The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[wendybeth]

Here is the Goering quote, which Byrd invoked when explaining how we got to this weird state we find ourselves in:

Byrd in his quest to put the current administration in the strongest possible light thus proving that the Emperor Has No Clothes even cites an infamous quotation by Hermann Goering on how to sell a war to the citizenry; it is:

“Why, of course, the people don’t want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don’t want war; neither did Russia, or England or America, nor for that matter Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leader of the country who determine policy and it is always a simple matter to drag people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship…[V]oice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”—Hermann Goering, quoted in the Nuremberg Diary (1947) by G.M. Gilbert

That is hardly calling Bush 'Goering'- he simply uses Goering's quote to illustrate a point. I doubt very much Bush has ever read the Nuremburg Diary- he, by his own admission, is not a readerer. (Sorry, couldn't resist).

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Obviously JW was not informed on the issue. Yet you indict me. Hmm. Wonder why. JW made a blanket statement that was false, but apparently what I wrote it far more eggregious to you. I might suspect JW is a dem, not a republican.

If I am to be criticized for not purchasing Byrd's book, scanning a page, and posting the image, rather than simply posting a link (admittedly not at first until I was chastized for that) to direct quotes from the book, then whatever.

I did not actually read the entire content of the page, no. I was criticized for posting info without a link, so I found something that directly quoted the book, yet that's not good enough either. I could have posted any number of links with the same info. You would rather quibble about the review than about what was in the book when the subject was clearly about leaders of parties either referring to or agreeing with comparison to nazis.

I did not make a false blanket statement. Just because you don't happen to agree with it, and choose to support your party no matter what, does not make what I said (what I actually said, not what you are pretending to think I said) any less true.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Actually, I was just curious as to your thoughts on the subject matter. Seems more interesting than continuing this same boring line of "Oh, yeah....well, you guys do it, too!". My bad. Wake me up when the conversation gets reasonably intelligent.

Thank you!

I was taught as a child that it it's not ok to do stupid or immoral things just because others have done them. My mother would never let us get away with that one! Some people obviously never learned that lesson.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm certainly one for being unilaterally stupid and immoral

[wendybeth]

Thanks, JW. I just find it ironic that the one link he deigned to look up actually does not support his assertion to the degree that we seem to be discussing here. Granted, the review was uncomfortably slavering in it's admiration for the author, but there was some interesting stuff contained within and Byrd does not seem to directly call Bush another Goering.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

I'm certainly one for being unilaterally stupid and immoral

I suppose it really depends on what type of immorality...

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by JWBear

I suppose it really depends on what type of immorality...

The stupider the better

[scaeagles]

You guys are the masters of spin.

Byrd used a quote from Goering and basically said that Bush uses the same strategy as a Nazi.

As far as reasonably intelligent....I agree! This is why I tried repeatedly to say I didn't want to go down this line of conversation, but you kept goading. So look in the mirror, WB and JW, as you wonder who keeps pushing it.

And uh, by the way, there's still the whole Durbin thing that GD linked to. But I'm sure there's a way to justify that....after all, he's saying what you think.

For the record - and for you JW and WB, I guess it's the broken record - I didn't bring up anything trying to justify one side doing because the other side did. The ONLY reason I brought up anything was because JW claimed the dem leadership doesn't do it. Quit rewriting thread history and read it.

[innerSpaceman]

I understand the urge to defend yourself scaeagles, but you're really just as guilty in perpetuating the Godwin tangent as anyone. You could just as easily change the subject or stop addressing that one.


I think the Godwin angle is a bore, too. What about the element flippyshark brought up? Do you disagree with the sense that conservatives tend more to complain about the not-yet-happened than progressives do? Or do you think that's an equal-opportunity failing as well?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I understand the urge to defend yourself scaeagles, but you're really just as guilty in perpetuating the Godwin tangent as anyone. You could just as easily change the subject or stop addressing that one.

Umm, he tried. He said he didn't bother responding and JW insisted on demanding an answer.