Or perhaps swing voters are simply people who can’t really relate to any party in America’s wide spectrum of political parties, yes all two of them. I’ll admit I don’t really know much about American politics, but from my perspective people have two choices when it comes to voting for president, far right with the Republicans or center-right with the democrats. Now I know that for a fanatic it’s hard to grasp no ideas what don’t fit perfectly with their narrow vision of the world, but isn’t it possible for people to want to vote differently than just white and light gray (or black and dark gray if you prefer)? Swing voters might just be too left wing for the Republican Party and too right wing for the Democratic Party.
Did she ever consider that if neither party appeals must to you then you’ll vote for the party who has the most policies that match your view of the world or for the party that might do a better job. Ideology is one thing, but if you’re liberal (or conservative) and your choice is between voting for a candidate you don’t believe can do the job or a competent (and I use the term loosely) conservative (or liberal), what would you do?
>"Or perhaps swing voters are simply people who can’t really relate to any party in America’s wide spectrum of political parties, yes all two of them. I’ll admit I don’t really know much about American politics, but from my perspective people have two choices when it comes to voting for president, far right with the Republicans or center-right with the democrats. Now I know that for a fanatic it’s hard to grasp no ideas what don’t fit perfectly with their narrow vision of the world, but isn’t it possible for people to want to vote differently than just white and light gray (or black and dark gray if you prefer)? Swing voters might just be too left wing for the Republican Party and too right wing for the Democratic Party.
Did she ever consider that if neither party appeals must to you then you’ll vote for the party who has the most policies that match your view of the world or for the party that might do a better job. Ideology is one thing, but if you’re liberal (or conservative) and your choice is between voting for a candidate you don’t believe can do the job or a competent (and I use the term loosely) conservative (or liberal), what would you do?"
Yes, those things are perfectly possible. Coulter based her comments on research that has shown that most “swing voters”(being defined as people whose loylalty does not lie more strongly with either party) don’t know squat about politics. The people who would vote across parties would do so more because they didn’t know that much and voted for whowever was more appealing to them, more so than because they were willing to vote for someone counter to their beliefs who they thought was more competent. Perhaps that’s changing with the way that things are shaping up post-9/11 and the effect Bush’s policies are having on the political orientation of Americans.
I am an infmormed voter, yet I am a moderate. I don’t go to either political party, since I believe both have good points. I vote for the lesser evil, even if that means voting for a 3rd party canidate. I am not a moron, and I try TO be informed as possible.
The sword cuts both ways, laddies. Just look at Al Franken, Ted Kennedy, and others like them. You may happen to agree with what they say when they bash folks like Bush and Ann, but does that make what they say any less idiotic and/or hurtful to conservatives like me?
I understand disliking Bush and all, and even openly expressing that dislike: that’s life when you live in a country where you can express your opinion. But since my arrival here, the topics cropping up about that seem a tad…excessive.
This thread is Coulter bashing, not Bush bashing. And I am standing up for at least one of the things she said. In fact there is conceivably some merit to a few of the other statements as well.
Originally posted by demigod I’d like to complain about that one, but I really do hate America. On the other hand, the religion part of the comment is completely wrong, and only the obnoxious oblivious flag-wavers deserve to shot.
I’m sorry, but I find remarks like I hate America to be very, very stupid. You can hate the people running the country, sure. You can despise some of the policies, go ahead. But hating the country itself means you hate the principles it was founded upon amongst other things, and I find most people who make such remarks tend to not know what they’re talking about half the time and do it to be part of the whole “in crowd.”
No, I don’t like this administration or people like our lovely Ann here, but saying stuff like I hate America is just… yeah.
Originally posted by Curtis This thread is Coulter bashing, not Bush bashing.
I know.
Okay, replace “Bush” in my post with “conservatives”, or “Bush-supporters” at least. Re-read.
My main point in THIS thread was that folks like Al Franken are much worse. At least your Bill O’Reillys and Ann Coulters have some tact and a measure of respect for other peoples’ opinions. I find Franken funny sometimes, but most the time he’s just an asshole to those he doesn’t agree with. If anyone needs a good slap (of reality, at least) sometimes… :enguard:
I’m not thinking only about America in the political sense, I’m considering the cultural ignorance, moral slackness, and those big corrupt economic issues that keep popping up in the news. Things like rich people filing for bankruptcy and keeping million dollar mansions and cheating the people they owe money to disgust me. I will grant that I would rather be an American than almost any other nationality, but there still are far too many problems.
Originally posted by Kagon
[b]I’m sorry, but I find remarks like I hate America to be very, very stupid. You can hate the people running the country, sure. You can despise some of the policies, go ahead. But hating the country itself means you hate the principles it was founded upon amongst other things, and I find most people who make such remarks tend to not know what they’re talking about half the time and do it to be part of the whole “in crowd.”
No, I don’t like this administration or people like our lovely Ann here, but saying stuff like I hate America is just… yeah. [/b]
Originally posted by demigod I’m not thinking only about America in the political sense, I’m considering the cultural ignorance, moral slackness, and those big corrupt economic issues that keep popping up in the news. Things like rich people filing for bankruptcy and keeping million dollar mansions and cheating the people they owe money to disgust me. I will grant that I would rather be an American than almost any other nationality, but there still are far too many problems.
First off, as Kagon said, say you hate those folks then. Saying “I hate America” is rather silly, IMO.
Every nation in the world has its problems, but you know what? I’d rather be in America than any other nation on earth (much as I might like the good folks in, say, Britain and Japan). Nowehere else in the world does the word “freedom” ring truer or have more weight. Yes, people abuse the system. But I’d much MUCH rather have that system with loopholes than not. Where else can one pull themselves up by their bootstraps and pave their own destiny more than here? Where else can one EARN that million-dollar mansion more easily if they simply apply themselves? Many nations, you’re lucky if you work your way up to a one-story flat; only the rulers have big houses, much less mansions. Look at Africa. Look at the Middle East. Look at friggin’ RUSSIA, for Pete’s sake. Good folks, but freedom is much more restricted over there.
You choose to focus on the negative, and I can only hope that it will not leave you bitter before you change your mind. I hope you DO change your mind someday, and realize how statements like yours could get you KILLED in some other nations. Your picture is very small. Look at the larger one sometime. You may be surprised at what you see.
It may have problems, it may have bad or stupid folks among its citizens and even its leaders, but give me the US of A any day.
Originally posted by Seawolf My main point in THIS thread was that folks like Al Franken are much worse. At least your Bill O’Reillys and Ann Coulters have some tact and a measure of respect for other peoples’ opinions.
This has got to be a joke. Tact? Bill O’Reilly once told his guest, on the air, to “shut up” and screamed at the technicians to “cut his mic” because his guest had an antiwar position. But that’s not the only case. “Shut up” seems to be his favourite phrase - he certainly uses it at the drop of a hat on almost any occasion. Ann Coulter has gone on in front of a huge conservative audience and openly proclaimed that she believes that liberals should be killed or threatened with death, to thunderous applause and no criticism from that audience. She also has said that she regrets that Timothy McVeigh didn’t blow up the New York Times building, that she thinks that liberals “want there to be lots of 9-11s,” and, of course, that we should invade all Muslim countries and convert them to Christianity. There’s no way anyone can seriously claim that those two individuals, out of all the pundits and hacks out there, show any “respect for other people’s opinions” whatsoever.
Originally posted by Seawolf Where else can one pull themselves up by their bootstraps and pave their own destiny more than here?
Like the folks at Enron whose entire livelihoods were destroyed in an instant, with no possibility for appeal whatsoever?
I don’t like the way that damn government of yours has been acting the last 20 years… they’re the ones restricting our freedom… for example… we europeans can’t produce too much (it’s called graan in dutch i dunno the english word), because your government forbids it… and you know why? cause else they’re own producers of (insert that word again) wouldn’t be able to sell enough to make profits… so much for free market huh?
Originally posted by |Damage| I don’t like the way that damn government of yours has been acting the last 20 years… they’re the ones restricting our freedom… for example… we europeans can’t produce too much (it’s called graan in dutch i dunno the english word), because your government forbids it… and you know why? cause else they’re own producers of (insert that word again) wouldn’t be able to sell enough to make profits… so much for free market huh?
Blame it on America…I’m fucking sick of that. Any God damn nation would try the same crap our government is trying. Governments are inherently corrupt.
Originally posted by |Damage| I don’t like the way that damn government of yours has been acting the last 20 years… they’re the ones restricting our freedom… for example… we europeans can’t produce too much (it’s called graan in dutch i dunno the english word), because your government forbids it… and you know why? cause else they’re own producers of (insert that word again) wouldn’t be able to sell enough to make profits… so much for free market huh?
yes yes, since were the ONLY government EVER who has done that. Japan banned imported APPLES since they said they caused illness, while in reality they were really losing money on their own produce. That kind of thing has happen hundreds of times in governments across the world.
