Obama Sure Knows How To Pick Winners

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

As oppossed to all the rest of the threads that have deep implications for the very Universe we inhabit. I thought your threads about the OctoMom and the Rogue Tire were especially impactful. I know I'll never be the same.

Hey if the rogue tire thread didn't change you, then you just can't be changed!

My point is there are threads, such as the ones you mentioned, that are not intended to be anything but water cooler talk really. These threads, if they don't start as such, inevitably become "Look how awesome my party is, and look how horrible your party is"

But whatever, carry on

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

F....political threads. If McCain had won, this thread would be the exact same thing with McCain in the thread title and dmek and saden leading the charge. Obama won so firstdown and 70chip (and I imagine Buster will join soon) are "running things" now

Nothing ever comes out of these stupid threads, unless someone like FRPLG chimes in, otherwise it's just "hey I'm a liberal, and all conservatives suck" or "hey I'm a conservative, and all liberals blow"

Uh, I'd be in there too

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by smootsmack

f....political threads. If mccain had won, this thread would be the exact same thing with mccain in the thread title and dmek and saden leading the charge. Obama won so firstdown and 70chip (and i imagine buster will join soon) are "running things" now

nothing ever comes out of these stupid threads, unless someone like frplg chimes in, otherwise it's just "hey i'm a liberal, and all conservatives suck" or "hey i'm a conservative, and all liberals blow"

amen.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

F....political threads. If McCain had won, this thread would be the exact same thing with McCain in the thread title and dmek and saden leading the charge. Obama won so firstdown and 70chip (and I imagine Buster will join soon) are "running things" now

Nothing ever comes out of these stupid threads, unless someone like FRPLG chimes in, otherwise it's just "hey I'm a liberal, and all conservatives suck" or "hey I'm a conservative, and all liberals blow"

My record is impeccable dog, don't tarnish it with your nonsensical digs.

[dmek25]

yeah, what he said

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

F....political threads. If McCain had won, this thread would be the exact same thing with McCain in the thread title and dmek and saden leading the charge. Obama won so firstdown and 70chip (and I imagine Buster will join soon) are "running things" now

Nothing ever comes out of these stupid threads, unless someone like FRPLG chimes in, otherwise it's just "hey I'm a liberal, and all conservatives suck" or "hey I'm a conservative, and all liberals blow"

Thanks for that and I agree! I mean about nothing coming out of these things. I keep breaking my own rule to stay out of these darn threads though. No longer I say. I have come to think that the worst place in the world to "discuss" politics is online. No one is ever persuaded away from their positions and on a board like this, where community is important, it justs divides. I am sure I'll get stupid again and chime in when I shouldnb't but I am trying not to anymore.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by saden1

My record is impeccable dog, don't tarnish it with your nonsensical digs.

How'd you manage to respond without a link at every other word?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Thanks for that and I agree! I mean about nothing coming out of these things. I keep breaking my own rule to stay out of these darn threads though. No longer I say. I have come to think that the worst place in the world to "discuss" politics is online. No one is ever persuaded away from their positions and on a board like this, where community is important, it justs divides. I am sure I'll get stupid again and chime in when I shouldnb't but I am trying not to anymore.

Do you think dmek would ever have started this thread? If this was about some great thing accomplished by Obama, you think Buster would have started the thread? Not even remotely likely.

I will give credit to dmek though, in the "how low can it go" thread he at least acknowledged that there is plenty of blame to go around on both sides and that it's pointless to just continue to point fingers. Props to him for that

[saden1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

How'd you manage to respond without a link at every other word?

I don't know which is worse, the fact that you think linking is bad or that anyone around here does original and divergent thought.

I miss SGG.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Do you think dmek would ever have started this thread? If this was about some great thing accomplished by Obama, you think Buster would have started the thread? Not even remotely likely.

I will give credit to dmek though, in the "how low can it go" thread he at least acknowledged that there is plenty of blame to go around on both sides and that it's pointless to just continue to point fingers. Props to him for that

The politcal environment in our country is, to me, the most dangerous threat our country is facing. Too many people in this country really have no principles. At least principles based on any real understanding of issues. I don't agree with saden almost ever but at least we know his opinions aren't just bandwagon bullcrap. He knows issues and bases his opinions on his principles. In fact a good amount of our regular politcal posters have a decent handle on issues. The fact that Obama was elected largely as back lash to Bush is damning. It had little to do with principle and more to do with popularity. That seems dangerous to me.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Do you think dmek would ever have started this thread? If this was about some great thing accomplished by Obama, you think Buster would have started the thread? Not even remotely likely.

I will give credit to dmek though, in the "how low can it go" thread he at least acknowledged that there is plenty of blame to go around on both sides and that it's pointless to just continue to point fingers. Props to him for that

Yeah. The How Low Can It Go thread is more of a model of what we need around here. It even got three stars. I'm not sure who started it, but you guys should check it out.

I just realized I'm missing Cramer and Liebowitz, but they will re-run it later.

Anyhoo, I think that the political junkies around here of both persuasions have been fairly restrained. I did start the thread taunting Olbermann for losing in the ratings to the hideously awful and insufferable Nancy Grace which bothered people for some reason. I thought Olbermann was despised by all but the damnedest of damned Lefties, but you would have thought I had taken a dump on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the negative reaction I got. At any rate, I think the Liberals are having fun being in charge again and most of the Conservatives are exhausted from defending Bush for all those years. So, short of a straight ban on political talk, I don't think you could really expect much more if political talk irritates you.

The story that started this thread is really a D.C. government corruption story more than an Obama story as far as I can tell. Although this Kundra that works at the White House has taken a leave of absence so who knows. I'm not sure if the D.C. government is the first place I would look for computer talent if I were Team Obama. Surely with all the excitement their campaign ginned up among tech savvy twenty somethings, there was some young guy or gal they could have lured from Silicon Valley.

BTW, as someone with a penchant for offending people without realizing it, I expect to be using the phrase, "You would have thought I had taken a dump on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial" quite a bit from now on. I'm pretty proud of it.

Speaking of the deft turn of phrase. 70Chip III came up with a good one last night. He was describing the panicked hunched over run-walk one performs when one is all alone in the house and realizes way too late that the toilet tissue dispenser is empty and the backup supply is all the way out in the garage: 'The Toilet Paper Shuffle". I just thought I'd share that.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Yeah. The How Low Can It Go thread is more of a model of what we need around here. It even got three stars. I'm not sure who started it, but you guys should check it out.

I just realized I'm missing Cramer and Liebowitz, but they will re-run it later.

Anyhoo, I think that the political junkies around here of both persuasions have been fairly restrained. I did start the thread taunting Olbermann for losing in the ratings to the hideously awful and insufferable Nancy Grace which bothered people for some reason. I thought Olbermann was despised by all but the damnedest of damned Lefties, but you would have thought I had taken a dump on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the negative reaction I got. At any rate, I think the Liberals are having fun being in charge again and most of the Conservatives are exhausted from defending Bush for all those years. So, short of a straight ban on political talk, I don't think you could really expect much more if political talk irritates you.

The story that started this thread is really a D.C. government corruption story more than an Obama story as far as I can tell. Although this Kundra that works at the White House has taken a leave of absence so who knows. I'm not sure if the D.C. government is the first place I would look for computer talent if I were Team Obama. Surely with all the excitement their campaign ginned up among tech savvy twenty somethings, there was some young guy or gal they could have lured from Silicon Valley.

BTW, as someone with a penchant for offending people without realizing it, I expect to be using the phrase, "You would have thought I had taken a dump on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial" quite a bit from now on. I'm pretty proud of it.

That's a classic right there.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

The politcal environment in our country is, to me, the most dangerous threat our country is facing. Too many people in this country really have no principles. At least principles based on any real understanding of issues. I don't agree with saden almost ever but at least we know his opinions aren't just bandwagon bullcrap. He knows issues and bases his opinions on his principles.

I keep it real, it's all good if I disagree with you while you're keeping it real and vice versa.

In fact a good amount of our regular politcal posters have a decent handle on issues. The fact that Obama was elected largely as back lash to Bush is damning. It had little to do with principle and more to do with popularity. That seems dangerous to me.

Since we're keeping it real the same thing could be said and have been said about my boy Ronald Reagan. I mean, Obama does have policy ideas. You may not like his policies but I refuse to believe that 8,645,538 more people voted for him just because he's cool. Even if we suppose he won by popularity, would he still have won if we eliminate all those who didn't vote based on principles on both sides?

Good
Bad

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by saden1

I keep it real, it's all good if I disagree with you while you're keeping it real and vice versa.



Since we're keeping it real the same thing could be said and have been said about my boy Ronald Reagan. I mean, Obama does have policy ideas. You may not like his policies but I refuse to believe that 8,645,538 more people voted for him just because he's cool. Even if we suppose he won by popularity, would he still have won if we eliminate all those who didn't vote based on principles on both sides?

Good
Bad

Actually, it's possible. He ran the most savvy, technologically advanced campaign ever. He mobilized massive amounts of voters (many of whom otherwise wouldn't have given a sh*t), and image-wise was so anti-Bush, that I guarantee millions of Americans voted for him "just because."

I don't think McCain was a particularly great candidate, and Palin was a disaster. But I think Obama's celebrity played a huge part in his election.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by saden1

I keep it real, it's all good if I disagree with you while you're keeping it real and vice versa.



Since we're keeping it real the same thing could be said and have been said about my boy Ronald Reagan. I mean, Obama does have policy ideas. You may not like his policies but I refuse to believe that 8,645,538 more people voted for him just because he's cool. Even if we suppose he won by popularity, would he still have won if we eliminate all those who didn't vote based on principles on both sides?

Good
Bad

Speaking only anecdotally(sp?) I think very few people in our fair nation vote with any mind to what they are doing. It is largely a bandwagon/popularity contest based on likeability and the prevailing politcal winds. It works both ways without any doubt. I am guessing there are about 20% of the electorate on both sides of the politcal aisle voting on principle or just plain ideaology. Another 20% each way who "think" they vote on principle but couldn't give you a very strong argument for what those principles are and what they mean. And then 20% in the middle who vote because they like the guy/girl or "think it'd be cool" to have a black president(just an example). Well I think it'd be cool we have a black president too if I actually agreed with him on much but I'd never vote for someone just because of some completely irrelevant factor.

And if there were a real absolute way to measure I'd bet every penny to my name that 8,645,538 people voted for Obama just cause "he was cool". I'd also bet a good several million or more voted for McCain for similarly stupid reasons.