# The numbnut who had the freakout at the Arlen Specter townhall meeting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 12, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206 "2009-08-12T19:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/281 "2009-08-14T14:55:05Z")
If this libertopian you guys rightly revile is upset, imagine how I feel. I build things that help the US military protect creeps like him. What did he ever do to deserve the benefits of my time and trouble? Seems awfully hypocritical of him to make demands of me while whining about how we aren’t all for giving him a free ride. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/282 "2009-08-14T15:43:50Z")
I’m curious why Terry Schiavo hasn’t been brought up by the left on this death panels issue. Why not form a counter argument that the suggested amendment on end of life decision making is intended to decrease the hand of government in such individual decisions (which it is) because we want to prevent the Republicans from enacting Schiavo-care: Republican-instituted government control over end-of-life decision making (which is hyperbole, and not likely, since a Republican is the one who put the proposal out there in the first place, but is not a terribly off the mark description). Too long ago for people to remember? Maybe. Too nuanced to get people’s attention? Perhaps. But you have to get an accurate and corrective message out there to counter the lying, and it would be a start. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/283 "2009-08-14T16:27:53Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I’m curious why Terry Schiavo hasn’t been brought up by the left on this death panels issue… My current fave rave, Ms. Maddow, did just that on last nights show, pointing out the number of Pubbies who are currently throwing shit fits about government intervention in end of life issues who were willing to move heaven and earth to make the government interfere in end of life issues. Sharp wit, deep intellect, the neck of a swan…alas, she is bent in the opposite direction. Well, I could have surgery, I suppose… ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/284 "2009-08-14T17:19:32Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > My current fave rave, Ms. Maddow, did just that on last nights show, pointing out the number of Pubbies who are currently throwing shit fits about government intervention in end of life issues who were willing to move heaven and earth to make the government interfere in end of life issues. > > Sharp wit, deep intellect, the neck of a swan…alas, she is bent in the opposite direction. Well, I could have surgery, I suppose… I’m with you on Ms. Maddow, but I fear that she’s mostly preaching to the choir and that those who could learn the most from her are tuned into… something else. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/285 "2009-08-14T17:33:40Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > Hey RandRover, if you really want to return to the law of the jungle, I’m ready any time you are, baby. You think your life of certified chartered accounting has prepared you for life without a safety net? I’d be just as happy to take all your toys away by main force, myself, and I know a lot of my comrades feel the same way. You hide behind the skirts of the State’s protection, all the while crying about all the stuff the State is doing to protect you from people like me – like welfare, universal health care, and labour laws. Without those crumbs to the hungry masses, my comrades and I would be leading hordes of raging proles through your house, taking back all the shit you’ve stolen from the rest of us. > > You think the New Deal was for OUR benefit? All of North America was teetering on the brink of armed insurrection, and the unions were powerful, militant, and growing. The New Deal was created to keep YOUR sorry ass off the firing line by taking away our strength, giving people just enough to keep them from saying “fuck it” and picking up a gun. > > Hey, sparky, if you want to pull off the kid gloves and go hammer and tongs in the streets, we’re up for it any time you are. Bring an army. Threatening physical violence? Really? From what I see in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=527052&page=2), you might be able to [smother him](http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3738/83478824.jpg) if you sat on him, but more likely all you could do is make him dizzy with some [BO](http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3426/mayday2006013.jpg). ---
**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:** [August 14, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/286 "2009-08-14T17:49:45Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > My current fave rave, Ms. Maddow, did just that on last nights show, pointing out the number of Pubbies who are currently throwing shit fits about government intervention in end of life issues who were willing to move heaven and earth to make the government interfere in end of life issues. I’m glad to hear that someone with a soapbox put it out there. I mean, other dopers don’t even pay attention to me. How could I influence the larger debate? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/287 "2009-08-14T17:55:55Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Everyone? No. Just those looking to get wound up. I try not to disappoint. Dude, face it. [You’re an admitted troll.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11386445&postcount=1846)[You ridiculously claimed that you lurked here for nine years before you started posting](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=11345412&postcount=121)–why didn’t you just post “I AM A SOCK” in 72-point red font? Why TPTB haven’t run your ass out of here on a rail is a fine question. Your whole point in being here is “to wind people up.” Why the fuck you are here is beyond me. If you’re trying to spread the word of objectivism/libertarianism/Fark Independents\* you’re your own worst enemy. Even **Liberal** can’t stand you, and he’s been spreading the word for years before you got here (whoops…when you “lurked” here. Yeah, I’m sure you really were able to stop yourself from posting here for nine years, seeing as you’re posting like a motherfuck now.) Even people like **ivylass** who agree with your views barely speak up because you act like such a massive asshole. When I worked for the Institute of Humane Studies (look 'em up), I asked one of their more thoughtful trustees, “Why aren’t more people in America libertarians? Most people here seem to hate the government.” He thought about it for a while, and I figured he was going to give me some throwaway line about the government brainwashing people into thinking they needed handouts or the like. Instead, he said (paraphrased), “What we say can be misconstrued as heartless. Yes, we care about the poor and the sick and the disabled, we just think they should be looked after differently. But our message fails–not because of the content, but because we sound like jerks. All they hear is ‘the poor and sick and disabled have to fend for themselves’, which is not what we mean. _But it’s what we sound like, and it’s our fault._” It didn’t help that most of the people I knew in IHS were, well, jerks. Didn’t have much of a thought in their heads other than “government bad, free market good.” You’re playing right into your enemies’ hands. Most people think objectivists/libertarians/Fark Independents are douchebags, and boy do you ever play to type. \*I.E., “I’m actually a conservative Republican, but I’m going to pretend I’m an independent or libertarian because I’m embarrassed to admit it. But I’m going to hold all the same views as a conservative Republican.” ---
**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:** [August 14, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/288 "2009-08-14T18:29:25Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Why the fuck you are here is beyond me. Well, good luck with that. I asked pretty much the same thing last night and the answer in its entirety was “Dance, monkey, dance”. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/289 "2009-08-14T18:43:00Z")
Why the fuck are you here, Duke and El\_Kabong? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/290 "2009-08-14T18:47:31Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Why the fuck are you here, Duke and El\_Kabong? I’m here to talk to people who aren’t trolls or socks–as is everyone else here but you. There are hundreds of other messageboards which will condone your trolling and socking…go forth and troll to your heart’s content. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/291 "2009-08-14T18:51:10Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Why the fuck are you here, Duke and El\_Kabong? Some people like to talk to others about issues. Others that aren’t cowardly, lying, sociopaths like yourself. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/292 "2009-08-14T18:51:30Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Why the fuck are you here, Duke and El\_Kabong? I’m here mainly to learn things. From you I learn very little except what a colossal dickhead you are. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/293 "2009-08-14T18:51:46Z")
**Rand Rover** , your view is actually that the federal government should do nothing except protect its citizens from other countries or terrorists? ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/294 "2009-08-14T19:28:44Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Some people like to talk to others about issues. Others that aren’t cowardly, lying, sociopaths like yourself. Hey now–I’m not cowardly or a liar. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/295 "2009-08-14T19:33:54Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > **Rand Rover** , your view is actually that the federal government should do nothing except protect its citizens from other countries or terrorists? No. I just think that what a government should do should be informed by the purpose of government, and protection from enemies is the sole legitimate purpose of government. I’m not one of those hard-core libertarians that thinks every road should be a toll road, etc. Given that I am a US citizen in 2009, my only goal wrt government at this point is to try and decrease its rate of growth. But saying all of that isn’t very pithy, so sometimes I use shorthand that isn’t really accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/296 "2009-08-14T19:36:30Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > No. I just think that what a government should do should be informed by the purpose of government, and protection from enemies is the sole legitimate purpose of government. Ah. So you basically disagree with much of the Constitution. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/297 "2009-08-14T19:47:11Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > No. I just think that what a government should do should be informed by the purpose of government, and protection from enemies is the sole legitimate purpose of government. Really? I would have thought GOVERNING would make the list somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/298 "2009-08-14T20:00:45Z")
> [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](#): > > How many times do we have to go down this same road? > > You can start by paying back everything the government spent on your public education. > > Also, I’m not too crazy about you driving on the roads that I’ve paid for, so I’d like that money back too. He should close his eyes at night, too. He doesn’t want gov’t to provide street lights, then he shouldn’t use them. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/299 "2009-08-14T20:02:33Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Hey now–I’m not cowardly or a liar. Well, that’s a lie right there. And I notice that you still haven’t posted all your pertinent personal information here, so you’re hiding, which is what cowards do. So you lied twice. You ARE a coward and a liar. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206/300 "2009-08-14T20:07:22Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > …I mean, other dopers don’t even pay attention to me. How could I influence the larger debate? Just because they don’t tell you they’re listening, doesn’t mean they’re not. And like Gandhi said, doing the right thing may be futile, but that doesn’t affect your responsibility to do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-numbnut-who-had-the-freakout-at-the-arlen-specter-townhall-meeting/506206.md?page=16)