Just Watched the Democratic Presidential Debate

[Albinonewt]

Originally posted by than205
I believe the term Fascism is used more than relegating to calling the Neo-cons Nazis.

Frightening enough it really isn't. For most people the two terms are the same thing. They really aren't, but to most folks they mean the same thing. So if you're willing to call somebody a facist then you're willing to call someone a Nazi, and Nazi is the word that has the most shock appeal.

As a conservative I don't paticularly mind it when we're bashed in the normal semi-respectful way. If we disagree we'll be called stupid. If we want to control the borders we're called racist. If we want to privatize medicare we're called heartless. Frankly, liberals would have to deal with the same thing from us if they posistions were reversed. However, the Nazi thing really annoys me, because it is so wildly inaccurate and such a historically horrendeous event that having every posistion I take equated to genocide (in a very real historical context) is just plain wrong.

[Albinonewt]

Originally posted by aaron_mag
Okay I couldn't get dude into every fourth word but how was my attempt.

Pretty good.

[Albinonewt]

More Clark

Boy this guy has no chance at all. His social politics are too centrist for him to be even a viable candidate in the primaries. If Clark was smart he'd run as a third party candidate. He wouldn't win (well, I suppose he could) but that would get him into the Presidential race. Slugging it out with the 9 other candidates is going to do him no good.

At least he came out against single payer healthcare. That's good.

[aaron_mag]

Ummmm centrist social policies are good. We don't want someone with an extreme social agenda from either side. The last thing I want is some Nazi in there! Sheesh

Seriously though why is centrist bad?

[Albinonewt]

Originally posted by aaron_mag
Seriously though why is centrist bad?

It's not bad for the country, it's bad for someone trying to win a Democratic Primary.

I think during this year you'll see Bush move towards the center more then whoever the Democratic candidate is. Simply becuase the Democrat has to put himself way out into left field to win the primary and by then it will be impossible to retract the things he said and head back into the center.

[aaron_mag]

Originally posted by Army
So far, so good at keeping this civil and educational. Stay on track:)

As a member of the military what is your feelings on Clark?

[aaron_mag]

Originally posted by Albinonewt

I think during this year you'll see Bush move towards the center more then whoever the Democratic candidate is. Simply becuase the Democrat has to put himself way out into left field to win the primary and by then it will be impossible to retract the things he said and head back into the center.

I think you think the democrats are WAY more liberal than they really are. Most people in the party are pretty conservative in that they don't want to shake up the health system etc. They just want to go about their daily lives vainly attempting to find meaning in such mundane tasks as writing appraisal reports and spending money on things they think will bring happiness (ie: upgrading their mag but still be unable to hit anything on the field). Trust me on this one. I speak from personal experience.

[Albinonewt]

Yeah, but those are not the people that turn out in droves to Primaries.

In primary elections, for both major parties, the voters that nominate the Presidential Candidate tend not to be the moderate party members, but the hardliners in the party.

For instance, although a pro-choice republican could win the Presidency he would never make it out of the primaries.

[1stdeadeye]

Originally posted by aaron_mag


Like it is any different on either side! I don't know how many times I have been called a hippie pot smoker on this board

Be quite you hippie pot smoking tree hugger!!!

[1stdeadeye]

Originally posted by Albinonewt
Hannibal could take Clark.

Probably not. That wus Clark would call in an airstrike when confronted by Hannibal's superior strategy. Fortunately for Clark, I think a B-1 carpet bombing would wipe Hannibal out, elephants or no!

[Thordic]

Originally posted by aaron_mag
Seriously though why is centrist bad?

It worked out real well for McCain last time around...

The system is ridiculous because the candidates who would probably do the best job are despised by both parties and will never have a serious shot at winning.

[1stdeadeye]

Originally posted by aaron_mag


I think you think the democrats are WAY more liberal than they really are. Most people in the party are pretty conservative in that they don't want to shake up the health system etc. They just want to go about their daily lives vainly attempting to find meaning in such mundane tasks as writing appraisal reports and spending money on things they think will bring happiness (ie: upgrading their mag but still be unable to hit anything on the field). Trust me on this one. I speak from personal experience.

No, I think most Democrats, like most republicans are centrists. Unfortunately, both parties have to appease their base to win the nomination. Bush having no challenger can afford to sit in the middle. THe Dems have to run to the left to make their base happy. Imagine Dean getting the nod. Bush would massacre him. It would be the CLinton/Dole election all over again with the roles reversed.

If the Dems really wanted to win, they would also run to the center, however those that do will not win the nomination.

[aaron_mag]

Interesting how Clark supports gay civil unions but not marriages. I think I feel similarly. I really have no problem with gay marriage. I definetely don't believe it is an attack on the sanctity of marriage because only my wife and I can destroy our marriage. It has nothing to do with anyone else.

BUT I have enough foresight to know where it would lead. Eventually there would be a discrimination charge against a priest/minister because he refused to perform the ceremony for a gay marriage. While not religious I do believe that people should be able to practice their religion freely. It could turn real ugly real fast!

Be quite you hippie pot smoking tree hugger!!!

See!!! You guys are just as bad. You suggest that I have perverse sexual relations with trees!!! I know how it works. First you label me......then attack me for deviant sexual behavior and get society to ostracize me. It won't work. I'm on to your little conspiracy.

[1stdeadeye]

Originally posted by aaron_mag
See!!! You guys are just as bad. You suggest that I have perverse sexual relations with trees!!! I know how it works. First you label me......then attack me for deviant sexual behavior and get society to ostracize me. It won't work. I'm on to your little conspiracy.

Step away from that knothole you pervert. Stop molesting those pine trees! You disgust me!!!

[Albinonewt]

Here's another National Review article, this one on Clark.

Clark

This guy seems to think that Clark is the odds on favorite to win the primary. I think he is grossly wrong, but it is an interesting theory. The things I think he overlooks are the fact that Democratic primary voters distrust the military, that Clark is basically a nobody with zero name recognition, and that the Clintons are not interested in guiding the party through a proxy candidate, they want to save the party in 08' after it failed for a solid 8 years without them.