My personal opinion is that vlaurelio should be permanently banned from the website. This latest outburst is not out of character for him, as he has developed a reputation for posting nothing but angry rants against his political opponents. He has a Howard Dean-esque rage built up in him. I've never seen any substance in any of his posts. To be casually dropping race bombs on people, then reponding to their rightful outrage by cussing them out is beyond the pale. TOODLES, V.L.
On the subject matter, vote for Ford. This election cycle, the Republicans need to be punished to the max, pure and simple, just like 1994 and the Democrats. In 2008, we can take another look at both sides.
From a conservative: Vote for Harold Ford, Jr. He's a politician who'd make Barry Goldwater proud. He's very similar politically to the old Southern conservative Democrats. He's a lot more like Kay Bailey Hutchison than Ted Kennedy.
No - you have it wrong. Only in grade school do people go around screaming "he's a tattletale!" as you apparently are doing. Here, people don't like insinuated race-baiting and try to get rid of it.
Wow, I was just going to write something similar to this. I'm voting for Kay Bailey Hutchison here, but I've been following the Tennessee race really closely and I would definitely support Ford. The Senate functions best with moderates, and both Ford and Hutchison are. Whether you think Ford is disingenuous isnt important really, because he's 36 years old. He's going to run for re-election it seems and he's never going to vote in a manner in which the people of Tennessee would have reason to vote him out of office. You can look at that cynically, but isnt that what you want in your senator? Someone that represents you and your views? As for Corker, I don't see someone who leads when I look at him. Of course, obviously, that's my opinion, but one thing that always bothers me about Corker is he attacks Ford for having been in Washington for a decade. Yet, he tried to run for the US Senate in 1994. He would have been there for 12 years. What would he have done? He seems like one of those senators that follows the party and is never seen or heard from again... A Thad Cochran, a John Ensign, a Lisa Kurkowski, a Jeff Bingaman, etc. That's not to say you want someone blustering about everyday on cable news, but a moderate, charismatic person like Ford is going to become a leader in the senate. Can you see him just becoming one out of a hundred? I can't... I guarantee he will have more power in his party (as a moderate) than Corker will have in his (as a "go along with").
holy crap someone put a frikkin gun to my head, I agree with The Conquistadork. and that crack from thegary was way outta line also. but considering he at least doesnt do it constantly should get him only a timeout imo. I know this is the D&D folks...but last thing I want is my 13 yr old reading over my shoulder as I scroll across a graphic desciption about the male anatomy and someone's ass. thats low even for this poopit.
I have reported everyone who posted in this thread to the proper authorities. And I reported the fat people twice, once for posting, a second time for being fat.
I have put him on ignore, but only after enduring numerous personal attacks and harrassment....not limited to comments about my race I didn't appreciate. I have reported him to the mods as well...Personally, I have never seen much contribution from his posts - he mainly attacks someone in a personal way and is constantly making cynical baseless innuendos. I doubt he'll get banned, but I'm sure he will sluck away if people just start ignoring his posts althogether.
From the original thread topic: My father is a liberal dem with a massive gun collection ~ he has zero fear that anyone is going to take his weapons. Vote democrat -- it's time for a balance of power in the country again.
Very good point(s). I'm amazed at how I initially I thought of Corker as a no -doubt at one time earlier this year. The pro Corker ads proclaimed Ford Jr. went to the Univ. of Penn., Corker went here at Univ. of Tenn. plus, the point you made, (it's almost as if you seen the ads here in Tenn., you hit it right on), making Ford Jr. appear as an outsider seems the wrong strategy to me because it appears as a "reaching" type tactic. Ford Jr. is very, very charismatic. You see that from the strength of his speech's and his style, no doubt. Earlier this year, I thought of him as just a smooth talker, but from the initial research on his credibility,...it is sound so far. Corker is/was the consummate choice,...almost perfect in a sense that he seemed "ideal", but that ideal is centered on as you stated as a "go along with". Both good and bad in respects. Thinking about it,... Ford Jr.'s appeal is largely about NOT being a "go along with", which indeed suggests him to have the impact and leadership from the left side I have been wanting...
Roxran, the other point to consider here is what a vote for a Democrat means in terms of Congressional leadership positions. What you may consider to be a harmless vote for a Democrat, could be a vote that boosts certified whack-jobs like Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid into a position of power. Perhaps the stupidest person to ever represent an American in Congress, Charles Rangel, could become the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in the House, should the liberals pick up enough seats. Rangel is FIRMLY committed to raising taxes. Firmly. So what appears to be an innocent vote for a centrist Democrat, could in fact wind up being much more costly. If it's a toss-up in your mind, vote Republican.
Yeah,....That has crossed my mind. Unfortunately, that is something to dwell on in the "big picture"...
Harold Ford is running for the Senate. Charles Rangel and Nancy Pelosi are in the House. There's no point to even mention them.
Y'all, Roxran started this thread with a very thoughtful and civil post and a few of us here have instead devolved into pettiness. Sure Vlaurelio's comment was over the line but so has the response to it. Back to Roxran's original post. I've certainly had many disagreements with you (Roxran) but have always appreciated the respect and honesty you've shown to me. As far as your choice regarding who to vote for I think a few other posters have made the point already about divided government in forcing both sides to moderate but you also might want to consider that Washington itself is in need of moderates. A person like Ford could help work across the lines and bring some cooperation back to Congress. Also Roxran you'll be glad to know that I've listened to a lot of your advice.
Another exaggeration is that Harry Reid is some radical liberal unwilling to work with people on the other side. If you have any knowledge of his career, and followed the senate you would know that is the furthest from the truth. Elections may bring new accord in Senate Next majority leader - McConnell or Reid - have history of deal-making By Charles Babington The Washington Post Updated: 7:12 a.m. CT Oct 29, 2006 Regardless of whether Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) or Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) prevails as the Senate's next majority leader, one thing seems certain: Either one will show more interest in the institution's often obscure traditions than the departing majority leader, Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). What that means as a practical matter, however, is less certain. Some congressional scholars say it could mean greater bipartisan accord because McConnell and Reid are consummate deal-makers whose top priority is legislative achievement, whereas Frist's presidential ambitions have shadowed his comments and deeds as majority leader. But both men are also dogged by questions about financial dealings that could provide ammunition for opponents in the next Congress, which is virtually sure to be narrowly divided. McConnell and Reid rose through the Senate ranks by mastering the rules and building strong relationships with colleagues. Both are combative lawyer-politicians who overcame childhood challenges and are now in their mid-60s. Unlike Frist, a surgeon, they are veteran practitioners of the Senate's opaque, clubby brand of politics, with no apparent desire to become president or grab television time to espouse their parties' goals. Many senators say that either Reid or McConnell, because of their backgrounds, can lead the Senate with more skill than Frist, 54, who struggled to build winning coalitions on issues such as immigration, Social Security and the nominations of several judges and John R. Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former senator Alan K. Simpson (R-Wyo.) said McConnell and Reid are tenacious politicians steeped in the Senate's ways. McConnell, he said, "is one of the savviest political operatives that I've ever worked with." He called Reid, a former amateur boxer, "an old fist-fighter and a hell of a trial lawyer." Each has shown an occasional independent streak. McConnell was one of three GOP senators to vote against a constitutional ban on flag desecration, which failed this year by one vote. Reid was among 14 Democrats who backed it. Reid bucks Democratic orthodoxy by opposing legalized abortion in most circumstances. Still, both men, Simpson said, will have to play down their partisan tendencies and emphasize their desire for legislative accomplishments if the next Congress is to succeed. "It doesn't matter who the leader is if there's no outreach to the other party," he said. 'Desire to work together' Such efforts have begun. Reid phoned McConnell shortly before Congress recessed last month "to discuss his desire to work together next year on a bipartisan basis to work on the priorities of the American people," said Reid spokesman Jim Manley. He said McConnell "expressed a similar desire and willingness." In a recent interview, McConnell said he especially hopes the next Congress will address the long-term financial needs of Social Security and Medicare. He blamed Democrats for blocking President Bush's 2005 bid to revamp Social Security. "When are we going to deal with these problems?" he asked. Reid said last week: "If Republicans are serious about addressing this nation's fiscal problems and strengthening Social Security and Medicare, Senate Democrats are willing to reach across the aisle and get to work." But he ruled out "privatizing Social Security." Former Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.), now with a Washington lobbying firm, said that partisans and colleagues will pull Reid and McConnell in different directions and that the next Senate's fate will largely turn on how they react. "They will be under great pressure from some in their ranks to engage in partisan combat, especially with the presidential election only two years away," Daschle said. "But regardless of who has the majority, they will also be under equal pressure to prove that they can govern." In their combined 42 years in the Senate, McConnell and Reid have toiled energetically for their parties, raising funds and recruiting candidates while becoming personally well off. But their energies have triggered criticisms. Recent hard-hitting news articles have focused on questionable land transactions by Reid and aggressive fundraising by McConnell. The two men say they have played by the rules and have broken no laws, and neither appears subject to a serious challenge from party colleagues. But the recent round of articles suggests that both continue to test the limits on raising and spending campaign money -- a practice almost certain to draw more scrutiny when one of them assumes the Senate's top post. "The no-quarter-asked, no-quarter-given atmosphere is not going to disappear after this campaign," said Ross K. Baker, a Rutgers University scholar on Congress. "Any weakness will be highlighted; any lapse will be emphasized." Money issues McConnell, 64, who battled polio as a child, is best-known for his fierce resistance to a series of campaign finance changes generally dubbed McCain-Feingold. He argues unapologetically that politicians should raise as much money as legally possible to further their goals and attack their enemies. His no-holds-barred approach to fundraising has endeared him to many GOP colleagues but has prompted criticism from others. Most recently, the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader published a series of articles portraying the senator as an insatiable solicitor of political money from interest groups -- including tobacco companies, car makers and pharmaceutical firms -- with whom he is cozy. The articles concluded that McConnell has raised nearly $220 million during his Senate career, and pushes so hard that even his closest allies sometimes rebel. "Are you feeling a choking sensation?" a vice president for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. was quoted as saying in an e-mail after the senator had asked the firm for $200,000 in "soft money" to aid Republican campaigns. McConnell defends his aggressive fundraising, equating political advocacy with free speech. "You must have money in politics, because it's the only way the candidates can get their message across," he said. Reid, 66, has occasionally been forced to explain his involvement in transactions that mixed politics with profits. In 2003, the Los Angeles Times published lengthy articles chronicling his sponsorship of legislation that promised benefits to Nevada developers, corporations and institutions whose lobbyists included the senator's sons and son-in-law. Reid's staff later barred relatives from lobbying his office. This month, the Associated Press reported that Reid did not disclose to Congress that he sold land in Nevada to a friend's company in 2001 and took part ownership of the firm. He collected a sizeable profit when the land was sold again in 2004. Reid, who had a hardscrabble childhood, said he had never tried to hide his ownership of the land, but later he amended his ethics reports to more fully reflect the transactions. Reid said these issues are behind him, and he promised a new tone in Washington if Democrats take over the Senate. © 2006 The Washington Post Company URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15468809/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2006 MSNBC.com
Yikes,... ground and pound plus swat ninja skills ...I surrender! p.s. The pic of the dog on your fridge looks like my new Jack Russell pup... Thanks for the kind words as well.
How did people react to that? I'm a Republican, etc, but I don't think someone going to an Ivy League school should be a negative thing, if anything it should be a positive. I spent the last 4 years in college in the state of Tennessee, but I sure am a Texan and that would have nothing to do with whether or not I'd be a good senate member for Texas.
