The official "Mr. Moto is a clueless right-wing Republican shill" thread

[World_Eater]

@Left Hand of Dorkness

Well, yes and no. There are certainly stupider, ruder, more meanspirited conservatives than Moto, no doubt–and stupider, ruder, more meanspirited liberals than Moto, no doubt.

Part of the problem, I think is precisely that he is eloquent and polite. It suckers me all too often: I go into one of his threads thinking I’m going to get a meaty debate in which I’ll learn something and have a good exchange of ideas. After all, the OP sure looks reasonable on its surface, doesn’t it?

And then it turns out to be a load of hot gas, and I’m irritated that I’ve wasted my time. If I had more self-control, I’d just pass by his threads; but I keep getting suckered in.

So in that respect, I find many of his OPs to be extra-double-helping annoying.

To be fair, he also has a fair number of interesting posts; and when he’s interesting, he’s great. The politeness and eloquence really pay off then.

I just wish he’d cool it with the puerile petty partisan poopery.

Daniel

I’ve felt the same way too.

[John_Mace]

@minty green

I haven’t paid attention to the Plamegate threads around here, but it was certainly a GOP talking point for a couple days that Rove had sought only to prevent a misguided journalist from making a terrible, terrible mistake in reporting Wilson’s claim that he was sent to Niger by Dick Cheney. Which, of course, Wilson never claimed, but that’s entirely beside the point.

Yes, I’m aware of the Republican talking points. But I’ve seen plenty of self-identified righties on this board, like Bricker, denouncing what Rove did.

[clairobscur]

@Liberal

Now, wait a minute. Didn’t you just inform me that you’re barely of drinking age? What gives, Kimosabe?

That’s around this age that I caught myself saying the same thing for the first time.

[Yeticus_Rex]

Originally Posted by rjung
I’m trying to decide whether calling me a Christian is an insult to me or to Christians.
I double-dog-dare ya to read my posts in Cafe Society or IMHO and reiterate that claim.

@Shodan

Calling you a one-trick pony is an insult to horses. Is that better?

Because you are only half a horse. Not the front half, either.

:shrugs:

Being Pitted by rjung is like being flashed by a eunuch. The honor is hardly worth the effort of discerning what it is supposed to be about.

Regards,
Shodan

@gum

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb…ht=rjung+mpsims

<golf clap>

Now that’s what I call a Drive-By! Well done!

When I think of the word “shill” and have the choice of attaching Moto or rjung to that label…I gotta go with left-over leftie on this one.

[John_Mace]

@Left Hand of Dorkness

Rationality ain’t graded on a curve, John.

Daniel

Depends. % of posts backed up with reasonable facts would be one way.

If we were to pit our OP against **Moto **on that scale, I’d take **Moto **any day.

[kaylasdad99]

Just to clear up any confusion regarding the role of “drones” in the insect kingdom. They are fertile. Their entire purpose in the community is to mate with the queen, ensuring the propagation of the hive. It is workers who are sterile. They tend to be female, but deprived of the sexual development that would make them attractive to the males.

The preceding announcement is provided as a public service, courtesy of the science classes I took in the third grade.

[World_Eater]

@kaylasdad99

Just to clear up any confusion regarding the role of “drones” in the insect kingdom. They are fertile. Their entire purpose in the community is to mate with the queen, ensuring the propagation of the hive. It is workers who are sterile. They tend to be female, but deprived of the sexual development that would make them attractive to the males.

The preceding announcement is provided as a public service, courtesy of the science classes I took in the third grade.

You’re either in the wrong thread, or pass the bong please.

[XT]

@World Eater

You’re either in the wrong thread, or pass the bong please.

I second the request for the bong, but I think s/he’s talking about the whole Binarydrone digression into what exactly a ‘drone’ is. Quite relevant…

-XT

[zoo]

@xtisme

I second the request for the bong, but I think s/he’s talking about the whole Binarydrone digression into what exactly a ‘drone’ is. Quite relevant…

-XT

I want to join the highjack of the highjack… Pass me the bong next!!! ;j

[wolf_meister]

I’ve known Mr Moto for quite some time on this board. I think, though conservative, he is generally fair-minded. And he is pretty tolerant of some of the zealous “Dubya-Bashers” (of which I am a member in good standing).

[wolf_meister]

Forgive me for interrupting, the hijack of an off-topic posting.

[Sam_Stone]

On this board, full of Democrats and Liberals who refuse to stray one iota from their own party line, you can be pitted mercilessly just for being Republican or conservative. The only conservatives who are ‘tolerated’ are those who are willing to to be ‘reasonable’ by criticising other conservatives on occasion.

This would be fine if those on the left were willing to do the same, but those are far and few between. And certainly, spouting nothing but Democratic Party talking points on this board is tolerated and it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever get pitted for it.

This skews the debate towards the left. They get to stand their ground, while attacking people on the other side for doing the same. Playing this game puts conservatives at a constant disadvantage.

This is how it works in politics as well, which is why the level of discourse sucks so badly. If one side won’t budge, neither will the other. That’s where partisanship comes from. Everyone behind their barricades!

Frankly, it would nice if, on occasion, the left on this board would admit that Bush has done some good in some areas. Or that the Iraq war, even if started on false pretenses, might turn out to do some good, if we’re lucky. Or that maybe the war had some effect on getting Syria out of Lebanon or getting Libya to roll over. Or that Republican tax policy may occasionally have some good points. Or that the Democrats are weak in some areas, and people have justifiable reasons for disliking parts of their platform. Or that perhaps Rove isn’t a treasonous, evil man but merely an official who opened his mouth without thinking. That maybe the economy under Republicans isn’t a total disaster. Or any number of other points that they could give on, occasionally.

But no. All we get is an endless litany of outrage and hyperbole against the right, but if someone dares to gasp defend the other side, they’re pitted for it. This sucks. And slowly, more and more Republicans give up and leave, and the board becomes even more one-sided and hostile.

But hey, anything to ‘win’, right? Soon you’ll have your own little liberal echo-chamber here, and you can all pat yourself on the back for being part of the ‘reality based’ community, and yap about how you showed those stupid conservatives with your rapier wit and superior knowledge. And pretend that ignorance has been successfully fought and vanquished.

[tnetennba]

@Sam Stone

This would be fine if those on the left were willing to do the same, but those are far and few between. And certainly, spouting nothing but Democratic Party talking points on this board is tolerated and it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever get pitted for it.

Pass the bong, Sam. On the other hand, maybe not. I think that’s bad stuff.

[rjung]

@Sam Stone

But no. All we get is an endless litany of outrage and hyperbole against the right, but if someone dares to gasp defend the other side, they’re pitted for it.

SqueaksqueakSqueak
(Sound of world’s smallest fiddle being played)

Primus, Sam, it’s still July. Way too early to start erecting crucifixes…

[World_Eater]

@Sam Stone

On this board, full of Democrats and Liberals who refuse to stray one iota from their own party line, you can be pitted mercilessly just for being Republican or conservative. The only conservatives who are ‘tolerated’ are those who are willing to to be ‘reasonable’ by criticising other conservatives on occasion.

This would be fine if those on the left were willing to do the same, but those are far and few between. And certainly, spouting nothing but Democratic Party talking points on this board is tolerated and it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever get pitted for it.

This skews the debate towards the left. They get to stand their ground, while attacking people on the other side for doing the same. Playing this game puts conservatives at a constant disadvantage.

This is how it works in politics as well, which is why the level of discourse sucks so badly. If one side won’t budge, neither will the other. That’s where partisanship comes from. Everyone behind their barricades!

Frankly, it would nice if, on occasion, the left on this board would admit that Bush has done some good in some areas. Or that the Iraq war, even if started on false pretenses, might turn out to do some good, if we’re lucky. Or that maybe the war had some effect on getting Syria out of Lebanon or getting Libya to roll over. Or that Republican tax policy may occasionally have some good points. Or that the Democrats are weak in some areas, and people have justifiable reasons for disliking parts of their platform. Or that perhaps Rove isn’t a treasonous, evil man but merely an official who opened his mouth without thinking. That maybe the economy under Republicans isn’t a total disaster. Or any number of other points that they could give on, occasionally.

But no. All we get is an endless litany of outrage and hyperbole against the right, but if someone dares to gasp defend the other side, they’re pitted for it. This sucks. And slowly, more and more Republicans give up and leave, and the board becomes even more one-sided and hostile.

But hey, anything to ‘win’, right? Soon you’ll have your own little liberal echo-chamber here, and you can all pat yourself on the back for being part of the ‘reality based’ community, and yap about how you showed those stupid conservatives with your rapier wit and superior knowledge. And pretend that ignorance has been successfully fought and vanquished.

Well fwiw I was with Bush until 9/11, and I think Dems are equally fucked up as repubs. I think my deal is that I don’t like whoever is on office.

[John_Mace]

Sam: Well, just look at this thread and how much grief the Pitter (OP) is getting-- even from some of those on the left. Meanwhile, there are left-leaning posters who are sticking up for the Pittee. I think you’re painting the situation to be much, much worse than it actually is.

[Hentor_the_Barbarian]

@John Mace

Can we have a cite of anyone saying that Rove did a postitive service?

Admittedly it was…muted here relative to the right-wing nuttosphere, and nobody here called for him to be given a medal, but our very own Sam Stone offered this:

@Sam Stone

Just to summarize the position being floated around on the right:
[…]
6. Contrary to the Democrat’s spin that he ‘outed’ her to ‘punish’ Wilson, Rove claims that he only told Cooper who she was to correct a lie being spouted by Wilson. Wilson was claiming that Dick Cheney sent him to Niger. Cheney said that wasn’t true. So when Cooper asked Rove about it, Rove said that Wilson was picked on the advice of his wife, an analyst for the CIA, and not by Cheney’s office.
[…]
I personally think that the above account is largely accurate, and that claims that Karl Rove broke the law and should be in jail are WAY premature and definitely politically motivated.

Isn’t that nice of Karl to do…

And this, from our guest Ptolemais:

@Ptolemais

This whole scandal came about because Valerie Plame and her husband (an incompetent, untrustworthy, self-aggrandizing asshole of the first order) cooked up a mini-conspiracy to hijack the Niger mission in order to spike it. Which, incidentally, is a much bigger story than Who-said-what-to-Rove or What-Rove-said-to-whom.

Now, this one only implies that Rove did it because Wilson had it coming, but it does portray Rove as doing a positive thing.

I’ll see your phantom quote of “positive service” and raise you at least two lefty posters ranting about treason.

I don’t believe I quoted anyone as saying he did a “positive service.” I described some conservative posters as saying as much, which is demonstrated above.

Indeed, there were conservatives who acknowledged that, if Rove did this, he should be punished. However, my point stands. Liberals are not defending Cohen, or corruption, in the thread in question, unlike Liberal would have you believe.

[Miller]

@Sam Stone

This would be fine if those on the left were willing to do the same, but those are far and few between. And certainly, spouting nothing but Democratic Party talking points on this board is tolerated and it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever get pitted for it.

Dude, have you even been reading this thread? 90% of the people in here are liberals taking shots at rjung or scott_plaid. The left on this board certainly has its faults, but an unwillingness to criticize our own side is certainly not one of them.

[RedFury]

@SS

Or that the Iraq war, even if started on false pretenses, might turn out to do some good, if we’re lucky.

WTF? That’s sort of like congratulating the holder of a winning lotto ticket before he’s actually won. And the asshole, as you freely admit, stole the ticket to begin with.

Jebus. Do you warmongers just get loonier by the sec?

[Sam_Stone]

@Miller

Dude, have you even been reading this thread? 90% of the people in here are liberals taking shots at rjung or scott_plaid. The left on this board certainly has its faults, but an unwillingness to criticize our own side is certainly not one of them.

Criticising your own side in terms of posters on the board, yes. Criticising the Democrats? Giving Republicans or the Bush administration credit? That’s another matter. As I said, some do. But there are plenty of lefties on this board who can be counted on to relentlessly repeat Democratic talking points, never buding an inch, without being accused of ‘shilling for the Democrats’.