January 31st, 2008 by Atomictumor
How bout a bullet point post?
- Got a badass new phone. Its pretty. It does what I like. It makes me remember how nice it is to have a smartphone that doubles as a phone. Very nice.
- Odelay is 12 years old. I’m 30. But I feel older finding out that first bit of news.
- This Presidential election is really bumming me out. I mean, as soon as you really get in there and realize that there’ll never be an election in your lifetime that isn’t a ‘lesser of two evils’ kinda gig, they go and make it a ‘lesser of two really really lame evils’ thing. Except at this point, its a bunch of evils. Particularly now that Edwards, the only person who had a little bit of pepper (other than maybe McCain, and certainly Ron Paul, if you like you pepper flavored with a hint of fascist) is out of the race, theres really nothing in it for me. I mean, holy crap, you can sum them all up at this point as either “political party suckup” or “political party suckup”.
Please correct me if I’m wrong. I mean, if you can go out there and tell me why exactly either of the frontrunning democratic candidates deserve to be leader of the free world, other than the fact that they’ve gotten significant democratic brownie points, AND make a convincing argument, I’ll bake you… uh… brownies. Yeah. Or, for that matter, exactly how electing another candidate running on the same platform as Bush (looking at you, Romney/Huckabee) is anywhere NEAR an intelligent idea, that might get you some fried chicken.
I’m serious. This is sad in my native country. Why the hell should anybody care about the electoral process if THIS crap is the best that the electoral process can give me? No thanks, I’m fixin to opt out. - Things are shaping up nicely vis a vis matrimony. Got our officiant ready to roll, so all we need to do is ship out invitations. No, you’re not getting one. Well, maybe.
- Um… so… the house? Yeah, its on the market. Found out that one a day before closing. Apparently I kicked a cat in my sleep, and karma didn’t like it or something. Anybody wanna help me dig up a couple of mortgage payments?
- Speaking of sleep, I’ve been pondering the fact that I woke up this morning babbling something to the lady about tentacles. I still haven’t figured that one out. Maybe the cellphone contract’s on my mind…
January 31st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
So is this is a “badass” new phone like your old one was, meaning that’s it’s really big, awkward and dumb? Or was AKA nice enough to help you pick out a decent one?
I’m voting for Elmo. or maybe Beck.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Erm. So how is Ron Paul, Mr. Constitution, like a Facist?
Facists usually make more laws, Dr. Paul wants fewer.
Facists usually take away rights, Dr. Paul want to give us back the one’s Bush took away.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that one, so not really facist, but more a backwards savant. Isolating a country didn’t work when Japan tried it in the 1700s, and it won’t work if Paul tries it now. Speaking of 1700s, basing monetary value on the gold standard? The gold standard? A modern unit of monetary value, in the united states, based on the supply demand of a particular element? I mean, I understand he’s not coming out and saying “lets put the dollar on the gold standard”, he’s saying “lets have several units of currency at play, because lord knows it works so well in Europe”.
I could point out the fact that he votes against same sex union equality legislation, or the fact that he’s such a states righter that he’s going to put himself out of a job if he puts his money where his mouth is. That alone frightens me. If Tennessee gets the say so to go ahead and set up everything not explictly written by the constitution through the state legislature, I’m going to have to move, and thats going to screw a lot of things up.
And, then, what did I read about him being something like the approved candidate of the Aryans of america, or neo-nazis, or something like that? I can’t be arsed to look up links, because thats how I roll, but thats not real heartening.
Finally, its the simple fact that people who rarely know anything about politics are rallying behind this guy who has such outrageously untested political theories because its an lolcat internet phenomenon. I don’t understand this, and I don’t like it. Ann Ryndism, and therefore this brand of paleolibertarianism never appealed to me, because its written by people who don’t understand why people have children at 18 or make minimum wage at 29. Frankly, its cruel.
But maybe not fascist. So, you’re totally right, and theres no reason to debate it any further
January 31st, 2008 at 7:00 pm
As usual, too smart for me. I did want to say thanks though, because I love big words and now I can go home and look up paleolibertarianism. It gives me something to do until LOST is on.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Nice AT. Trot out a rant, make some sensationalist claims and say there’s no reason to debate it further. ‘Cause, I guess, I should take your political views as absolute truth. Nice. Whose the facist now?
Frankly you sound about as frothy as his “lolcat” supporters.
Have you actually read anything he said or written?
January 31st, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Ron Paul (and other candidates) take on same sex marriage here:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html
The CNN site also provides all candidates positions on several other issues like immigration, abortion, education, etc.
This is one of the links to info about neo nazis and Ron Paul:
http://lonestartimes.com/2007/10/25/rpb1/
There are several others, just google.
I agree that all the candidates are totally uninspiring and tools of their party. I am now living in a state that is part of Super Tuesday and am bombarded with calls. A note to the Clinton campaign, having my dinner interrupted repeatedly by robot callers for your campaign is a damn fine way to make me hate you.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
RyanShelton - you didn’t, by chance, go to ACHS, did you?
February 1st, 2008 at 6:21 am
I make it more of a point, Ryan, to read what politicians have done and said in the past, rather than what they’re claiming to do when elected. But, like I said, you’re totally right, and I’m not debating it any further.
Not that I’m concerned about swaying you, since, as my post clearly stated, I have less than a pony in this election, but more that I find political arguments on the internet to be like any other argument on the internet.
Signed,
The Frothy Fascist
February 1st, 2008 at 6:36 am
AT:
You do realize that Ron Paul was part of a racist newspaper. Why my candidate? It is simple, first men have screwed this country up long enough, give a woman a try. If it doesn’t work boot her. Second, Obama keeps saying she is a step backward. Well, think of where we were eight years ago. Balanced budget etc. Maybe we need to go backwards forwards shows no promise right now.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:38 am
“to read what politicians have done and said in the past, rather than what they’re claiming to do when elected.
AT, that sounds like something H. Clinton would say as she lays into Obama.
I have a pretty cynical view about campaign rhetoric. It’s all cut with heaping of bullshit. But that’s nothing new, is it? Since when have we had an election that wasn’t?
February 1st, 2008 at 7:27 am
/agree Bos
*
/rant on
*
I’ve long held the opinion that if anyone wants power bad enough to run for any office, then they 1.) are too crooked to deserve it, 2.) will necessarily feed everyone a constant stream of bullshit to get it, and 3.) should be emphatically denied it.
*
Hmmm…should I shoot myself in the right side of the head or the left?
*
If you don’t like any of the candidates, then you could simply not vote. One way to avoid having to choose between two evils is to refuse to choose between two evils. Every election, people enthusiastically encourage us to “make our voices heard”. Well, my voice is silent and glaring; they can take their dog and pony show and shove it.
*
/rant off
February 1st, 2008 at 7:27 am
Nice ripost, AT. I agree that “fascist” is not the word to describe Dr. Ron Paul. Indeed, I find myself agreeing with libertarians on issues like Iraq, abortion and gay marriage. But libertarians are sentimental utopians, not “fascists.” The notion that a modern urbanized nation could work with the government having no role other than national defense is just silly. Libertarian utopianism actually has more in common with communist utopianism, which believed that in the final stages of a communist society, the state would fall away.
As for the lesser of two evils, I will vote for the candidate who supports the largest number of the views I support:
• end the US military occupation of Iraq
• implement single-payer health care
• preserve reproductive choice
• legalize civil unions for same-sex couples
• repudiate torture
• re-implement the FISA court system
• close Guantanimo
• try all people accused of being “enemy combatants” by the standards of either US military law or US civil law
• implement a progressive income tax system
I don’t see anyone on the Republican side who comes close to either of the two Democratic candidates in matching my list of priorities.
Two evils? Meh. I’d say my choice is between evil and progress in the right direction.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:12 am
Joel, sounds like you’re sittin’ pretty on an easy choice. Just remember, if your side doesn’t win the coin toss this time around, you’ll still get the ball in the second half. Oh, and while we’re progressing in the right direction towards legalized civil unions, China’s sitting back, progressing by 22 fighter jets per day and laughing its ass off. Hello eye, meet ball.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:21 am
“ust remember, if your side doesn’t win the coin toss this time around, you’ll still get the ball in the second half.”
Uh, OK. Whatever.
“China’s sitting back, progressing by 22+ fighter jets per day and laughing their asses off. ”
Indeed. And China holds a large share of the US national debt, and thus has our government by the short hairs. Why is that? Because of the current Administration’s policy (aided in most years by a Republican majority in Congress, and in the rest by a Republican minority threat of filibuster) of “borrow and spend.” Tax cuts never pay for themselves. Without comparable cuts in spending, they only increase the deficit. We must either agree to cut spending or raise taxes or both. I say both: stop pissing away billions on the useless and futile military occupation of Iraq, and restore some progressivity to the federal tax structure by letting the Bush tax cuts lapse.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:29 am
Mrs Eaves: Yes I did. Crap am I outed?
AT: I’m glad you took my post in the tone I intended, no malice or vitriol, just smartassery.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:43 am
You might be a little outed. I dated your younger brother for a while. I think I even went to your wedding.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:58 am
And for the record, I’m not wild about any of the candidates either, but hell — one of them is going to end up in the White House whether we like it or not. I’m with Joel on this one. Progress may be slow, but some progress is a lot better than none at all (or moving backward).
February 1st, 2008 at 9:04 am
Mrs Eaves, You have me at an advantage.
The funny thing is that I briefly met into you Bos and kids at the Zoo last summer (Kids Cove in the creek). I’ve posted here a few times as MountZionRyan.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:19 am
Honestly, it was 15+ years ago that I first met you, and it was only a handful of times. I didn’t make the connection when we saw you guys at the zoo. What a small, small world!
Please tell Glenn and Ruth that Jamie sends her best.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Will do. They have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and just bought a house.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:11 am
“Uh, OK. Whatever.” isn’t a very strong counter argument.
I think the political parties we have to choose from are two sides of the same somebody’s gettin’ screwed coin, and either way it lands, we’ll all end up with the same result. At some point we need to start looking at the bigger picture and wake up to the fact that our superpower days are numbered; the future belongs to China and India.
*
*
“…some progress is a lot better than none at all (or moving backward).”
Eaves, while this is true, everyone defines progress in different ways. I don’t consider constantly whining, on a national scale, (over what boils down to trivial details) progress. I think it would be exceedingly progressive and beneficial to *revert back* to a presidential/national model of reluctant power, humble service, and quiet dignity.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:19 am
out of curiosity (just a question)… when has “a presidential/national model of reluctant power, humble service, and quiet dignity” happened? I can’t seem to recall…
February 1st, 2008 at 11:26 am
Seriously, is that on the menu? I must have overlooked it.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:52 am
““Uh, OK. Whatever.” isn’t a very strong counter argument.”
Neither was the comment it was used to reply to, which was essentially “if you don’t get what you want now, maybe you will later.”
*shrugs*
” . . . wake up to the fact that our superpower days are numbered; the future belongs to China and India.”
Well, that’s certainly too extreme. I don’t think the US or the European Union are gonna just disappear.
“I think it would be exceedingly progressive and beneficial to *revert back* to a presidential/national model of reluctant power, humble service, and quiet dignity.”
That’s certainly a sweet dream. Hold onto it.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:56 am
honestly… I’m definitely not opposed to that. Just really think it isn’t one of our options here. A great public servant that’s humble and progressive… and a good leader. Just don’t see it happening outta this bunch. And quiet anything isn’t going to happen. The Media took care of that for us quite awhile ago. We just have to use our individual “filters” to sort out all the crap and figure out what’s important to each of us.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I didn’t mean to imply that I thought it was a current option; I was just giving an example of something I would consider progress. (From what I’ve read, those qualities were valued in 18th century politics.)
.
Yes, I think the U.S. *will* disappear AS A SUPERPOWER in the next 50 years.
.
Joel, you’re picking apart my posts without grasping my point, and frankly, I’m tired of trying to explain it. I realize I’m a bad explainer, but lemme try one more time:
.
.
NOT VOTING IS A VALID THIRD OPTION.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
“NOT VOTING IS A VALID THIRD OPTION.”
No, I got that point. I just think it’s trivial and didn’t think it needed to be dignified with a rebuttal.
But since you insist: Most Americans don’t vote in most elections. Do you think you’re saying something insightful? Does it make you feel special to do what most people do?
February 1st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
@Jason,
Not to put too fine a point on it, people died in this country during my lifetime defending the right to vote (google Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney). I regard your attitude as a descration of their memory.
Your mileage may vary.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
@27
Glad you got it.
I’m sorry to hear you voters are such a minority. Maybe we can get you government assistance.
Nope, I don’t think it’s particularly insightful…I was just making a comment. Nope…it doesn’t make me feel particularly special (or common). I thought it was kinda cute when I called presidential campaigns “dog and pony shows” though.
See…I can be snotty too.
I won’t be reading this thread anymore, so don’t even bother.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm
@28
I regard our current choices for president as a desecration of their memory; hence, my not voting.
Sorry we disagree so strongly, but I’m finished arguing.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
See what you started AT. ;-)
February 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Yep, this is some classic Tumor.
:)
February 1st, 2008 at 3:33 pm
woo hoo!!
February 1st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Dude, it has been a while.
I like the symbolic idea of *not voting*, as a civil disobedience stance, but the thing is the message is just too washed out. I think the point is made more clearly by voting for Darth Vader or Voldemort or something like that, but they don’t usually let you write in presidential candidates.
If so, ahem, may I offer Atomictumor?
February 1st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I can’t believe you just did that. (ooooh, snap..)
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:43 am
simple question: who would you like to choose the next Supreme Court justice?
even if you can’t get excited about a candidate, please consider that issue. (uh, unless you like the shift to the right. then I’d be fine encouraging you to sit this one out.)
February 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Not voting is simply letting someone else choose for you. By your not voting, my vote counts more. Not voting is not a form of protest, it’s a form of abdication.
I had not considered voting for AT before. What is the AT platform on the issues of beer vs wine, leaving the toilet seat up vs down, and going shopping vs going buying?
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I’ve not read most of the comments here yet, but as far as election stuff goes, out of any of the actually electable candidates I’m supporting Obama. This post by some webcomic dude gives several reasons I agree with and there’s also this. In all honesty, though I heartily agree with Jason upthread in the belief that anybody who runs a realistic campaign for president is somebody who probably shouldn’t be allowed to. And it’s entirely likely I won’t actually vote on Tuesday as I never changed my registration and I’m not sure I’m willing to go stand in line someplace.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
The Ron Paul wagon is out in full force here in Oak Ridge. You can tell where they’ve been by the trail of signs they left behind.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I do miss Edwards.
He flirted and smiled that twinkly smile and then left us all alone. sigh….
I can pick one party over another and then it gets all fuzzy.
So AT? Seat up or down?