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| Maybe Americans have always been nuts ..; ... and the world is just finding out | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 23 2004, 10:41 AM (366 Views) | |
| Wichita | Aug 23 2004, 10:41 AM Post #1 |
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The Adminstrator wRench
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| Minuet | Aug 23 2004, 11:49 AM Post #2 |
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
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I didn't know about the long and distinguished history of mudslinging in the US presidential elections. But I've always known Americans were nuts
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| Hoss | Aug 23 2004, 11:55 AM Post #3 |
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Don't make me use my bare hands on you.
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I'm gonna have to pack up and move to any other country on earth where politics is clean and friendly and stuff like this never happens. |
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| Admiralbill_gomec | Aug 23 2004, 11:55 AM Post #4 |
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UberAdmiral
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Like where? Monaco? |
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| Minuet | Aug 23 2004, 11:58 AM Post #5 |
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
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Not that politics is "clean" anywhere else, but Americans have made mudslinging an art form. |
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| somerled | Aug 23 2004, 11:59 AM Post #6 |
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Admiral MacDonald RN
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nah! Perhaps the average yank is pretty sensible when in small groups (most the present company included). Perhaps it's just their foreign policy and economic system that's nutz.
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| Deleted User | Aug 23 2004, 12:07 PM Post #7 |
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Deleted User
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Good uck then, i don't know anywhere on the planet. |
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| Hoss | Aug 23 2004, 12:18 PM Post #8 |
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Don't make me use my bare hands on you.
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First of all it is just mud-slinging and it revealing of our political freedom. Second, I wonder what we would find if we delved into the political debates and rhetoric of another country like England, Canada, France, Australia or Germany. Would we find baseless accusations, misleading statements, misdirection, scandal, etc. or would it just be a bunch of boring, yet informative debates on the important issues of the time? And if you want to talk about tabloids and politics, nobody has anything on the British Royals. All the crap on Prince and Princess whomever and who they had fooled around with made Clinton look like a choir boy. Okay, maybe not a choir boy, but the point is that the public and the politicians in other countries like to go down into the sewer as well. I have seen stories where there have been fist fights in the assemblies in other countries. I don't remember seeing that in congress. |
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| Minuet | Aug 23 2004, 12:34 PM Post #9 |
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
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38957 please reread my comment. I said "Not that politics is "clean" anywhere else". I just think that what I have seen so far is much dirtier then what I have seen in Canadian politics. The mudslinging goes on to a certain extent here - but as I said, the Americans have made it an art form. As for it showing your "political freedom", sorry I am not impressed. To me freedom is knowing the real truth. Mudslinging is just exagerations and outright lies. It adds nothing to freedom. |
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| Wichita | Aug 23 2004, 01:04 PM Post #10 |
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The Adminstrator wRench
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Personal Response I think you are both right. "Freedom of Speech" can lead to excess. Hopefully there are checks and balances that will expose that "excess", but not always. I don't doubt there was a level of partisianship in the Watergate investigations - both by the media and by Congress - but not to the extent that there is today. At least then, there appeared to be an actual investigation. One clue to the next to the next. These days facts seem in short supply, but opinions are plentiful. End of Personal Response |
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| Minuet | Aug 23 2004, 01:07 PM Post #11 |
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
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Talking about mudslinging - I would love to know if this article is telling the truth. Pledging allegiance to Bush-Cheney
I ask because so much has been said on this board about Kerry being aloof and the "Free Speech" zones. If true, this is as bad as anything the Democrats have done to keep Republicans out of thier speeches. Next complaint I hear I will be thinking "Pot, Kettle, Black" |
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| Hoss | Aug 23 2004, 01:11 PM Post #12 |
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Don't make me use my bare hands on you.
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By political freedom I meant that anyone can criticize the political figures without repercussions or retaliation. If you're not impressed, I am sorry. Try doing this in North Korea. Yes, this means that we get jack-asses like Michael Moore as a side-effect, but it beats having people cowering in fear of the government. And I can't honestly believe that Americans have elevated political squabbling to an art form higher in degree than anybody else. I have studied global politics enough to write a book on the subject, but really, this sounds a great deal like America bashing. I expect this from somerled, .... |
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| Wichita | Aug 23 2004, 01:19 PM Post #13 |
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The Adminstrator wRench
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Personal Response Minuet, of course, all these instances* are true. Wasn't there a reporter handy to tell the story to?
Are ALL the citizens of New Mexico required to sign an oath to see the President? No, of course not. Were some at a specific event? Quite possibly ... some events in the campaign are private with different entry requirements. Are ALL the Bush campaign stops like this ... the ones I saw on the news in Ohio certainly were not ... how else could the hecklers supportive of Kerry gotten in? Mudslinging comes in many forms ... *See the 1972 Nixon Campaign handbook :lol: End of Personal Response |
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| Minuet | Aug 23 2004, 01:45 PM Post #14 |
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
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You honestly can't say I sound like Somerled I am not bashing America - I am just not a fan of your political campaign style. My right to "Free Speech" should allow me to say this without being denigrated as an America basher. Yes, there may be other countries that mudsling just as bad but not most. I guess my comparison point is Canada. And yes, some mudslinging goes on here as well. But it's not the same. I don't know how to fully explain it. I was in Houston during the State and local campaigns 2 years ago. I have seen the difference first hand. Maybe if you have never seen a more civilized campaign then you have no comparison point. However, Canada is proof that you can have a free election with free speech and still remain civilized. |
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| Minuet | Aug 23 2004, 01:51 PM Post #15 |
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Fleet Admiral Assistant wRench, Chief Supper Officer
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I don't disagree with your main point. However - those who would jump on the Democrats so quickly are not giving them the benefit of the doubt that they too have some "specific" events that they want to keep private. As the article points out, there have been many open air events with thousands of participants. I am sure that at those events people were not checked for thier affiliation. Just to be clear. My problem is not with the private events. It is with those on both sides who would use them to paint an unfair picture of the other side. |
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