Comments on: Now I'm pissed http://noisyastronomer.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/ Thu, 17 May 2012 22:06:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: becky ws http://noisyastronomer.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-120 becky ws Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:51:00 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-120 From across the pond, to me it seems crazy to vote for a third party in the US. *What* third party?!<br/>It makes some sense in the UK to vote for the third party here, the Liberal Democrats, in areas where they have a chance of beating the incumbant. But in the US, correct me if I'm wrong, the two main parties are so dominant that this would effectively just be a protest vote. Wouldn't you just be giving more ground to the Republicans instead? It seems that even if Obama is not perfect, it's *safer* to vote for him than risk McCain getting in.<br/><br/>On another note I think it's sad that American politics is so obsessed with its own nationality. I mean, the only "real" Americans are people with native roots, everyone else is immigrant, so all this "anti-American" talk really just means "anti-Conservative" doesn't it? Or am I being too simplistic ;)<br/><br/>I am waiting for the parties in the streets when Obama wins by the way! From across the pond, to me it seems crazy to vote for a third party in the US. *What* third party?!
It makes some sense in the UK to vote for the third party here, the Liberal Democrats, in areas where they have a chance of beating the incumbant. But in the US, correct me if I’m wrong, the two main parties are so dominant that this would effectively just be a protest vote. Wouldn’t you just be giving more ground to the Republicans instead? It seems that even if Obama is not perfect, it’s *safer* to vote for him than risk McCain getting in.

On another note I think it’s sad that American politics is so obsessed with its own nationality. I mean, the only “real” Americans are people with native roots, everyone else is immigrant, so all this “anti-American” talk really just means “anti-Conservative” doesn’t it? Or am I being too simplistic ;)

I am waiting for the parties in the streets when Obama wins by the way!

]]> By: Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum http://noisyastronomer.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-119 Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:49:00 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-119 Rich:<br/>I'm with you, Rich (as one Rich to another ;-) I'm dee-gusted with those Republican schmucks who equate education with eliteism. (As if being elite was an ism.) Our fighting forces are elite too, aren't they? What's their problem with the elite? Arrgh!<br/><br/>(Actually I know they have no real problem with the elite, they're trying to use education as a wedge issue with the uneducated masses.)<br/><br/>phlebas:<br/>So whatcha gonna do? Throw your vote away on Nader? That's exactly what the puppetmasters want you to do. Daddy Rove is smiling.<br/><br/>[/off rant]<br/><br/>Bachmann is as scary as Palin. She's channeling Joe McCarthy! Rich:
I’m with you, Rich (as one Rich to another ;-) I’m dee-gusted with those Republican schmucks who equate education with eliteism. (As if being elite was an ism.) Our fighting forces are elite too, aren’t they? What’s their problem with the elite? Arrgh!

(Actually I know they have no real problem with the elite, they’re trying to use education as a wedge issue with the uneducated masses.)

phlebas:
So whatcha gonna do? Throw your vote away on Nader? That’s exactly what the puppetmasters want you to do. Daddy Rove is smiling.

[/off rant]

Bachmann is as scary as Palin. She’s channeling Joe McCarthy!

]]> By: phlebas http://noisyastronomer.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-118 phlebas Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:07:00 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-118 Hahahahah. Noisy, I have this image of you lunging across a table, shouting SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS at Nancy Pfotenhauer, and smacking her upside the head with a hardbound copy of The Federalist Papers. <br/><br/>I miss the days when we could have vigorous-yet-friendly discussions about religion and politics. Or at least politics -- not sure we ever could about religion. But these days, the only things we can disagree on without starting a fight/crusade/inquisition are movies. (Even then, I got someone redfaced when I told them that the <i>Transformers</i> movie was made <b>for</b> people in a persistant vegetative state <b>by</b> people in a persistant vegetative state.)<br/><br/>And it's been like this at least since Bill Clinton took office. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I don't recall it being so personal in the Reagan/Bush I years.<br/><br/>But this attitude now... wtf? If you disagree with McCain, you hate America? If you don't want Obama to win, you're a racist? This is the best we can do? Serious political analysis is 120 seconds of Laura Ingraham bitching at Christopher Hitchens for voting Obama because of Palin?<br/><br/>I would be relieved to think we only have two more weeks of this bullshit. But the second the election is over, we'll have a fresh wave of bullshit that will last until the next election.<br/><br/>I'm still leaning towards voting third-party, but I am warming up to the idea of doing whatever pisses off people like Michelle Bachmann and Elizabeth Dole the most.<br/><br/>Hal Bidlack had a great line when he was interviewed on the Skepticality podcast. I don't recall his exact words, but to paraphrase: "I'm running as a supporter of the Constitution -- and it's very sad that being pro-Constitution is an actual position instead of the default position for everyone." Hahahahah. Noisy, I have this image of you lunging across a table, shouting SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS at Nancy Pfotenhauer, and smacking her upside the head with a hardbound copy of The Federalist Papers.

I miss the days when we could have vigorous-yet-friendly discussions about religion and politics. Or at least politics — not sure we ever could about religion. But these days, the only things we can disagree on without starting a fight/crusade/inquisition are movies. (Even then, I got someone redfaced when I told them that the Transformers movie was made for people in a persistant vegetative state by people in a persistant vegetative state.)

And it’s been like this at least since Bill Clinton took office. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention, but I don’t recall it being so personal in the Reagan/Bush I years.

But this attitude now… wtf? If you disagree with McCain, you hate America? If you don’t want Obama to win, you’re a racist? This is the best we can do? Serious political analysis is 120 seconds of Laura Ingraham bitching at Christopher Hitchens for voting Obama because of Palin?

I would be relieved to think we only have two more weeks of this bullshit. But the second the election is over, we’ll have a fresh wave of bullshit that will last until the next election.

I’m still leaning towards voting third-party, but I am warming up to the idea of doing whatever pisses off people like Michelle Bachmann and Elizabeth Dole the most.

Hal Bidlack had a great line when he was interviewed on the Skepticality podcast. I don’t recall his exact words, but to paraphrase: “I’m running as a supporter of the Constitution — and it’s very sad that being pro-Constitution is an actual position instead of the default position for everyone.”

]]> By: Rich http://noisyastronomer.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-117 Rich Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:49:00 +0000 http://astronoise.wordpress.com/2008/10/21/now-im-pissed/#comment-117 I think it boils down to the fact that the Republicans can't point to why their candidates should be elected, so they've fallen back on one of the oldest tricks in the book - vilifying the "enemy" so that they can get their voter base motivated. It's not like they can legitimately claim that McCain will support policies any different than the current administration's - which doesn't stop them from trying, of course.<br/><br/>But yeah, the whole "educated people education are elitist and out of touch with the common man" shtick really gets to me, too. Never mind that they're the ones who are responsible for ensuring that you're not living in a mud hut and gnawing on rabbit bones. I think it boils down to the fact that the Republicans can’t point to why their candidates should be elected, so they’ve fallen back on one of the oldest tricks in the book – vilifying the “enemy” so that they can get their voter base motivated. It’s not like they can legitimately claim that McCain will support policies any different than the current administration’s – which doesn’t stop them from trying, of course.

But yeah, the whole “educated people education are elitist and out of touch with the common man” shtick really gets to me, too. Never mind that they’re the ones who are responsible for ensuring that you’re not living in a mud hut and gnawing on rabbit bones.

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