Possibly, although I’ve noticed that many people who suggest moderate left views actually hold much stronger views, but tone them down because the electorate won’t accept them. I’ve seen this in real life in the UK, and some people on this board seem to do so as well.
I think I need coffee, this is less coherent than I hoped.
Pendulums swing…
Judge not how effective a tactic/laws is when used by your side… but how easily it is twisted and used against you when your opponents get their hands on it.
The ultimate goal of the sincere man is to erect his beliefs into law.
^
This.
When it’s the Republican jackasses walking out to prevent a quorum the wailing and gnashing of teeth will hit new highs.
“There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.” - Daniel Webster
Funny, me and many others do see it as par for the curse, what it is bad is to ignore what is being done with acts like preventing the quorum, in the case of Wisconsin, it is clear that more people are getting disgusted by the clear unfairness of the actions of the Governor and Republicans in Wisconsin, it is clear to me that the people expected that the Republicans would concentrate in job creation and maybe on cutting benefits of government workers, but not to dictate people how to negotiate for salaries. (And have you seen the other cuts included in the budget plan? That is not what a good master is)
Fortunately, as they say, the problems of democracy can be solved with more democracy.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117312973.html
As efforts to recall senators are coming, the evidence shows that the Republicans have more chances to lose, even if one does not take the current unpleasantness into account, seeing how the polls are going regarding the collective bargaining issue, I would have to say the view that just 3 republican seats can be lost in a recall is an **optimistic **one for the Republicans.
Well, everybody has their tipping point. For you it is depriving the other side of its quorum. I don’t like quorum depriving, but it is done at all times at all levels by all affiliations. I’ve done it. It is allowed. I am for repealing the right to remove quorum deprivation and filibusters, but I’m damn well not going to unilaterally disarm. There are too many ways to do it.
As for being a partisan democrat, I’m probably one of the two or three most partisan democrats on the board. I will not be voting for Obama in 2012 and will vote for the Republican if he (she) stops the fucking torture, or at least keeps quiet about it during the campaign. But there is no way I will vote for Obama. He is lawless and weak.
We already hit that when the GOP fillibustered virtually every piece of legislation, even stuff that was substantially their ideas.
Which proved that they are willing to sabotage government operation to prove that government doesn’t work.
Have lots of bread & like the status quo? Have no fear, fuck the board.
Have lots of bread yet think most poverty is a result of life’s lottery? Fuck how you think.
Republicans are more intelligenter than Democrats. You SHOULD vote for them. Only people who enjoy living off welfare are Democrats.
Have no bread and unhappy with your lot in life? Don’t worry. Work hard and climb your way out of it.
Have no bread and think the government ought to take it away from those who’ve earned it and give it to you? Cheer the board.
Lots of things in life are a lottery - poverty being one. Disease is another, looks are another, athletic ability is another, a winning personality is another, etc., etc., etc.
And unlike most of the others, people can work their way out of poverty. It may take some time and sacrifice and planning and discipline, but it can be done.
And many do. Poverty is a temporary condition for most people. The people who are poor for life tend to be the ones who live on government handouts.
Tell us again about the time you gave blowjobs for bread, Grampa!
SA: Government-enforced income redistribution is neither fair nor desirable.
Straight Dope Ignorance Fighter:“Oh, yeah? Well…well…you’re old!”
:rolleyes:
Tell us again about the time you gave blowjobs for bread, youngster!
Ahhh, you naive little lad–maybe you should respect your elders and ask those grandpas for a little advice. I’ve heard that they at least have smarts enough to save their mouthfuls of jizz for a protein-rich spread to put on their newly-bought bread. You probably just spit it out!!
Kids these days! 
And people wonder why I equate liberalism with adolescence.
:rolleyes:
The voices in your head aren’t people, Starkers.
This fucking board reminds me why I always voted Republican.
Funny - all of my poorer relations sucking from the public teat vote GOP. But it’s okay because they don’t enjoy being on benefits and anyway it’s their own money they’re getting back (as opposed to other people of benefits who are getting other people’s tax money).
Hmmm. You ought to try voting based on some kind of set of principles or beliefs. Are all Republican voters driven to vote based on what some other group of people say or do?
Oh I have hated the abuse of the filibuster. I have indeed wailed and gnashed my teeth. But I have not tried to claim that it is not legal or outside the rules or not doing their job in the manner they see most fit. The Democratic majority may whine in response but they then negotiate and deal.
Measures by which a minority prevent a majority from proceeding, such as filibustering and quorum blocking, should, IMHO, be rarely used measures. Quorum blocking is indeed used rarely. Filibustering was, once upon a time, used rarely, but has been used as a matter of course in recent years. Both are legal but I have the bigger problem with the fact that filibustering is now the norm than I do with the extremely rare cases that quorum blocking is utilized.
First they came for the illegal immigrants, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t an illegal immigrant.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for me, and I was really surprised because I thought the third line of this polemic was about the Jews.
What we need, then, is someone with sufficient moral authority and personal integrity to separate the deserving poor from the lazy layabouts and moochers. Someone without the slightest doubt about their moral certitude.
Wherever would we find such an utter asshole?