Extra, extra! Sarah Palin is exactly what you thought she was!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Any chance that I might imbibe the spirit of that woman would keep me away from any food resembling her.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I read Cynthia's post not as "Regan was evil" simply, "The fact that Regan got elected highlighted a mentality in the populace that makes despotism and horrific events possible."

Much like, had McCain been elected, while I wouldn't have thought McCain a horrible human being (I mostly consider him a dupe and fool at this point, but not evil), I would certainly have been pretty displeased with the state of the populace.

That said, it's perhaps a bit of hyperbole for Cynthia to state that her statement doesn't carry SOME indication of her opinion of Regan - however it does not equate to "Regan is evil."

[Alex]

I'd say that is a pretty generous interpretation of "Reagan's election was symbolic of humanity's history of despotism and horrific behavior."

The difference between "Reagan is evil" and "Reagan was the figurehead of evil" (using "evil" as a replacement for "despotic and horrific") isn't really all that significant, at least to me.

But really, I stopped reading after George Bush was one of the stupidest people alive (kind of takes me back to what I was saying the other day about conservative elitism positioning the opposition as immoral while liberal elitism positions it as stupidity) so I wouldn't have noticed the rest much if others hadn't started talking about it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

I'd say that is a pretty generous interpretation of "Reagan's election was symbolic of humanity's history of despotism and horrific behavior."

The difference between "Reagan is evil" and "Reagan was the figurehead of evil" (using "evil" as a replacement for "despotic and horrific") isn't really all that significant, at least to me.

I read it more as "the sentiment of the electorate belied the potential for evil in humanity." I don't see that as the same as, "The person they voted for was evil." YMMV

[Kevy Baby]

BTW: Our 40th President's last name is spelt Reagan

[Alex]

Well, Donald Regan wasn't evil.

[JWBear]

But this Regan was:

Spoiler:

[€uroMeinke]

These boards were born out of elitism - can't find any fault in that.

[Alex]

Hmm...If I said that hiring you was a demonstration belies your employers tendency to stupidity and incompetence would that be meaningfully different from calling you stupid and incompetent?

"No, no, I'm not calling you stupid and incompetent I'm just saying that hiring you shows their stupidity and incompetence."

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Hmm...If I said that hiring you was a demonstration belies your employers tendency to stupidity and incompetence would that be meaningfully different from calling you stupid and incompetent?

"No, no, I'm not calling you stupid and incompetent I'm just saying that hiring you shows their stupidity and incompetence."

Like I said, I found her defense that it said nothing of her opinion of Reagan disingenuous. I just disagree that it equates to "Reagan is evil".

There's a huge gulf between my opinion of an electorate that would have voted McCain into office and my opinion of McCain himself (well, at the time at least. He's doing his best to close that gap). I would have found his election evidence that there was major momentum in this country towards an endpoint that I find completely distasteful - however I did not find McCain himself completely distasteful.

A candidate can't be held responsible for everything their supporters stand for.