Making Baby Jesus Cry

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Oh, but it's true. Have you ever stopped to consider the number of country songs dedicated to free markets and low tax rates?

I think this was the subtext in "A Country Boy Can Survive."

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Spanky
Yes - for those of us that are lucky enough to eat everyday. Try telling that to the average citizen of Cuba, North Korea or Burma. In this country our poverty line is above the average standard of living for other countrys. In this country, on average, the poorer you are the more likely you are to be overweight. Other countrys dream of having our problems. From a national policy perspective material success is at the top right next to human rights. And the two are inextricably intertwined. My spiritual well being, and my self esteem is not really any of the government's business, and there ain't a whole hell of lot they can do about it.

A statement demonstrating why you're a good California Republican. Somewhat like the snail darter, there is a species of Republican that views America's greatness as drawn almost exclusively from the freeness of its capital markets, and believes fiercely that all cultural issues are mere "window dressing."

Republicans in Kansas, Georgia and elsewhere may not recognize you, as their concerns may revolve more around whether Democrats really ARE trying to burn their bibles, or whether Hollywood is trying to corrupt their youth or turn them gay. The cognitive dissonance may be painful, but them's the costs of a big tent, right?

(By the way, see today's LA Times for an article on how the GOP has written off California in the Bush years, and various politicos speculate on how they can't, or shouldn't, write it off forever. The consensus seems to be that a "different" kind of Republican could win in CA, but that candidate may never make it out of Iowa and South Carolina primaries.)

Is there some other country you would like to discuss where the average citizen is better off than the average US citizen because of non-material factors?

Funny how we moved to frame the argument this way instead of its original point, huh? You remember what you said.

• Country stars and NASCAR stars seem to have this same instincts. Something happens to people when they move to Hollywood or New York. They seem to forget what makes America special and start looking to other countrys as if they have got it better.
  
  No one has got it better. That is why everyone wants to live here.

This, you may now realize, is why some people thought you were actually making an argument that there's some cultural component to why America is the greatest place ever. We all forgot to apply the Spanky Free Market Filter, and remember that really what you meant was that country music stars have the same instinct that America is great because of free markets. I'll keep scouring the lyrics databases for evidence of this -- so far, I've made it to "Drop Kick Me, Jesus, Through the Goalposts of Life."

The fact that you believe that a level playing field required for a free trade agreement is that all the labour regulations have to be the same is way off the charts. In your mind they might be centrist, but other people on the board can correct me if I am wrong, you are probably the most liberal person that posts consistently to this board.

There's a difference between the spectrum of views on this board, and the spectrum of views in American political thought generally. Hank, Slave and bilmore, through their giggling exchange of DU posts, consistently ignore this reality.

FWIW, I think Ty's views actually are thoughtful and pretty centrist, compared to the larger spectrum, and feel that your inclination to characterize it differently is related to your same inclination to declare in the second post of an argument that anyone who has the temerity to question Iraq policy, CAFTA, or any Bush utterance is an idiot or a moron, and just wants Saddam in power.

However, I have never heard you once praise America's economic system.

FWIW, I like it and praise it, but it doesn't mean I can't criticize things within the economic system that I think are misguided, wrong, or stupid. Instituting a pledge that we love America's economic system in order to convince you that we're not commie pinko leftists is, IMO, not a very interesting debating strategy.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Sunk costs indeed.

Nice. Are the Katrina and the Waves jokes next?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by sgtclub
I remember reading that it was cancelled due to money issues, but I don't recall the specifics. I had conversations with the local merchants in my area and they were pissed because it is one of the biggest weekends of the year for them. I also understand that the city lost millions in parking and other fees from the event.

Again, it's hard to imagine Newsom cancelling the event -- he surely knows how much the city brings in from it.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Spanky
Yes - for those of us that are lucky enough to eat everyday. Try telling that to the average citizen of Cuba, North Korea or Burma. In this country our poverty line is above the average standard of living for other countrys.

So when Ty opposes CAFTA, he is actually arguing that we should emulate the systems of Cuba, North Korea, or Burma?

What about the Land of StrawMania? You can find innumerable examples to support your views there.

Originally posted by Spanky
It is your lack of understandig

You don't understand

This is truly one of your great Condescending When You Have No Right TO Posts (CWYHNTP). Its no "Please pay attention" but it ranks. You do know this is not how to win arguments. I am mostly sure Sebby would agree.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Spanky
Yes - for those of us that are lucky enough to eat everyday. Try telling that to the average citizen of Cuba, North Korea or Burma. In this country our poverty line is above the average standard of living for other countrys. In this country, on average, the poorer you are the more likely you are to be overweight. Other countrys dream of having our problems. From a national policy perspective material success is at the top right next to human rights. And the two are inextricably intertwined. My spiritual well being, and my self esteem is not really any of the government's business, and there ain't a whole hell of lot they can do about it.

Is there some other country you would like to discuss where the average citizen is better off than the average US citizen because of non-material factors?




The fact that you believe that a level playing field required for a free trade agreement is that all the labour regulations have to be the same is way off the charts. In your mind they might be centrist, but other people on the board can correct me if I am wrong, you are probably the most liberal person that posts consistently to this board.



I don't ignore anything. I have consistently critisized the Bush's administration's embrace of steel tariffs and farms subsidies. However, I have never heard you once praise America's economic system.

AMERICA HAS A GREAT ECONOMIC SYSTEM!!!

Can you make a point, now?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
This is truly one of your great Condescending When You Have No Right TO Posts (CWYHNTP). Its no "Please pay attention" but it ranks. You do know this is not how to win arguments. I am mostly sure Sebby would agree.

Here's the thing, when i talk trash from a losing position I always throw salary into it, like if I argued with Thurgreed about who was the better basketball players I might say "Let look at how much we each made playing baskeball last year- bet we're tied." It's a defensive tool, but effective.

But if you tried it with Spanky on politics you'd lose. This is his profession. He is paid to be on conference calls all the time. so he can take liberties in condencending posts, can't he?

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
No way, no how. I've met Mr. Bing and he luuuuuvs the Missus. Among other things, she is a nationally ranked pool player. Very sexy.

Mr. Bing told me Mrs. Bing the First died in a tragic bus accident in Chinatown.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
Mr. Bing told me Mrs. Bing the First died in a tragic bus accident in Chinatown.

Unless Ted was driving, this post doesn't really belong on Politics.

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Deny as you might, it's pretty obvious that her obsession with you makes you tingly in all the special places.


Or is that the stubble?

If I wasn't still scarred from the hurrishave of five years ago, I might even challenge the Sugar Momma to a duel. I think Slave could probably be auctioned off at about fifty grand, plus a lifetimes's of free rent. He isnt exactly Sotheby's material though. Is there an auction house specializing in classy naricssists with poor prospects?

btw, I just learned that my best friend, who actually met Slave that special night is likely moving here. When I was trying to make plans to see him in the NYC the same week of my rendezvous with Sebby and the others, I had to explain who these people were nad how i knew them. SO I said "remember that body shaving guy I went home with five years ago? I know these people from the same place" and he laughed and laughed. Slave is apparenlty very memorable. i think its his accent.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Spanky
Yes - for those of us that are lucky enough to eat everyday. Try telling that to the average citizen of Cuba, North Korea or Burma. In this country our poverty line is above the average standard of living for other countrys. In this country, on average, the poorer you are the more likely you are to be overweight. Other countrys dream of having our problems. From a national policy perspective material success is at the top right next to human rights. And the two are inextricably intertwined. My spiritual well being, and my self esteem is not really any of the government's business, and there ain't a whole hell of lot they can do about it.

Is there some other country you would like to discuss where the average citizen is better off than the average US citizen because of non-material factors?

The fact that you believe that a level playing field required for a free trade agreement is that all the labour regulations have to be the same is way off the charts. In your mind they might be centrist, but other people on the board can correct me if I am wrong, you are probably the most liberal person that posts consistently to this board.

I don't ignore anything. I have consistently critisized the Bush's administration's embrace of steel tariffs and farms subsidies. However, I have never heard you once praise America's economic system.

We were not discussing whether America's economic policies are a good thing. (Unlike many lefties, I think markets usually work better than the alternatives, and should be left to function except where there are reasons to believe that there is market failure.) We were discussing whether economic opportunity is what makes American great. I take a more expansive view of our nation's greatness than you do, apparently.

Notwithstanding your clever effort to lure me back in, I'm not returning to the free trade imbroglio. Nice try, though.

Originally posted by Nut Case, Sensitive
With monkeys, lizards, pandas, puppies, squirrels, dinosaurs and, of course, fringie, we could use a parrot in the menagerie. Welcome, deer!

Nuts!

With rp on my, and many others, ignore list, I would requiest that you not quote her unless it if for a very good reason.

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Unless Ted was driving, this post doesn't really belong on Politics.

Wrong. I think it goes to why a Communist country descended microcosm smack in the middle of this country's most liberal city has such chaotic drivers and pedestrians.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by paigowprincess
With rp on my, and many others, ignore list, I would requiest that you not quote her unless it if for a very good reason.

Paigow, you have completed the journey from merely pitiable to utterly despicable. It's so very, very sad you won't recognize this even if someone quotes me, or you succumb to the urge to click on my post. The fact that you purportedly have me on ignore while continuing to post about me, and try to insult me, and ask others about me, merely serves to demontrate that you are afraid to see the truth about yourself, wshich is that you are a pathetic creature, and even if you were to obtain the admiration of this community that you so desperately crave, it would not be sufficient to fill the dark void that is your soul.