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Crazy Politicians

F

FreakyLocz14

Banned
There are some politicians on both sides of the aisle that are just far out there.

On the left, we have loons like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, Alan Grayson, Barbara Boxer, Maxine Waters, etc.

On the right, we have nutjobs like Sarah Palin, Christine O'Donnell, Michele Bachmann, George W. Bush, etc.

Why has extremism became became so popular in our political discourse?

Discuss.
 
Sorry what?

We come from 50 different states with every one being different. We are the 3rd largest country in the world. We are a melting pot of everything and everyone. You honestly don't believe that there maybe differences.

But I digress.

If you are going to state extremes, define what makes them extreme?

What makes Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, Alan Grayson, Barbara Boxer, Maxine Waters, Sarah Palin, Christine O'Donnell, Michele Bachmann, George W. Bush, and ect... extreme?
 
RiverOfIce said:
Sorry what?

We come from 50 different states with every one being different. We are the 3rd largest country in the world. We are a melting pot of everything and everyone. You honestly don't believe that there maybe differences.

But I digress.

If you are going to state extremes, define what makes them extreme?

What makes Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, Alan Grayson, Barbara Boxer, Maxine Waters, Sarah Palin, Christine O'Donnell, Michele Bachmann, George W. Bush, and ect... extreme?
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Fair to ask because if you think social welfare programs and abortion on demand are needed in our society, you will not like strong Conservatives one darn bit because it is too extreme. If you think the borders should be open to everyone just trying to escape a bad place, you will likely want democrats because the right wing is too extreme. If a strong border protection is not conducive to furthering your personal agenda, you want democrats in power because they are logical and not extreme like those damn Conservatives.

If you hate Limbaugh, it is likely because you think he is way out there when in fact, he does not lie and he is extremely honest and accurate. but for some/many, he is too far out there; a nut case if you will.

If you read stories about Sarah Palin, you might conclude she is a nut. In reality, her honesty is refreshing and if you are honest, you will know that she was better qualified than Obama to run this country. But the press painted her as some evil crazy woman and praised Obama, who is not a nut, according to many people who really do not know better.

Saying someone is a nut or too far out there or too extreme is not fair in most cases because most people read what a predominantly left sided and ever so biased media reports. So we naturally think Palin is a nut because the media is biased.

As for Reid and Pelosi, delve deeper into their records and speeches and you might discover what they are all about.

But I agree, if you say someone is a nut or too far off their nut, a few examples are required and in context.
 
Bob Maxey said:
Fair to ask because if you think social welfare programs and abortion on demand are needed in our society, you will not like strong Conservatives one darn bit because it is too extreme. If you think the borders should be open to everyone just trying to escape a bad place, you will likely want democrats because the right wing is too extreme. If a strong border protection is not conducive to furthering your personal agenda, you want democrats in power because they are logical and not extreme like those damn Conservatives.

If you hate Limbaugh, it is likely because you think he is way out there when in fact, he does not lie and he is extremely honest and accurate. but for some/many, he is too far out there; a nut case if you will.

If you read stories about Sarah Palin, you might conclude she is a nut. In reality, her honesty is refreshing and if you are honest, you will know that she was better qualified than Obama to run this country. But the press painted her as some evil crazy woman and praised Obama, who is not a nut, according to many people who really do not know better.

Saying someone is a nut or too far out there or too extreme is not fair in most cases because most people read what a predominantly left sided and ever so biased media reports. So we naturally think Palin is a nut because the media is biased.

As for Reid and Pelosi, delve deeper into their records and speeches and you might discover what they are all about.

But I agree, if you say someone is a nut or too far off their nut, a few examples are required and in context.
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Bob,

I agree with a good chunk of what you've stated here. The only statements you made that I disagree with is the one you made about Rush Limbaugh regarding his not lying and being honest and accurate.

I'm curious as to why you think Sarah Palin was better qualified than Obama to run this country? I'm not stating either of them are qualified, just to be clear.

Regarding what the original poster, this country has become more polarized because in general I think politicians have become less willing to compromise and we are left with fewer elected officials who are willing to strike deals and instead they stake out positions on either extreme and don't budge.
 
Sorry everyone lies even rush. He lied about being hooked on prescription drugs and lied about all sorts of things. So how can you say the man don't lie.
 
George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal - thus towards the middle of the political spectrum (especially economically).

Someone above touched on it ... some of these people may or may not be extreme, but we have become a very polarized country (politically).
 
JimmyRayBob said:
George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal - thus towards the middle of the political spectrum (especially economically).

Someone above touched on it ... some of these people may or may not be extreme, but we have become a very polarized country (politically).
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Bush's expansion of power of the executive branch, infringement on civil liberties, and his war-mongering make him extreme in my eyes.
 
FreakyLocz14 said:
It sure does. Notice how I also included Obama in my OP.
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I'm not a big W fan ... he did a lot of things i disagree with - bailouts at the end for starters. He did some good, but overall i think he was an average president. I just don't consider him "extreme" I guess. Heck, i'm more "extreme" than him :D
 
JimmyRayBob said:
I'm not a big W fan ... he did a lot of things i disagree with - bailouts at the end for starters. He did some good, but overall i think he was an average president. I just don't consider him "extreme" I guess. Heck, i'm more "extreme" than him :D
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On military policy, there isn't much difference between W and Obama, though there probably wouldn't have been with McCain, either.
 
JimmyRayBob said:
Perhaps some reading comprehension lessons are needed ... no one called Bush a liberal. I suggest you re-read the posts...
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Well read this post by you:
JimmyRayBob said:
George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal
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Given you are very far to the right and have skewed views of the political spectrum, it would be fair to argue that you fall into your "most conservatives" category, especially since you said it.
 
Let's see - i wonder if there is a difference between:
1. George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal (which is what you QUOTED)

and what i ACTUALLY WROTE:

2. George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal - thus towards the middle of the political spectrum (especially economically).

remember, this is a discussion about being EXTREME. So when a conservative says someone is "too liberal" or if a liberal says someone is "too conservative", when referring to ones own party, it means that person tends towards THE MIDDLE!!!

So if Barack Obama said Joe Biden is "too conservative" - it certainly doesn't mean Joe Biden IS CONSERVATIVE.

Get it?????????
 
shadowninty said:
Given you are very far to the right and have skewed views of the political spectrum, it would be fair to argue that you fall into your "most conservatives" category, especially since you said it.
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and given that you are very far to the left and have skewed views of the political spectrum ... oh wait ... there's nothing wrong with being far left or far right ... so i guess i won't actually say your views are "skewed" - which implies that they are wrong. your views are just different - which is perfectly fine with me.
 
JimmyRayBob said:
and given that you are very far to the left and have skewed views of the political spectrum ... oh wait ... there's nothing wrong with being far left or far right ... so i guess i won't actually say your views are "skewed" - which implies that they are wrong. your views are just different - which is perfectly fine with me.
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What I am referring to as skewed (I should have been clearer), is your definition of left/right, conservative/liberal.
From your posts you (CMIIW) seem to think that Obama is quite far to the left and Most Republicans (incl G.W. Bush) are barely center right, which I'm sure the vast majority of intellectuals/academia, etc would find completely skewed.
JimmyRayBob said:
Let's see - i wonder if there is a difference between:
1. George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal (which is what you QUOTED)

and what i ACTUALLY WROTE:

2. George W. Bush extreme????????????? I think most conservatives would argue he was far too liberal - thus towards the middle of the political spectrum (especially economically).

remember, this is a discussion about being EXTREME. So when a conservative says someone is "too liberal" or if a liberal says someone is "too conservative", when referring to ones own party, it means that person tends towards THE MIDDLE!!!

So if Barack Obama said Joe Biden is "too conservative" - it certainly doesn't mean Joe Biden IS CONSERVATIVE.

Get it?????????
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By saying he is far too liberal it would imply the person who stated that the person is somewhat liberal.
As for Joe Biden, if someone said he is too conservative, it would imply they felt he was somewhat conservative.
 
shadowninty said:
What I am referring to as skewed (I should have been clearer), is your definition of left/right, conservative/liberal.
From your posts you (CMIIW) seem to think that Obama is quite far to the left and Most Republicans (incl G.W. Bush) are barely center right, which I'm sure the vast majority of intellectuals/academia, etc would find completely skewed.
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OK ... "the vast majority of intellectuals / academia" here in the US are "liberal" - but that's another discussion.

Yes, it think Obama is quite far left on most (not all) counts ... do you agree?
Bush - on a scale of 1 to 100, where 1 is completely liberal and 100 is completely conservative - I put him around 70. He would be further right in my book were it not for his economic policies / budgets. In my opinion, Bush is much more conservative socially than economically. TARP / Bailouts / the fact that he never seemed to veto a spending bill all point to a RELATIVELY liberal economic philosophy. Note i said RELATIVELY. Economically i would call him a "big government republican" - certainly not conservative.
 
shadowninty said:
From your posts you (CMIIW) seem to think that Obama is quite far to the left and Most Republicans (incl G.W. Bush) are barely center right, which I'm sure the vast majority of intellectuals/academia, etc would find completely skewed.
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I certainly dont' think most republicans are barely right of center ... not even close.

Ronald Reagan - very conservative
Rush Limbaugh - very conservative (sorry for using him as an example - i'm not a big fan of his)
George W. Bush - pretty conservative overall (see post above for disclaimer)
Michelle Bachman - very conservative
Ron Paul - very conservative / somewhat batty
Mitt Romney - very conservative, but not as much as Reagan / Limbaugh / Bachman / Paul .
John McCain - similar to W.

I could go on and on ...

oh yeah - George W. Bush - prescription drug plan - arrghhh!!!! certainly not a conservative position.
 
JimmyRayBob said:
Yes, it think Obama is quite far left on most (not all) counts ... do you agree?
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I would not agree.
In most of the developed world he would be classified as centre-right (based on his decisions) - quite a bit from far left.
I do appreciate that the spending situation may damge these center right credentials but it would be worth remembering that the economy is in a shocking state after two and a half decades of mis-management.
Im talking about economics, but there are plenty of liberal social policy center-righties
 
shadowninty said:
I would not agree.
In most of the developed world he would be classified as centre-right (based on his decisions) - quite a bit from far left.
I do appreciate that the spending situation may damge these center right credentials but it would be worth remembering that the economy is in a shocking state after two and a half decades of mis-management.
Im talking about economics, but there are plenty of liberal social policy center-righties
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I think here in the USA - Obama is considered pretty far left ... maybe not compared with the rest of the world, but certainly in the US. No one in the US thinks he is center - right that's for sure.
 
JimmyRayBob said:
I think here in the USA - Obama is considered pretty far left ... maybe not compared with the rest of the world, but certainly in the US. No one in the US thinks he is center - right that's for sure.
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Well then do you not feel that many peoples view on politics in the US is quite skewed, if Obama is considered "pretty far left"?

This guy I'd consider pretty far left; Joe Higgins.ie | Socialist Party & United Left Alliance TD for Dublin West
Now we don't have many of them here (although Sinn F
 
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