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 <del>Censorship</del> 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.

 

[Old Pio]

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

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 <del>Censorship</del> 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.

School districts ostentatiously removing soda from drink machines and replacing it with juice. Although there's marginal nutritional improvement with the juice. The stuff has as many calories as soda. Big deal.

A recent study compared student obesity rates as between school districts that rigidly enforce "heathy" eating requirements and those that don't. The findings? The obesity rates were essentially the same. Conclusion? The kids are getting the "unhealthy" food they crave somewhere else.

Besides, one of the great kicks for kids is to be able to eat something, anything, IN CLASS. No kid is going to become obese or diabetic by having the occasional cupcake.

Also, how about warning labels on products? I realize this is a function primarily of fear of litigation. But, seriously. I'm sure we could have a very successful thread, quoting examples of incredibly stupid or obvious "warnings." "Do not stick your johnson in the fan while it is running," (this is a variation on an actual warning label on a ceiling fan, which cautioned against sticking your fingers in the thing while it's running).

You are surely right. Collectively we need to accept more responsibility for our actions or lack of same. Couple that with the enormous growth of "I've gotta right." As in, "I've gotta right to inflict my unwashed, smelly body and loud crazy talking on patrons of the public library (an actual case)," "I gotta right to decorate my house with enough Christmas lights to require the use of protective eyewear, no matter how it impacts my neighbors."

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

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

"I gotta right to decorate my house with enough Christmas lights to require the use of protective eyewear, no matter how it impacts my neighbors."

Not to mention, "I've got a right to leave those lights up for months, because I'm too lazy to go out in the snow and take them down."

 

[Old Pio]

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

Not to mention, "I've got a right to leave those lights up for months, because I'm too lazy to go out in the snow and take them down."

For many years in Phoenix there was a guy who put as much sh*t on his house as you can imagine. And during the season, cars were bumper to bumper through his neighborhood all night long wanting to see the display (my relatives and I drove past every year).He had private security and even valet parking! Now think what it must have been like for his neighbors, effectively held prisoner in their homes for several hours every night. The noise, the lights, the fumes, the trash, etc. He has since gone on to that great Christmas display in the sky. But he "had a right" to do this. And to h*ll with his neighbors.

Of course, some folks NEVER take down their decs. There's another guy in Phoenix who has a giant, lighted Harley logo on his roof (don't ask, I don't know). He turns it on during the holiday season. And off the rest of the time. But he never takes it down.

 

[bronconick]

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

The funniest story like that I have is there was a guy a couple streets over from where my parents lived when I was little that was like that. Distinctive glow from our front yard, I imagine his neighbors debated cutting power lines every winter. He moves.

Unfortunately, he didn't think his cunning plan through as he moved to something like 4 miles from the city airport. First X-mas shows up, his house is so bright it's farking with pilots coming in on approach because of what direction the house was. Cops will step in at that point and shut you down. Had to dial it back to like 1/8 the lights after trying to claim he had the right etc.

 

[Old Pio]

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

The funniest story like that I have is there was a guy a couple streets over from where my parents lived when I was little that was like that. Distinctive glow from our front yard, I imagine his neighbors debated cutting power lines every winter. He moves.

Unfortunately, he didn't think his cunning plan through as he moved to something like 4 miles from the city airport. First X-mas shows up, his house is so bright it's farking with pilots coming in on approach because of what direction the house was. Cops will step in at that point and shut you down. Had to dial it back to like 1/8 the lights after trying to claim he had the right etc.

Man, that's funny. In high school and college some buddies and I made it a tradition to have a few beers, then go out looking for really big, really awful Christmas displays. We seemed to have good luck in neighborhoods dominated by Italian Americans, uh, who were employed in "alternative businesses." It wasn't just a matter of more or bigger. We also were looking for mixed metaphores: Baby Jesus in the manger with a vacuum formed Frosty the snowman looking on fondly. Mary sitting next to Santa in the Sleigh, etc. At least in those days, there was a lot of that stuff going on.

Anyway, one year we saw your "glow on the horizon" and vectored ourselves toward it. We turned a corner. And there was a house all decorated like a catalogue from "We Be Tasteless" magazine. As God is my witness, there was a truck from the local power company parked out in front! We were helpless with laughter.

Less is definitely more. In Phoenix, in my brother's neighborhood, the tradition is for people to drive around on Christmas Eve, with their headlights out, to admire the decorations. For many years, there was a guy about two blocks away who had a living manger scene in his front yard (his kids, neighbors' kids) and he would be out in the street dressed as Santa, handing out candy canes to the kiddies. Charming. And everyone would put luminaries out in front of their homes. Also charming. Santa's gone, but the rest of the traditions remain.