November 13, 2009
Never a Compelling Argument
I'm left with the depressing conclusion that Brian Hull actually believes this:
To finish up, Whitehouse spoke about the apparent disconnect from reality that is exhibited by the Republican Party, whether it be about health care reform, or the climate bill, or same-sex marriage. Their strategy is to foment fear and worry by relying on propaganda and appeals to emotion, rather than reason, common sense, or reality.
The evidence for a fair play turnabout is too voluminous to make any choices. You want to talk propaganda related to gay rights? Shall we catalog the invariably positive presentation of gays in popular culture alongside the dark stupidity attributed to traditionalists? Or how about emotionalism? Look no further than Bob Kerr, today:
This is a governor denying homosexuals dignity in death, denying them the very human right to bring love and grief together in a final tribute. It's cruel, heartless and despicable — not to mention predictable.
Agree or disagree (in any degree), it's clear that Kerr is appealing, here, to emotion, not reason. Or how about fear mongering? Well, turn to the letters section:
I am despondent over the direction of this country. The Tea Party protesters, while by no means the majority, will terrify the ignorant, which in turn will intimidate our elected officials.We are turning into Nazi Germany.
Clearly, neither side has the market cornered on reckless rhetoric and bad argumentation, but that's the point: Whitehouse and Hull either believe or are cynically perpetuating a Mickey Mouse view of political reality: If only we could ignore those bad people, then goodness would shine through! Whatever you do, don't be lured into believing that they might actually have honorable intentions and make a point or two worth considering.
It's an understandable tendency, to be sure, but inasmuch as Whitehouse is a U.S. Senator and Hull is sitting in a quasi-significant seat in Rhode Island's political scene, it threatens to continue to define civic discourse.
At one time the U.S. Senate was considered an august and serious body filled with thoughtful statesmen and women who knew how to carry themselves and their political views with decorum and dignity. The presence of low rent dogs (sorry Shelly but daddy's money could never buy you class and integrity) like Sheldon Whitehouse speaks loudly to just how far that once highly respected body has fallen. Sheldon Whitehouse belongs in the House with Fredo Kennedy and the rest of the circus animals.
Komrade Kerr - Who cares?
Brian Hull - Who?
Seems to me the only truth spoken in these examples cited by Justin is the letter writer but even they don't realize their own truth.
I agree with the premise that there are elements in this country driving us towards nazi germany = fascism.
Does this sound like the tea party groups and what they believe in or is this Obama and the agenda of the left??
Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: \ˈfa-ˌshi-zəm also ˈfa-ˌsi-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1 often capitalized : 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
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control
Sheldon was clearly not happy when I grabbed his hand this past week, told him to look me in the eye, and informed him that, as an easy target, he would be voted out in 2012. Or perhaps he didn't like it when I called him a treasonous traitor, the language of which he found "rather harsh".
Perhaps what he finds most perplexing is that our children attended the same school and we navigate similar circles. As such, how could I possibly not "love" him?
Sheldon, you are gone, baby, gone. We cannot wait to introduce you to your replacement.
Posted by: Madmom at November 14, 2009 4:38 PM You know the drill: those who are complaining the loudest about Sheldon are the ones who couldn't wait to get rid of Chafee. Maybe it's just a little karmic payback.
Karma's a bitch in heat.
"Rhody"-again your ignorance is on display.I voted for the pusillanimous Chafee only because I knew Sheldon was worse.Truthfully it was like navigating between Scylla and Charybdis.
Mad Mom-bravo for you!!I got to be extremely rude to Shelly when he insinuated himself at our table during a retirement dinner for a prosecutor.He was hawking himself and everyone there laughed at him,but since I'm retired and don't give a tinker's damn anyhow,I just let him know how little I thought of him.He's a pure piece of garbage.
The US Senate-what a bad joke.Let's see-we have a former Imperial Wizard of the Klan;a lowlife comedian from SNL;a screeching harridan(Boxer)with the brains of a chipmunk;a crook(Burris);another crook(Dodd);another crook(Reed);a schmuck(Schumer);a communist(Sanders)-I better stop here,or I'll run down the space on this blog.
Al Qaeda can relax-this country is well on the way to self-destructing with this administration.
Posted by: joe bernstein at November 15, 2009 7:33 AM