I disagree with you on this one, always have, heard you the first time, etc.
I think you are wrong here, Wade. I don't call you wrong, lightly. I totally get the philosophical thing you have going, but the pragmatical thing is our reality, and if in the minority of whack-bird vs. some reasonableness, you gotta go some reasonableness.
[i]'m also fully aware that if the last 6 years is not going to convince you of that, I'm certainly not going to.
I guess we just let them melt this country down completely, as philosophically all our alternatives were too flawed, and we don't give a damn about the opponents alternatives... let them run the show and we can sit on the top of the smoking heap and say, "We told you so."
I submit your mockery concern has the priority just below whale shit in comparison, but that is a personal aside and I don't want to offend your sensibilities. I apologize in advance of you reading this, and if I can send you some chocolate chip cookies and perhaps some warm hot chocolate to ease the pain of any inadvertent criticism, I will do so. This offer stands for all my fellow posters, as I want to be all kumbaya for all of you , all of the time, especially when not discussing the Packers.
I just friggin' promised Zero I would calm down and you bring up the ONE thing I find you to be a hypocrite upon. I can't win in here, friggin' sue me. I'll still send the cookies and hot chocolate. 😆
Originally Posted by: dfosterf
I know you disagree. Virtually all of my friends and family do. My sister is starting to come around, but other than that...well, the best I hear is that I'm an "impractical idealist". :)
Re: last 6 years. I see the point. I just lack your optimism.
Younger Bush was a major disappointment to me. I voted for him once, but couldn't the second time. And I keep forgetting I did vote for McCain, based more on my impression of his character as a POW here than any real confidence in his policy-maker: I saw BO as yet another in a long line of Chicago machine politicians (i.e., corrupt) and a wooly-headed liberal know-nothing that first election; and since character is big to me when it comes to politicos, I voted for the GOP that time. I just couldn't bring myself to vote for Romney the second time. He struck me, still does, as a sleazy used car salesman type. And, frankly, if the American people couldn't see through BO's pretending after 4 years, I felt (still do) that we are doomed. Voting for empty words packaged and lauded by the illiterati once is bad enough; repeating the mistake is, to my mind, mind-boggling.
For the record, here is my presidential voting record:
1976: Eugene McCarthy Okay, this one was true youthful idealism, plus I had had two long extended conversations (drove him to and from an airport) with him that fall. If had a do-over, would have voted for Ford.
1980: Reagan.
1984: Reagan. Height of my card-carrying GOP days.
1988: Bush the Elder. Always thought more of him than Reagan, actually. Character wins for me.
1992: Bush again.
1996: Dole. Another character candidate. In some ways the last candidate I've seen "worth" voting for.
2000: Bush the Younger. Basically decided "least of evils" this time.
2004: "None of the above." Couldn't fill in the Bush blank again. As for Kerry, I wanted to give him credit for his pre-anti-war military record, but I couldn't. Everything that is wrong with mainstream politics of the east coast variety, IMO.
2008. McCain. Obama? Empty. Biden. Yuck. Character worth the shot, even though had some substantial policy disagreements with him.
2012. "None of the above." Sat in the booth wondering "Romney?" for awhile, but couldn't do it.
2016. It won't be for Hillary. Other than that, I have no idea. Hope NOTA isn't necessary, but fear it will be.
I agree about the disaster that is the current administration. The notion that there are *any* people outside of their immediate families who think they are worthy of the offices they occupy simply appalls me.
But if the course of the presidents of my lifetime (starting with Eisenhower) is any indication, there's a good bet that whoever comes next *can* be worse. (Certainly Hillary could be.) And that, I submit, is .... well, I can't think of a term negative enough.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)