Race for the presidency political discussion thread

[Grungebob]

Originally Posted by ewabbie

So if a Democrat says they have good morals would you attack them the same way or is this just a generalization?

I never heard that driving a Landrover with a yellow ribbon made you a Republican wack job. I drive a Ford by the way. No Fish. One of my favorite Seinfeld episode is when Elaine steals the Jesus Fish.

Elaine: David, I'm going to hell! The worst place in the world! With devils and those caves and the ragged clothing! And the heat! My god, the heat!

Hey man, whatever you do, drive slow and be careful of children. By mindful of laws such as speed limits.

[SuperflyTNT]

Made in the USA: Spoiled brats

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Posted: November 20, 2006
1:00 am Eastern


By Craig R. Smith
© 2008

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way. Oh what a mean man I am.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

(Column continues below)


Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did … insane!

Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:


''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.

[ewabbie]

Originally Posted by Grungebob

Hey man, whatever you do, drive slow and be careful of children. By mindful of laws such as speed limits.

Never had a speeding ticket.

[InfinityMax]

That's interesting, but it's not really fair, is it? I mean, it's like he's saying that we should not strive to make things better because we all have big televisions. Dissatisfaction with the current direction of the nation doesn't have to mean we're unhappy. It might mean we see possibility for improvement, and intend to work to that end.

I don't think I've seen anyone here say, 'man, America sucks.' More than once I've said Bush is not a good president, but does a dissatisfaction with the current leadership mean I hate America? Should I sit back and wallow in my well-being and not work for a better tomorrow? It seems the party that is always telling us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps should be a little more understanding when we want to make things better.

And blaming the media is original. Haven't seen anyone do that before.

[Onacara]

Blaming the media is as good as using what someone on a talk radio show says in an argument. The liberal talk show host is going to give it a liberal spin and the conservative is going to give it the conservative spin. If you take the time and look at the actual facts then you will always find the truth.

[DrRansom]

Originally Posted by Grungebob

It is interesting being like myself or Imax, because we do not fit in any category. The closest I can find to my ideals is the Libertarian party. I think what I loath about both of the major parties is their polarity, and falseness. I just can't get behind the blatant BS.

Politically the only "category" I'd fit into would be evangelical. That being said most of what the media presents as evangelical has nothing to do with the category I associate with.

I hear you on the polarity. My biggest dislike about our bi-partisan system is that in cramming people into one of the two sides it also rewards bad faith discussion, slander and quick shot, sound-clip, negative, emotional attacks on the other side that does little to no good in actually solving the problem. It just teaches us all to be like the kids from "Mean Girls". Basically the best slanderer gets the biggest reward. I really enjoyed watching McCain tell his own supporters off when they accused Obama of various untrue things. While he could have capitalized from the false view, he instead took the high road. I think Obama did fairly well along the same lines in his acceptance speech.

Also, not to open another can of worms, I can think of arguments for 3 different camps that would be harmed from gay marriage being legalized. I don't have the time to properly explain that right now but in general I just wanted to say it's not universally accepted that it hurts no one. Maybe later I'll dive in when I have the time.

[Grungebob]

Originally Posted by DrRansom

Also, not to open another can of worms, I can think of arguments for 3 different camps that would be harmed from gay marriage being legalized. I don't have the time to properly explain that right now but in general I just wanted to say it's not universally accepted that it hurts no one. Maybe later I'll dive in when I have the time.

Gay weddings bad for America... News at 11!

[DrRansom]

Originally Posted by Grungebob

Gay weddings bad for America... News at 11!

OK, maybe I won't. On one hand I hear complaints about polarity and hypocrisy and on the other hand I hear words like "I bet they hate gays.." and such. I'd love to have the conversation but not like this.

[Grungebob]

Originally Posted by DrRansom

OK, maybe I won't. On one hand I hear complaints about polarity and hypocrisy and on the other hand I hear words like "I bet they hate gays.." and such. I'd love to have the conversation but not like this.

Aww shucks! You're not going to enlighten us with this important information?

I'm not going to hide that fact that I do bet the individuals I described hate gays. I'm willing to be proved wrong, but nobady has done so yet. But about me making fun of you dropping a hint at mysterious info that you might someday share... Well don't be so sensitive. I am not threatened by your point of view. I wanna hear it.

[InfinityMax]

Originally Posted by Grungebob

Gay weddings bad for America... News at 11!

And in our follow-up story, religious goofballs ban nicotine gum, because smoking is a sin.

[Onacara]

Gay marriage is a sin but having sex without being married is ok right? Oh and it's ok to wear condom or use birth control right?

Last time I checked God frowned upon all of them.

[Bannister]

Religious barbiturates? Boy have I been attending the wrong church.

Bannister