[ImmortalWarrior]

That isn't true.

Which parts and why?

[palandri]

Romney really isn't that far right. He's pretty squishy.

I bet that you'll find a lot of people that think he's an evil monster that hates hates hates though.

Just like you can find people who think Obama is an evil monster.

[Winning Guy]

Just like you can find people who think Obama is an evil monster.

Difference is that vilifying one side is the common narrative and is seen as okay, seen in all kinds if media, and is generally accepted as fact.

The other is seen as over zealous people who aren't thinking fairly.

Both really should be seen the same way.

[mlm1950]

Which parts and why?

The part I highlighted, because it is a ridiculous statement that has no basis in fact.

[scottcraft]

You can resist progress all you want but I think it's time for the US to catch up to the rest of the first world.


I'd like to point out that most of the red countys are low population rural areas. The "high culture" areas like Miami, New York, California are dems. There is reason to this rhyme... Think about it.

To be honest using Miami, New York and California as an example doesn't make me want to be a democrat. I'm not saying there aren't good things about those areas, but I have no desire to be like those places.

[ImmortalWarrior]

The part I highlighted, because it is a ridiculous statement that has no basis in fact.

the Wpcentral app doesn't show the bold. Had to check via IE.

It is a fact, I've seen her in interview agree with just that. If I wasn't at work I'd find it for you.

[ImmortalWarrior]

To be honest using Miami, New York and California as an example doesn't make me want to be a democrat. I'm not saying there aren't good things about those areas, but I have no desire to be like those places.

It's not a coincidence that the rural county's are red. They typically have the Jesus loving, evolution hating, gun toting types. Now, before you condemn me for saying that, know that I come from a small christian farming town (5k ppl) and have a hard working background. I wear cowboy boots, own guns, hunt, but I'm also a software developer and a nerd. (Weird eh? ). I know why they vote red and it's not because they value education and progress. They vote red because many are Christian literalists and this stems from a bigger education problem. Notice how the population areas of the US such as the ones I mentioned are generally democratic. Notice how those same areas have highly educated women, have high science research facilities and universities, and are furthest away from the bible belt, with exceptions of course.

[ImmortalWarrior]

Rick Santorum himself stated that the intelligent will never be on their side.

His words, not mine.

And you know what, he's just stating what everyone else in the world thinks, only he's stupid enough to actually say it in public.

[mlm1950]

the Wpcentral app doesn't show the bold. Had to check via IE.

It is a fact, I've seen her in interview agree with just that. If I wasn't at work I'd find it for you.

Hopefully not the Mike Wallace interview.

[ImmortalWarrior]

Hopefully not the Mike Wallace interview.

Even if you could argue for/against her crap and whether or not Ryan said what he said or meant what he said, it doesn't change anything else I said. I could pull up with dozens of examples of nuttjobery by the Republicans that makes even the craziest of democrats appear sane.

[mlm1950]

Even if you could argue for/against her crap and whether or not Ryan said what he said or meant what he said, it doesn't change anything else I said. I could pull up with dozens of examples of nuttjobery by the Republicans that makes even the craziest of democrats appear sane.

I'm sure you could, but to what end?

[Winning Guy]

It's not a coincidence that the rural county's are red. They typically have the Jesus loving, evolution hating, gun toting types. Now, before you condemn me for saying that, know that I come from a small christian farming town (5k ppl) and have a hard working background. I wear cowboy boots, own guns, hunt, but I'm also a software developer and a nerd. (Weird eh? ). I know why they vote red and it's not because they value education and progress. They vote red because many are Christian literalists and this stems from a bigger education problem. Notice how the population areas of the US such as the ones I mentioned are generally democratic. Notice how those same areas have highly educated women, have high science research facilities and universities, and are furthest away from the bible belt, with exceptions of course.

I think you're letting your background cloud your judgement. Like it allows you to paint with a broad brush because you used to belong to a group where you saw that.

I grew up in a rough neighborhood in Southern California. Big gang problems. A LOT of ignorant and violent people. Should I paint with a broad brush? I could easily say that most people there are pretty racist themselves, and have a lot of other pretty ignorant beliefs.

The thing is, I think we need to realize that whether you're in California or Arkansas, there is ignorance in the general populace.

What you're trying to do is justify perpetuating a stereotype by giving generalities and geography. This technique used to be common to justify prejudice against people of color. Shouldn't we judge people as INDIVIDUALS?

[ImmortalWarrior]

I'm Canadian btw. It's painfully obvious to the rest of the world that the US has an education problem. Just like Canada gets better as we kick the Catholics out of government (slowly but surely the provinces are removing special privileges for Catholics) the US would get better by getting those damn right wing Christians out of education and policy making.

[ImmortalWarrior]

Whether I paint with a broad brush or not doesn't detract from my earlier points. Christian fundamentalism is not the answer, and as much as Republicans might have some policies correct, the massive anti-progressive god loving crap is a big negative.

[ImmortalWarrior]

I think you're letting your background cloud your judgement. Like it allows you to paint with a broad brush because you used to belong to a group where you saw that.

I grew up in a rough neighborhood in Southern California. Big gang problems. A LOT of ignorant and violent people. Should I paint with a broad brush? I could easily say that most people there are pretty racist themselves, and have a lot of other pretty ignorant beliefs.

The thing is, I think we need to realize that whether you're in California or Arkansas, there is ignorance in the general populace.

What you're trying to do is justify perpetuating a stereotype by giving generalities and geography. This technique used to be common to justify prejudice against people of color. Shouldn't we judge people as INDIVIDUALS?

I'm so far from racist its not even amusing. You're strawmanning the core points.

[Winning Guy]

Rick Santorum himself stated that the intelligent will never be on their side.

His words, not mine.

And you know what, he's just stating what everyone else in the world thinks, only he's stupid enough to actually say it in public.

Does Santorum represent all Republicans?

He's a strong social conservative that got very little support in the primaries. Yet he's the one you'll use as an excuse to paint us all with a broad brush? Thanks a lot.

Also keep in mind, academia, as an institution, is very left leaning. Those are the people that are never going to be Republican. They definitely aren't going to be social conservatives the way that Santorum is.

However, that's not to say that there aren't "intelligent" people who are religious and social conservatives. There are. I don't disagree with them most of the time, but I don't dismiss their arguments and automatically assume that they are filled with hate.

[Winning Guy]

I'm sure you could, but to what end?

Exactly.

It's easy to cherry pick instances and people and then prejudge others based off it.

It's human nature. But it's not the right thing to do.

[Winning Guy]

Whether I paint with a broad brush or not doesn't detract from my earlier points. Christian fundamentalism is not the answer, and as much as Republicans might have some policies correct, the massive anti-progressive god loving crap is a big negative.

The fact that you paint with a broad brush does detract from everything. Well, to me it does.

[Winning Guy]

I'm so far from racist its not even amusing. You're strawmanning the core points.

I'm not calling you a racist.

Reread my post.

I'm saying that there is ignorance everywhere, and seeing it where we grew up doesn't mean that it isn't in areas where we didn't grow up.

I don't really see why it's so difficult to get you to agree that we shouldn't be making broad judgements, and should just judge people as people. I thought that's what we all wanted. But for some reason, many (not just yourself) have a hard time with it when it comes to politics. They see everyone on the other side as evil villains.

At least when it's the right doing it to the left, it's called out as wrong. But when it's the left doing it to the right, well... that's okay.

[berty6294]

I'm Canadian btw. It's painfully obvious to the rest of the world that the US has an education problem. Just like Canada gets better as we kick the Catholics out of government (slowly but surely the provinces are removing special privileges for Catholics) the US would get better by getting those damn right wing Christians out of education and policy making.

You callin me unejumicated?

But seriously this is why I was all for Ron Paul from the get go! He wanted to get religion out of the government completely! He wanted to drastically cut spending and give people more rights. HE should have been president, he was the right man for the right job at the absolute best time!

[mlm1950]

You callin me unejumicated?

But seriously this is why I was all for Ron Paul from the get go! He wanted to get religion out of the government completely! He wanted to drastically cut spending and give people more rights. HE should have been president, he was the right man for the right job at the absolute best time!

The problem with Ron Paul that his ideas are so loaded with common sense and political intelligence, that to people bogged down in the anti-liberal or anti-conservative rhetoric, he looks like a lunatic. Then there are the fringe people that mistake his personal beliefs as his political beliefs.

Plus, there is too much money grabbing and influence peddling going on for someone like him to have a chance.

[berty6294]

The problem with Ron Paul that his ideas are so loaded with common sense and political intelligence, that to people bogged down in the anti-liberal or anti-conservative rhetoric, he looks like a lunatic. Then there are the fringe people that mistake his personal beliefs as his political beliefs.

Plus, there is too much money grabbing and influence peddling going on for someone like him to have a chance.

exacty. and honest to god I see that changing soon. i think the younger generations are starting to see past the bs and are starting to try and make change. I know a lot of people in the early 20s and late teens who are in favor of Ron Pauls ideas. next election will bring in millions of new voters that see like me and will hopefully shift the election towards a candidate similar to Ron Paul.

I cant say it enough, I feel like he is the perfect candidate for the US right now!

[Winning Guy]

The problem with Ron Paul that his ideas are so loaded with common sense and political intelligence, that to people bogged down in the anti-liberal or anti-conservative rhetoric, he looks like a lunatic. Then there are the fringe people that mistake his personal beliefs as his political beliefs.

Plus, there is too much money grabbing and influence peddling going on for someone like him to have a chance.

Ron Paul's problem was delivery. He's not the most charismatic person. But damn, that guy is a straight shooter.

Both sides painted him as a lunatic. It also hurt that certain segments that followed him believed in some pretty crazy conspiracies, which hurt him because those are the ones that political opponents focused on.

[Laura Knotek]

Ron Paul's age hurt too. Not of lot of people would vote for a candidate who is already past the average life expectancy of a typical male in the US.

[Winning Guy]

It also doesn't help that he looks an awful lot like Magneto, the leader of the evil mutants.

Just sayin...