Go On a Date with the Political Opposition to Save the World

[Treznor]

Yeah, that makes sense. I just never liked Biden I guess. Still, I don't think Obama lost very many votes on account of "inexperience," the charge struck me largely as a rationalization from the people who would never have voted for him anyway.

I agree. I think Biden's nomination was pure insider haggling. I don't think the DNC really wanted Obama as a candidate, but he was too effective at getting past the obstacles. Making Biden the running mate was the best compromise in a town known for its incestual relationships.

[Melkor Unchained]

Fair enough, but it still raises the issue of whether someone who may have already abused their political power as the Governor of Alaska should be entrusted with a position in the White House.

Again, I haven't seen anything that implies Palin was corrupt. Not that I'm LEAPING TO HER DEFENSE!!!! or anything, but I would imagine there are plenty of people out there looking for evidence and I haven't seen any serious inquiries into possible corruption.

It seems rather cynical to merely label Obama as a "stunt for identity votes".
Yes, he may have appealed to black and minority voters, but I'm pretty sure other factors (charisma and political ability, for example) were equally considered.

No, I'm not saying Obama was a stunt for identity voters (although his identity did help him immensely), I'm saying Palin was.

To be honest, if you want somehow to blame for this fact, you need only look at the public.

I know.

Yet still, I think its a tad unfair to presume that female voters will vote for ANY woman who is shunted onto the political stage, regardless of her credence and ability.

I think this is a bit of an exaggeration of what I said. I said that "Some people will vote for a candidate because of their identity;" in no way was that meant to imply that women always vote for women. That said, I still stand by my assertation (and I'm not sure where we're disagreeing here) that selecting Palin as a running mate was done in a bid to capture identity voters. It was clear at that point that the GOP needed every last vote they could possibly capture from the Democrats, and at the time this seemed to be the way to do it.

The fact is, up until McCain chose Palin as the VP candidate, public opinion had been mainly divided.

After that action, it promptly leaned in Obama's favour.

Yes, 51% is not a landslide majority, but considering the general results of recent American elections, it's comparatively large.

Actually (I'm sure someone will look this up so I'll hedge my bets by saying I could be wrong) I remember a week or two in there before things really started getting hairy for the GOP poll-wise, but we should remember that these were the same pollsters that had Gore and Kerry winning their elections. I think they're a reasonable barometer of how things might go, but the simple fact is that you just can't sample a large enough portion of the electorate every week for an accurate opinion poll. Regardless of what the polls were saying, I thought the GOP had a fighting chance up until mid-September (which, it occurs to me, was a few weeks after McCain picked Palin, so we may be playing a chicken-and-the-egg game here), when the economy started to tank. I think that hurt the GOP more than Palin did, honestly. She certainly didn't live up to expectations (e.g. "capturing those voters") but everything else being equal, I'm not sure that would have been enough on its own to lose the election for the GOP had the economy remained stable.

Yeah, that makes sense. I just never liked Biden I guess. Still, I don't think Obama lost very many votes on account of "inexperience," the charge struck me largely as a rationalization from the people who would never have voted for him anyway.

I agree. I think Biden's nomination was pure insider haggling. I don't think the DNC really wanted Obama as a candidate, but he was too effective at getting past the obstacles. Making Biden the running mate was the best compromise in a town known for its incestual relationships.

I somehow doubt that the DNC didn't want Obama as a candidate. About the only negative thing you could have said about him coming into the race (assuming you're a Democrat) was that he was "inexperienced," but in the face of everything else I don't think that charge was enough to undermine his support.

Quite the contrary, I thought Obama was being groomed for the Presidency. He appears on the cover of Newsweek as early as 2005, and (unless you know something I don't) I never remember hearing him running into opposition in the DNC that didn't ultimately have its source in HIllary Clinton. I think if he did have any difficulties in the DNC, it was probably at her hands rather than the organization as a whole.

[North Suran]

Again, I haven't seen anything that implies Palin was corrupt. Not that I'm LEAPING TO HER DEFENSE!!!! or anything, but I would imagine there are plenty of people out there looking for evidence and I haven't seen any serious inquiries into possible corruption.

Political corruption is "the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain", which seems to perfectly fit this incident.

Of course, I'm not going to immediately accept corruption accusations sans evidence - especially when levelled against someone who was running for Vice-President - but the presented testimony seems very genuine.

No, I'm not saying Obama was a stunt for identity voters (although his identity did help him immensely), I'm saying Palin was.

From the layout of your sentence, I thought you were referring to the former with that comment.

My bad.

I think this is a bit of an exaggeration of what I said. I said that "Some people will vote for a candidate because of their identity;" in no way was that meant to imply that women always vote for women. That said, I still stand by my assertation (and I'm not sure where we're disagreeing here) that selecting Palin as a running mate was done in a bid to capture identity voters. It was clear at that point that the GOP needed every last vote they could possibly capture from the Democrats, and at the time this seemed to be the way to do it.

Fair enough.

Actually (I'm sure someone will look this up so I'll hedge my bets by saying I could be wrong)

Can't really be bothered to trawl through polls, especially since we're not exactly 'disagreeing' on anything, so I'll take your word for it.

I remember a week or two in there before things really started getting hairy for the GOP poll-wise, but we should remember that these were the same pollsters that had Gore and Kerry winning their elections.

That opens up a whole different can of worms.

I think that hurt the GOP more than Palin did, honestly.

Indeed.

She certainly didn't live up to expectations (e.g. "capturing those voters") but everything else being equal, I'm not sure that would have been enough on its own to lose the election for the GOP had the economy remained stable.

Perhaps, although I still believe - the economy aside - she harmed the Republican Party more than she benefitted it.

[Mirkana]

1. Political centrist. I tend to be more conservative on foreign policy, and more liberal on domestic policy. I'm a diehard supporter of the First Amendment, and consider it something worth killing for.

2. Ann Coulter. Restricting myself to women, she's the one I can think of that I disagree with the most. Also, should our inevitable debate turn into a fight, I'm pretty sure I could beat her.

3. Nobody. This is the result of two things. One, I'm a Terran nationalist, so I consider the world something very much worth defending. Two, I enjoy political debate, so the idea of spending time with someone I have vast political disagreements with isn't unattractive, especially if the planet is on the line.

[Dyakovo]

The fact is, conservatives as a whole are more tolerant, more charitable, and far better lovers than self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tches.

Known fact. Deal with it.

Known by you maybe... Reality, on the other hand disagrees.

[Dyakovo]

Yeah, that makes sense. I just never liked Biden I guess. Still, I don't think Obama lost very many votes on account of "inexperience," the charge struck me largely as a rationalization from the people who would never have voted for him anyway.

Agreed

[SaintB]

I'm hitting the hay. I think what we've learned tonight is that it is far more difficult for a rightwinger to be sexy than a leftwinger (*thinks of George Clooney, Arch-Liberal, and melts slightly*). I believe this is because the extreme rightwing espouses a very negative and unfriendly worldview, and excessive negativity and unfriendliness make a person unattractive.

EDIT: We've also learned that, liberal though I am, I don't value the whole of humanity enough to date a guy I wouldn't want to bang.

Sorry, I thought you were making a blanket statement on all of the "Right Wing", not just the men. I mean, just look at your post.

Y, you've got to stop quoting Muravyets. When you do, I have to look at what she's said, which defeats the whole purpose of a key setting on this board.

But since I've actually had to read it, I will admit that it made me It's obviously an unconscious caricature of the archetypal self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tch.

The fact is, conservatives as a whole are more tolerant, more charitable, and far better lovers than self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tches. Although speaking for myself, if I found myself matched by aliens with anyone even remotely resembling a self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tch, I don't care if she looks like Carrie Prejean and screws like Jenna Jameson, as far as I'm concerned she might as well be a tattooed crack whore with terminal AIDS. In which case, it'd be a bad day for humanity.

Lol... you forgot to add "Thank you I'm here all week" at the end of your joke post, some people may have thought you were serious.

[Pevisopolis]

Here's the game:
Extra-Terrestrial Aliens are holding the world hostage, seeing if there is any hope for humankind's ability to cooperate.
To save the world, YOU have to go on a romantic date with a famous person who's political views are extremely opposite of your own.

1. Identify your political leanings (for the benefit of those that don't know you well).

2. Which politically opposed celebrity might you go out with and why?

3. If the politically opposed celebrity was picked by the Extra-Terrestrial Aliens, who would be the person you'd let the world burn for?

A1. I consider myself "conservative and Republican" or "arch-conservative and Republican.
A2. I could enjoy an evening with Barbara Streisand. Outside of movies, I've never heard her screech. She probably has a very interesting personal history. Maybe I could ask her to sing?
A3. The world could burn if I had to date Jenine Garafolo. I certainly don't share her sense of humor. I hate her voice. Probably the only thing we could agree to is pistols at twenty paces.

YGO, are you deliberately trying to confuse me?

[You-Gi-Owe]

YGO, are you deliberately trying to confuse me?

What's to be confused about?

[Pevisopolis]

YGO, are you deliberately trying to confuse me?

What's to be confused about?

1. How would, for instance, a date between Noam Chomsky and Ann Coulter accomplish anything productive?
2. What does that have to do with Aliens?
3. Just read your quote and tell me how it's supposed to make sense.

Here's the game:
Extra-Terrestrial Aliens are holding the world hostage, seeing if there is any hope for humankind's ability to cooperate.
To save the world, YOU have to go on a romantic date with a famous person who's political views are extremely opposite of your own.

1. Identify your political leanings (for the benefit of those that don't know you well).

2. Which politically opposed celebrity might you go out with and why?

3. If the politically opposed celebrity was picked by the Extra-Terrestrial Aliens, who would be the person you'd let the world burn for?

A1. I consider myself "conservative and Republican" or "arch-conservative and Republican.
A2. I could enjoy an evening with Barbara Streisand. Outside of movies, I've never heard her screech. She probably has a very interesting personal history. Maybe I could ask her to sing?
A3. The world could burn if I had to date Jenine Garafolo. I certainly don't share her sense of humor. I hate her voice. Probably the only thing we could agree to is pistols at twenty paces.

[New Mitanni]

[

Y, you've got to stop quoting Muravyets. When you do, I have to look at what she's said, which defeats the whole purpose of a key setting on this board.

But since I've actually had to read it, I will admit that it made me It's obviously an unconscious caricature of the archetypal self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tch.

The fact is, conservatives as a whole are more tolerant, more charitable, and far better lovers than self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tches. Although speaking for myself, if I found myself matched by aliens with anyone even remotely resembling a self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tch, I don't care if she looks like Carrie Prejean and screws like Jenna Jameson, as far as I'm concerned she might as well be a tattooed crack whore with terminal AIDS. In which case, it'd be a bad day for humanity.

Lol... you forgot to add "Thank you I'm here all week" at the end of your joke post, some people may have thought you were serious.

You've been around long enough to realize that I'm serious as a heart attack. So you shouldn't be surprised that, if Muravyets feels free to expound at length on her hatred of conservatives, I feel equally free to express my revulsion toward self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tches.

[Nerushimi Rus]

on her hatred of conservatives, I feel equally free to express my revulsion toward self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tches.

How interesting, it appears to be a trend of yours (NS conservatives) to use the smiley in way too many posts.

[Galloism]

I'm a centrist. There's no one opposite of me.

[New Mitanni]

on her hatred of conservatives, I feel equally free to express my revulsion toward self-righteous, arrogant leftie b*tches.

How interesting, it appears to be a trend of yours (NS conservatives) to use the smiley in way too many posts.

I thought about using , but that's been overworked.

Besides, there's nothing cooler than an NS conservative.

[Buffett and Colbert]

I'm a centrist. There's no one opposite of me.

Someone who's on the edge, or in a parallel universe would be!

[Buffett and Colbert]

I thought about using , but that's been overworked.

Besides, there's nothing cooler than an NS conservative.

You give us liberals something to do.

[Galloism]

I'm a centrist. There's no one opposite of me.

Someone who's on the edge, or in a parallel universe would be!

Doesn't matter which edge - I'm likely to agree with them on some things.

[Takaram]

1. Identify your political leanings (for the benefit of those that don't know you well).
I'm actually rather centrist, so I can facepalm at anyone, but usually it's more republicans then democrats.

2. Which politically opposed celebrity might you go out with and why?
Ms. California. At least I could stare at her

3. If the politically opposed celebrity was picked by the Extra-Terrestrial Aliens, who would be the person you'd let the world burn for?
If they said Anne Coulter, you're all screwed