Namecalling 101, for Conservatives.
This is country was founded on debate. And even though the debate's gotten a touch bit nasty over the last couple of days, I wholeheartedly support the principle.
So, Conservatives, particularly of the Teabagging/Anti-Tax/Herbert Hoover/24 Percent crowd, say what you want to say. You've got that right. Think what you wanna think. You don't have to like the President. You can even call him names. Lord knows, I've done it to former President Bush. Fair's fair.
But if you're going to call the President names, please dear God, know what the hell you're talking about.
That scene of the CNN Reporter getting in the face (Oh, Lord forgive me) of that Tea-Bagger who was calling the President a Fascist, was embarrassing. Not just for the Tea-Bagger, but for the Reporter as well.Don't tell him how offensive calling the President a Fascist is. Ask the moron if he even knows what the hell Fascist means?!? Because, clearly, he doesn't.
What, was he Sarah Palin all the sudden?
Lord knows, y'all didn't understand what the hell Tea-bag meant, so let's start by--
Originally Posted on Fort McHenry.
Oh, wait--
--and I'm being told that this is a Family site, and no one wants to read that.
--and I'm being told that while some people to read that, there are sites that'll better serve those needs.
--and I'm being told that while some people to read that, there are sites that'll better serve those needs.
And no, I'm not linking to any of them.
Let's start with our word of the day: Fascist.
This from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. (I'm using this Dictionary, because it is the first one I thought of. There's also Dictionary.com and Wikipedia you can use as well. I figured any Dictionary would provide the simplest definition.)
Let's start with our word of the day: Fascist.
This from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. (I'm using this Dictionary, because it is the first one I thought of. There's also Dictionary.com and Wikipedia you can use as well. I figured any Dictionary would provide the simplest definition.)
Fascism: A political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.
I'd like to ask that tool from the CNN Video, if he really thinks he's living in a centralized autocratic government, with the dictatorial leader, and the forcible suppression of opposition???
He does realize that he was just on TV, right? Going out to a national audience calling the President of the United States, the alleged dictator in this scenario, names??
Kinda eliminates the whole forcible suppression thing.
Again...confusing tyranny...with losing.
Next, we move on to our second definition, also from Merriam-Webster.
Secondly, has the President seized the means of production (as Hugo Chavez actually did in March) anytime anywhere, and we all just missed it? No. He's continued the program Bush started, and built some roads. (This is a massive simplification of the President's Agenda. The American Investment and Recovery Act is more than building roads. So, no, I haven't forgotten the High Speed Rail, the electronic medical records, or any of the other stuff.)
Third, because it has been used so often as an example of Bank Nationalization, it has been getting folks confused. Thus, let me remind everyone that the land of IKEA, Sweden, IS NOT A SOCIALIST COUNTRY!!!
Again...confusing tyranny...with losing.
Next, we move on to our second definition, also from Merriam-Webster.
Socialism: Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.You do know that the Bailout of the Big Banks was started by George W. Bush right? Your guy? So, if anyone's the Socialist in this scenario, it's your guy, not mine.
Secondly, has the President seized the means of production (as Hugo Chavez actually did in March) anytime anywhere, and we all just missed it? No. He's continued the program Bush started, and built some roads. (This is a massive simplification of the President's Agenda. The American Investment and Recovery Act is more than building roads. So, no, I haven't forgotten the High Speed Rail, the electronic medical records, or any of the other stuff.)
Third, because it has been used so often as an example of Bank Nationalization, it has been getting folks confused. Thus, let me remind everyone that the land of IKEA, Sweden, IS NOT A SOCIALIST COUNTRY!!!
Yes, they have Socialized some things in Sweden (Health care being at the top of that list), but they are a Capitalist Economy. There is Private Enterprise in Sweden. It is a Constitutional Monarchy, something I can personally verify to since I lived there as a when I was four. I still have the postcard they issued when King Carl Gustav XVI was crowned.
See???
Finally, I'd define Communism, but there's barely any difference between it and Communism as far as I'm concerned. Though I think Communism is far more totalitarian than Socialism, and advocates that there is no private property at all.
Ain't no way Obama's takin' my Blu-Ray Player.
So, to sum up.
Teabaggers of the world, we get it, you don't like President's policies. You don't like the fact he was elected, and frankly, more than a few of you don't like the fact that he's black.
I'm sorry. I've seen the signs. Some of y'all are racists. Deal.
But just because you don't like the President, it doesn't mean you get to make asses of yourselves in the process. And repeatedly misusing and abusing the English language definitely counts as making asses of yourselves!!
I'm sorry. I've seen the signs. Some of y'all are racists. Deal.
But just because you don't like the President, it doesn't mean you get to make asses of yourselves in the process. And repeatedly misusing and abusing the English language definitely counts as making asses of yourselves!!
Making a Photoshop picture of Obama as Hitler? C'mon. Do I really need to explain, historically, how stupid that is??
You do know that Fascism stands at the extreme of your own Conservative Values, right? (After all, you're the crowd that keeps saying Barack Obama is a liberal). Whereas Socialism stands at the extreme of Left Wing Values (something frankly we know Barack Obama isn't anywhere near).
HE CAN'T BE BOTH OF THESE EXTREME WINGS AT THE SAME TIME!!
I hope you've found this discussion helpful. But, let's be honest, you're not going to listen, and you're going wind up doing is driving more and more Independents and Obamacans our way ayway, so keep it up...please.
You do know that Fascism stands at the extreme of your own Conservative Values, right? (After all, you're the crowd that keeps saying Barack Obama is a liberal). Whereas Socialism stands at the extreme of Left Wing Values (something frankly we know Barack Obama isn't anywhere near).
HE CAN'T BE BOTH OF THESE EXTREME WINGS AT THE SAME TIME!!
I hope you've found this discussion helpful. But, let's be honest, you're not going to listen, and you're going wind up doing is driving more and more Independents and Obamacans our way ayway, so keep it up...please.
You could try to engage the Democratic Majority to at least try and get some of the things on your wish list, but all know you won't.
Just don't come crying to me when you lose again.
And if you do call me a name, at least use the right word.
Here's one you've been proven fond of; six letters, starting with N.
And if you do call me a name, at least use the right word.
Here's one you've been proven fond of; six letters, starting with N.
It's offensive, yeah.
But you've proven that you know what it means.
But you've proven that you know what it means.
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Great rant! Researched and all....
April 20, 2009 6:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That rawked!
April 20, 2009 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was the most fun I've had all day!
April 20, 2009 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are supremely silly, but somehow you've made them seem even sillier.
Loved your sticking it to 'em about the word "fascist". That's a riot. Ever notice how many misspelled and ungrammatical signs they carry? That's fun, too.
April 20, 2009 11:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I saw something on TV (MSNBC?) in which it was said that some Repo thought that since 'socialist' had lost its punch, therefore 'fascist' was worth a shot.
Mindless.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/04/20/1899716.aspx
April 20, 2009 11:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Should we look for anarchist next?
April 21, 2009 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's too close to what some of them want, anarchist or antichrist. Libertarians have some delusion that anarchy is a utopia. Too many Repos want Obama to be an antichrist so as to justify their delusions about The Rapture etc.
April 21, 2009 1:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Good point! ;)
April 21, 2009 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans don't care about the meaning of their words, it's the effect of those words which they care about. They are wildly slinging any and all mud hoping something sticks to Obama. It doesn't seem even to matter to them that their own credibility goes down (damaging their own future electoral prospects) with each handful of mud thrown so long as there's the slightest chance some glop might eventually stick. Much like what the GOP unsuccessfully tried to do to Clinton, that is, until Clinton himself finally provided them with what they needed.
April 21, 2009 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
A perfect summation. The Party of Resentment has no qualms about definitions of words, they are helplessly flailing about while the country leaves them behind. It appears to me that they would rather destroy the government then let someone else play with it, like spoiled toddlers in the sand box.
April 21, 2009 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys are right. The conservatives are just individuals who want it their way all the time, with them running things. Their leaders use highly emotional terms for their impact on the public and especially on their followers.
If you've read Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians" (Available on line) you can see in the conservatives the distinction he makes between authoritarian followers and authoritarian leaders.
It's the leaders who determine the message, and to whom the description "they consider the impact of words on the public, not their meaning" applies. The followers have no clue how they are being manipulated. If they do figure it out, like David Brock they get out of the movement - or they move into the leadership if they have what it takes and can be accepted.
April 21, 2009 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said.
April 21, 2009 12:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, Frank Luntz takes a little time off and the Right is at a loss for words! I'm just waiting for them to elevate to "I know you are, but what am I."
April 21, 2009 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd guess what has happened is that the environment has changed so much that the tool box of words with emotional impact that was so successful in demagoguery has become obsolete. It took the conservatives at least 60 years to build up that now obsolete toolbox. They've been working on it since FDR was elected.
Nixon was, of course, an early Republican who successfully got elected nationally using many of those emotional terms, as so might have been Goldwater. Then the public relations team who made up Reagan's key advisers added greatly to the terms and to their delivery by new media and techniques.
The conservative movement appears to me to have been a successful alliance between the Wall Street Republicans, those conservatives who populated the John Birch Society and the similar anti-civil rights movement groups and the Evangelical right-wing Christians. Each had their own set of those loaded terms, and the alliance allowed them to consolidate them. But the Nixon - Goldwater - John Bircher strain appears to me to have dominated the conservative movement.
I am speculating, of course. But I think the speculation fits the facts as I have seen them.
If that's true, then I bet that we see another conservative rebirth in about a generation or a generation and a half. Unless the economic conditions remain relatively mild as they are now and quickly improve.
April 21, 2009 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you had something nice to say about the Swedes! Thank you. I'm going to go eat some lingonberries and pickled herring.
April 21, 2009 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
He can if you live in the Land of Cognitive Dissonance, which is the natal country of most of what is left of the Republican party.
Gotta love the incisive mind evidenced by the logic of the guy in the video:
"Why do you think the president is a Facist?"
"Because he is."
April 21, 2009 6:16 PM | Reply | Permalink