The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux) - Page 547

mousepod · 03-25-2010, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flippyshark

On the other hand, here is something rather encouraging. Did any of you see the horrible video of the man humliating a Parkinson's sufferer by throwing dollar bills at him? I did, and it was appalling and depressing.

But here's the good news. The guy who did it is honestly remorseful, and frightened at how his participation in a political rally brought out the worst side of his humanity. So, a big kudos to this guy. The follow-up story doesn't say that he changed parties or changed his mind about health care, but it does give what I consider an inspiring example of somebody having the wisdom to see their own folly and the courage to admit it and do something about it.

Yeah... and after he first denied having anything to do with it, and then the video went viral and he started fearing for his safety, he "sincerely apologized".

I hope he moves next door. What a swell guy.

Strangler Lewis · 03-25-2010, 02:22 PM

Baruch Obama is the highest elected Jewish official in the country.

Alex · 03-25-2010, 02:24 PM

Hey, depending on how you count 15% of U.S. Senators are Jewish (is that higher than a Representative or co-equal?). Not bad for 2% of the population. Only 8% of the House is Jewish (again, depending on how you count.)

Apropros of nothing and no intent behind saying it other than surprise after mousepod's comment made me look it up.

flippyshark · 03-25-2010, 02:38 PM

I'm sticking with my optimistic take on it for now. I'm cynicism'ed out. (To say nothing of cosmically bummed out.) Leaving this discussion for now, with puppy tail wags for all.

alphabassettgrrl · 03-25-2010, 08:49 PM

I don't recall the level of violence and threats to have been quite this bad during the time I've been paying attention to the news (coming of age in the 80s or so). It's not any better now that some Republicans are apparently targets for crackpots; actually that makes it worse. Tit-for-tat does nothing.

Shouting out of turn on the floor of Congress. Bricks through office windows. "I hope you die" telephone threats. Congressmen and women on the capital steps cheering on the people spitting on other members of Congress?

Not ok, and I think it has gone to a new level.

scaeagles · 03-26-2010, 07:44 AM

Some of this is getting a bit absurd....and serves to water down the seriousness of the real violence.

Now the terms "battleground" and "target" are being chastized. Battleground states and target district have been in the political lexicon...um....forever.

Sheesg. Don't turn something serious into a joke.

mousepod · 03-26-2010, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Some of this is getting a bit absurd....and serves to water down the seriousness of the real violence.

Now the terms "battleground" and "target" are being chastized. Battleground states and target district have been in the political lexicon...um....forever.

Sheesg. Don't turn something serious into a joke.

You're right. Let's keep it serious.

Road rage, accident centers on Obama bumper sticker

JWBear · 03-26-2010, 08:49 AM

Nope. Right wing anger and violence aren't on the rise. Everything is fine. Keep your heads in the sand, folks!

scaeagles · 03-26-2010, 09:18 AM

I'm feeling this need to play tit for tat and bring up riots at G20 meetings, or the man who brought molotov cocktails to the Republican National convention in 2008 to disrupt it, or the ELF resorting to arson to burn down car dealerships are cutting down radio towers in Seattle, or how at a health care town hall how union members (of the SEIU) beat up an african american man who was speaking his mind....yeah, nothing new. I could list lots more from the last decade without even trying very hard.

All tragic. All wrong. Nothing new.

mousepod · 03-26-2010, 09:35 AM

As long as you need to play "tit for tat", I should bring up the fact that the extremists at the G20, the RNC and the ELF incidents tend to identify themselves as across the board anarchists - not Democrats or Liberals. The story about the Town Hall meeting that you cite has been debunked as b.s. (at least the way you're citing it).

I think what's frightening people like me is that the threats and violence seem to be coming from people who identify themselves as Republicans and Teabaggers.

03-25-2010, 02:22 PM	#2
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Baruch Obama is the highest elected Jewish official in the country. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
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03-25-2010, 02:24 PM	#3
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Hey, depending on how you count 15% of U.S. Senators are Jewish (is that higher than a Representative or co-equal?). Not bad for 2% of the population. Only 8% of the House is Jewish (again, depending on how you count.) Apropros of nothing and no intent behind saying it other than surprise after mousepod's comment made me look it up.
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03-25-2010, 02:38 PM	#4
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	I'm sticking with my optimistic take on it for now. I'm cynicism'ed out. (To say nothing of cosmically bummed out.) Leaving this discussion for now, with puppy tail wags for all.
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03-25-2010, 08:49 PM	#5
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	I don't recall the level of violence and threats to have been quite this bad during the time I've been paying attention to the news (coming of age in the 80s or so). It's not any better now that some Republicans are apparently targets for crackpots; actually that makes it worse. Tit-for-tat does nothing. Shouting out of turn on the floor of Congress. Bricks through office windows. "I hope you die" telephone threats. Congressmen and women on the capital steps cheering on the people spitting on other members of Congress? Not ok, and I think it has gone to a new level. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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03-26-2010, 07:44 AM	#6
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	Some of this is getting a bit absurd....and serves to water down the seriousness of the real violence. Now the terms "battleground" and "target" are being chastized. Battleground states and target district have been in the political lexicon...um....forever. Sheesg. Don't turn something serious into a joke.
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03-26-2010, 08:49 AM	#8
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Nope. Right wing anger and violence aren't on the rise. Everything is fine. Keep your heads in the sand, folks! __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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03-26-2010, 09:18 AM	#9
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	I'm feeling this need to play tit for tat and bring up riots at G20 meetings, or the man who brought molotov cocktails to the Republican National convention in 2008 to disrupt it, or the ELF resorting to arson to burn down car dealerships are cutting down radio towers in Seattle, or how at a health care town hall how union members (of the SEIU) beat up an african american man who was speaking his mind....yeah, nothing new. I could list lots more from the last decade without even trying very hard. All tragic. All wrong. Nothing new.
	Submit to Quotes

03-26-2010, 09:35 AM	#10
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	As long as you need to play "tit for tat", I should bring up the fact that the extremists at the G20, the RNC and the ELF incidents tend to identify themselves as across the board anarchists - not Democrats or Liberals. The story about the Town Hall meeting that you cite has been debunked as b.s. (at least the way you're citing it). I think what's frightening people like me is that the threats and violence seem to be coming from people who identify themselves as Republicans and Teabaggers. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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