Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 24, 2012 04:58 PM            

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That way, they wouldn't step in the do-do of their own idiotic arguments so often!

But, leftists enjoy living in their own little bubble world of unreality too much; which is the reason they think everyone agrees with them!

Cocooned liberals are unprepared for political debate
Michael Barone
05/24/2012

It's comfortable living in a cocoon -- associating only with those who share your views, reading journalism and watching news that only reinforces them, avoiding those on the other side of the cultural divide.

Liberals have been doing this for a long time. In 1972, the movie critic Pauline Kael said it was odd that Richard Nixon was winning the election, because everyone she knew was for George McGovern.

Kael wasn't clueless about the rest of America. She was just observing that her own social circle was politically parochial.

The rest of us have increasingly sought out comfortable cocoons, too. Journalist Bill Bishop, who lives in an Austin, Texas, neighborhood whose politics resemble Kael's, started looking at national data.

It inspired him to write his 2009 book "The Big Sort," which describes how Americans since the 1970s have increasingly sorted themselves out, moving to places where almost everybody shares their cultural orientation and political preference -- and the others keep quiet about theirs.

Thus professionals with a choice of where to make their livings head for the San Francisco Bay Area if they're liberal and for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (they really do call it that) if they're conservative. Over the years the Bay Area becomes more liberal and the Metroplex more conservative.

But cocooning has an asymmetrical effect on liberals and conservatives. Even in a cocoon, conservatives cannot avoid liberal mainstream media, liberal Hollywood entertainment and, these days, the liberal Obama administration.

They're made uncomfortably aware of the arguments of those on the other side. Which gives them an advantage in fashioning their own responses.

Liberals can protect themselves better against assaults from outside their cocoon. They can stay out of megachurches and make sure their remote controls never click on Fox News. They can stay off the AM radio dial so they will never hear Rush Limbaugh.

The problem is that this leaves them unprepared to make the best case for their side in public debate. They are too often not aware of holes in arguments that sound plausible when bandied between confreres entirely disposed to agree.

We have seen how this works on some issues this year.

Take the arguments developed by professor Randy Barnett of Georgetown Law that Obamacare's mandate to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. Some liberal scholars like Jack Balkin of Yale have addressed them with counterarguments of their own.

But liberal politicians and Eric Holder's Justice Department remained clueless about them. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asked whether Obamacare was unconstitutional, could only gasp: "Are you serious? Are you serious?"

In March, after the Supreme Court heard extended oral argument on the case, CNN's Jeffrey Toobin was clearly flabbergasted that a majority of justices seemed to take the case against Obamacare's constitutionality very seriously indeed.

Liberals better informed about the other side's case might have drafted the legislation in a way to avoid this controversy. But nothing they heard in their cocoon alerted them to the danger.

Another case in point is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's law restricting the bargaining powers of public employee unions. The unions and the crowds in Madison, which is both the state capital and a university town and which with surrounding Dane County voted 73 to 26 percent for Barack Obama, egged each other on with cries that this would destroy the working class. No one they knew found this implausible.

The unions had an economic motive to oppose the laws and seek to recall first Republican legislators and then Walker himself. The law ended the automatic checkoff of union dues, which operated as an involuntary transfer of money from taxpayers to union leaders.

But voters declined to recall enough Republicans to give Democrats a majority in the Senate, and Walker currently leads Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in polls on the June 5 recall election.

The Madison mob seemed unaware that there were attractive arguments on Walker's side.

Why should public employee union members pay less for health insurance and get fatter pensions than the taxpayers who pay their salaries? Why is it a bad thing for property taxes to be held down and for school districts to cut perks for union members enough to hire more teachers?

Beyond the Madison cocoon, in Wisconsin's other 71 counties, which voted 55 to 44 percent for Walker in 2010, such arguments are evidently proving persuasive. Maybe liberals should listen to Rush every so often.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=51700&s=rcmp

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Posts: 8177
From:
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posted May 24, 2012 05:03 PM            

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over 900 million signatures on the recall petitions for walker...almost as many people as voted in the election that got him in...should be interesting to see if they get enough turnout to involve a little more than 25% of the voting population of the state, doncha think?(which is about how many voted in the election that walker won)

i have to say, jwhop, that listening to rush only confirms my view that he is hellbent on twisting even the flimsiest of facts into a deeply paranoid commie plot against a) rush limbaugh and b) the unsuspecting public. though how the public can be unsuspecting after 30 years of his screeching i don't know!

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Posts: 8177
From:
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posted May 24, 2012 05:29 PM            

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maybe rightists should stop listening to rush, or at least expand their horizons a little to include the rest of the world.

you(general/plural) don't learn anything by listening to one source.

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 24, 2012 06:28 PM            

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Good one, Jwhop! That's pretty funny...and little else. As a person who's constantly being successfully challenged in debate, you're living proof of the false nature of the article. All the Conservatives here are.

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Posts: 8177
From:
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posted May 25, 2012 03:28 PM            

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rush and his fellow fox pundits are the broadcast media version of the national enquirer. get many facts there, do you?

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 10:01 AM            

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That's rich!

Walker has done exactly what he said he would do if he were elected.

I note he's leading the lying Mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barrett by up to 8 points. Even with all the out of state money from the utterly corrupt unions poured into this recall race.

Hmmm acoustic, as the know nothing who brought us Bush the Murderer...straight from the 6th Commandment of the Old Testement, brought us the "let's give Saddam a water treatment plant" nonsense", brought us the " America oppressed/repressed the Iraqi people" bullshiit, brought us the "terrorists are ballsy"..for killing unarmed civilians horseshiiit; I'd lay very quiet in the weeds if I were you!

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 01:29 PM            

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Despite having lost hundreds of debates here over the years, you've seldom laid quietly in the weeds. Why would you do differently if you were me? And why would you post stuff from debates you've lost in an effort to try to prove yourself?

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 02:57 PM            

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acoustic, you've never really been in any of the debates...except in your own mind. It's only in your mind that you're a debate legend.

You're such a far out leftist kook you thought the president should have sent Saddam a water treatment plant...when Saddam was building his palaces in Iraq.

You said the president..and the American people were oppressing/repressing the Iraqi people...when Saddam was fully in power in Iraq.

You thought the word "kill" meant "murder" in the 6th Commandment.

You think terrorists are "ballsy for opening up with automatic weapons on unarmed civilians in Iraq.

You said Bush was twisting the arms of US intelligence agents for findings favorable to taking the US to war in Iraq. 3 independent commissions...one British proved you're full of crap.

You've had an endless parade of kook positions which never had a chance of flying.

You've failed over and over to heed the old admonition:

"It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt"

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 04:21 PM            

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You keep trying this line of attack on me, and it still doesn't and can't work. You can't be as completely misguided as you've been over the years, and claim other people other people are as misguided as yourself. It just doesn't work.

Plus, if we were to compile a list of your failings and false beliefs it would require a novel-length book. Everyone knows this to be true...and anyone who's been here for any length of time knows I've handed your ass to you more times than they can count on their hands and feet. Your pay gap nonsense is just the latest in a long line of erroneous thought brought on by erroneous "reporting".

It's funny that you've twice just recently encouraged my silence. One can only surmise my communications are inconvenient for you.

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 06:00 PM            

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Don't look now acoustic but it alread DID work...because every word I said IS TRUE. You said every single word I said you said and in the context I said you said those words in.

Those words make you a tin plated kook with absolutely no credibility whatsoever. Well, perhaps among the kook cadres at "Kooks Are Us"...but not among rational people.

I had my first clue as to how far left you really are when you called a lifelong Liberal...a Conservative.

"Leaving the Left"

Leaving the left
I can no longer abide the simpering voices of self-styled progressives -- people who once championed solidarity
Keith Thompson
San Francisco Chronicle May 22, 2005
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/05/22/INGUNCQHKJ1.DTL

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 09:19 PM            

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It didn't work. It's never worked. No one is ever going to take you attacking me as anything other than YOU GRASPING at straws, because your arguments and your thinking are threatened. Embarrassed smiley is right as ever.

You mention context, and you believe you provided context I'm sure, but in the actual context you lost on most of those. Murder was one of the least vested positions I've had, but you're so desperate to think you've won one here or there, you had to include it. I frankly don't mind losing it. I don't mind losing an debate overall. That's the only way my mind's going to change. You've been terribly unconvincing for as long as I've known you.

Now I could remind you of some of the debates you've lost here over the years, including some of the ones you've mentioned here, but I think my presence is enough of a reminder to you and everyone else.

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Posts: 33067
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010

posted May 26, 2012 09:42 PM            

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quote:

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No one is ever going to take you attacking me as anything other than YOU GRASPING at straws, because your arguments and your thinking are threatened

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I am someone

------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 09:47 PM            

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You've disqualified yourself as even semi-rational from the very beginning acoustic. You've gone down hill from there.

Imagine, an American...you do claim to be an American don't you acoustic??...who believes presidents and Congress are elected to "RULE", not "Govern" but "Rule".

To find common ground with you acoustic one would need to become as irrational, illogical and ignorant as you.

Now acoustic, turn on Rush and try to get an education..while there's still time for you!

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Posts: 33067
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010

posted May 26, 2012 11:04 PM            

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AG
You are an intelligent person. You are an open minded person, in your own way.

I challenge you to listen to Rush for a few weeks. Get the weekend re-cap, if you can't get the daily show. Then, we will have a shoot out at the OK corral. Am I allowed to say that

------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 26, 2012 11:53 PM            

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Jwhop, this very conversation is ridiculous on its face. You've never been and never will be remotely close to me where rationality is concerned. Your more invested in defending your way of thought than you are in seeking or promoting the truth.

I've never said anything about believing Presidents and Congress "rule." I have used the term, yes, but never held such a belief. This is a good example of the type of distraction you throw up when you find yourself unable to debate me, which is pretty much all the time.

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Posts: 1913
From: 1,981 mi East of Truth or Consequences NM
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 27, 2012 07:09 PM            

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Posts: 33067
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010

posted May 27, 2012 07:15 PM            

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Be nice Node-y. He married a young girl and may need some help. We are not all perfect like I assume you are
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Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 28, 2012 07:08 AM            

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Listen acoustic. Don't even try to say you didn't use the word "RULE" when referring to the job elected federal officials are supposed to do...including congressional members and presidents.

My memory is far superior to yours in every possible way. I called you on it when you said it back then and I'm calling you on it now for denying it!

"I've never said anything about believing Presidents and Congress "rule." I have used the term, yes, but never held such a belief."...acoustic

Ignorance is one thing but lying is intentional!

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 28, 2012 05:57 PM            

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No, you listen, Jwhop. This is nonsense. I DIDN'T say that I didn't use the word rule. I said I never had the BELIEF you attributed to me. You supposedly "called me" on something inane, which is a far cry from all the nonsense you've been called on, and far from a denial, you posted my words which clearly take responsibility for having written it.

Is this how you try to make yourself feel better? Trying to needle away at something insignificant? You know how many times and how often you've lost here. That's the only reason you're acting out now. You've got to try to find some way to discredit me, which is the same tactic you use against virtually every source of information that proves you wrong.

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 28, 2012 06:52 PM            

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Well then ace, you lied when you said congress and presidents are elected to "RULE", (in your original post), if you didn't believe what you were saying.

Either way, you lied. Just admit it and move on.

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Posts: 383
From:
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posted May 28, 2012 07:54 PM            

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.

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Posts: 383
From:
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posted May 28, 2012 07:54 PM            

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Rush What year is it?

Listen, rather than boring ole Rush, I think you should all give Jeff Gannon a try. Is he still running a blog, I wonder? Or is he too busy servicing George Jr?

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Posts: 33067
From: Pluto/house next to NickiG
Registered: Sep 2010

posted May 28, 2012 08:02 PM            

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Shura
That comment is so inane. If you are gonna do inane, make it funny like I do

------------------
Passion, Lust, Desire. Check out my journal

http://www.mychristianpsychic.com/

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Posts: 6078
From: Pleasanton, CA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 28, 2012 08:23 PM            

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Still being silly, Jwhop.

Thesaurus:

Main Entry: rule
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: govern, manage

Dictionary:
rule
verb (used with object)
13.
to control or direct; exercise dominating power, authority, or influence over; govern: to rule the empire with severity.

Once again, we find you are definitions-challenged. They are elected to govern, and seeing how governing is the very definition of the verb "rule," I'm afraid you're just confused. You "called me" on something bogus, like I said. A distraction.

Either way, I DIDN'T lie. As I've been saying, you're trying to pull a stunt here. Nothing else.

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Posts: 5325
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 29, 2012 09:57 AM            

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Hey Meathead, don't look now but you posted the transitive form definition for the verb "RULE"..which includes "Govern" as a by-product.

But in our form of government..not a democracy Meathead but a Republic, we have no Rulers who RULE.

Further Mr Know Nothing, the former conversation featured Valarie Jarrett; the slum-lord advisor to the cretin O'Bomber who went on national television with Tom Brokaw and said..."This president is ready to "RULE" on day one".
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7dmyj_obama-is-ready-to-rule-on-day-one_news

Notice Meathead, there's no "direct object" connected to the action verb "RULE" in that sentence!

That makes "RULE" an intransitive verb as used.

This is the definition for the intransitive form of RULE:

VERB:
intr.

"To be in total control or command; exercise supreme authority."

But, we don't do that in America Meathead.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,"............

Elected federal and/or state officials are not elected to RULE and any politician stupid enough to announce to his constituents he/she thought they were or intended to do so would quickly find the peeps back home sharpening their pitchforks.

Now, wake up and smell the coffee!

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