Bush could eat a live baby on live TV and the right wing

[GeekMonkey]

would still make excuses for him and try to blame it on President Clinton.

I'm still amazed at the lengths they will go to circle the wagons around one of their own that is caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

It's pathological.

[Cyrano]

1. Ummm, it depends on the nature of the baby. There are too many people

who would consider eating a white Christian baby as barbaric.

[Spider Jerusalem]

11. Skinned and cooked, they all look the same.

And he could pass it off as veal, or suckling pig. Most of his supporters wouldn't know the difference.

[Cronus Protagonist]

56. Yeah, here's a pic of him eating a live Iraqi baby - no one said a thing

[Inland]

58. If it were a BAD baby, and EVILDOER baby, they'd be pleased. nt

[bmcatt]

2. When did conversation become impossible?

This sort of dovetails into a question that's been bugging me - when did it become impossible for ordinary citizen Dems and Repubs to have a conversation?

Mind, I'm not talking about hard-core supporters who are party faithful. I'm talking about just "Yeah, I tend to vote Republican" and "I usually vote Democrat" people.

Perhaps I'm misremembering a past that never happened, but I have the sense that it used to be possible to have conversations about issues without it immediately turning into a partisan fight. Now, though, that doesn't seem to be possible. I've talked with a few folks (and I even have to admit that I have a few friends who are registered Republicans) and they not only don't want to hear criticism, but they are outright hostile about even discussing the topics.

I just don't get it...

[RummyTheDummy]

5. Uhhhh

It started after the bogus impeachment of Clinton, got worse after the bloodless coup in 2000 and went to a whole new level after the illegal war in Iraq two years ago.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

7. I would say it started in the 80's with the rise of Hate Radio™

Rush's existence on the airwaves did nothing to elevate the level of discourse across America.
And when the Fairness Doctrine was repealed, well Hate Radio™ just got worse. Now you have people giving advice on where to shoot ATF officers (Thank you, G. Gordon Liddy) and others wishing on the air for a caller to get AIDS and die (and thank you, Michael Savage)
The bogus impeachment of Clinton (for a matter in a civil court, nonetheless) was just more fuel for Hate Radio™

[Jade Fox]

45. You would be correct on that.....

Limbaugh's rise was the beginning. There is no other person on this planet
who is more responsible for infusing political discourse in this country with
venom and mis-information.

I'd love to see that guy take a big fall. I'm hoping the medical records thing
will pan out big.

[karlrschneider]

8. I know what you're sayin'. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[DistressedAmerican]

10. Simple. "Uniter Not Divider".

[Mythsaje]

40. It's TRUE

He's managed to unite at least half of the country...against him!!!

[Cyrano]

13. It became impossible the day that Newt Gingrich became

Speaker of the House and the thugs took over the congress - January, 1995.

Dems have always held the attitude that "Here's my opinion, but on the other hand ..." Today's Republicans have an attitude of "Die you evil, commie loving, Bush hating, cheese eating, porno peddling, atheist, northeastern liberal swine."

The gap between us has become so vast that I fear we may see another civil war in this country. The problem is that, this time, the "enemy" could be your next door neighbor.

And welcome to DU.

[bmcatt]

16. Ok. How do we fix it?

Sadly, that's a reasonable explanation (and something that had, somewhat, occurred to me). Which leads me to a follow-up question - Is there any way that we can fix that and "restore" a dialogue so that it's possible to have reasoned conversations again?

Or are we doomed to see this played out over and over again?

[Cyrano]

20. After pondering your question and checking in with all the great

philosophers of history, here's my answer.

I don't have a clue.

[bmcatt]

21. What can I say other than...

:rofl:

I just wish people would be willing to talk, but, sadly, that seems to be too much to ask.

[Arugula Latte]

23. Well, it's like this.

We're supposed to shut up. At all times. If we open our mouths, we're un-American.

The right, on the other hand, can smear anyone, destroy their career and their life, lie brazenly, and advocate murder, and that's okay.

That's the playing field right now.

We need to fight back like hell. Otherwise we'll continue to get stomped.

[PATRICK]

37. Keep talking reasonably and wear them down

But from a physically safe position. You can only flee reality and hate for so long.

The Studs Terkel story about the civil rights worker(?) cornered by armed extremists. They couldn't get at him so the guy just talked reasonably and humanely out the door until they gave up and went away. Yeltsin pouring out scorn through the loudspeakers until the humiliated armed coup melted away. Gandhi's hunger strike until civil strife ended. The students in Eastern Europe who faced down the tanks with a few casualties. The stories on DU where persistence of reason and facts finally pays off when * finally goes too far.

Of course you need luck, leverage, some time and safety, a wavering of the hate, and a lot of calm courage. It might succeed. It might eventually succeed. But you shouldn't expect it when the other guys can get you(Tienanmen Square, Kent State)Fortunately, the truth is always there.

[IndyOp]

50. We have begun to fix it...

The two factors that jumped out at me above were: Hate Radio & TV and Unethical Conservative Extremists...

Hate Radio and TV (Limbaugh, Hannity, Hume) now has competition - subscriptions to leftie mags is soaring; Democracy Now! adds new stations all the time; more and more people say they don't trust the mainstream corporate media and are getting their news via the internet; Air America Radio and Radio Left and Raw Radio are combating the lies spun on hate radio.

How do we fix the problem of Unethical Conservative Extremists? Investigate and report on unethical behaviors. Investigations focusing on Delay and Rove have been the biggies so far.

And, yes, we have to wake the sheeple to make sure that liberal media and outing unethical politicians make a real difference.

I think for a long time the left and right were worlds apart because hate radio and extremist religious leaders were delivering messages of hate - that they should hate and fear us. Now, I think the separation is due in part to our confronting them - division is the first consequence of confrontation, but real healing can follow.

:kick:

[Pacifist Patriot]

31. He was the nail in the coffin, but I'll date it even earlier.

I'm inclined to agree with the person above who links it to the advent of Talk Radio. It's nothing short of indoctrination by spewing hatred and fear mongering. Gringrich was the poster child.

[XemaSab]

32. Latte drinking,

sushi eating, nytimes reading, volvo driving, etc etc etc....

[newyawker99]

22. Hi bmcatt!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[barb162]

28. I think it started with the Clinton first term. The pugs had the WH

a long time at that point and couldn't stand the idea of giving it up. They wanted it back badly which is why there was one investigation after another and they kept those things going and going simply to make Clinton look bad.

[XemaSab]

29. I think it started during the clinton admin

with the rise of hate radio. Suddenly you could get a whole crowd of people in different parts of the country spewing the same garbage, and sharing garbage with each other. The internet helped/helps too.

I have republican friends that I can talk politics with, but this is a liberal website where we don't have to hold our tongues in the interests of keeping things civil. It's good to be both exposed to moderate republican ideas and left-wing foil hat ideas. It makes you well-rounded. (while right-wing foil hatters just irritate, IMHO).

Welcome to DU!!!!

Keep it civil! :-)

[johannes1984]

33. i think it's a combination of factors

which is an acknowledgment of the fact i too believe it used to be somewhat different .

The absolute innability of the MSM to do their job .

the republican lies have grown
which is a direct result of the most evil having taken the lead of the party filling it
with politicians that are either morally corrupt or retarded , both form great stooges
, or if you want to stay scientific , minions .

The increase of different echelons in leadership , in that there is a more group centered structure comming , groups with very exact goals and opinions .This wouldn't be half bad if the leadership didn't either want to bring the stoneage back , or need to defend against those who want to do so.

A giant base of uninformed , or apathic people , who if carefully approached with the right mix of spinning and wedge strategy can believe they are true believers in the cause


The deterioration of the education system , which is the downturn of manier a nation , or in this case empire
In fact the greatest threat this world faces at the moment , is most certainly a lack of education or worse yet doctrine infusing masked as education.

A massive alien conspiracy

and of course , the neocons ,


also , as ever i might be wrong ...the mood , it changed .Now this might sound just a bit too hippy to be appreciated by the non intoxicated friend or fiend .But there is always that part of experiencing reality that is gut .A combination of what you personally experience and project other people experience .And if you see such disgracefull acts as the christian right has done , or the neocons do to the troops and world , that projection ain't a benevolent one .

or so i endeavor to believe...


And welcome to DU

[Bouncy Ball]

35. You figure it out , tell me.

Because I remember those days. Back in the very early 90s, I remember people of different beliefs could have a political discussion without things coming to blows.

:shrug:

I heard a quote once, don't remember who said it, but they said sometime in the last 10-15 years, republicans stopped seeing Democrats as the opponent and started seeing them as their mortal enemy.

I think that's when things started getting bad.

[bmcatt]

41. Re: "You figure it out , tell me."

First off, thanks to everyone who's welcomed me. I've actually lurked for about a couple of months but only in the past couple of days felt like I had something to add.

As for us being turned into "mortal enemies", there's, sadly, I think more truth than fiction in that. What's disturbing is the extent to which the rank-and-file Repubs seem to have gone along with that.

I'm just as happy to roast or tar-and-feather the egregious bastards who bring partisanship into *everything* and refuse to be honest with the American people (or with their constituents). However, I'm less inclined to do so to normal folks who aren't in politics. It's the extent to which those people have been brainwashed (for lack of a better term) that is so frustrating.

Sigh and double-sigh...

[ailsagirl]

48. I think Gingrinch was key in dividing the repugs and the Dems

back in the days of "Contract on America"

[anitar1]

54. You are correct. Newt Gingrich is one of the biggest

slimeballs ever. He is as evil as Rove any day. I am sorry to see his him around again.

[ailsagirl]

55. What we saw then was just the beginning ...

But then I hear that he and Hillary are now buddies? Or am
I wrong in this?

Some of these political alliances perturb me-- such as Clinton
and Papa Chimp. What is the deal there??

:shrug:

[jmm]

3. As long as he doesn't eat a fetus

the right wing won't care if he puts the baby in baby back ribs.

[NMMNG]

42. Bingo

He could broil an infant over an open pit. He could skin a toddler or teenager and eat it raw. He could gun down a dozen disabled American Veterans and the Republicans wouldn't bat an eye.

But if he looked crosseyed at a Snowflake Baby he'd be drawn and quartered in a heartbeat.

[UCSBLiberalCat53]

49. Actually

They would say "Bush is making an educational video on the evils of baby-killing, baby-eating Libruls and their threat to family values."

[Arugula Latte]

4. Then, when you say: "Oh my god! I can't believe he ate a baby!"

"That's just wrong!" ... They would respond with: "It's another MoveOn leftist smear against the President!"

[eissa]

6. Absolutely

I've been pounding away at a rw co-worker regarding all the fucked-up policies of * and this inept administration. When I mentioned Rovegate, his response was like it was no big deal. I flipped. Can you imagine what they would have done had this occurred under Clinton's watch?!

[nookiemonster]

9. Eating babies is hard work.

Snarf...

[Stirk]

12. Are you kidding? They should give him a medal!

That baby's mother voted for a democrat once. She was a partisan political operative and all this "crying" she's doing is just staged for the cameras.

[Maat]

17. You hit the nail on the head.

You hit the nail on the head, Stirk!

I just give up.

If I'm able to prove something with a thousand facts, and a thousand sources, all I get is, "It's all just a leftist lie."

Or, "but it's really this way ..."

I just give up.

[Quixote1818]

14. But it was a Democratic Baby that was going to turn into

another Ted Kennedy!!! Bush was fasting and being a good Christian and he was just VERY HUNGRY!!! These are complex issues!!! Think for a second without just walking in lock step with the wacky liberals!

[emulatorloo]

36. Don't you mean "Democrat Baby?" EOM

[Roland99]

15. That's EXACTLY what a friend of mine says...Their defense?

"The Democrats made him do it."


"It was special effects."


"It was a double eating a doll."

[booley]

18. Tom Tomorrow already covered this...

hence further illustrating how God is actually a penguin...



remember, when you're a Con, HYPOCRISY is it's own reward!

[IndyOp]

51. Tom Tomorrow Scores AGAIN!

:rofl:

[jim3775]

19. "He was just demonstrating the new 'feed the hungry' initiative." n/t

[Iris]

25. Jonathan Swift once wrote a satirical piece that was similar to this idea

The poor could eat their children and the hunger and overpopulation problem would be solved.

[MissB]

46. A Modest Proposal

[Iris]

47. Yep! Thanks for the title.

[AlCzervik]

24. He's their own personal Jesus.

[Initech]

27. At least he thinks he's Jesus.

[barb162]

26. Yes it is an amazing thing to watch. They have brilliant spinners

and millions of dum-dum followers. Reminds me of Ronald Reagan, he could talk himself out of Iran Contra and he did it with a smile and almost everyone believed him

[mondo joe]

30. "The baby was spreading false information and for the good of the

country had to be devoured. God bless America!"

[MidnightWind]

53. Praise Jesus!

You left out the "praise Jesus" part. :sarcasm:

[Bouncy Ball]

34. Well, I've always said if he did something like that

THAT would cause his approval ratings to fall into the 20s. It'd be scary that it was even in the 20s, but yeah, a lot of everyday repukes would be completely grossed out and turn their backs on him.

Only the truly nutball insane ones wouldn't. It'd be a great way of identifying the truly crazy ones. "Hey so you were ok with the baby eating?" "Oh yeah, it was good for national security!"

Boom, you have found a truly insane person.

[crispini]

39. LOL!

That's classic!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

38. It would have to be a baby of color, a blond one might upset Faux

[ThoughtCriminal]

43. Regarding the Baby Consumption...

The White House won't comment but...

The RNC Talking Points are out.

1. The Baby wanted to be eaten
2. The Baby deserved to be eaten
3. The Baby lied about being eaten
4. Bush deserves a medal
5. If it wasn't shown on FOX, it didn't happen
6. Was the Baby white?

[AnotherMother4Peace]

44. those gave me a chuckle

[SalmonChantedEvening]

52. The right wing would complain it wasn't on PPV

Imagine the missed fundrasing opportunity! They'd be seething...

[Telly Savalas]

57. Baby eating is on the rise because secular humanists are debasing

the culture of life. Rather than being a monster, the president is a victim of decades of moral decay created by the anti-American Left. Let us pray for the president that he may find the courage to not fall victim to the liberal scourge of baby eating again.