And yet another one

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: Gaard
Whatever alchy. If you aren't man enough to admit that you were just talking out of your ass and making excuses for Rip at the same time, I won't call you on it.

I guess I don't see where I'm making excuses for Rip? feel free to enlighten me. Allow me to break it down mathematically for you.

Swift boat campaign = A
Rip's campaign = B

Kerry's vehement responses to swift boat campaign = A1
You and other's vehement reponses to Rip's campaign = B1

While A does not perfectly equal A1, and B does not perfectly equal B1, they both are very similar.

Just in case you are curious as to my thoughts on Kerry and the SBVfT, which you seem to be more fascinated with if I'm defending Rip or not, are these:

1) Many vets are extremely bitter about his actions after the war. IMHO, some of their gripes are spot on.
2) Kerry went to Vietnam, did his time, got some medals, and left. Good for him.
3) there is probably some grey area between what they are alleging, and Kerry being a perfect war hero. Some are probably lies, some probably have some truth to them. I don't find any of them relevant to today's issues.
4) I don't doubt he can be any more or less capable commander in chief than any previous president. He's definitely going to be better than Carter if he wins!

Now that I've said that, can you sleep tonight? Or do we need to elaborate more on my feelings about Rip?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: alchemize

Now that I've said that, can you sleep tonight? Or do we need to elaborate more on my feelings about Rip?

Tell me about your mother . . .

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: alchemize

Funny, but it seems the McCain-Feingold act has actually served to make politics worsen, when the candidates can "distance" themselves from the SBVfT and Moveon.org's?

You're absolutely right IMO.

Along those lines, I feel strongly about the following:

- There should be an ABSOLUTE prohibition on outside campaign contributions, and indeed the candidates should arguably be sealed off from even spending their own money on campaigning. ALL the money should come from the government, with something akin to the current funds-matching system to benefit third-party candidates. Every sandwich a candidate excepts means a part of him is owned by the donor, and limits his freedom to act on behalf of his constituents. Anyone who, by the same token, gives $100K to a candidate reasonably expects something in return, and the taxpayers lose. The costs of this would be trivial compared to what we spend elsewhere, and it would be a worthwhile investment IMO.

- The FEC/FCC should regulate campaign ads over broadcast, and limit them to those funded by the aforementioned funds. The FCC could require broadcasters to reserve a certain amount of time for political ads (as they presently do for PSAs), to defray the costs to taxpayers of campaign ads. I like, and would continue, the current requirement that the candidate verbally indicates he or she approved the ad.

- There are a lot of bugs to be worked out with this notion that I haven't thought out, and it is far from comprehensive. My point, though, is that all Americans would benefit from an electoral system that didn't give such enormous leverage to corporations and the wealthy. If anything, this is why I tend toward liberalism - I want to see the individual, the "little guy," counted in the political process.

And you think that John Forbes Kerry, who grew up well connected in the upper class due to his Forbes and Winthrop roots is in tune with the "little guy"?

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: alchemize

Now that I've said that, can you sleep tonight? Or do we need to elaborate more on my feelings about Rip?

Tell me about your mother . . .

"My mother was a fifteen year old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet."

And my favorite line:

"At the age of fourteen a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum... it's breathtaking- I highly suggest you try it."

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: Riprorin

Come on DonVito, I thought that you had no qualms about debating the issues?

How can I answer "why" Sen Kerry did things? You could presumably answer, say, why you posted that noted conservative David Brooks is a liberal, but won't, yet you want me to be a mindreader in re. a number of decisions you claim Sen Kerry made. :roll:

So David Brooks is running for office? You aren't really interested in the issues after all, are you?

 

[Ozoned]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: Ozoned

The posts that you used to make, the ones that you used your intelligence on, they were much better received than your current biatching and whining posts.

I truly hope that relying upon your intellect to make your point wasn't to big a chore and abandoned for your current style, for that would be a true waste. :gift:

Ozoned

There are people from whom I'd respect that criticism. You are not among them.

Even though I am not among those that you would respect criticism from, I am glad to have made enough of an impression for you to think. Not that it is worth much, You have earned my respect, at least for a while.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Riprorin

And you think that John Forbes Kerry, who grew up well connected in the upper class due to his Forbes and Winthrop roots is in tune with the "little guy"?

Are you capable of responding to an argument, or a point, without a mindless jab at Kerry?

Tell me what you think of the rest of what I said, if you'd like. I'd be interested to discuss the concepts I talked about, but I'm not going to respond to any more of your vacant, content-free posts. Tell me why you disagree, if you do, or where there's room for improvement. Don't just pick at Kerry like a scab on your elbow, unless that's all you know how to do.

 

[umbrella39]

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: Gaard
What's Rip's ploy alchy?

It's that one you've fallen into - just look down!

Clever. I don't think he gets it. If no one replied I can all but guarantee, he would stop eventually. I am not betting money on that though

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Ozoned

Even though I am not among those that you would respect criticism from, I am glad to have made enough of an impression for you to think. Not that it is worth much, You have earned my respect, at least for a while.

Touche. :beer:

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: umbrella39

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: Gaard
What's Rip's ploy alchy?

It's that one you've fallen into - just look down!

Clever. I don't think he gets it. If no one replied I can all but guarantee, he would stop eventually. I am not betting money on that though

I'm going to make a sincere effort to try.

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: Riprorin

And you think that John Forbes Kerry, who grew up well connected in the upper class due to his Forbes and Winthrop roots is in tune with the "little guy"?

Are you capable of responding to an argument, or a point, without a mindless jab at Kerry?

Tell me what you think of the rest of what I said, if you'd like. I'd be interested to discuss the concepts I talked about, but I'm not going to respond to any more of your vacant, content-free posts. Tell me why you disagree, if you do, or where there's room for improvement. Don't just pick at Kerry like a scab on your elbow, unless that's all you know how to do.

So you're suggesting that the government should confiscate more of my hard earned money to finance campaigns and then decide what I can view via broadcast media?

I don't like your idea at all.

 

[umbrella39]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: umbrella39

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: Gaard
What's Rip's ploy alchy?

It's that one you've fallen into - just look down!

Clever. I don't think he gets it. If no one replied I can all but guarantee, he would stop eventually. I am not betting money on that though

I'm going to make a sincere effort to try.

I will if you will Conjur.. you up to the task? Harvey? Some say it can be done cold turkey. While I would like to think refuting Rip posts can be abandoned that easily, I am willing to allow myself some leeway with the end goal of completely ignoring him altogether. Should he grow up and stop the games he is playing (which is his right), perhaps heated discourse can resume with him.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: alchemize

Originally posted by: Gaard
Whatever alchy. If you aren't man enough to admit that you were just talking out of your ass and making excuses for Rip at the same time, I won't call you on it.

I guess I don't see where I'm making excuses for Rip? feel free to enlighten me. Allow me to break it down mathematically for you.

Swift boat campaign = A
Rip's campaign = B

Kerry's vehement responses to swift boat campaign = A1
You and other's vehement reponses to Rip's campaign = B1

While A does not perfectly equal A1, and B does not perfectly equal B1, they both are very similar.

Just in case you are curious as to my thoughts on Kerry and the SBVfT, which you seem to be more fascinated with if I'm defending Rip or not, are these:

1) Many vets are extremely bitter about his actions after the war. IMHO, some of their gripes are spot on.
2) Kerry went to Vietnam, did his time, got some medals, and left. Good for him.
3) there is probably some grey area between what they are alleging, and Kerry being a perfect war hero. Some are probably lies, some probably have some truth to them. I don't find any of them relevant to today's issues.
4) I don't doubt he can be any more or less capable commander in chief than any previous president. He's definitely going to be better than Carter if he wins!

Now that I've said that, can you sleep tonight? Or do we need to elaborate more on my feelings about Rip?

Gaard? It's been 20 minutes - you gave me 14 to respond last time

 

[conjur]

I'm game.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: umbrella39

I will if you will Conjur.. you up to the task? Harvey? Some say it can be done cold turkey. While I would like to think refuting Rip posts can be abandoned that easily, I am willing to allow myself some leeway with the end goal of completely ignoring him altogether. Should he grow up and stop the games he is playing (which is his right), perhaps heated discourse can resume with him.

I am willing to have a civil dialogue with him, but I think that will be harder to maintain than just ignoring him altogether, so that's going to be my approach, until and unless he's willing to show good faith and have sincere discussions. Another member here proposed an ignore-Rip plan a while back and I pooh-poohed it - now I can see he was right.

 

[umbrella39]

Then so be it.

I have noticed that Rip will occasionally respond with a heart-felt opinion of his own in threads that he did not start. That might be the best place to catch him in non-persona-cutnpaste mode.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: umbrella39
Then so be it.

I have noticed that Rip will occasionally respond with a heart-felt opinion of his own in threads that he did not start. That might be the best place to catch him in non-persona-cutnpaste mode.

Works for me - spread the word!

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: conjur
I'm game.

We have been meaning to talk to you about that.:evil:

 

[conjur]

Bastard!

 

[Perknose]

conjur, umbrella39, Don Vito, et al, I'm with you in a concerted effort to ignore Rip.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Perknose
conjur, umbrella39, Don Vito, et al, I'm with you in a concerted effort to ignore Rip.

I'm in too.

Especially if it helps cuts down on the amount of thread posts.

 

[villager]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Perknose
conjur, umbrella39, Don Vito, et al, I'm with you in a concerted effort to ignore Rip.

I'm in too.

Especially if it helps cuts down on the amount of thread posts.

But then who will be the conservative punching bag? Is Heartsurgeon really gone?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: villager

But then who will be the conservative punching bag? Is Heartsurgeon really gone?

No, he's not gone. He elected to return.