tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post4374246698409039847..comments2023-09-10T06:31:57.471-05:00Comments on Dispatches From the Away-Dad Nation: The Best Political Essay I've Read All YearHal Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17350917997504370743noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-72460862607353243612008-08-02T01:31:00.000-05:002008-08-02T01:31:00.000-05:00Just today I came across this old (1926!) piece by...Just today I came across this old (1926!) piece by the late great H.L. Mencken and wondered how much we would enjoy the 2008 race.<BR/><BR/>It's at http://www.bigeye.com/mencken.htmAlgernonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01698040927871199780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-3145475231317378762008-08-01T09:20:00.000-05:002008-08-01T09:20:00.000-05:00Good thoughts. How refreshing to see politics dis...Good thoughts. How refreshing to see politics discussed in a positive vein.<BR/><BR/>Since you posted this, the McCain camp came out with the tasteless add comparing Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, while Obama said McCain's folks will try to scare us away from him by saying he doesn't look like the other presidents on the dollar bills -- but oh, he did not mean to infer that McCain's camp is being racist. I saw both of their spokespeople on The Today Show this morning trying to defend the ad and the asinine statement, respectively. Please.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15978016568840318921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-86270859866236305582008-07-26T10:43:00.000-05:002008-07-26T10:43:00.000-05:00LOL!!! Yeah, I'd have to know you a lot better to...LOL!!! Yeah, I'd have to know you a lot better to call you a bastard.<BR/><BR/>For starters I'd have to meet you face to face!<BR/><BR/>I'm still waiting for you to fly through Love Field. I NEVER go to DFW!Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-73804064141703422482008-07-26T09:09:00.000-05:002008-07-26T09:09:00.000-05:00I agree, great post!!!To be honest, I pay very lit...I agree, great post!!!<BR/><BR/>To be honest, I pay very little attention to what is said at this point. The majority of it is negative rather than positive and not really useful in forming an opinion. I prefer to wait until the candidates start seriously offering plans, suggestions and solutions for their hopeful term as POTUS. <BR/><BR/>But then again.... I have to depend on the media for how that is reported to me and to quote you: "we can't depend on the "wisdom" of our media"!! As for that statement, I definitely agree!!!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859017153454691633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-71359375792897860032008-07-26T06:49:00.000-05:002008-07-26T06:49:00.000-05:00Bob, I think you're right about the fight to keep ...Bob, I think you're right about the fight to keep Obama out. It'll probably make the swiftboating thing look like child's play. And, I won't call you a bastard anymore if you're getting all sensitive on us.<BR/><BR/>Pam, I think you're right about not hearing anything new. That shows how limiting our political landscape is: Obama has shown that he can be a dynamic leader, and McCain has in the past shown a refreshing willingness to depart from the neocon mindset. I'm afraid that that those days are gone. They'll both be circling the wagons now. Also, Pam, thanks for not calling me a bastard. Rhonda might think we're having an affair.<BR/><BR/>Debby: I'm not sure I'm smart or insightful enough to figure out how we should go about calling the pundits on their polarizing BS. Maybe it's a one step at a time thing. Letters, emails, phone calls, and just plain bitching would be a start.Hal Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17350917997504370743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-61288472219471145532008-07-26T05:07:00.000-05:002008-07-26T05:07:00.000-05:00Look at it this way, Bob: the adjective still leav...Look at it this way, Bob: the adjective still leaves the alliterative nature of your name intact. <BR/><BR/>I think that the press works for itself. The press looks for controversy. The press has become exploitive. <BR/><BR/>I liked Redlefty's post, Hal, but your final paragraph put a final exclamation mark on the whole thing. Yes. Let's start calling them on it. How, though?Debbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-88959785786470535042008-07-25T21:28:00.000-05:002008-07-25T21:28:00.000-05:00I agree, great post! (you'll notice I'm not calli...I agree, great post! (you'll notice I'm not calling you a bastard..).<BR/><BR/>Gutter politics, playing to the lowest common ( or uncommon ) denominator is getting old...and, this year of the interminable, endless election..it's been a turn off to much of the electorate.<BR/><BR/>I would be happy to not hear another soundbite from either candidate until, oh, say...a month before the election. <BR/><BR/>I've heard and read all the good, bad and the ugly. I just want them both to go away for awhile. <BR/><BR/>I'm not hearing anything new from either side at this point.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33980200.post-59740013250664419852008-07-25T20:50:00.000-05:002008-07-25T20:50:00.000-05:00You've...you've...called me...a...bastard? Look, ...You've...you've...called me...a...bastard? <BR/><BR/>Look, politics has always been dirty and polarized. It's just that with each new dirty trick, the standards get lowered even further, and what was unacceptable yesterday has become just fine today. I think the real nadir was the "swiftboating" of John Kerry. In this case, a guy with *no* military service successfully torpedoed (if you'll pardon the horrible pun) the candidacy of a guy who <I>really did</I> have legitimate military service. I still shake my head over that one - it'll go down in history!<BR/><BR/>Or will it? Maybe the next round of dirty politics will be even worse - if that's possible. And you know it's coming; the fight to keep Obama out hasn't yet begun. I, for one, am not looking forward to it. <BR/><BR/>Great post, you bastard!Bob Barbanes:https://www.blogger.com/profile/12344068760904928223noreply@blogger.com