Teabaggers getting nastier.

[Darth Paxis]

Got one last comment from Government Hating Friend:

Yes I've read it [I gave them the link to this thread, thought it was only fair since their comments were being posted here]. Which Is another reason why I am done. I have no reason to pander you and your Liberal friends. I prefer to discuss this subject with people who don't have their heads up their own posterior.

It has occured to me that if Liberals "have their heads up their own posterior", then who would there be to debate about it. Conservatives, most likely.

@Samuel: Is it still a strawman if its used to escape a debate, rather than as an attempt to shift it to something easier to counter?

[Serafina]

Got one last comment from Government Hating Friend:

Yes I've read it [I gave them the link to this thread, thought it was only fair since their comments were being posted here]. Which Is another reason why I am done. I have no reason to pander you and your Liberal friends. I prefer to discuss this subject with people who don't have their heads up their own posterior.

It has occured to me that if Liberals "have their heads up their own posterior", then who would there be to debate about it. Conservatives, most likely.

@Samuel: Is it still a strawman if its used to escape a debate, rather than as an attempt to shift it to something easier to counter?

It's called "preaching to the choir".
People (not just conservatives) LOVE to "discuss" with likeminded people - of course, these are rarely "discussions".
That's propably why your friends are so incapable of actual debate and unable to deal with actually opposing viewpoints.

[Samuel]

@Samuel: Is it still a strawman if its used to escape a debate, rather than as an attempt to shift it to something easier to counter?

Yes. Well, technically it is being an asshole but the logical fallacy employed is strawmanning.

[Shroom Man 777]

Man, is that the best they can do? Point out to some nobody in the Democrat party who likes Mao? Is that the crowning victory of American conservatism?

Man, compared that to all the closet homosexual homophobes in the Conservatives' side, not to mention all the torture-supporting fucks up to and including Dick Cheney, compared to how it was their fucked-up administration that lied to the world and sent America to a war of deceit based on non-existent WMDs, plus all sorts of Reagan-era dickeries, it really shows just how feeble these little people are.

[Ghost Rider]

Man, is that the best they can do? Point out to some nobody in the Democrat party who likes Mao? Is that the crowning victory of American conservatism?

Mao is a communist, end of story.

Man, compared that to all the closet homosexual homophobes in the Conservatives' side,

Can't prove it, can you. Even if you can, it's obviously sheeps in wolfs clothing who are using the fine Republican base to inherit the power of the common folk.

not to mention all the torture-supporting fucks up to and including Dick Cheney,

To preserve America, we must do everything in our power to do so. Besides they aren't really people, they are terrorists.

compared to how it was their fucked-up administration that lied to the world and sent America to a war of deceit based on non-existent WMDs,

Just because they weren't there when we gave them freedom doesn't mean they were never there. So how did we lie to anyone?

plus all sorts of Reagan-era dickeries, it really shows just how feeble these little people are.

Reagan brought us the time of greatest prosperity. And you're too young to understand.

There ya go, stock answers and whatever you contest is reduced again and again to this. May as well talk to a fish for more enlightening talks.

Really, Shroom all of this is said a thousand times and more and never inflicts anything. Eating lunch with Congress' power base you get the feeling that they are no different then cultists when they reach that level. There is also an underline of pure selfish nature in general with almost all of them, especially in regards to anything beyond their doorstep. Finally most are apathetic about the situation and just drudge through looking at the other side and saying "Not any better really.".

[Shroom Man 777]

That's just... super sad. But not unexpected. But just because they're a bunch of pseudo-cultists who can't see the light of reason, it doesn't make screaming at them in sheer outrage and pointing out the stupidity of their ways any less fun though.

Still, man. The best they can do is point out to some nobody who happens to like Mao, while their side is a proverbial treasure trove of embarrassing crap that the likes of The Daily Show and co. have field days with.

[Liberty]

It's called "preaching to the choir".
People (not just conservatives) LOVE to "discuss" with likeminded people - of course, these are rarely "discussions".
That's propably why your friends are so incapable of actual debate and unable to deal with actually opposing viewpoints.

But isn't that what we're doing here? "Discussing" with likeminded people, preaching to the choir?

[Darth Wong]

It's called "preaching to the choir".
People (not just conservatives) LOVE to "discuss" with likeminded people - of course, these are rarely "discussions".
That's propably why your friends are so incapable of actual debate and unable to deal with actually opposing viewpoints.

But isn't that what we're doing here? "Discussing" with likeminded people, preaching to the choir?

Not exactly, although that does happen here too often for my tastes, which is one of the reasons I dislike certain moderators' habit of HOSing stuff as soon as they decide that it's stupid.

However, the smarter among us can in fact debate anyone who comes in with a contrary viewpoint, rather than just mindlessly repeating our opinions and acting befuddled as to why the other person doesn't agree. That's the real problem with these circle-jerk types; it's not just that they communicate with like-minded people (after all, no one actually avoids like-minded people), but that they exclusively do so, and are pretty much incapable of debating the issue with anyone else.

This is one of the reasons I like to keep my finger on the pulse of what ordinary morons think, by participating on the CNN forums. It's extremely low-quality discussion, to say the least, but I get a better idea of how the average numbskull thinks, and I don't envelop myself in an isolating viewpoint.

[Ghost Rider]

That's just... super sad. But not unexpected. But just because they're a bunch of pseudo-cultists who can't see the light of reason, it doesn't make screaming at them in sheer outrage and pointing out the stupidity of their ways any less fun though.

It's far sadder when you see it eating two booths down from you and hear this coming from him. It's loud, proud, and obnoxious. I should bring a recorder to have people listen to some of the whacko fun from interns and staffers.

Still, man. The best they can do is point out to some nobody who happens to like Mao, while their side is a proverbial treasure trove of embarrassing crap that the likes of The Daily Show and co. have field days with.

Honestly, compare Colbert to Beck and that is the stark difference of base we all know of .

[Shroom Man 777]

Man, I feel sorry for your country. It's like America's an intersection point between the real world and some kind of bizarro alternate dimension or something, it's hard to believe how you got both demographics in the same country.

[darth_timon]

You know, the more I've read of this thread, the more alarmed I've become. I can't claim to know much about this Tea Party Movement, beyond what I have read here... but inciting people to commit acts of vandalism, and worse, over what to me is a fundamental right (health care) is just... beyond understanding. Oh, I know there's more to it than health care (and the other factors are just scary), but that seems to be a big part of it.

Makes me glad not to have to face such movements.

Funnily enough, the person I was engaged in health care debate with has stated on their blog that they plan to join their local Tea Party. This person firmly believes Obama and the Democrats are steering America toward a Marxist regime.

[Lord Pounder]

So these where the same American Conservatives who appealed for the Irish to take the gun out of their politics who are now advocating the same terror tactics Sinn Fein/IRA used? Only in America, thank fuck.

[Liberty]

So these where the same American Conservatives who appealed for the Irish to take the gun out of their politics who are now advocating the same terror tactics Sinn Fein/IRA used? Only in America, thank fuck.

Maybe it's because I wasn't born until the late 1980s, but remind me, did leading American conservatives urge the Irish to stop using violence for political means? Like, is there an actual well-klnown speech?

[Broomstick]

I don't recall a specific speech, but yes, that is the case to the best of my recollection.

[SirNitram]

As the days wear on, it's not the Teabaggers that are scaring me, so much as the Right Wing, especially the elected ones and those who are in the media. We've seen or heard the claim: The plane-crash was justifiable because it was the IRS, and everyone hates the IRS. Obama circumvents Congress. The Democrats use unconstitutional tricks to oppress the GOP to pass unconstitutional law. "I think the Democratic leadership has to take some moral responsibility for having behaved with such arrogance, in such a hostile way, that the American people are deeply upset." Gingrich, on death threats to Dems. “What you’re seeing is a frustration among his constituents who believe he’s not listening to them.” - Spokesman, RNC. “I don’t believe that we ought to be fanning these flames like this, And I’m very concerned on all sides. Inappropriate behavior is never condoned by anyone. I’m a bit concerned about how it’s been handled around here in a public way because I think it just tends to fan the flames.” -Cantor, Minority Whip.

Getting the message yet? If people are killed, it's the Democrats fault. Why? Because they passed something the Republicans didn't like. This is the new measure, being pushed and unrefuted in the media: Obey the GOP, or die. The reliability that people will assume any militia, attack, or so forth is a 'lone wolf' merely insulates them. The GOP won't kill you. There will be a terrible accident. No one could have forseen it.

Capiche?

[FSTargetDrone]

This isn't at all irresponsible:

TPM LiveWire

Palin Advises Tea Partiers: 'Stop' Cars With Obama Bumper Stickers

Nick Broten | March 30, 2010, 11:13AM

Less than a week after a Nashville man was driven off the road because his car sported an Obama-Biden bumper sticker, Sarah Palin has called on Tea Partiers to stop drivers whose cars have a similar sticker.

Stumping on Saturday from Searchlight, NV -- Harry Reid's hometown -- Palin focused her rhetoric on the health care overhaul passed last week:

It's like that old bumper sticker that says, "Government: If you think our problems are bad, wait until you see our solutions."

The crowd cheered. She went on:

Or that bumper sticker you see on the next Subaru driving by, an Obama bumper sticker. You should stop the driver and say, "So how is that hopey, changey thing working out for you?"

Her comments come at a politically charged time, just a week after a picture on her Facebook page used crosshairs to identify Democrats who voted for health care reform.

[Broomstick]

Great. So how are these people supposed to be conducting traffic stops....? They are not police. I see potential for tragedy here.

[Darth Wong]

Getting the message yet? If people are killed, it's the Democrats fault. Why? Because they passed something the Republicans didn't like.

It's the classic abusive father line: "Look at what you made me do!"

Of course, these people wouldn't see the problem with that, since they probably believe in the "spare the rod, spoil the child" ideology too.

[FSTargetDrone]

Great. So how are these people supposed to be conducting traffic stops....? They are not police. I see potential for tragedy here.

Did you happen to look at the thing linked in the story about the clown who allegedly (and repeatedly) bumped the car of someone who was sporting an Obama/Biden sticker? That is what makes Palin's inane (seriously, "hopey changey"? What non-brain damaged person over the age of say, 5, talks like that, ever?) drivel even more dangerous. It has nothing to do with whether or not she is even aware of it. It is one thing to tell your mouth-breathing followers to contact politicians if they have some grievance, but I think it crosses the line when you tell someone to challenge a private citizen's political opinions in that way.

Gah, Palin. Just listening to her voice for more than 2 seconds makes my hair hurt.

[Darksider]

*snip*

So it's basically a protection rackett on a national scale, with the teabaggers/militiatards as the "muscle?"

[Liberty]

That's fucking ridiculous. Palin needs to realize that words have consequences. And she needs to realize that her audience is made up of paranoid reactionaries who might take her seriously!

And if I had an Obama bumper sticker on the car, I really think I'd want to remove it at this point. Why put a target on my car? I mean, my friend and I were in Goodwill earlier today, and on the way over we were looking at an apologetics book I'd had in high school, and laughing at its idiocy. I suggested we take the book into the store and continue our conversation, but she said she didn't think that was a good idea. "Do you think it's a good idea to discuss this in front of all the "God-fearing hoosiers*" in Goodwill?" And this is the atmosphere I live in. I'm so ready to get out of Indiana.

* Hoosiers = residents of Indiana.

[Ghost Rider]

That's fucking ridiculous. Palin needs to realize that words have consequences. And she needs to realize that her audience is made up of paranoid reactionaries who might take her seriously!

And if I had an Obama bumper sticker on the car, I really think I'd want to remove it at this point. Why put a target on my car? I mean, my friend and I were in Goodwill earlier today, and on the way over we were looking at an apologetics book I'd had in high school, and laughing at its idiocy. I suggested we take the book into the store and continue our conversation, but she said she didn't think that was a good idea. "Do you think it's a good idea to discuss this in front of all the "God-fearing hoosiers*" in Goodwill?" And this is the atmosphere I live in. I'm so ready to get out of Indiana.

* Hoosiers = residents of Indiana.

Having had friends in Indiana and knowing what the atmosphere of most anywhere except Indianapolis was like, I'd have to agree with your friend.

And of course Palin knows. She will never admit it incites the rabid to do what she'd wants to see likely done, but hey...it's not her hands doing the deed, thus no blood on her hands or in her mind.

[KlavoHunter]

They say to 'break windows', and windows are broken. Some teabagger publishes addresses of Democrats, someone snips a guy's gas line.

Now Palin says to "Pull over cars with Obama stickers"... Well, I'm only counting the days until something happens because of this. And immediately ran a mental inventory of the vehicles of those I care about, trying to remember if THEY have an Obama sticker on their cars. Fortunately, I don't think so.

[The Yosemite Bear]

Come on, we can oppress them Teabaggers out there by getting their insurance companies to raise their rates through the roof for causing too many traffic accidents, oh and calim you got injured by those nazi thugs sue Sarah Palin for my injuries as well.....

[Patrick Degan]

That's fucking ridiculous. Palin needs to realize that words have consequences. And she needs to realize that her audience is made up of paranoid reactionaries who might take her seriously!

Haven't you learned by now? Being Republican means never having to take responsibility. For anything.