198 replies to this topic

[The Lorcan Nagle]

Aaron Sorkin in self-important blowhard shock!

[steveuk]

It does need good, critical debate though. I'm getting increasingly fed up with the stupid comments and witless jokes that are proliferating in the run-up to the election, from both sides of the fence.

Sorkin is neither witless nor stupid but he could be a damn site more effective to his beliefs if he used his skills better and with more moderation.

He'd also make more entertaining TV.

[Will]

I couldn't agree more.

[Robert B]

I don't watch that show and it's preposterous to compare the tea party to the taliban, but some of the GOP's statements and official positions on women's rights are getting pretty close to taliban territory (minus the hiding in caves and blowing people up).

[Patrick A]

I would say that chanting 'USA!USA!" in an international sporting event is perfectly reasonable and normal behaviour.

In the context of a political conference it looks really dumb.

The impression that is left is they don't know that PR is a US territory. There is no other reason for them to be chanting USA when that poor woman is trying to give her talk. So weird. On so many levels.

[Ogul]

If anyone thinks the tea party is the equivalent to the Taliban then that is pathetic and proof that no reasonable discussion can be conducted.

As I noted in the Newsroom thread, it's not that far from the truth. The Taliban have evolved into a military threat because we attacked them, but prior to that, they really were little different than the Tea Party within their own culture, and I'm sure if the US military went after the Tea Party they would behave no differently. In any case, if that last bit bothers you then ignore it, but all the rest of it was rock solid, undebatable fact.

[Will]

Then thanks for proving what a fool you are.

Please, compare them to the Nazis and call Romney Hitler to make it complete.

[jamon g]

yeah that was pretty lame ogul.
you may think they say stupid things, but they're not the taliban

[steveuk]

No, they're not.

They lack the cohesion, they have no single, spiritual and political leader for a start. They're not physically violent and they're still part of the democratic process.

Hyperbolic language doesn't help, it obscures the real problems that Tea Party policies represent and it doesn't win votes against those policies.

[The Lorcan Nagle]

Exactly. Embracing hyperbole only leads to more ridiculous comparisons, and entrenching of antagonistic viewpoints. And then all of a sudden you're acting like those yahoos at the RNC chanting USA.

[Todd Gambrel]

http://dailycaller.c...-by-a-minority/

MSNBC, aka Obama Press Corps, does some interesting format decisions. We can't have anyone think the Republican party has any ethnic backing, now can we?

[The Lorcan Nagle]

Speaking of Hyperbole, ridiculous comparisons and entrenched antagonistic viewpoints...

I swear, I'm going to start a US politics thread drinking game.

[Todd Gross]

I swear, I'm going to start a US politics thread drinking game.

Well, it would probably kill any players.

That would be a win for you, Lorcan. Right?

[Arjan Dirkse]

It's a hyperbolic statement, the Taliban thing. I agree, it's not that helpful.

Still I think it's the Tea Party crowd who remain the masters of hyperbolic and inflammatory statements. "The liberals goal is to destroy America" etc. And with all the things Obama's been compared to, saying he's the Taliban leader would be relatively mild.

[Ogul]

Exactly. Embracing hyperbole only leads to more ridiculous comparisons, and entrenching of antagonistic viewpoints. And then all of a sudden you're acting like those yahoos at the RNC chanting USA.

I'm not saying I would have used that term myself, I'm just noting that it's not inaccurate. Still, the rest of the argument was 100% unquestionable, so let's just focus on that bit.

[steveuk]

It's a hyperbolic statement, the Taliban thing. I agree, it's not that helpful.

Still I think it's the Tea Party crowd who remain the masters of hyperbolic and inflammatory statements. "The liberals goal is to destroy America" etc. And with all the things Obama's been compared to, saying he's the Taliban leader would be relatively mild.

That's still not helpful though is it?

If someone else is a jackass then being one too (be it a greater or lesser jackass) just levels the playing field, muddies the waters and other similar metaphors.

So instead of discussing the issues people (like us) discuss the excess.

I am fully aware of how tough it is to NOT do it, but its the only way to reach new people and not just those who already share the same opinion.

And some of those will be turned off by it too. It's really a lose/lose strategy.

Speaking of Hyperbole, ridiculous comparisons and entrenched antagonistic viewpoints...

I swear, I'm going to start a US politics thread drinking game.

Dude, you mean you're the only one here not doing that already?!

[Will]

Well, it would probably kill any players.

That would be a win for you, Lorcan. Right?

It's why he's the number two tyrant on MW.

[Todd Gross]

It's why he's the number two tyrant on MW.

Huh, I thought he was Number One.

[Ogul]

Or that he thinks it is.

The fact that the Republican candidate for Vice President wants to ban abortions with no exceptions is what is really important, but the horrible callousness he shows in statements like these is unpleasant to say the least.

Look, I don't like Ryan, and I disagree with his distinction between "forcible rape" and "other types of rape", but I'm willing to assume that he finds rape, in general, to be a bad thing, even if he doesn't make that point explicit at every opportunity.