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Politics Romney - Is he ready?

Discussion in 'Tilted Philosophy, Politics, and Economics' started by rogue49, May 15, 2012.

  1. rogue49

    rogue49 Tech Kung Fu Artist Staff Member

    Location:
    Baltimore/DC
    Actually I think there are quite a few Left & Progressive people out there...I know them, I like them...and in many ways I relate to them.

    However, they're occupied with their lives.
    Trying to make ends meet...dealing with the daily bullshit.
    And they're not constant raving maniacs to who are always flipping out a line of ideology. They're not as aggressive in pushing their thoughts.

    The current trend of conservative has many who are seeking to make things into their image, without compromise.
    And they are self-righteous in their tone and way about it.

    Me, I'm center of the road...a little bit of this, a little bit of that.
    And like the later...I tap away here...but I don't have time to push agendas through...and I'm not presumptuous to think I'm right all the time.
    Although I hate being wrong. ;)

    However, I think there is some passive resurgence of effort on their part.
    They're speaking up a bit more. But still not the same aggressive natures.
    It's like anti-60's, 70's movement out there...

    We'll see who gets out the vote...that's what will make the difference.
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2012
  2. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    The issue as I see it is that the left and the progressives are marginalized to the point of abjection. While these people may be able to discuss their political ideas in private circles (e.g., bbqs, clubs, and pubs), it doesn't seem permissible to discuss them in the public sphere. For example, what sort of public discourse and debates go on regarding the application of social democratic policies in America?

    Well, let me put it this way: Liberalism, being further along to the right, is shouted down by the dominant right voices, who label it (absurdly erroneously) as socialism and/or Marxism. Where does that leave social democracy? A pipe dream. Who listens to Bernie Sanders? (Congress has a socialist; how cute.) And people say (the far more radical) Ron Paul is marginalized? F that S.

    This is a huge problem. The current phase of Republican conservatism (righter than usual) is assumed to be "the Way" for American prosperity, even though it's untried despite their claim it's a return to a bygone era. They look at Obama and call him a radical socialist who is taking America down the path to socialism (or, worse, communism). Yet, Obama is pretty much the status quo (when you take both American liberalism and conservatism into account). Yet, you get this current phase of Republican conservatism taking their (radical) ideology as a matter of course in terms of "traditional American values" and what is best for the republic.

    This is why they won't compromise. They're delusional.

    Though I tend to lean mostly towards social democracy on a number of issues, I do take a centrist/liberal stance on specific issues. I think this is a healthy thing to do, and it's sure better than extreme and unshakable (and uncompromising) positions.

    I'm not anywhere as close as you are to "the street" or the "grassroots," so I don't see or hear the same things you do; however, from where I'm sitting, I don't see much of anything. The Occupy movement seems to have lost its high profile unsurprisingly (though recent actions may change that). There really needs to be a sustained support for public discourse of left/progressive ideas in the face of those who oppose them and reject them as scandalous. This needs to go beyond the grassroots and into legitimized mainstream platforms.

    I'm not holding a hope either way. If history is any indication, we could be seeing President Romney just as likely as President Obama next term.
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2012
  3. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    Romney seems ready in his support for the anti-gay, anti-woman agenda.

    The message seems pretty simple enough: He wants to protect "life" and "marriage."

    What's interesting though is that he pretty much states that he supports the idea of preventing gays from avoiding poverty based on a (problematic) study suggesting school and marriage should come before kids. Either that, or he's suggesting that gays should probably stop being gay and get "legitimately" married if they want to avoid poverty.

    Because, you know, gays shouldn't even have kids, right?

    Or something.

    "Traditional American values...." blah, blah, blah....

    What a dinosaur.


    View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QHJyjpLoNA
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2012
  4. roachboy

    roachboy Very Tilted

  5. Aceventura

    Aceventura Slightly Tilted

    Location:
    North Carolina
    As is becoming the norm, I am confused here. I fully support recognition of all legal rights for all couples in a committed long-term relationship but I recognize that there are people who have religious views that specify that marriage is between a man and a woman and that they may have a conflict to deal with on this question. Four months ago President Obama was one of these same people. The difference is President Obama was not called "anti-gay", why? This conflict is real and many with the conflict have no anti-gay sentiment and just as I did not call President Obama anti-gay, I would not call Romney anti-gay. My views on this subject evolved and I came to an understanding of the same-sex marriage point of view a couple of years ago, thanks to a person I know well who is now in a same sex marriage. We talked about the issues in a adult manner. Why do we name call and mock real people dealing with this real conflict?

    I apply the same logic to the "life" of the unborn. There is a real moral conflict that does not directly infer an anti-woman agenda. It is a complicated issue. It is a complicated question - when does human life begin? To those who have an answer, please share! Until then I think most people are against late term pregnancy abortions when it is clear the baby can live outside of the womb.
     
  6. dippin Getting Tilted

    Oh, yes. Because in the debate where a side tries to deny rights to an entire chunk of the population, calling someone "anti gay" is what really crosses a line.
     
  7. Aceventura

    Aceventura Slightly Tilted

    Location:
    North Carolina
    Was the tone of my post consistent with the tone of the above?

    In some cases a person could be indifferent or perhaps ignorant on a question - neither of which would infer an "anti" position. Many people who I talk to about marriage being between a man and a woman typically see that type of union as a special union in the eyes of God - a union designed to propagate the human race in a manner where children are protected. Their views often do not reflect any ounce of "anti" or hate. Do you hold the view that this conflict is simply a manufactured one to harm others? Serious question and I would appreciate an answer without sarcasm if possible.
     
  8. roachboy

    roachboy Very Tilted

    it is really simple, ace.
    if you oppose gay marriage, don't do one.
    if you oppose abortion, don't have one.
     
  9. Aceventura

    Aceventura Slightly Tilted

    Location:
    North Carolina
    Bullshit! I oppose murder. True, I will not murder anyone. But it is also true that I will not be a part of a society that will tolerate murder. I believe children, seniors and the disabled should be a protected classes in our society, that does not make me anti-everyone else! Try again.
     
  10. roachboy

    roachboy Very Tilted

    there's no consensus on the far right understanding of abortion. there never will be. so the right doesn't get to control how abortion is understood. you can say whatever you want. you can say the sky is purple. you can say the earth is flat. it's no different.
    personally, i couldn't care less what a religious conservative thinks abortion is.
    the moral issue is solved by religious conservatives not having abortions.
    see, unlike you, i accept that there are difference of ethical viewpoint on this question. and people are free to act as their ethics compel them to in a context where abortion is legal.

    as for gay marriage, i am not someone you can debate with. i think all the grounds for discriminating against people based on who they choose to love are a joke.
     
  11. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    It's not "anti" or "hate" until they actively prevent others from engaging in what is arguably a right. People like Romney want it to be illegal for a priest (for example) to willingly marry two willing men or two willing women. You can believe all you want about marriage and propagating the species, but when you want to deny, by law, two men or two women from marrying and propagating the species, you're most likely anti-gay.

    If I wanted the state to abolish marriage—making it illegal for everyone—because I think it's a sham and a tool of control, would that make me anti-Christian or anti-religious? I would say yes.

    But I don't want to abolish marriage. I believe in liberty. I simply won't engage in one.

    It's really sad there are people who want the state to prevent people from getting married based on their sexual orientation.

    There's a word for that. I happened to go with anti-gay.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2012
  12. dippin Getting Tilted

    Yes, if a person holds the view that there needs to be a federal amendment banning gay marriage, or that states should ban gay marriage, it is fair to characterize them as anti-gay. And no, calling someone "anti gay" is not on the same level of "hate" as actually campaigning to deny gay people rights. Regardless of the reason.
     
  13. redux

    redux Very Tilted

    Location:
    Foggy Bottom
    Any constitutional amendment to restrict rights is "anti" and this is the position of the Republican party on women's reproductive rights and gay marriage rights.

    To make it worse, amendments such as these are not based on sound public policy, but an imposition of religious beliefs.
     
    • Like Like x 3
  14. Baraka_Guru

    Baraka_Guru Möderätor Staff Member

    Location:
    Toronto
    That's not the issue. The issue that Romney is talking about is preventing gays from marrying. He just wraps it up on weasel words because being forthright about it would be alarming, and for good reason: He's infringing on civil liberties here.

    Religious people can believe all they want about marriage. The line should be drawn at getting in the way of the liberty of others, including those among the clergy who support gay marriage. What about their beliefs? Let the state dictate what they can practice as a part of their religion? Does that sound like a good idea to you?

    He wasn't? Citation please.

    It's not name-calling or mockery; it's calling a spade a spade. Anyone who wants the state to bar gays from marrying is anti-gay. Are you suggesting that it's gay neutral? Pro-gay? What? What is it?

    "You can't get married because you're two men."

    "But we're gay, and this priest is okay with it."

    "Too bad. If you want to get married, don't be gay. Marry women like you're supposed to."

    What do you call that?

    Around 11% of abortions are conducted past the first trimester. Less than 1.4% are performed after viability (after 24 to 28 weeks). (Possibly substantially less. Data isn'tavailable by week.)

    Evidence suggests the fetus is incapable of feeling pain until the 24th week. A majority of abortions are performed before the 20th week.

    The average abortion occurs at 9.5 weeks.

    Those opposed to abortions tend not to look too closely at the science and would rather go the "miracle of life" route.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2012
    • Like Like x 1
  15. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Very Tilted

    Location:
    Yucatan, Mexico
    In other news Romney stepped on his own dick again-


    And the right can't figure out why the millions and millions they're paying for ads isn't paying off. The guy is losing because he sucks as a candidate. The right, or many on the right, knew this during the primaries but nominated him anyway. In many early states I never saw the guy get above 25 maybe 30% of the vote. No one on the right thought this might be a problem?

    Is he ready? Yeah I don't think he's ever going to be "ready."
     
  16. Bodkin van Horn

    Bodkin van Horn One of the Four Horsewomyn of the Fempocalypse

    That's funny that Romney, whose who campaign is based solely on different ways of framing himself as the victim, is decrying people who actually might be considered victims.
     
  17. Aceventura

    Aceventura Slightly Tilted

    Location:
    North Carolina
    If that is his actual position, I agree the position is "anti" or hate based. I think the debate should be in regard to how the law recognizes committed relationships. Regardless of who is involved under the law it should be a civil union - with equal application to all relationships. I don't even care if a brother and sister enter into a civil union, three or more people, etc. (more or less a contract) to address specific relationship rights they want to make with each other. I am libertarian in this regard. What people do in a church with their spiritual leader should be between the people and their God however they define it.
    --- merged: Sep 17, 2012 at 8:48 PM ---
    Is the age restriction to run for President "anti" young?
    --- merged: Sep 17, 2012 at 8:52 PM ---
    He certainly was not my choice for the party nominee, actually he was at the bottom of my list. He reminds me of President Obama in many ways. Odds are I will vote third party in the general election. I just hope NC doesn't come down to one vote and it swings to President Obama, I would really feel bad about that. Romney is still the lesser of two evils. To those who think I am a Republican ideologue, I honestly would have happily voted for Hillery Clinton over Romney. I disagree with Clinton on many things, but I do respect her.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2012
  18. roachboy

    roachboy Very Tilted

    SECRET VIDEO: Romney Tells Millionaire Donors What He REALLY Thinks of Obama Voters | Mother Jones

    the video of romney's fundraiser remarks.

    you know, hearing this kind of bullshit from a bunch of yahoos in a bar is one thing. but coming from somone who at one point was considered a serious candidate for president of the united states is really not awesome. if this is the best the republicans should do, then they should follow their own market logic and put themselves out of business.
     
  19. samcol

    samcol Getting Tilted

    Location:
    indiana
    people here on this forum talk like the election is a forgone conclusion for another obama administration. does everyone really believe that? i mean the polls aren't that far off for what they are worth.

    also, romney was talking to his supporters. i liken it to obama talking about right wingers clinging to 'guns and religion'. i mean both comments sound bad to a swing voter perhaps, but does it really matter? i mean he didnt lose any votes on this forum because there were no votes here for him that weren't already locked in.
     
  20. Aceventura

    Aceventura Slightly Tilted

    Location:
    North Carolina
    Better/Worse/Same as President Obama condescendingly talking about those mean spirited folk who bitterly cling to their guns and religion? Pretty divisive wasn't it? Perhaps it is just a matter of view point.
    --- merged: Sep 17, 2012 at 9:09 PM ---
    It is going to be a simple matter of voter turnout. If high, President Obama wins. If low, Romney wins.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2012