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Radical Centrist
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Udderly ridiculous
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Elite Pathogen
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Grognard fantôme
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| | I think there should be a: "National Politics Reformation Initiative" something along the lines of an NIH public health initiative. A Blue Ribbon panel of experts on society and politics should be selected through the academic peer review process. These experts will set up a review system comprising committees of experts (elected by experts) to review all aspects of politics, and make recommendations on the ideal system for choosing politicians. Then, instead of the best talking head, we might get the best strategist or the best mediator, or the best integrator. For the last 10,000 years we have been ruled by Priests, Shaman, and Demogogues, and little has changed despite the veneer of democracy. The charlatans have simply had to scramble to adapt to a slighty different context of smoke and mirrors parlor games in order to lull the masses into following their lead . . . Make it depend on standardized tests. Make being a politician a living hell. Make being a politicians miserable. THEN we'll get the people who really should be in charge in charge: the 30 to 50-something lower-middle-class Mom's with kids at home who are currently restricted to jobs as admins and secretaries . . . Restrict it so that anyone with more than $100,000 in assets CANNOT run for public office! Force politicians to pay for their mistakes! Lots of neato ideals that the Democratic reformers could propose if they were not just poser-reformers . . . Lousy stinkin' lyin' idiotic charlatan buffons . . . |
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"'The front' is wherever you stop running away. Get used to it. This is what modern warfare looks like." K T Cat |  |  |
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Elite Pathogen
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| | Unfortunately most of the "cures" in politics are worse than the disease. For the last 10,000 years we have been ruled by Priests, Shaman, and Demogogues, and little has changed despite the veneer of democracy. The charlatans have simply had to scramble to adapt to a slighty different context of smoke and mirrors parlor games in order to lull the masses into following their lead . . . This comes across as very cinical to me. More than it deserves to be frankly. If democracy is just as bad as all those other systems, or at least as you imply, not much better, why do you so ardently support it's spread? Why the hell should we be spreading democracy to the world if it's not much better than the others? Perhaps you're frustrated with "your guy's" pick of a VP because she's not who you'd like to be his choice. A few quotes come to mind: Winston Churchill
...democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.John Lydgate
You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.Sure, you'd like him to pick... well, who knows what but could McCain even win without her or an equivalent? I'm afraid that if you want freedom and people to have a say in choosing their leaders this is probably close to the best we got. Improvements can always be made and I'm not advocating doing nothing but the kinds of measures (if you're serious) you're advocating have loads of possible unintended consequences that I can see just on the surface. You cannot expect to completely change the world to your liking, you can only hope to make it a little better. I feel (and it is my opinion) that if anybody can change the status quo in Washington, it's John McCain. I think the earmark issue is probably one of the biggest problems in politics today and even if he can change that, "Mission Accomplished."  |
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-A government that is powerful enough to do anything for us is powerful enough to do anything to us. -Fred Thompson
-There are two races of people, the decent and the indecent. - Victor Frankel
-They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security. - Benjamin Franklin
Consequences
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Grognard fantôme
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| | Yeah, you are more or less right Jerm *grumble, grumble* I guess you religious whackos just aren't going to fade away and give up your influence over us seculars eh . . .  And if you take issue with my use of the word "whacko," keep in mind I'm teasing you, but also keep in mind: how sane is it to believe deeply in something that you cannot prove to me? If religion is not just a little bit insane then I would like to know what is!? You are correct that McCain's choice of Palin is what is irritating me most at this point. It irritates me that you right-wing religious folks have that much sway in our nation that a middle-of-road secular guy has to put a religious whacko on his ticket in order to have hope of winning. While I don't agree with Roadkills past rantings on the Evils of religion, I also do not agree with the continued influence of Christians in our government and politics. There is SUPPOSEd to be a separation of Church and State in the U.S.. Even MENTIONING a religious idea or principle on the job should be grounds for dismissal in my estimation. Eight years of Bush pandering to the Holy Rollers was bad enough; now I'm honestly beginning to consider voting for Fast Eddy Obama simply as a way to unseat the growing dominance of right-wing Christian influence in the U.S. which would result from a Creationist being the VP. ADDIT: My reservations about voting for McCain now that he has chosen Palin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin Shortly after taking office in October 1996, Palin began to make staffing changes. She eliminated the position of museum director and asked for updated resumes and resignation letters from Wasilla police chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak, and librarian Mary Ellen Emmons.[25] Palin stated this request was to find out who supported her.[25] She temporarily required department heads to get her approval before talking to reporters, stating they first needed to become better acquainted with her policies.[25] She hired a new city administrator and reduced her own salary from $68,000 to $64,000.[24] According to Emmons, she and Palin twice discussed the question of library censorship: first in early October, then in detail on October 28.[26] Emmons stated Palin asked her if she would object to censorship, and Emmons replied "it would not be just me ... the American Civil Liberties Union would get involved, too."[26] Palin raised the possibility of people circling the library in protest, to which Emmons replied "it would definitely be a problem the ACLU would take on then."[26] In early December, Palin spoke publicly about the issue, using it as an example of a discussion she'd had with her department heads,[26] and stated, "many issues were discussed, both rhetorical and realistic in nature."[26] She added that censorship "was discussed in the context of a professional question being asked in regards to library policy" and that she did not have a specific list of books in mind.[26] No books were removed from the library.[27] Palin gave signed letters to Emmons and Stambaugh on January 30, 1997, that stated: "I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment..."[28] Palin rescinded the firing of Emmons the next day after meeting with her and after what the Anchorage Daily News called "a wave of public support for Emmons."[27] Palin stated that her concerns had been alleviated when Emmons agreed to support Palin's plan to merge the town's library and museum operations.[28] Censorship eh? Hmmm, I wonder what possibly they might be censoring, and why the MUSEUM was singled out for shrinkage? Could it be museum coverage of evolution, and books on evolution that Governor Palin was opposed to? Yeah, yeah, I'm cool with her being athletic, all gung-ho on ethics, and various other things, but Creationists need to keep their damn hands off of museums, schools, and libraries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Bridge(s) to Nowhere"- See also: Gravina Island Bridge and Knik Arm Bridge (Don Young's Way)
Two proposed Alaska bridges supported by Palin in her Governor race have been derided as a symbol of pork barrel spending: 1) a bridge crossing from Ketchikan to Gravina Island (population 50)[78]; and 2) a bridge crossing Knik Arm to provide an alternate route from Anchorage to her hometown of Wasilla, named "Don Young's Way" after Alaska's Congressman.[79] (The nickname "Bridge(s) to Nowhere" has been used for either the first[80] or, more rarely, both[81] bridges.) In 2005, Congress earmarked $442 million to build the two bridges but later reversed itself under strong criticism and gave the transportation money to Alaska with no strings attached.[82] In 2006, Palin ran for Governor on a "build-the-bridge" platform,[83] attacking "spinmeisters"[84] for insulting local residents by calling them "nowhere"[83] and urging speed "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."[85] In September 2007, one month after the bridge received sharp criticism from John McCain[86], Palin (now Governor) canceled the Gravina Bridge and blamed Congress for her decision.[87] So she styles herself as this crusader for "clean government" and then gets punched for her very own pork barrel by the very guy who subsequently hires her to be his running mate . . . yeah, this is SO MUCH better than Obama's charlatanism . . . And another ethics issue . . . Public Safety Commissioner dismissal
On July 11, 2008, Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, citing performance-related issues, such as not being a team player on budgeting issues.[98][99] Monegan alleged that his dismissal was retaliation for his failure to fire Palin’s former brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten, who was involved in a child custody battle with Palin’s sister. Governor Palin stated on July 17 that no pressure had been applied upon Monegan to fire Wooten.[100][98] On August 1, the Alaska Legislature hired an independent investigator to review the situation.[101] The investigation is scheduled to be completed in October 2008.[100] Palin is a social conservative, and has called herself "as pro-life as any candidate can be". [62] She would permit abortion only in cases where the mother's life is in danger, [128] and has supported bills to outlaw late-term abortions and to require parental consent for abortions in Alaska. [129] Palin is supportive of contraception[62] but she is against "explicit sex-ed programs" in schools and backs abstinence-only education. [130][131]Anti-abortion: not keen on such radical views about it myself. While I cannot say I condone elective abortions, I also do not think that being vehemently ANTI is the right approach to solving the underlying social problems. I also do not think that accepting Jesus Christ as my savior is the solution as I'm sure Mrs. Palin does . . . Homophobia is a definite issue with me. I cannot say I condone homosexuality, but I also think that to be ANTI-homosexual is effectively ethnocentric, and hateful. Live and let live, don't impose your moral judgements on other lives if their behavior is not imposing on your life. Palin supports teaching creationism in public schools, though she does not believe it should be mandatory. [134]Okay, this is the official deal breaker. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN with a Creationist Vice President who explicitly supports teaching Creationism in public schools. Creationism has NO PLACE in public education. Keep it in your #$%^ing churches where it belongs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm done with McCain, and I'm done with Obama. I protest the nature of politics in our stupid country . . . As governor of Alaska, Palin pushed to reduce state government spending, including cutting $1.6 billion from the Alaskan construction budget. [74] She has not opposed the increased federal funding of construction programs for her state. [136]Prefers for the Federal government to fund Alaska's development eh? Seems hypocritical for someone who is a "reduce govt spending" adherent. Supporting careful exploitation of the resources in ANWR is one thing. Opposing the listing of endangered species is another thing entirely which I simply cannot palate. Governor Palin is not a population biologist. What possible basis could she have to "oppose" listing a species as endangered? Again, issues of ethics, pork-barrel, and hypocrisy come to mind . . . Nope. No way in Hell I voting for her or John McCain. Being "skeptical" that global warming is human-caused is certainly a reasonable stance to take in respons to the hysteria of Fundamentalist Environmentalism's preachings about "STOP! GlOBAL WARMING NOW!" But to say that you "do not believe" and to have a constituency that will benefit directly from future economic developments that will only prolong fossil fuel addiction smacks of hypocrisy, lack of conscience, and a warped notion of human superiority. I'm done. Scipio will NOT be voting for anyone this time round. |
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"'The front' is wherever you stop running away. Get used to it. This is what modern warfare looks like." K T Cat
Edited: 9/11/2008 6:50 AM by Scipio Africanus | | | |
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Culture-Monger
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