Politics: Where we struggle to kneel in the muck.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by sgtclub
I think I'm the only one that likes her. She cracks me up. She's so above it all and doesn't give a fuck, just says what's on her mind.

I kind of like her too. She reminds me of Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Not to get all scientific on you, but where do you think oil comes from?

Many, many layers below the groundwater it pollutes. Not to get all scientific on you.

[Replaced_Texan]

I mean, what other reason would the former judge and Senator for Kentucky say that he was "frightened to death of Bush" in an editorial unless he'd lost his marbles.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Taxwonk misuses a word because he thinks he'll sound smart based upon 2 books he read. It was a big word, and not common. He's poorly read.

You don't seem to understand what the word "lie" means. You're poorly educated, borderline illiterate. See?

I'm just curious. Why was I dragged into this post?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Many, many layers below the groundwater it pollutes. Not to get all scientific on you.

I'm just curious. Why did you drag yourself into this post?

BTW, the answer to your post is found in your post- can you find it?

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by baltassoc
FWIW, I think the criticism is wrong here. And I think the calls on Congress to not get shots unless they fall into high risk are bad as well -- as the doctor quoted by NPR put it, these folks shake a lot of hands, and are also prone to visit nursing homes and hospitals. They're walking disease vectors.

There's also the whole "leaders of the free world" thing. I dunno about you guys, but, particularly in the event that a serious flu epidemic makes the rounds this year, I'd sort of like the heads of my (limited small) gov't to be relatively well and functioning. Above and beyond the baby-kissing, if Kerry could be expected to, like, perform his senate duties anytime soon, I'd be annoyed if HE didn't get a flu shot. I'm annoyed to discover that Bush apparently hasn't. That's just stupid.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by taxwonk
I'm just curious. Why was I dragged into this post?

Good question!

How Carrollian of you, Hank!

S_A_M

P.S. He's getting nastier because he's worried about the election.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I'm just curious. Why did you drag yourself into this post?

BTW, the answer to your post is found in your post- can you find it?

I added something of substance to the dialogue. I realize that concept is foreign to you.

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
My favorite argument from the pious is "You cannot disprove the existence of God - therefore, my view is as valid as your atheism." Well, I can't disprove the existence of the Loch Ness Monster or that aliens visit the planet regularly either.

My favorite take on this was from a 3rd grade science teacher explaining the scientific method: "The one who claims that there is a 400 foot Rocky Road ice cream cone circling the Earth has the burden of proving it, not the other way around." I hear the "can't disprove it so faith is just as valid" argument and just picture that sucker whizzing round up there.

BR(I wonder if it has a waffle or a sugar cone?)C

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
There's also the whole "leaders of the free world" thing. I dunno about you guys, but, particularly in the event that a serious flu epidemic makes the rounds this year, I'd sort of like the heads of my (limited small) gov't to be relatively well and functioning. Above and beyond the baby-kissing, if Kerry could be expected to, like, perform his senate duties anytime soon, I'd be annoyed if HE didn't get a flu shot. I'm annoyed to discover that Bush apparently hasn't. That's just stupid.

I'm sure he washes his hands a lot.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by taxwonk
Ten years ago, my favorite radio station didn't have to beep out the word "shit" or similar words appearing in some songs. Now they do it regularly. It's not a major intrusion in my life, but, then again, the people who forced the change didn't listen to the Clash, Pearl Jam, or Eric Burdon then and they don't now.

I find it ridiculous that a movie shown on a basic cable station has to be hacked up but if it's on HBO, it's not censored.

But both of these things were going on during the Clinton administration as well (though, perhaps not a your local radio station). At the same time, by all studies, network TV is now racier/contains more sexual references and uses more "bad" words than ever before. Growing up, you never heard words on network TV like "bitch," "ass," etc.

Look, you will be hard pressed to find a person more against censorship then I am, but the premise was that it is the result the rise of the social conservatives, and I'm just not buying that.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Bad_Rich_Chic
My favorite take on this was from a 3rd grade science teacher explaining the scientific method: "The one who claims that there is a 400 foot Rocky Road ice cream cone circling the Earth has the burden of proving it, not the other way around." I hear the "can't disprove it so faith is just as valid" argument and just picture that sucker whizzing round up there.

BR(I wonder if it has a waffle or a sugar cone?)C

I send this link to my most pious friends. Tends to get me off their email lists faster than sending porn.

http://www.infidels.org/library/hist..._agnostic.html

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter

Geez, these shorts are tight!

S_A_M

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by sgtclub
But both of these things were going on during the Clinton administration as well (though, perhaps not a your local radio station). At the same time, by all studies, network TV is now racier/contains more sexual references and uses more "bad" words than ever before. Growing up, you never heard words on network TV like "bitch," "ass," etc.

Look, you will be hard pressed to find a person more against censorship then I am, but the premise was that it is the result the rise of the social conservatives, and I'm just not buying that.

I look around and I don't see any other political force that could have brought it about.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Look, you will be hard pressed to find a person more against censorship then I am, but the premise was that it is the result the rise of the social conservatives, and I'm just not buying that.

Why else would or could it be, club? You're making a mistake by limiting your consideration to which administration was in power rather than what social forces were/are moving in the country.

The "rise of the social conservatives" in our body politic began in the 1970's behind the scenes, and became open with the election of Reagan in 1980. The movement _may_ have crested in the 1992 elections (when it engendered a substantial backlash), but it has not gone away.

The "social conservatives" were quite active during the Clinton administrations, helped defeat Gore, and have assumed substntial prominence and influence in this Bush administration.

S_A_M