Republican candidate for Governor of Texas suggests the US govt flew planes into the WTC on 9/11

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As to the bolded, if you're trying to make out here that I am a Democrat - then you are quite, quite wrong. Seems to me that people here (you included) are not beneath reducing any contrary opinion down to "he's only saying that because he is a Democrat", because unless you make it personally adversarial then you have nothing to respond with.

It's a peculiar argument for a foreign citizen to be exposed to. Bull$hit is what it is, just sayin'.

[Ali G. 37]

It seems disingenuous that a Democrat would play the 9/11 whacko card when they have all the 9/11 whackos on their team. Just sayin'.

By all means, continue to seek out internet articles criticising Republicans and never look at what the real problems of the Democrat party are.

You are talking about Pikey here. It's been a good four years now, yet to this day, he still refuses to accept he is (unofficially) a liberal yank. Pike has agreed with those that are considered liberal yanks on 100% of issues yet apparently is still an independent thinker. Time to call a spade a spade.

To the contrary, someone who is actually an independent thinker may agree with Dems on one issue but will also agree with Repubs on other issues. It's just not possible for someone to agree with one side, 100% of the time, yet be independent. That's just ridiculous and bullshit by any stretch.

Edited February 19, 2010 by Booyah

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

BY, cool your heels and take some deep breaths - it will help with the hyperventilating.

He said "Democrat", not "Liberal". Now you might think that these are interchangeable, but they aren't.

I didn't seek out this article, nor am I required to do that to prove to your mind that my views are suitably balanced (it just isn't possible to do that - and frankly, rather silly to ask).

Is it really unreasonable to ask why noone can denounce a political candidate who expresses these sorts of views? Do you honestly think my asking that has anything to do with which party the person in question is allied to?

I'd hold out some small hope for you, as like me you are a not a USC - so how does coloring me as a Democrat appear in any way honest? Should I be labelling you a Republican, just for the sake of "balance" and perception?

[natty bumppo 297]

As to the bolded, if you're trying to make out here that I am a Democrat - then you are quite, quite wrong. Seems to me that people here (you included) are not beneath reducing any contrary opinion down to "he's only saying that because he is a Democrat", because unless you make it personally adversarial then you have nothing to respond with.

It's a peculiar argument for a foreign citizen to be exposed to. Bull$hit is what it is, just sayin'.

they don't know that you are a waffle

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I am quite amazed that people in this country care so little about the quality of their politicians.

[Ali G. 37]

I am quite amazed that people in this country care so little about the quality of their politicians.

As time magazine put it, people are more concerned about the image of a person, rather than their resume or the substance of the things they say. After all, this is why Palin and to an extent even Obama is doing so well.

Edited February 19, 2010 by Booyah

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As time magazine put it, people are more concerned about the image of a person, rather than their resume or the substance of the things they say. After all, this is why Palin and to an extent even Obama is doing so well.

Thank you. Yes this is true - but why do we also have this twisting of people's views that one is not allowed to criticize Palin, for example, unless one says the exact same thing about Obama? And not only that they say the same thing - but that they do it in the same breath?

Why are people so mindlessly partisan?

[Peikko 1,575]

Being partisan reduces the need to actually think critically, and US citizens are not that great at critical thinking by and large. I'll take bad teeth over poor critical thinking skills every time

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The proof is in the pudding, as it were.

Perhaps people are more apathetic about politics in the UK - though I think its really more a case of all parties being hated equally - but it seems to me that if you were talking to someone in the UK about how horrible the labor government were, you wouldn't get a defensive response along the lines of "you're only saying that because you're a Tory".

[Peikko 1,575]

The proof is in the pudding, as it were.

Perhaps people are more apathetic about politics in the UK - though I think its really more a case of all parties being hated equally - but it seems to me that if you were talking to someone in the UK about how horrible the labor government were, you wouldn't get a defensive response along the lines of "you're only saying that because you're a Tory".

That sort of statement is a peculiarity of VJ OT and I find it weird.

[Ali G. 37]

Thank you. Yes this is true - but why do we also have this twisting of people's views that one is not allowed to criticize Palin, for example, unless one says the exact same thing about Obama? And not only that they say the same thing - but that they do it in the same breath?

Why are people so mindlessly partisan?

Think about it using the point I make regarding cities and quality of life. You have people throughout this country that go by what they have heard, rather than what they have personally experienced or sampled. As such, if someone says to them that Europe, Canada, and Australia are socialist bastards, with the worst of everything, even someone living in a trailer believes it. After all, when Rush says America is the best in the world, then surely (without question) it must be the best in the world.

The same line of reasoning is carried over to politics. A hell of a lot of folks here are not interested in seeking answers for themselves, they simply listen to the opinions of others, particularly those that fall into an image that they endorse. My wife's uncle last month said that the worst type of folks are those in the middle, who don't pick sides. Which my reply was that you are certainly not going to see me unwaveringly support one side, even if they wanted to burn down the country. I will question such actions. Whereas, as long as his party supports this, he like many will cheer it on; even as their houses are burning down.

[Peikko 1,575]

Someone famously said in US politics, you are either with me or against me - at least once

[alienlovechild 75]

I'm simply asking why noone can simply denounce a political candidate for endorsing an opinion that the US government orchestrated one of the worst atrocities in the country's history.

What I am (reasonably) wondering here is why noone, you included, can bring yourself to denounce this political candidate, and why you have to turn it into some childish game of "Nyah nyah". Do you need to bring Howard Dean into the conversation in order to discuss the comments this individual has made?

Seems to me that the only reason you are doing it is because the person in question is allied to the Republican party, and you can't accept any criticism in that direction without getting defensive.

Would you vote for a candidate who implies that the US caused 9/11? Do you need Howard Dean in order to answer that question?

Ok, I denounce the no name GOP candidate for governor of Texas. Dean's inclusion was relevant as it on the same issue making a similar statement on 9/11. You also failed to denounce Dean by name who was a far bigger and more rotten fish in the DC cesspool but you demand I denounce someone else for the same reason.

No, I wouldn't vote for a candidate that implied the U.S. caused 9/11.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ok, I denounce the no name GOP candidate for governor of Texas. Dean's inclusion was relevant as it on the same issue making a similar statement on 9/11. You also failed to denounce Dean by name who was a far bigger and more rotten fish in the DC cesspool but you demand I denounce someone else for the same reason.

No, I wouldn't vote for a candidate that implied the U.S. caused 9/11.

There you are Dave - that wasn't so hard. The views should be denounced no matter who expresses them. The thread wasn't about Dean, but since you need validation based on political equivalence - there it is. If he said something similar, then its just as odious.

Do me a favor and in future try to avoid making silly assumptions about the things people don't say, rather than what they do. You'll be happier, and you won't embarrass yourself chasing your own tail.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Being partisan reduces the need to actually think critically, and US citizens are not that great at critical thinking by and large. I'll take bad teeth over poor critical thinking skills every time

That's an awful big brush you be using there, madam! I'll take good old American common sense over the self-proclaimed "progressive" insight of Europeans every time.