Sarah Palin

[Liar]

Ha! And oops! His age slipped my mind for a moment. I certainly don't disagree, but I meant that she'd be attending funerals and inaugurations, not negotiating peace treaties - unless she had to.

Another thing to keep in mind, sad as it is, is that there's a real possibility that she could become the de facto president without McCain dying. I've seen it too many times that men his age starts losing their marbles to senility. It can happen pretty fast, often after an unrelated illness, heart attack or surgery. And noone but those closest around them will notice at first. Who runs the country then if something like that happens mid-term?

 

[Guest]

Another thing to keep in mind, sad as it is, is that there's a real possibility that she could become the de facto president without McCain dying. I've seen it too many times that men his age starts losing their marbles to senility. It can happen pretty fast, often after an unrelated illness, heart attack or surgery. And noone but those closest around them will notice at first. Who runs the country then if something like that happens mid-term?

Karl Rove.

 

[rgraham666]

He's been running it for the last eight years. I guess he's got the experience now.

 

[Guest]

He's been running it for the last eight years. I guess he's got the experience now.

That was my first thought.

 

[Shwenn]

I, for one, fail to see why a 'libertarian state' would be better than a 'statist' one.

The same types of people exist in either system. Some are going to be highly ethical people. Some are not.

The only difference will be the tools available to them to pursue their goals. It's a poor workman who blames his tools.

I am not sure what you are getting at. I hope you understand why I would be completely reluctant to debate this particular topic with a person unless they intend to be very clear about what it is they are trying to say.

If you are at all serious about having this discussion, I will need you to write more than that.

 

[Corylea]

I am not sure what you are getting at. I hope you understand why I would be completely reluctant to debate this particular topic with a person unless they intend to be very clear about what it is they are trying to say.

If you are at all serious about having this discussion, I will need you to write more than that.

I think he's saying that human nature makes utopia impossible, no matter what form of government -- or lack of government -- we have.

 

[rgraham666]

I am not sure what you are getting at. I hope you understand why I would be completely reluctant to debate this particular topic with a person unless they intend to be very clear about what it is they are trying to say.

If you are at all serious about having this discussion, I will need you to write more than that.

Very well.

In my opinion, everything is a tool. Tools have no ethical component.

To use a metaphor I came up with years ago I can use a shovel to dig a ditch or kill another human being. In neither case is the shovel at fault. It's the fault of the person wielding it.

Government is a tool. Business is a tool. Either can do great harm or great good. It depends entirely on the people using the tool. If the people using either tool have high ethical standards they'll do good. If they don't they'll do harm. Again, in neither case is it the tool's fault.

One major problem is summed up in the old saying, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." People become fixated on using only one tool they try to use it in inappropriate situations.

The other major problem is people start thinking that using a tool is the same acting in a ethical manner. They use the tool when it isn't needed and tell themselves that it's 'good'.

That's my belief. Tools are one thing, ethics is another. I try not to confuse the two.

 

[rgraham666]

I think he's saying that human nature makes utopia impossible, no matter what form of government -- or lack of government -- we have.

Just so.

 

[Liar]

Karl Rove.

*snerk*

See, this is one of the reasons why we over here choose a party instead of a person. The big cheese can die (and have) without the political direction changing.

 

[Shwenn]

I think he's saying that human nature makes utopia impossible, no matter what form of government -- or lack of government -- we have.

You could use that as an argument against every single political system extant? Is this information even relevant?

 

[rgraham666]

You could use that as an argument against every single political system extant? Is this information even relevant?

It's relevant because people forget this simple fact.

Many people proclaim, "Our system will work the best because it won't be affected by human nature." Or "This is how human nature works and our system takes advantage of the positives while removing the negatives." Both are forms of wishful thinking.

Although I appreciate how dreamers can change the world I'd just as soon not be ruled by them.

 

[Shwenn]

It's relevant because people forget this simple fact.

Many people proclaim, "Our system will work the best because it won't be affected by human nature." Or "This is how human nature works and our system takes advantage of the positives while removing the negatives." Both are forms of wishful thinking.

Strawman arguments. While such claims are easy to reject, we should probably wait for somebody to make them before we do that.

Our current U.S. government was founded on the same basic principle I'm talking about, that a more difuse distribution of power will be more just.

This idea is far from being born of rainbows and lollipops.

 

[Shwenn]

I think I should also add:



POO

 

[rgraham666]

Fine, whatever.

 

[Belegon]

As long as nobody posts anything in support of a Republican

In otherwords BULLSHIT!

*sigh*

Did you VISIT the site? Did you read?

 

[Belegon]

In Sarah’s words, I’m “calling bullshit” on this one. (Although with the exception of outright fabrications there’s no such thing as “bullshit” or even “facts” in political matters, the definition of which is that they are inherently ambiguous.)

Ayn Rand said about welfare that if it’s offered and you’re eligible you should take it. (And then presumably send a few bucks of it to the Chamber of Commerce to lobby against welfare.)

Earmarks are like welfare, and the recipients are local governments. It would be fiscal malpractice for any local government official to not pursue that money. Doing so does not preclude opposing the system of earmarks for its corrupting influence on Congress, or make one a hypocrite for opposing it as a method of redistributing tax dollars taken from the states.

Surprise!

Gang, I have been rolling this facet of the woman's background in my mind... and have decided that the job of a mayor is to represent the constituents of her town/city and to do the best by them that she possibly can.

I feel that if Sarah Palin, as Mayor, was able to procure extra federal money and jobs for her little town, than she was doing her job and, at least in this area, doing it well.

I will not hold that against her, I will consider it a point in her favor. That does not mean I consider her qualified to be President. I DO NOT.

But, doing this while she was Mayor was absolutely what she should have done.

I don't like Ayn Rand in general and I definitely disagree with the idea that therre is no such thing as "bullshit" in political matters. That part of the pst I disagree with.

But I will not use the fact that a woman did a part of her job well as a negative against her.

 

[jomar]

Another thing to keep in mind, sad as it is, is that there's a real possibility that she could become the de facto president without McCain dying. I've seen it too many times that men his age starts losing their marbles to senility. It can happen pretty fast, often after an unrelated illness, heart attack or surgery. And noone but those closest around them will notice at first. Who runs the country then if something like that happens mid-term?

And those may only notice after certain decisions are made.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Among the reasons listed by the press that Palin is not qualified for high office and McCain showed bad judgement in nominating her:

She's admitted to having smoked marijauna.





Excuse me?






Time to trot out the Straw Religious Conservatives for another turn around the track. "I don't have any problem with it, but those people are a different story."

 

[Belegon]

She's admitted to having smoked marijauna.

Excuse me?

Time to trot out the Straw Religious Conservatives for another turn around the track. "I don't have any problem with it, but those people are a different story."

She has admitted it but said that she "didn't like it."


Personally, I think this is a non-issue except for two things:

1) She is running with the party that likes to scream bloody murder about this kind of thing and they are currently betraying all of their past positions by ignoring her use. I would like to think it takes Obama's past of the table... but it doesn't, because look how long they managed to avoid the experience attacks after nominating someone less experienced than Obama.

2) The percentage of people who "don't like it" is, in my direct experience, quite small. This calls into question her honesty again. This is not to say she IS lying. I do know people who don't like things most people like. (I don't like mushrooms, for example.)
And I am not someone who plays the "all politicians are the same" card. They are not. And saying so helps the worst ones far more than it helps the ones trying to be better.

 

[jomar]

double post

 

[Selena_Kitt]

2) The percentage of people who "don't like it" is, in my direct experience, quite small.

You'd have to count me in that camp. But then again, I didn't inhale.

 

[AvoidingRealWork]

2) The percentage of people who "don't like it" is, in my direct experience, quite small.

I get highly paranoid and immobilized. No fun at all, and I can't see why people like it.

 

[rgraham666]

I get highly paranoid and immobilized. No fun at all, and I can't see why people like it.

That's why I don't touch the stuff any more. Except I don't get paranoid.

But I get so relaxed that if you tossed a live hand grenade in my lap my only reaction would be "Oh wow!" and a giggle.

 

[Shwenn]

I get highly paranoid and immobilized. No fun at all, and I can't see why people like it.

Me too. It's so bad, I don't even like to be around people who are high because it reminds me of that feeling.

 

[Guest]

Me too. It's so bad, I don't even like to be around people who are high because it reminds me of that feeling.

I liked it.

The music was so good - I could see the notes with my eyes closed.

I haven't since college but I'd do it again just for that.

*smiles dreamily*