a chance to change their mind, you’ve probably blown it.
You jokin’? ABSDers are NOT undecided. They cannot be turned from the dark side. It’s best just to diagnose and move on.
Well, Bush’s lies and craven cronyism and disregard for life and for individual people’s freedoms are so transparent and indisputable that only willful ignorance would explain why he has any supporters at all. Bush is the worst president in my 35-40 years of consciousness, based simply on objective facts. So I’m of much the same mind as Aeschines, though I recognize that he’s joking. It’s more akin to groupthink, in actuality, than a real mental illness, but it’s nonetheless baffling. And frightening; very, very frightening.
Even the most rational Bush supporters insist on focusing entirely on his “positive” points and simply refuse to acknowledge the myriad negatives. And when the most rational end of the spectrum is identified by the sheer mindboggling scope of their denial, we’re in a pretty sorry state indeed.
I personally think that if Bush is re-elected he will take this country into the darkest places it’s ever been, and it will be very, very difficult to recover; but I almost hope this happens: his supporters will deserve anything they get.
Yes, he is the duly-elected president. More electors voted for him than for Gore. The Supreme Court’s decision had something to do with this. But why is it that when the Supreme Court decides Lawrence v. Texas (or Roe v. Wade, or Griswold v. Connecticut, or…) you accept their authority to write new law, law that appears nowhere in the Constitution - and when they decided Bush v. Gore, you’re outraged? The system pleases you only when it agrees with you, it seems.
I don’t agree. “Women’s rights?” I’m happy with Bush’s record on women’s rights, because I don’t believe women should have the legal right to kill their unborn children. You believe differently, so you think Bush’s record is dismal. I recognize that persons of good will may arrive at different conclusions on this issue. You do not; you’re convinced that your view is the only possible correct one.
Health care. I don’t agree. I’m happy with Bush’s record on health care, because I believe that health care is a matter best served by private insurance, not government-funded solutions. I am paying for health care for me and my family, and I don’t particularly want to pay for health care for you and your family as well. You believe differently, so you think Bush’s record is dismal. I recognize that persons of good will may arrive at different conclusions on this issue. You do not; you’re convinced that your view is the only possible correct one.
The environment. I don’t agree. I believe that our national interests are best served by giving a lower priority to saving the spotted tree toad, or preserving the caribou mating trails, and a higher priority to companies that can make use of natural resources for profit and the creation of jobs. I don’t concede that “the environment” is in any danger. You believe differently, so you think Bush’s record is dismal. I recognize that persons of good will may arrive at different conclusions on this issue. You do not; you’re convinced that your view is the only possible correct one.
Education. I don’t agree. I believe the extent of federal involvement in education is unfortunate; education should be a state issue. But no President can slay the monster that has grown so large. (A FEDERAL “Deaprtment of Education?” Please!) Given those confines, I believe the “No Child Left Behind” Act is an appropriate use of federal muscle: to push local schools into some semblence of accountability. I favor the use of vouchers, as does Mr. Bush, for the same reason: it permits parents to fund, or help fund, private school attendance when the public schools are failing in their mission. You believe differently, so you think Bush’s record is dismal. I recognize that persons of good will may arrive at different conclusions on this issue. You do not; you’re convinced that your view is the only possible correct one.
And so forth and so on.
Actually, I thought to myself, “Well, I wasn’t on the jury. I saw the case through the media’s eyes, not the jury’s eyes. I’m convinced O.J. is guilty… but the prosecution bungled enough with Fuhrman, with the glove that didn’t fit, and it may well be that the jury simply didn’t find evidence sufficient to convict beyond a reasonable doubt. I believe I would have reached a different conclusion, but I cannot say that the jury’s verdict was simply an abuse of their discretion.”
- Rick
I agree that education is a state issue. However, unfunded mandates by the fed, such as the NCLBA, do nothing but create huge deficit problems for states that can’t meet the requirements. Failure to meet federal requirements results in further program funding cutbacks, creating a vicious cycle that would seem to result in even more children being left behind. Vouchers encourage student and teacher flight. They fix nothing.
Well, not everyone. There are rabid right-wingers who hate gays and minorities and furriners and don’t give a good goddamn WHAT George does, they want him to stay because he’s more like them than those bleeding-heart liberal Democrats. This country could turn into a fascist state, or could collapse, and they wouldn’t give a damn.
There are intelligent, principled Republicans who (I’ll get called on this) haven’t seen the light yet. They’re troubled, they know something is dreadfully, terribly wrong, but they’re so rooted in thier party that they won’t allow themselves to admit what’s happening. Yet.
Then there are Libertarians who hate Bush’s record of civil rights, but feel he’s closer to their worldview of “Pay or fuck off and die” than the bleeding-heart liberals.
I’m sure there are other categories but yeah, I think in general it’s the “I don’t want to hear it! I can’t hear you!” syndrome.
I hadn’t read that thread recently. I can’t get that “click on the number of replies and see who’s posted in the thread” feature to work for me. I just now looked at that thread and didn’t see what you’re talking about. In any case, my apologies. Lots of times I’ll use “you” in the general, rather than specific, sense. I should have done it this time.
I think there’s a big difference. There are plenty of Republicans who hate the thought of voting for a Democrat, but will, because he’s ABB.
Come on. Let’s be reasonable. Is there anybody that honestly doesn’t think we will get cool uniforms when we go fascist?
The bolding is mine. Unfunded mandates do one thing for Bush. He can wave his arms and proclaim “Yea verily for I have done great things” without having to put any money into it. Then, when they fail, as they are set up to do (not funded), Bush can cut even more. It’s just words. Political tripe.
Ooooh! With lightning bolts on the collar and a piratey looking skull on the cap? Sorry, I am feeling even more peevish than usual.
One of the most frightening aspects of ABSD is that sufferers not only carry the contagion, but deliberately try to spread it. :eek:
I have two relatives who are sufferers, and who have regaled me with not only anti-Kerry jokes (some of which are actually funny . . . and adaptabale into anti-Bush jokes by the mere changing of a name), but with anti Kerry, anti-Democratic glurge which never carries a by-line but sounds like it was written by the evil bastard offspring of Bill O’Rielly and Ann Coulter. I refute this crap with liberal (heh!) injections of facts, supported by references and links, but their disease is so advanced that it is as resistant to TRUTH as super syph is to pennicillin. What to do? I love these relatives, and I can’t bring myself to euthanize them. But so far I have found no course of anti-idiotic that does more than slow the disease’s progress for a few minutes. Is there no hope? Maybe stem cell research?
I recommend massive dosages of sedatives. Use a dart gun, so as not to endanger yourself.
Yet prior to the NCLBA, and prior to vouchers, there were public schools that were STILL failing. That fact exists on both sides of the equation. School systems that spend an ungodly amount of omney per student - DC Public Schools, for instance - were still remarkably underperforming before these unfunded mandates arose to cause terror and mayhem.
Given the fact that the problem exists no matter what, and given the fact that the wealthy have the option of private schools, why not create a way to subsidize poorer children’s attendance in private school? Why should the wealthy be the only ones to escape to private enclaves and receive good educations?
In my darker moments, I sometimes wonder if liberals are - consciously or unconsciously - seeking to KEEP poor people in dependence to their liberal help programs, rather than giving them the tools that will let them break themselves free.
- Rick
A friend of mine has a theory about this, He says, all through history, education (a real education) has always been only for the nobles, the ruling class. You didn’t want the commoners to have an education. If they learned, they might want to rise above their station in life and become a threat to the ruling class. How does this realate? The rich (the rulers) get the good private schools, the commoners (everyone else) get a substandard public education. In the past 51 years I’ve lived, public schools have gone downhill. Maybe the new nobles are asserting themselves? Food for thought.
Well, as you know, one of the prominent symptoms of the disease is the propensity for sufferers to stick their fingers in their ears while singing “LALALALALALALALA”
From reading your posts in this thread, it is clear that you suffer not only from ABSD but also an equally serious condition known as ARPS (Advanced Reactionary Personality Syndrome). While the prognosis of either one of these sicknesses is exceedingly poor, that of the dual condition, I regret to report, is shithouse.
In fact, if you do not seek political treatment immediately, you are almost certain to contract chronic fascism, for which debilitating condition not even palliative care is possible. Your only hope is to register as a Democrat immediately and give a large some of money to that party. Please go straightway to www.democrats.org–your political life depends on it!
Good observation! This people have made assassins of themselves, yet they know it not.
A chain-smoking infant that tells you continuously to shut up? “Kerry shot himself to get a Purple Heart!” An eagle flies against a red, white, and blue banner waving peacefully. “Vote Bush… Vote Bush… and be happy.”
Shed no tears, for they were politically deceased long ago…
LOL! 
No way. Hitler was able to do the fascist thing whole hog, and he was able to build his brand from scratch. He was a fascist’s fascist.
Under Bush Dynasty Fascism, you must not only pretend not to be a fascist, but you also must use the old packaging: kitschy eagles, the cornball Pledge of Allegiance, the song “I’m Proud to Be an American,” and, of course, red, white, ‘n’ blue bunting. No goosestepping! No hailing victory!
Our branding was great for a genuine Republic, but its use in selling fascism has created the biggest case of collective cognitive dissonance the world has ever seen. Since when does “freedom” (hand on heart now, ownlifers!) mean stacking Iraqis into a pyramid and bathing them in diarrhea?
But still the eagle flies against a gently wavering sky of red, white, and blue. Vote Bush!
I hear the latest proposal is for “Proud to Be An American” to share equal time with John Ashcroft’s “Let the Eagle Soar.” Gaaah! :eek:
Can’t we stick with the “Star-Spangled Banner”? At least the lyrics aren’t as chintzy…
The above is not an argument remarkable for its cogency.