The future of NASA

[innerSpaceman]

I've seen teabagger used by lots of "mainstream" media. It think it's just become an easy shorthand, since tea partiers or tea party members is more of a tongue-twister.

I've even heard teabaggers refer to themselves that way. So, sorry, it's a done deal.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I've even heard teabaggers refer to themselves that way. So, sorry, it's a done deal.

So the rule is if you've heard a couple of members of a certain group use a term to describe themselves the word or phrase is free to be used by all?

[sleepyjeff]

But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

~JFK

I do wonder though, what was the "other" things???

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'm looking forward to pictures of the next shuttle launch. My friend is going to be there, in the press area, as close as you can get to the launch. I'm excited by proxy!

[Alex]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I've seen teabagger used by lots of "mainstream" media.

Early on that was definitely the case but I don't think it is particularly true any more. At least not in the mainstream journalistic media I'm consuming (though we all tend to have our own boundaries on what is mainstream).

That said, and while I found the unintended use of teabagger as funny as the next person I tend to fall into the camp of calling a group of people whatever they prefer to be called, unless is a complete obvious manipulation of the language (I probably wouldn't go along if the Democrats changed the official party name to "The Party of the Clearly and Obviously Best People in the World Party").

[Cadaverous Pallor]

It's funny, I haven't even thought about how "teabaggers" was derogatory. I have been calling them that for shorthand. If I insulted anyone I truly didn't mean it as such.

As GD said, my point wasn't "don't call people names" it was "don't present assertions as if they are facts".

[innerSpaceman]

@sleepyjeff - I wouldn't say it's the rule, but I like it as a policy. I use it more for shorthand now than to insult, but I won't lose any sleep if Tea Partiers take offense at me calling them names - - they've had some choice ones for me, and those that haven't have continued to associate themselves with those that have. In fact, I'm pretty sure Teabagger was coined in direct response to their "stand" on homosexuality. It was an irresistible target, and I can't resist.

So, yeah, I'll be calling them teabaggers, and I doubt it will derail their tea party movement by much.


Oh, and I think Kennedy's other things remain undone.

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

@sleepyjeff - I wouldn't say it's the rule, but I like it as a policy. I use it more for shorthand now than to insult, but I won't lose any sleep if Tea Partiers take offense at me calling them names - - they've had some choice ones for me, and those that haven't have continued to associate themselves with those that have. In fact, I'm pretty sure Teabagger was coined in direct response to their "stand" on homosexuality. It was an irresistible target, and I can't resist.

So, yeah, I'll be calling them teabaggers, and I doubt it will derail their tea party movement by much.

Fair enough.

Oh, and I think Kennedy's other things remain undone.

But what were they? Mile High skyscrappers? Bullet Trains? Flying Cars?

[€uroMeinke]

Bullet-proof convertibles

[sleepyjeff]

^Someone had to say it