2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

There is one other possibility, which is that I really am RINO scum.

What can I say - American politics makes me cranky. Probably time to go back to the international politics threads...

You want somebody to look up to? Think about Barry Goldwater. 60 missions over "the hump" in Burma.

Lieutenant General in the Air Force reserve (qualified to fly every plane then in the inventory). Desegregated Goldwater's Department Store, desegregated the AZ national guard. Criticized LBJ for taking advantage of the "Lyndon rule" (as did Lloyd Bentsen) which allowed him to run for VP and the senate at the same time. He put his senate seat on the line in '64, knowing he was surely going to lose and be out of the senate, too.

Paid for tens of thousands of dollars in 'phone calls so GI's in 'Nam could connect with their families through the MARS system at no cost to them.

Wrote the reorganization of the Joint Chief of Staff as his final legislative accomplishment. It passed 100-0.

In a memorable post-Watergate appearance on "Meet the Press" had very strong words for whoever asked the question about the "appearance of impropriety" for him accepting the occasional plane ride back to Arizona on a corporate jet. "My vote in the Senate is not for sale for a GD plane ride!"

And in another memorable quote, was asked his opinion of the Falwell suggestion that "all good Christians should pray for Barry Goldwater's soul." Barry's response? "All good Christians should kick Jerry Falwell in the a*s."

Seems to me we used to produce leaders like that all the time. Hubert Humphrey, Scoop Jackson, Ev Dirksen. Now we get John Edwards.

[joecct]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

You want somebody to look up to? Think about Barry Goldwater. 60 missions over "the hump" in Burma.

Lieutenant General in the Air Force reserve (qualified to fly every plane then in the inventory). Desegregated Goldwater's Department Store, desegregated the AZ national guard. Criticized LBJ for taking advantage of the "Lyndon rule" (as did Lloyd Bentsen) which allowed him to run for VP and the senate at the same time. He put his senate seat on the line in '64, knowing he was surely going to lose and be out of the senate, too.

Paid for tens of thousands of dollars in 'phone calls so GI's in 'Nam could connect with their families through the MARS system at no cost to them.

Wrote the reorganization of the Joint Chief of Staff as his final legislative accomplishment. It passed 100-0.

In a memorable post-Watergate appearance on "Meet the Press" had very strong words for whoever asked the question about the "appearance of impropriety" for him accepting the occasional plane ride back to Arizona on a corporate jet. "My vote in the Senate is not for sale for a GD plane ride!"

And in another memorable quote, was asked his opinion of the Falwell suggestion that "all good Christians should pray for Barry Goldwater's soul." Barry's response? "All good Christians should kick Jerry Falwell in the a*s."

Seems to me we used to produce leaders like that all the time. Hubert Humphrey, Scoop Jackson, Ev Dirksen. Now we get John Edwards.

Spot on. And given the current way the state legislatures are chosen and the way they are run, fuggettabout it.

Tonight's Trivia question -- without looking it up, who's older? Clinton or Bush43?

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

I'm a firm believer in the "Buckley Rule," nominate the most convservative candidate who can win. Thus, if Scott Brown is the best we can do in MA, then nominate Scott Brown.

Then you should be nominating Obama.

[Handyman]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

Biden Openly Supports Gay Marriage

GREGORY: You’re comfortable with same-sex marriage now?

BIDEN: Look, I am Vice President of the United States of America. The president sets the policy. I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women and heterosexual men marrying women are entitled to the same exact rights. All the civil rights, all the civil liberties. And quite frankly I don’t see much of a distinction beyond that. [...] I think Will & Grace probably did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has done so far. People fear that is different and now they’re beginning to understand.

I am not a big Biden guy...but as a supporter of Same Sex Marriage I applaud him

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

Biden Openly Supports Gay Marriage

I wonder if this counts as a "gaffe," or is being deliberately floated as the precursor to Obama eventually concurring. The obvious follow-up question is whether the president's "position is still evolving."

It gives Romney a perfect podium moment where he can thunder "segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" and endear himself to theocons.

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

I wonder if this counts as a "gaffe," or is being deliberately floated as the precursor to Obama eventually concurring. The obvious follow-up question is whether the president's "position is still evolving."

It gives Romney a perfect podium moment where he can thunder "segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" and endear himself to theocons.

Obama supports gay marriage. Everyone knows it. Anyone who believes he hasn't made up his mind thinks the Geico lizard can actually talk. This be a trial balloon. Or artillerymen talking about "preparing the battlefield."

Speaking of which, one of the wierdest moments in any movie came in "The Third Man" where the gendarmes are waiting to arrest Harry Lime and the creepy old balloon man keeps saying: "Bah loon?" "Bah loon?" And it's friggin' midnight. Not what you'd call prime time for selling balloons. Most of the kiddies are in bed. "Bah loon?"

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

Then you should be nominating Obama.

His Postpartisanpostracialness? Je le doute.

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

Speaking of which, one of the wierdest moments in any movie came in "The Third Man" where the gendarmes are waiting to arrest Harry Lime and the creepy old balloon man keeps saying: "Bah loon?" "Bah loon?" And it's friggin' midnight. Not what you'd call prime time for selling balloons. Most of the kiddies are in bed. "Bah loon?"

Why were you in my house this morning? I was watching The Third Man. That kid with the ball... now that is creepy, and I always misremember him as being in "M."

[Handyman]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

I wonder if this counts as a "gaffe," or is being deliberately floated as the precursor to Obama eventually concurring. The obvious follow-up question is whether the president's "position is still evolving."

It gives Romney a perfect podium moment where he can thunder "segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" and endear himself to theocons.

If it was a gaffe he would have put out a statement to "clarify" and take it back. He hasnt.

If Obama finally took a stand on this issue people might actually support him. His lack of gumption on any major issue is why he isnt wiping the floor with the GOP as we speak. He looks like the stereotypical wishy washy Dem afraid of ticking off either side of an issue.

[Old Pio]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

Why were you in my house this morning? I was watching The Third Man. That kid with the ball... now that is creepy, and I always misremember him as being in "M."

Yeah, every time I see it I want Joe Cotton to punt that kid to Oberamergau. But it's worth it just to hear Anton Karas' music. Another of the very very best movie themes. IIRC, three versions of the theme became hits. The original and two covers. At the Sapporo Olympics, the Austrians set up an A frame ski chalet where weary media types could imbibe and nibble. And Mr. Swoboda was there, providing the zither music.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

I don't know where else to put this, but since it's an election in 2012...

In their infinite wisdom, the French have watched Greece, Italy, and Spain fail miserably and decide, "Hey, we want in on this" by electing a Socialist president. A man who wants to rip up the agreement that is essentially the thread holding the Euro together. Run towards instability, France. Keep on running. Almost as stupid of a choice as electing Le Pen.

[5mn_Major]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

I don't know where else to put this, but since it's an election in 2012...

In their infinite wisdom, the French have watched Greece, Italy, and Spain fail miserably and decide, "Hey, we want in on this" by electing a Socialist president. A man who wants to rip up the agreement that is essentially the thread holding the Euro together. Run towards instability, France. Keep on running. Almost as stupid of a choice as electing Le Pen.

France is not the problem. Russia is the problem.

If the US ends up with a hawk policy, the great work done by past presidents to get past the cold war could well be wasted.

[Kepler]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

France is not the problem. Russia is the problem.

If the US ends up with a hawk policy, the great work done by past presidents to get past the cold war could well be wasted.

History happens. One thing about being the sole superpower is that all the stresses and strains (and crimes) of trying to freeze time fall only on one country. At least the Concert of Europe had five major players.

The way to deal with Russia's geopolitical resurgence in their near abroad is ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT THE BALTICS ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE USE THEM TOGETHER USE THEM IN PEACE. Russia is going to top out as a B-list regional power like Brazil, India or Pakistan. Those countries are only a threat if they become rogue states, so the key is to embed them in the system, give therm a piece of the action, and not marginalize them.

[joecct]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

More Nanny Statism????:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/31020919/detail.html

[Priceless]

Re: 2012 Elections - Fear is the mind killer. Fear is the little death....

More Nanny Statism????:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/31020919/detail.html

Yes and no. It's easier for politicians to go after things like this rather than tell parents (read: voters) that they need to do a better job raising their kids. That's why we have warning labels on violent video games, music with explicit lyrics and a movie that dares show a naked breast gets rated R (but you can blow thousands of people to bits and get a PG-13). I wrote about this back in 1996 when Congress passed and the president signed the Censorship Communications Decency Act. Parents demand a solution to any problem ailing little Susie or Bobby and the politicians come up with a boogeyman rather than handing the parents a mirror. Of course, if a politician did tell them to stop coddling their kids and make them do some exercise instead of sitting on the couch like a lump, they would be tossed out in the next election.