Mrs. V, I could not agree more, and I think we're really on the same page here. It would be cool if we all lived in the same city and could (I'm serious) organize a group volunteer weekend thing or something. From this very board, I've learned a lot about people who look at things from a different angle. Along those lines, andymoon, I think you were out of line. What you posted was basically the liberal equivalent of Rush Limbaugh anger, and while I know you feel it sincerely, I don't think it's productive. Save it for Trader_Jorge ( ). reallybaked, I am starting to reread the Zinn book just now. I posted a thread asking historians about him some time ago. It seems like everyone says its a solid readable book for the non-Historian. It has a definite angle, but the research is very solid. I think it's fascinating reading.
Getting back to the original economic question, you have to give Republicans their due. After getting slapped around by Democrats for 40 years with only an heroic General to completely stave off irrelevance, they sloughed off the idea that they were the party of the rich and became the party of "You can be rich just like us." They've done a brilliant job of making the concerns of the wealthy the concerns of the working class, buttressed by things like ridiculously wasteful entryways in new houses, whirlpool tubs, big cars, and all the cheap imitation trappings of the good life funded by an increasingly rising level of personal debt. People think they are well off and want to belong to the well off party and in a sense they are delusional, as any major economic upheaval will crush those without a solid financial foundation... which is most of the suburban types that trend Republican. One thing I have never understood is why there are so many angry young male Republicans... what do they have to be mad about? They ususally have the basic comforts of life, an education, a job, and are usually from the dominant ethnic group within this country (WASP). I don't get it.
I think you astutely pointed out their... shortcomings... in another thread, some months ago. All hail the sexual magnetism of us jeans-not-dockers, weed-not-martinis bohemian dudes!
do you guys really believe this crap??? that the republican party changed our culture this much on its own??? are you even remotely serious?? this is so delusional, it's not funny. is this how you explain the dems getting their asses whipped in the mid-term elections?? are these the fairy tales you tell yourself at night to sleep easier? angry young male Republicans? yeah, i'm freaking pissed off. i'm young...i identify more with the republican party...i'm definitely male...i'm also white (you missed that one)...i went to college...now...because of that, let's see how many other character traits we can "assign" me this morning.
this levity points out just how absurd these "other side" beliefs are. they're crap!! do the dems on this board, other than the ones I've actually hung out with, hang out with only other people of the exact same viewpoints?? it sure seems that way. get out and meet your conservative neighbors...they might surprise you!
If you had ever really read anything I post, you would find that I am just as disillusioned by the Dems as I am the Reps. I never called her stupid, you decided to use that word. At WORST, she is gullible, which is not even in the same ballpark as stupid. I guess that you can only see the dark side of the Dems and keep your eyes closed to the sins of the other side. That is OK, if you want to be half blind, that is your choice (that was directed at Max, not Ms. Valdez). I choose to open my eyes and look at EVERYONE'S missteps as this is the only way I know to get the whole picture. While I admit that I argue against the Reps more than I do the Dems, this is primarily because the Dems are justified on their social issues. When it comes to fiscal policy, I am typically on the conservative side.
I for one do not believe it. Politics like the economy is cyclical. Now is the time for the Republicans to bask in the sun. Like the Democrats, the Republicans will be lead by its activists until the moderate middle will boot them from office.
I didn't see my comment as disrespectful, but I will offer an apology to Ms. Valdez if my comment was insensitive or caused her any angst. If there was any fire or anger to my comment, it was directed at the Republican LEADERSHIP, who are a bunch of rich, white elitists who simply want to make their class (the upper one) even richer, no matter what it does to other people or the country as a whole. Lets face it, if our society completely collapses, the rich people will be able to leave very easily while the rest of us will be stuck like Chuck!
Yes. I think they did a great job redefining the party from the Mid-1960's to now. Much of the credit goes to Nixon. The mid-terms were close. Take away a couple of fatal plane crashes and the Dems control the Senate. Do you have to pump yourself up with Kick-ass Republican victory fairy tales to sleep at night? I wasn't saying all young republicans are angry, just that there seem to be a good number of those who are. (And I didn't miss "white." I think I referenced WASPs. )
reading the above, this is really the only one i WANT to respond to. arguing with andymoon is like dogs chasing the elusive "rabbit" at a dog track...redefines the argument every time a point is made. my point is simply that this labelling of everyone who votes one way or the other is silly...i'm glad you see that too, b-bob.
Come on Andy, I don't have any love for the Republican policy makers, but to say that most don't care or impune Mrs. V isn't right in her thinking and belief of Republicans. She is speaking from her own experience. She's obviously seen the things that she's seen. I don't think Ronald Reagan cared about the plight of S. Africa or he wouldn't have vetoed the sanctions against it which helped bring down Apartheid. I don't however think that means that Republicans are all racists, and that any who are in the party but fight for civil rights are naive, don't really know what their party stands for etc.
Awww shucks. MadMax, would you agree with rimrocker to the extent that the Rep. party has done a much better job with planning its strategy than the Dem. party? Would you agree that the Rep. party is simply much better organized right now? I'm not asking for more than that, but I think we could all agree that that much is true. For what it's worth, I sense a lot of anger on all sides right now. My mother-in-law is staying with us right now, and she was telling a story about a friend of hers, a friend of 40 years mind you... they were driving around together and the friend demanded to get out of the car during a political argument about Bush. They've patched things up, but it's been difficult. To me, that sums up just how frustrated people are with one another these days. Me? I'm not angry... (lights incense, begins chanting with a few bong hits mixed in...)
1. absolutely i agree...but i don' t think that sparked the kind of cultural change he's talking about...i don't think enough people take politics seriously enough to change their lifestyles and assume massive credit debt so they can be known as "republicans." that's utterly ridiculous. 2. SERENITY NOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!
Whatever. The only reason I am elusive is because you can't find legitimate points to pin me down with. Don't blame me when it is YOUR logic that is failing.
I can only judge them by their actions, which smack of elitism. And deserves to be told when her leaders lie to her, distort facts, and mask their true motives. I don't think that ALL Republicans are white elitists with racist tendancies, but their leaders sure SEEM to be.
ok, thanks. you might want to let everyone else on the boards know that exact same sentiment, because i'm certainly not the first to say that...keep on keeping on, brother
You and DD. You because of the Roe thread and DD because of the prohibition thread. Both because you couldn't come up with anything legitimate.
ummmm...and codell...and major....i'm sure i'm leaving someone out. major wrote a whole long post on your bait and switch arguing tactics
