declaration of mudslinging

[GTAVercetti 0]

The Republican National Committee has declared they will be using most of their money for "negative ads" about democratic PERSONAL issues and local controvesies. So, the GOP is actually TELLING US they will be slinging mud.

Well, at least they are being truthful about it.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060910/NEWS06/609100466/1012/NEWS06

The sad part is that, these days, if it were Democrats in trouble, they would be doing the same thing.

God FORBID any candidate focus on the issues and how they will make our country better.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[wmw999 2,534]

That's really bad news. It would be just as bad coming from the other side.

But in areas where the majority of the infrastructure is Republican, I'd expect stuff that should remain confidential to get "leaked."

And in areas where the majority of the infrastructure is Democratic, not so much.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[StreetScooby 5]

What happened to the tinfoil hat in your avatar? I kinda of liked that Electromagnetic radiation can be bad for your health

We are all engines of karma

[GTAVercetti 0]

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That's really bad news. It would be just as bad coming from the other side.

But in areas where the majority of the infrastructure is Republican, I'd expect stuff that should remain confidential to get "leaked."

And in areas where the majority of the infrastructure is Democratic, not so much.

Wendy W.

Well, "leaks" are to be expected. But the fact that the party has DECLARED the digging of dirt to be a main goal is sad. How low is the opinion of the party for the public that their campaign research strategy has shown that this will be the most effective way to get elected?

And conversly, how sad is it, knowing that the GOP is quite effective at campaigning and makes shrewd choices in the realm, that this opinion probably holds alot of truth?


-- the tinfoil hat is on haitus for a bit.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[lawrocket 3]

Sadly, it IS all about "bang for your buck." Negative ads are easier - it's easier to convince someone to dislike someone else than to like you.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[lawrocket 3]

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How low is the opinion of the party for the public that their campaign research strategy has shown that this will be the most effective way to get elected?

Asking that is like asking, "How low is the opinion on the economy is the top two ways Americans think that they can build welath is to win a lawsuit of win the lottery?"

It's a reflection of society. You want to win an election? Don't spend all of your energy explaining to the public why you should be elected. Instead, explain why the other guy should not be elected.

However, when you DO explain why you should be elected, practice political puffing and state your intentions. And never, under any circumstances, explain how you plan to get your promises accomplished.

In Cali, Phil Angelides is runnign for governor against Ahnold Schwarzennegger. Among Angelides's "to dos" are:
1) Improve education by Investing in the Best Schools, Pre-K-12, Closing the achievement gap, Investing in the Children's future and investing in teachers;
2) Increasing access to quality healthcare
3) Prtecting the enviroment;
4) Public safety;
5) Building economic opportunity;
6) Etc.

Now, in the first example I showed some of his explanations for how he was going to accomplish that goal. He doesn't explain how he is going to do those things. It's easy to say, "I'm going to invest in teachers by rstoring funding for teacher support."

These are the great "hows" that are not answered, I.e., "Well, where are you gonna get the money for that?"

See, it's a much more difficult thing to say, "I'm going to raise taxes so that we can pay teachers more and attract the best and brightest, but only on corporations."

It's much harder to say, "I'm going to make sure all children have medical insurance while making sure that insurers don't reap large profits." It's tougher to explain in an objective way that you plan on ensuring that insurers do not profit by forcing them to take on additional things, which will raise everybody's rates.

If you don't bash the other side, you've got to stick to feel-good slogans everyone can support. "Insurance company profits bad - health care good."

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[pirana 0]

That line, "define your opponent immediately and relentlessly" says it all. There will be a lot of relentless definition, quite the euphemism for having a scorched Earth policy towards winning.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[SpeedRacer 1]

Politics as usual. It sounds to me as though this is going to be yet another competition for the title of the Lesser of Two Evils.

no wonder people aren't inspired to vote.

Speed Racer
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[racer42 0]

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Politics as usual. It sounds to me as though this is going to be yet another competition for the title of the Lesser of Two Evils.

no wonder people aren't inspired to vote.

I agree, however...

If this kind of behaviour doesn't inspire us to vote, then what will??

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[PLFXpert 0]

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no wonder people aren't inspired to vote.

It's funny to me people need inspiration to vote; not surprising, but funny nonetheless.



Frankly, worrying about such a declaration is about as irrelevant as the so-called mud being slung.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

I don't worry about it. I am not a Republican.

But I DO find it a very disappointing commentary on the state of our political system.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[PLFXpert 0]

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I don't worry about it. I am not a Republican.

Me neither. But sometimes I vote for one.

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But I DO find it a very disappointing commentary on the state of our political system

Has it ever been any different, in your opinion?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

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I don't worry about it. I am not a Republican.

Me neither. But sometimes I vote for one.

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But I DO find it a very disappointing commentary on the state of our political system

Has it ever been any different, in your opinion?

Yes. I believe it HAS been different. Not so much in my voting years, but in the past candidates actually focused SOME on not just naming issues but how they would solve them. Or at the very least, explain why what the oppostion wanted to do was wrong, not how the person was wrong.

I am not being an idealist either; I don't believe it was ever perfect. But what started out as a negative ad here and there has simply become SOP. And now it is so pervasive that a PARTY is actually publicly proclaiming they are going to do it.

And worse still is that there is absolutely no outcry about it. People just accept it as the way things are done. And we are left with voting for a douchebag or a turd sandwich. Or voting for a smaller party. Not much of a choice really.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[billvon 3,070]

> People just accept it as the way things are done.

And as long as we get our bread and circuses, we'll continue to accept it.

de Tocqueville once said that "the American Republic will endure until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." And about 6 years ago, the government actually sent out checks to people. And people loved it. That's the level of thought that people are putting into the democratic process - whichever candidate promises you the most stuff, and looks the chummiest on TV, wins.

Democracies only work when people are willing to put the effort in to select good leaders. Unfortunately, most people don't.

[PLFXpert 0]

I think it goes way back and quite possibly was even worse (and obviously sneakier) in the past. I don't disagree, though, it is an unnecessary evil both then & now.

But, b/c I'm in a mood...

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And worse still is that there is absolutely no outcry about it. People just accept it as the way things are done.

What are you doing about it? You know--other than posting your utter distaste for it.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

Not voting for mudslingers. Other than that...not much because I don't have the savvy or desire to be a part of the political machine. It would take a massive uprising and public backlash to change.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[PLFXpert 0]

Interesting.

Of course once in a while we all need to vent...

But my overall thinking is this:

There are far too many wrongs & unnecessary evils in this world to possibly do something personally about them all. And if you can't/won't do something then I see no point in worrying about such, though it's always important to be aware of such.

I see no reason to complain about which things I choose to do little or nothing about. Certainly those who get angry and upset over all the wrongs & evils are missing out on far too many rights and wonderfuls.

And those who try to solve all the world's problems b/c they feel an obligation to care, well, chances are they'll be so overwhelmed they'll give up altogether.

My advice is to find the few things that really, really matter to you personally and fight those causes. And don't worry so much about the rest.

B/c we are all different (and we don't have to be the same to be equal) we'd all likely have different causes near & dear to our hearts to fight for and evoke change.

And if we all did that, there'd be far more positive change, now wouldn't there?

Just my two cents.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

This is SC. We do alot of complaining about shit that we don't care that much about. We argue trivial points of a larger matter for pages upon pages. I do it because sometimes it makes me think about things I don't really think about much. And it makes me a better debater. If you think that my typing, and complaining about something, in this forum on the internet is indicative of the actual level of worry I have about said subject, you don't know me.

Oh wait, you don't.
But, you know, thanks for the advice.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[PLFXpert 0]

Well, that sucks.

I was about to edit and add the following: (had to step away from my desk before I could finish, but I "copied and pasted" here...)

"Edit: This post NOT directed at Rob, but rather I chose him to argue this point b/c, well, that's what we do."

Logically from what I "know" of you here, I did not think you'd take it personally.

I'm sure you'll be thrilled to the admission that yes, I was wrong to think I knew such.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[lawrocket 3]

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de Tocqueville once said that "the American Republic will endure until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money." And about 6 years ago, the government actually sent out checks to people.

Actually, bill, this is what the New Deal was all about. We've gotten to a point where the government saying "keep your money" is the equivalent of a bribe.

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Democracies only work when people are willing to put the effort in to select good leaders. Unfortunately, most people don't.

It's tough for people to do, because it is not the "good leaders" who run for office. It is usually the wealthiest...

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[GTAVercetti 0]

I am absolutely thrilled. In fact, I just did a dance.

I believe you owe beer.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[PLFXpert 0]

I must see said dance first.

I don't know you and thus I refuse to go on the Honor system.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

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I must see said dance first.

I don't know you and thus I refuse to go on the Honor system.

Oh, it was hilarious.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.

[PLFXpert 0]

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Oh, it was hilarious.

The imaginary dance you did? I bet it was. Did the voices in your head tell you so?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[GTAVercetti 0]

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Oh, it was hilarious.

The imaginary dance you did? I bet it was. Did the voices in your head tell you so?

Yes, that is what they told me. The lack of a foil hat allows them to come out and say hello more often.

Why yes, my license number is a palindrome. Thank you for noticing.