Desperate move or good for the campaign??? - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ratbastid · 09-15-2008, 01:38 PM

"This thread is for people to discuss fruits and vegetables they like or dislike. Post about a fruit or veggie, and why you have the feelings about it you do!

For me: I really hate pepperoni. Damn, those people pushing pepperoni on me just tick me off. I think it's the worst kind of sleazy desperation play, the way they try to feed me pepperoni.

What? Why's everyone all over me? I gave my opinion. Now you leave my opinion alone and post about fruits and vegetables YOU feel strongly about!"

Okay. So, to post about MY fruit or vegetable:

The new Republican slogan "Country First" just pisses me off. I'm not a Republican, so I'm obviously an un-American, wussy, probably-gay Frenchman who hates our troops. It's a throwback to the worst of the Bush years' attitudes.

loquitur · 09-15-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

I'm not a Republican, so I'm obviously an un-American, wussy, probably-gay Frenchman who hates our troops. It's a throwback to the worst of the Bush years' attitudes.

Ah, but can you field dress a moose? If you can, all is forgiven.

Charlatan · 09-15-2008, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

The new Republican slogan "Country First" just pisses me off. I'm not a Republican, so I'm obviously an un-American, wussy, probably-gay Frenchman who hates our troops. It's a throwback to the worst of the Bush years' attitudes.

First off, I agree with the rest of your post as well...

Second, I also agree with your take on "Country First". Not only does it piss me off for the reason you have listed it also smacks of knee-jerk Nationalism. The sort of attitude that places the blame for internal issues on external sources... it's a short hop from there to xenophobia.

The attitude is, Fuck the rest of the world. That's not a policy it's reactionary garbage. People don't like that there has been a lot of bad news lately. I can understand that... but to play on the basest of emotional responses to that is lazy thinking. People don't want to know that change requires personal sacrifice. They just want to ignore the negatives... they want to hear that it's all going to be just fine so they can keep on living like they have been.

What I liked about Obama back in February and March was that he spoke about the ideas of dreaming big. Of making the changes necessary to make America great. I find that he isn't communicating this now, as strongly as he was then.

Tully Mars · 09-15-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loquitur

Ah, but can you field dress a moose? If you can, all is forgiven.

I can. Field dress, quarter and pack out. And I agree with RB. I think this "Country first" slogan is horse shit.

Jinn · 09-15-2008, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

People don't want to know that change requires personal sacrifice. They just want to ignore the negatives... they want to hear that it's all going to be just fine so they can keep on living like they have been.

I couldn't agree more;

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obama, DNC Speech

And Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America's promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our "intellectual and moral strength." Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents; that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework; that fathers must take more responsibility for providing the love and guidance their children need.

As for your other point, the he was talking of dreaming big:

Quote:

America, now is not the time for small plans.

Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance. I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American - if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for a sick child or ailing parent.

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses; and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime - by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less - because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy.

I thought his DNC speech was brilliant.

Necrosis · 09-15-2008, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

The new Republican slogan "Country First" just pisses me off. I'm not a Republican, so I'm obviously an un-American, wussy, probably-gay Frenchman who hates our troops. It's a throwback to the worst of the Bush years' attitudes.

Serious question: When was the last time you posted something you LIKE about this country?

ratbastid · 09-15-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrosis

Serious question: When was the last time you posted something you LIKE about this country?

It's been a while, to be honest. The country I live in isn't the America I love. Something really important and sacred about America got lost, over the last few years. The country I live in is terrorized by its leadership, cowed into relinquishing the rights that our forebears spilled blood to secure for us. And we don't even care--we're in such a television-daze we don't even notice. Thomas Payne would have noticed, but not us. We're interested in when the new season of our favorite shows will start, not about the illegal surveillance of our communications. Mostly we don't even notice, and if we did notice I doubt we'd care.

Nobody rose up when George Bush led this country to hell. Oh, some people marched, but vastly more stayed on their couches. They were reassured that we were hitting back at the people who hit us, and that they were scary dudes, and that was good enough for us. We knew better, or some of us did. But nobody rose up, looked our leaders in the eye, and said, "No." George Washington would have done that. He DID do that. I didn't do that, and neither did anybody else. Closest we have today is Cindy Sheehan, who's mostly just a joke.

The America I love is expressed and sourced in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Those precious, sacred documents are defiled by the PATRIOT act and Guantanamo and the torture of terror suspects and TSA airport security-theater. And nobody seems to give a damn beyond the opportunity for political posturing.

So, yeah, you know what? It's been a while since I've felt proud enough of my country to write something I like about it. Are you going to tell me I'm un-American for that? Are you really going to say that? Are you going to say I don't put "Country First", precisely because I exercise my uniquely American right to dissent? Because I'm MAD about all this. And I'm ready to fight for what my country is REALLY about.

Charlatan · 09-15-2008, 06:41 PM

Jinn... I thought his speech at the DNC was great as well. I just think he needs to build on it. The news spins are all about what Palin is or isn't. All the talking heads that support Obama need to shift what they are talking about (regardless of the fact that the people saying, "Jesus was a community organizer" are not part of the official campaign, they are not doing Obama any favours).

I also feel that Obama didn't come up with a catchy way to summarize his position. I would prefer that he didn't have to do this but let's face it, the vast majority of people like things summarized. They want something like, "it's the economy stupid" or "Read my lips, no new taxes".

dc_dux · 09-16-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrosis

Some smart staffer is going to take Obama's dumb commercial about John McCain not doing e-mail, and turn it around. As most know, McCain's war injuries prevent him from typing.

A smart McCain staffer is now claiming that McCain helped create the Blackberry. Speaking to reporters today, McCain campaign adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin claimed that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is responsible for the “miracle” of PDAs.:

“He did this,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin told reporters this morning, holding up his BlackBerry. “Telecommunications of the United States is a premier innovation in the past 15 years, comes right through the Commerce committee so you’re looking at the miracle John McCain helped create and that’s what he did.”

McCain himself is taking credit for WiFi in a "science debate" inteview :

Under my guiding hand, Congress developed a wireless spectrum policy that spurred the rapid rise of mobile phones and Wi-Fi technology that enables Americans to surf the web while sitting at a coffee shop, airport lounge, or public park.

Move over Al Gore...meet the new great American techo-leader!

09-15-2008, 06:41 PM	#48 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Jinn... I thought his speech at the DNC was great as well. I just think he needs to build on it. The news spins are all about what Palin is or isn't. All the talking heads that support Obama need to shift what they are talking about (regardless of the fact that the people saying, "Jesus was a community organizer" are not part of the official campaign, they are not doing Obama any favours). I also feel that Obama didn't come up with a catchy way to summarize his position. I would prefer that he didn't have to do this but let's face it, the vast majority of people like things summarized. They want something like, "it's the economy stupid" or "Read my lips, no new taxes". __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

09-15-2008, 01:38 PM	#41 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	"This thread is for people to discuss fruits and vegetables they like or dislike. Post about a fruit or veggie, and why you have the feelings about it you do! For me: I really hate pepperoni. Damn, those people pushing pepperoni on me just tick me off. I think it's the worst kind of sleazy desperation play, the way they try to feed me pepperoni. What? Why's everyone all over me? I gave my opinion. Now you leave my opinion alone and post about fruits and vegetables YOU feel strongly about!" Okay. So, to post about MY fruit or vegetable: The new Republican slogan "Country First" just pisses me off. I'm not a Republican, so I'm obviously an un-American, wussy, probably-gay Frenchman who hates our troops. It's a throwback to the worst of the Bush years' attitudes.