Politics: A new beginning

[Tyrone Slothrop]

NEW YORK—Alan Colmes, the liberal co-host of the Fox News debate program Hannity & Colmes, lost an argument to his nephew Bryan while babysitting the 8-year-old Monday. "I wanted to stay up late to watch television, but Uncle Alan said, 'There's already too much self-parenting in America,'" Bryan said. "So I started screaming, 'Mom lets me, Mom lets me,' real loud. He gave in after, like, 20 seconds." In the past two years, Bryan has won arguments with Colmes on the subjects of Pokémon cards, Crunch Berries cereal, and steel tariffs.

linky

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Tom Friedman in NYT:

• Virtually all of these Arab states suffer from the same problem: because of decades of political repression, one-man rule and economic stagnation, there is no viable middle class and no legitimate, independent political parties and institutions to fill the void once the authoritarian leadership is removed. Iraq exhibits this problem in spades.

You see this sort of reference to the importance of the middle class in developing democracies all the time. Why? Is it just an assumption that rich people are bound to exploit everyone else, and poor people are too ovine to be democratic? I'm sure that once there was an explanation, but Friedman seems to say things like this by rote.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
Virtually all of these Arab states suffer from the same problem: because of decades of political repression, one-man rule and economic stagnation, there is no viable middle class and no legitimate, independent political parties and institutions to fill the void once the authoritarian leadership is removed. Iraq exhibits this problem in spades.

The problem with the Arab states is their complete and utter hatred for the jews.

[SlaveNoMore]

Originally posted by bilmore

Good Re line. Missed it the first time.

And I don't mind posting a useless kiss-ass post like this, seein the only people around here are me, you, Tyrone and the Not Me sock.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
the Not Me sock.

I sure do got a lot of posts for a sock. BTW - I prefer to be referred to as someone who is "password challenged."

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
You see this sort of reference to the importance of the middle class in developing democracies all the time. Why? Is it just an assumption that rich people are bound to exploit everyone else, and poor people are too ovine to be democratic? I'm sure that once there was an explanation, but Friedman seems to say things like this by rote.

No, virtually everyone in the world says that line by rote. It's so much a universally accepted Truth that no one goes into it any more. It's become shorthand.

A stable and viable middle class is truly a prerequisite for a stable democracy. It moderates the influence of the polar ends (the rich and the poor.) Throughout history, countries lacking a viable middle class inevitably move to revolution. Only by the formation of that middle class is capital distributed widely enough, and political power deconcentrated, such that democratic choices are viewed as legitimate.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Not Me
I sure do got a lot of posts for a sock. BTW - I prefer to be referred to as someone who is "password challenged."

I bet if you ask a moderator, they can find your old PW.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Good Re line. Missed it the first time.

And I don't mind posting a useless kiss-ass post like this, seein the only people around here are me, you, Tyrone and the Not Me sock.

Thanks! (I think it's safe as long as one poster isn't here.)

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by bilmore
I bet if you ask a moderator, they can find your old PW.

This moderator would have no idea how to do that, other than asking Slave, leagl or e/o. Other moderators may be more useful. Frankly, I blame Beaulieu Vineyards 2000 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, although it was not nearly as good as the last BV cab I had. YMMV.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Tyrone_Slothrop
This moderator would have no idea how to do that, other than asking Slave, leagl or e/o.

I think that, if they tell you who they were, (and you believe them), you go into the admin section of profiles and reset their password to something new, and then pm them the new pw.

(Of course, my experience is from a different place, and this one may be different.)

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by bilmore
I think fringey fundamentally misunderstands the purposes of a board such as this, and likely believes that we both write excoriating letters to editors, harangue passers-by with political diatribes, and indoctrinate our kids, me on the evils of free thought, you on the evils of the rich.

No, on second thought, she likely does not think that you indoctrinate your kids.

Yeah, I'm stupid that way. It has never crossed my mind that any of you write letters to editors or what have you.

I'm saddened if wishing for fewer cheap shots is "fundamentally misunderstanding the purposes of a board such as this." You seem unable to distinguish between when I'm disagreeing with substance and when I'm disagreeing with form, and are conflating the two.

I am probably being somewhat hypocritical regarding the cheap shots.

The nose spray has now kicked in.

[leagleaze]

Originally posted by bilmore
I think that, if they tell you who they were, (and you believe them), you go into the admin section of profiles and reset their password to something new, and then pm them the new pw.

(Of course, my experience is from a different place, and this one may be different.)

Not Me if you are having password trouble there are two ways you can handle it. You can prove who you are to one of the Admins by sending us an email from the email address you used to sign up and we can reset it, or you can use the "forgot my password" link.

I'll only be around for the next hour or so, if you are around feel free to email me at info@lawtalkers.com. After that you'll have to try Slave or E/O or check in with me afer I get my Internet access hooked up (hopefully) tonight.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
I(I honest-to-god don't follow politics that much -- because it disturbs me --

I re-read this and it occurred to me what's probably troubling you. Now that you are being exposed to the truth here, the liberal dogma you've been fed has been exposed as so much nonsense. This is progress, and growth. It should not disturb. to paraphrase the Fluffer: next step, go get yourself a big big SUV and just drive it around.

[Not Me]

Originally posted by ltl/fb You seem unable to distinguish between when I'm disagreeing with substance and when I'm disagreeing with form, and are conflating the two.

Uh, no we'er not.

You were very clearly "disturbed" by all the "serious stuff" that gets bantered about on this board.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
It should not disturb. to paraphrase the Fluffer: next step, go get yourself a big big SUV and just drive it around.

There are some days when I really and truly miss the Fluffer.