Oh woe is you…
When I think back over the past 10 years, several things come to mind. This decade will go down in my memory as the decade of unearned trust, foolish optimism, and false hope, but Obama had nothing to do with it.
Step into the Way-Back Machine for a second with me. Remember America coming together to collectively beat the shit out of a bunch of people in a place Americans couldn’t locate on a world map? Remember how we made fortunes off of wonderful business opportunities and long-term investments? Do you remember 8 years of the middle class turning a blind eye to the poor, because the good times would never end for white people?
We are reaping what we have sown. We endured eight years of letting Goerge W. Bush and Dick “I Shoot My Friends In The Face” Cheney hand over this country’s wealth to a select few individuals (some might say a hand-selected few). Eight years of not questioning, eight years of trust, optimism, and hope. “Just think positive,” we were told.
Except… positive thinking doesn’t fix anything. Trust doesn’t lead to government accountability. Optimism doesn’t prevent economic bubbles from bursting. Hope doesn’t pay off a mortgage.
We had eight long years of Americans ignoring what was going on, blindly trusting in their government, optimistic that each of them would one day hit it big and be one of the rich few, hopeful that those times of living out of their car would be nothing but a funny anecdote to tell fellow rich entrepreneurs over champagne and caviar.
America was asleep, but the dream was ending.
Then all of a sudden… WHOA! America decided it was time to criticize again, and just in time for it to not make a bit of difference. After eight years of Republican fuck uppery, everyone and their mother had a strong opinion about politics. After eight years of being run through the Republican ringer, Americans had first-hand experience with what tyranny was, and we weren’t going to take it anymore…
…least of all from some uppity nigger.
So the white middle class woke up, and as it turned out, the only people left in it were old. So elderly people bought bus, train and airplane tickets with their Social Security checks and marched on Washington to protest Socialism. They knew the middle class was shrinking… just look at how few people showed up!
Like any typical Alzheimer’s patient, they forgot the last decade and expressed a confused anger about what seemed to be happening right that second, because that was all they were sure of. Who could be bothered to remember that the Republicans had passed bailouts in their final days in office? Obama was already elected, so the fact that Bush signed them must mean he was just doing it for Obama, right?
Eight years of civic silence, and sure enough, the American people forgot how to debate, how to discuss policy… really they forgot how to do anything but draw a Hitler mustache on their opponent.
Obama has had to settle for leading a country that just wants to cross its arms and pout, not roll up its sleeves and do anything. The truth is, we’ll never know what kind of president Obama would have been, because the guy was never given a chance.
He’s like a pitcher brought into the game in the top of the 9th, with the bases loaded, and his team down by fifteen runs. Even if he strikes the guy out, a save is out of the question. And the fact that people in the stands are pelting him with everything they can get their hands on doesn’t help matters. What’s more, the Republicans who are on deck to bat for team America when Obama ends the inning have all promised to not even swing.
Eight innings of Bush pitching a blow-out loss, but it’s Obama who gets booed by the crowd. It makes perfect sense to a rowdy mob of drunkards, I imagine.
Frankly, I don’t give a shit. I’m not an Obama fan. I’m not holding onto his rookie card hoping it will skyrocket in value. I’m just a fan of the team, I want us to win, and I’m thinking about the rest of the season. A team that not only won’t work together, but actively sabotages its own team mates is a frustrating thing to see.
Even more annoying are the fans who, after the game, will sit in the bars and call into radio talk shows to blast the closer’s performance, speaking nothing of the situation he was in. They’ll demand we string up this “tribesman” from the highest rafters, because we’ll never make the playoffs with that communist in the bullpen.
They even tailgate together in groups before the game, sitting around complaining in their little pity parties about how now, they have to wait for next season. Except… the season just started. Why the doomed mentality?Would you like some aged cheese to go with that whine?
Tea Party my ass. They’re nothing but a bunch of entitled babies crying that the pitcher they root for left the game.
Who pissed in your breakfast Bret...
ReplyDeleteTalk about short memory, care to tell us WHEN the patriot act actually was written? - I'll tell you Cigar Clinton (and don't think I blame him, I would not hump that old hag and Monica was actually a little BBW hottie).
Social Security scam was sold to the ignorant American public when the country was going into a "love fest" with socialism and communism, later they would find out about the death and destruction but only AFTER the MSM covered it up for years and years.
Obama is a puppet just like Bush the stupid, and if you think someone like me had ANY support for that retard and his tromping on our rights under the cover of a "made in china" patriotic flag you are deluding yourself.
Did some racist bully kick your ass when you were a kid? Your dripping hate you spout off all the time is strange.
Why do you continuously use the "Fallacy of Origins" it's as if that one in particular was pounded into your head in college...
Here is where we agree...
Americans are not only ignorant but WILLFULLY ignorant, they worship ignorance!
We are three months away from christians burning witches, if they ever create a theocracy witch burnings would be months away.
You are pointing out the Beck and Hannity following mouth breathers grouping together but have you observed the lockstep progressives, hippies, and unthinking hating PCers?
The saddest thing is that this goes on where the people think that one side or the other will "fix" something and of course there will NEVER be any attempt to "fix" anything because what is happening is planned it is not an accident - it is a path to the new combination corporate fascism and social communism fused.
Smart people make bad slaves.
The PATRIOT act was written and passed by Republicans, and signed by Bush, not Clinton. We have no way of knowing if Clinton would have signed it, and frankly I have no desire to defend or chastize the guy and say he would or wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteMass murders have nothing to do with Socialism. I'm sorry you don't understand that, but I can't say I'm surprised that someone so emotionally charged wouldn't bother to pick up a book.
Yeah, why would I ever get the impression that race is super important to some of the people who oppose Obama... where would I ever get that idea from? Oh right, listening to them and reading what they write. I should know better than to listen to any of that, I need to get my views from Fox, not MSM sources like personal blogs or casual conversations with actual people, in person (I know, how old fashioned).
We are three months away from christians burning witches, if they ever create a theocracy witch burnings would be months away.
I'm saying this as an atheist and with all due respect: you are certifiably retarded.
"The PATRIOT act was written and passed by Republicans, and signed by Bush, not Clinton"
ReplyDeleteYes it was passed under Bush - It WAS WRITTEN (started) under CLINTON - read up a bit on this, it does not help you that you did not know this fact.
That horror was compiled from several laws that did not get passed under Clinton - you don't actually think that huge monstrosity was written in response to 911 do you?
Bret, if you are going to argue at lest do a little research and read what was said before you run-off on some tangent. I did not say that socialism "CAUSES" mass murder I was pointing out the FACT that the MSM of the time was hiding the murders under communism to help promote socialism and communism as they did not want to point out the Lenin and Stalin horrors and risk the support they were getting from the "love fest" over socialism and communism popular in the US at the time.
And don't call me "emotional charged" when you are such a flash-pan elitist! - and if you have not noticed you have already dug down into the insults with no content, don't be such an easy TARGET spewing out the typical "I'm elite, I'm educated, I'm smarter than you because I'm (fill in the blank)". You have already found out that I can match your propaganda and flood you with information, you can ignore it if you want but you have already had this trounced several times.
"I'm saying this as an atheist and with all due respect: you are certifiably retarded."
I would tell you to go F yourself - but it would not help - your continued use of logical fallacies and irrational propaganda points out what I have already shown - you are an unreasonable illogical religionist - a full-on stubborn unthinking lock-step elitist who throws a fit like a five year old brat every time someone tells you "think about this"...
You are aware that christians are NOW - that is CURRENTLY - burning "witches" in several areas of the world - do you deny that fact? I can point out to videos about it from even MSM sources.
I suggest a nice cup of chi tea, a little research, and for goodness' sake stop the irrational blathering and condescending insults, and stop the condescending BS - try a few non-emotional facts you may like it, give up the propaganda tool box it has no power here! With all due respect? you would not know what that is, and I don't want or need respect - a fair review, a little thinking, some debate, all based on the subject and the content, criticisms and debate often change my mind, if based on FACTS you insults just make you look like a typical snotty college puke..
You are the one throwing outside insults and have NOT ONCE bothered to debate the content, at least not without just chucking out some propaganda you absorbed in that typical snotty elitist way that makes Atlantic coaster so "loved and wanted".
Fallacy of origin cuts both ways, you need to find a new toy!
Well.
ReplyDeleteAs outsider from Canada, from where I sit, there was plenty of criticism of Bush. An insane amount really. Here in Canada it a Bash-Bush fest everyday - except in Albert (Li'l Texas.)
Liberals in America were stark raving mad too. They tried to mobilize (e.g. Moveon.org and other "grassroots" organizations)but it didn't quite work out the way they wanted.
The only difference I see is liberals suck at moblizing and don't see through their convictions whereas the Tea Partiers are more energized.
And if you think Americans are apathetic, you should spend some time up here. Canadians are notoriously apathetic to their politics.
It "was" a Bush-Bash fest. And "Alberta." Sorry for the typos.
ReplyDeleteYes it was passed under Bush - It WAS WRITTEN (started) under CLINTON
ReplyDeleteLiterally? Like... written by Monica Lewinsky?
I don’t see how a bunch of Republicans drafting a bill in Congress has anything to do with who is in office. Do you think Bill Clinton walks around the capital checking in on everything? I mean seriously, how is the man supposed to do that and get his dick wet, am I right fellas?
You are aware that christians are NOW - that is CURRENTLY - burning "witches" in several areas of the world - do you deny that fact?
You said we’re three months away from it happening in the US. Now, I’m not saying some radical group wouldn’t take someone and light them ablaze as a witch, but that’s a far cry from holding a court trial, condemning someone to death as a witch, and burning them.
There’s a lot of shit happening in third world countries, like in the Congo, there is systematic rape. They go door to door in villages and rape the women inside. No joke. Some might call it “anarchy.” I call it tragic. I’m not running around like a dipshit with his head on fire yelling “OMG GUYZ, SEROUSLY! WE ARE PRECISELY 90 DAYS FROM A CATASTROPHIC EVENT OF THE RAPE KIND! THE ANARCHISTS ARE COMING TO RAPE EVERYONE!”
[Note to self: typing that made me feel like I was DM...]
And don’t call me "emotional charged" when you are such a flash-pan elitist!
We can’t all have 120 IQ’s like you, sir. I bow to your standardized test taking skills. The best result I ever got on an exam was when I got a B on my hepatitis test. If I’m an elitist, what would you call a social Darwinist like yourself?
Also, I would love to see some of this “information,” because it’s usually just you insulting me and Democrats. I remember once you made fun of Ted Kennedy, and I was like “People still remember that guy? I thought the only people who still cared were the bar owners in Boston who are now out of business…”
Emotion = CAPS. I’m sorry if a Democrat touched you inappropriately as a child, but you seriously have to get over it. Just because you have a raging boner for criticizing liberals doesn’t mean you have the first clue about me. Something tells me your reading comprehension skills match your eloquence, error for redundant error.
Maybe you should read what I say twice, once while you’re angry, then you can go jack off or polish off a sixer or smoke a bowl or shoot some meth or fire a gun at a bottle or whatever it is you have to do to get that raging bug up your ass to settle down, and read it again.
You are the one throwing outside insults and have NOT ONCE bothered to debate the content, at least not without just chucking out some propaganda you absorbed in that typical snotty elitist way that makes Atlantic coaster so "loved and wanted".
That was literally adorable
I also love what you did there with all the exclamation points. Is that so I know to say it with force if I’m reading it aloud? Nice touch, classy, really.
TC: You really can't compare the lack of any criticism in the American media. Millions marched in protest to him multiple times, but there was no coverage. A couple thousand retirees show up for a Fox News event, and it's "earth-shattering" to right-wingers who want to believe such.
ReplyDeleteThe American media not only dropped the ball after 9/11, they handed it to Bush and blocked for him.
The problem is liberals mobilize but they aren't funded. They are always behind in donations compared to Republicans, and it's pretty clear why: Republicans openly support corporate interests.
Where does a group that wants to challenge the rich get their money? Hence: the need for campaign finance reform.
Bret
ReplyDelete"You said we’re three months away from it happening in the US. Now, I’m not saying some radical group wouldn’t take someone and light them ablaze as a witch, but that’s a far cry from holding a court trial, condemning someone to death as a witch, and burning them."
Ok, so you miss some things - I'll give you this one because you may not be familiar with this usage from some in the prepping subculture...
The standard use of this is the quote "we are only three days away from barbarism" - that is when a destructive event happens - shit happens...
Therefore my statement - "three months away" as in it would only be three months after a theist takeover or a grid-down event before we would see this type of thing... My bad for not explaining something you are not familiar with.
And "under" Clinton or any other president is a term used to describe "while in office" and yes there were some Clinton hands on the parts that later were connected into the one big bill the Patriot act!
"I remember once you made fun of Ted Kennedy, and I was like “People still remember that guy?"
Because I'm old Bret, I remember, and he only died just recently, the old fossil was in government the entire time.
"I’m sorry if a Democrat touched you inappropriately as a child, but you seriously have to get over it. Just because you have a raging boner for criticizing liberals doesn’t mean you have the first clue about me. Something tells me your reading comprehension skills match your eloquence, error for redundant error."
Nice try, was that three or four logical fallacies at one time. I don't criticize "liberals" because they are liberals (I agree with many points) I criticize reactionary irrational religionists, regardless of if the religion is political, social, or spiritual.
You are not very good at this are you Bret?
"I also love what you did there with all the exclamation points. Is that so I know to say it with force if I’m reading it aloud? Nice touch, classy, really."
Obviously we need to placate to your limited reading skills Bret!
Irrational, condescending, and elitist is no way to go into life Bret, try a bit of hot coco...
Bret you posted...
ReplyDelete"We can’t all have 120 IQ’s like you, sir. I bow to your standardized test taking skills. The best result I ever got on an exam was when I got a B on my hepatitis test. If I’m an elitist, what would you call a social Darwinist like yourself?"
Never said what my IQ was according to standardized tests. It is irrelevant as I only vote on local elections and with protest - I actually care who the Sheriff is and who is the dog-catcher and the content is the issue not me - why are you continuing to revert to fallacy of origin, or Argument By Dismissal?
You are also making the false assumption by using the pejorative "Social Darwinist" and continue to side step the issues, kudos for the few you have not..
As for that assumption, "survival of the fittest" as often used as the base for the term "Social Darwinist" is in and of itself a fallacy as evolution does not work exactly like that, depending on the situation, biology, and the long term reactions it could be "survival of the most prolific" or "survival of the most hidden and reclusive" and others.
Humans are animals.
Humans have evolved over time.
Humans contain a somewhat unique "biological computer".
Humans have progressed in knowledge, by developing a way to store knowledge and build on previous thinking.
Humans lucked out by developing binocular vision, bipedal motion and a somewhat protective social structure - this allowed them to develop the bio-computer far in advance of our evolutionary progress with our bodies.
Humans have a preset biologically programed set of behaviors that can be overcome by the bio-computer or can be followed by choice or allowed to be the default reaction - fight or flight is an example, so is pulling away from pain - how much human behavior is pre-programed is the subject of study to this day.
Recognizing that humans are animals is not the sign of a "Social Darwinist"
Bret, if I'm saying it then it was reported no? It was up here anyway. Everyday there was a march against Bush it seems.
ReplyDeleteTC: That wasn't what our news was reporting. Trust me, I've seen Canadian news... it's much better.
ReplyDeleteAmericans didn't hear about protests against Bush, but they did know the daily happenings of Britney Spears.
America developed a serious conservative bias after 9/11. It was about the time all you heard about was "liberal bias," they started consciously catering to the administration and celebrity fetishism.
Hm.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you know how television works up here but it wasn't Canadian media outlets reporting - generally, our reporters rely on American sources and tips.
We have access to every major American news organization. You name it we get it. What we don't get (Fox News. Which is total bull because the unaccountable, unelected mafia outfit known as the CRTC (your FCC) decides what we can and cannot watch) we get on the internet.
Living in Quebec I even get Vermont, Massachussets (mostly on radio) and New York feeds to local news. Which interestingly is Fox but we don't get O'Reilly, Beck, Miller etc.
Nope. The info we get/got (aside from blogs) were from major American news services. I even remember Canadian politics shows asking if the media was "bias" against Bush.
In fact, we have our own "media is liberal is bias" debate. The crown corporation CBC - while providing solid radio programming for the most part - is ruled by liberals. That can't be refuted. Now whether it manifests itself in reporting I don't know. I'm just going with the personalities I know who work for them and by people I know who did tv work with the CBC.
It's safe to say it's liberal. If it's safe to say Maclean's is "right-wing" then it's safe to say, with some caution, the CBC is liberal.
Everyone should just come out of the closet.
Me? My perception reading blogs, papers, websites, news - I think both Obama and Bush are taking in the teeth. Sure, some will go out of their way to protect their boy (for every Eugene Robinson there's a conservative equivalent).
It all somehow adds up.
But that's just me.
I don't know what to tell you, TC. You might have been getting "American sources and tips," but the average America knows more about what was happening in Britney Spears' vagina during the Bush years than any of the organized protests. They wouldn't even show soldier's coffins coming home during the Bush years.
ReplyDeleteI understand it's impossible to try and compare what you see in Canada to what I saw in a conservative bastion like Indiana during the early part of this decade, but I imagine you wouldn't take my word for it. There was at least five solid years of "support the president or you're a terrorist, you're either a patriot or one of them" mentality.
If I were you, I would consider myself lucky you even have a liberal outlet for news. The US has none. It's all conservative, all the time, 24/7. American conservatives would probably bitch and moan at that statement, saying MSNBC is "as liberal as it gets," but I don't consider being the Democratic Party's butt-boy to be liberal. There's really nothing liberal about the Democrats, they're just moderate conservatives.