2009-7-31 05:01:00
[Compiler's Note: The "Local Posts" series of articles found here in "The Archives" are a collection of exchanges between JJ Dewey and others participating on a local online newspaper blog, and were subsequently re-posted by JJ Dewey on The Keys Of Knowledge discussion group prior to being archived here.]
JJ:
[Late Night Talk Show Host] Letterman's unfunny joke of [USA Governor (AK-D) & 2008 VP Candidate] Palin's daughter getting knocked up by disgraced Alex Rodriguez was so outrageous that even some on the Left took offense, but most defended him. [USA Comedian] Bill Maher set the tone by saying it a real shame that Dave apologized and that the joke was "funny...and not offensive in any way."
They say the joke was harmless because he was referring to the 18 year old Bristol and not the 14 year old Willow. Dave [Letterman] and his staff knew that Palin has more than one daughter so he should have had the guts to used the name. The fact that he said "daughter" when she has several teen age daughters shows taste bad enough to get him fired.
[Radio talk show host] Imus in imitating rap language said something much less outrageous and he was fired. Republican George Allen lost his presidential hopes for using the word "macaca" a word he thought he made up. Senator Packwood kissed a woman in an elevator and was run out of office.
Isn't it strange how conservatives are relentlessly hounded out of a job for such slips whereas Letterman is tolerated and will keep his job?
"Grandjester" (GJ) wrote:
"I suggest you check yourself and your party. Let's see, David 'Diaper' Vitter still has a job."
JJ:
I don't see "moral purity" as a requirement for office. If it were we wouldn't have a Congress.
GJ:
"Newt, of the multiple affairs, marriages and recent conversion to Catholicism still gets work."
JJ:
You are really big on moral purity here. You should join the religious right. I think most divorces are a good thing, often a sign of common sense. Many on the right do not fit your stereotype.
GJ:
"Rush has had how many marriages?"
JJ:
And what's wrong with that?
GJ:
"How many drug convictions?"
JJ:
None.
GJ:
"When it comes to sex, drug and money, Republicans run up about a two to one advantage over their Democratic counterparts in scandal."
JJ:
It seems that way because minor flaws that do not even raise a flag by Democrats are covered by the press 100 times as much.
GJ:
"So before you get on that moral high horse...."
JJ:
You're the one harping about morality more than Palin ever did.
"Run":
"Palin has advocated policies under the name 'family values' that amount to nothing more than meddling in the lives of people...."
JJ:
And what meddling is this outside of your wild imagination?
"Run":
"The point is that if the governor would have looked down her nose at Bristol if she had been anybody else's daughter."
JJ:
And you know this because?
Let's have a contest. Can anyone come up with a more judgmental statement than "Run" has?
"Run":
"As for your citations, Imus and Allen initiated hate speech because their comments were aimed at entire populations."
JJ:
[Sen. George F. (R-VA)] Allen's macaca statement was considered an insult toward blacks and the "individual" he said it to was not black.
If one is upset at Imus then he should protest all the rap music that Imus was imitating.
"Run":
"[Former US Senator (R)] Packwood, along with [Former US Representative. Mark (R-Fla.)] Foley and [former American evangelical preacher,Ted Arthur] Haggard, are just more hypocrites."
JJ:
"If being a hypocrite means you loose your job then 99% would be unemployed including Obama. Unfortunately liberal hypocrisy is way underreported."
"Loki":
"'Joseph732' thinks there is nothing wrong with multiple divorces. What's wrong with multiple divorces?! For one, divorced folks broke a promise to god."
JJ:
Anyone who promises God they will not get divorced is out of their mind as there's about a fifty-fifty chance they'll have to break it. My wife and I wrote our own vows and if we should ever divorce we're not breaking any promise to God.
"Loki":
"For another, I thought the whole defense of marriage thing was the reason for denying gays the right to marry."
JJ:
What does acceptance of the fact that divorce is sometimes justified have to do with gays, except that they divorce each other also?
"Loki":
"If marriage is so 'special' that multiple divorces are no problem, then what are we defending exactly and why?"
JJ:
I don't recall saying anything about marriage. All I'm concerned with is that they do not penalize me for being married and do not interfere with my relationship with my wife and kids.
JJ:
Why does the Left not attack Obama for the same stance on gay marriage as had by Miss California?
The answer is simple.
They believe what Miss California says, but they do not believe Obama. They know that Obama only pretended to he against gay marriage to obtain the conservative votes needed to get elected. They also know the day is soon at hand when he will come out of the closet and lead the parade on gay marriage.
But before he can do that he has other more important fish to fry in socializing America. After he gets that foundation laid, and if the polls are still reasonable, he will then reveal his true thoughts on social issues while maintaining they have never changed.
The Left understands this, but will not speak of it. The Right knows also but does speak of it.
"Run":
"Joseph, where you been? I really wanted to hear your take on Sanford, given that the list of GOP [Grand Old Party -- Republicans] hypocrites just grew by one."
JJ:
First that is not on topic and second it's not a big deal that one more politician joins the most egregious violators such as [Senator (VA-D) & 2004 USA Democratic VP Nominee & candidate for 2004 & 2008 USA Democratic presidential nomination] John Edwards and Bill Clinton who also claim to be Christians.
"Run":
"[Miss California] Prejean doesn't even want people to see their loved ones in the hospital, which is 'real Christian' of her."
JJ:
Find a quote from her where she says this. What's that I hear?
Silence (as far as producing the quote).
Find a quote where any Republican says this.
Silence again.
Any Republican I have ever heard speak on the issue of hospital visitation says they are for this. In fact I have never heard of a gay say he has been refused such, only that he has fears of it. I think the problem occurs so infrequently that it is a non issue, except as fodder to attack conservatives.
JJ:
While it is true this country is technically not a Christian nation, or established as such, it is true that there was a strong Christian and religious influence in its original founding and direction.
I find it illogical that the Left has taken the separation of church and state to an extreme that borders on paranoia, unlike anything envisioned by the [USA] Founding Fathers.
In the early days of this country school houses and courthouses were often used by preachers who did not have a church building. That is something that would be anathema to liberals today, but was seen as no problem by the Founders because it was not seen as an attempt to establish a state religion.
The Founders were not frightened by prayer or religion as Congress as always opened its sessions with prayer. In addition there is a marble frieze directly above the justices' bench with an engraving of Moses at the Supreme Court. We also have pastors in the government run military that preach to the troops.
JJ:
If the Founding Fathers had realized how determined and persistent the Left would be in our day in attempting to take away gun rights by distorting their words they would have worded the Second Amendment as follows:
"Since a highly skilled and armed military is necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. For idiots that cannot understand this let us explain.
"As long as the people have the right to keep and bear arms the country will have a natural pool of talent from which to assemble a defense as necessary. In addition to this, it will provide a defense for the people themselves against tyranny from their own government."
"ConservoDem":
"Ha-ha-ha... The lies of a corporate shill! Only a moronic fool would believe someone who is paid to lie."
JJ:
Typical knee jerk rejection by the Left. Why is it that the Left only accepts reason and facts from designated authorities that accept only their side? If information comes from an unapproved source (and God forbid it could be Fox News) then it is automatically rejected. If it comes from an approved source then all data is mindlessly accepted as true.
A recent poll shows that conservatives study opposing views more than liberals -- in other words, they are more open-minded.
As for me, if the devil himself presents an argument I would be happy to consider it on its merits and would verify the facts rather than automatically reject them.
Calvin writes:
"Now if society is hell bent on banning something for the good of society let that be the Bible. More people die in this country due to biblical nonsense than anything else."
JJ:
And while we're at it, let's ban the Beatle's song "All You Need is Love," which was a message similar to that of the Biblical Jesus.
"Thesavior" wrote: (The writer's real online "handle.")
"The Bible is a fairy tale, Bolton. You cannot be trusted on your insights into government policy because of your magical fairy tale beliefs."
JJ:
Why would someone with a "handle" such as "thesaviour" attack Christianity at every possible opportunity. Are you trying to save us from Jesus?
Calvin:
"But to argue that government should behave in a certain manner because it did so at the time of this nation's founding is akin to arguing for the reinstatement of slavery. Washington and Jefferson owned more slaves than Bibles."
JJ:
First to compare slavery to the evils of prayer or peaceful assembly is ridiculous. Secondly, we had a war to settle the slavery issue followed by a constitutional amendment and nothing of the sort concerning religious symbols. Since no constitutional changes have been made regarding the state and religion it is wise to look to the thoughts and attitudes of the founders [of the USA] to understand their intent.
The fact is they were very tolerant of religion as long as they did not try to force the people to adhere to it. Like I said they had no problem with anyone even going so far as renting rooms and preaching in schools or courthouses.
JJ:
Here's comments on the study that shows that conservatives study both sides of issues more than do liberals:
http://www.poligazette.com/2009/06/09/conservatives-more-open-to-different-opinions/
"CalvinJones":
"Joe -- Other than possibly [mass murderer] Charles Manson and his obsession with Helter Skelter or Mark David Chapman [the man who killed Beatle John Lennon] I am hard pressed to recount any other incidents whereby Beatle songs played a role in the deaths of innocent individuals. 900 plus people died at Jonestown and that is just one of the hundreds of examples I can come up with whereby bible inspired nonsense lead to the deaths of innocent souls."
JJ:
And what verse from the Bible inspired Jim Jones [at Jonestown] to force his followers to drink poison Kool Aid? It was a threat to his power not the Bible that caused that. The deaths at Waco was caused by [USA President] Clinton and/or [USA Attorney General] Reno's aggressive moves and final attack.
Any philosophy can be corrupted. I'm sure you think that Mao's slaughter of over 70 million of his own people was a corruption of your dear social values. Atheists Mao and Stalin alone have killed many more people than all the Christians put together.
"Reddog181" wrote:
"'Joseph732' - Why were Republicans against Medicare - which allows the elderly to stay in there homes and not have to choose between food -- health care and bankruptcy?
"I would really like you to address this , I haven't any hope you will but give it a shot. Pretend your not a partisan troll.
JJ:
First, I am not a Republican, but a Libertarian. if you stereotype me in some box you will wind up embarrassed.
Secondly, the majority of Republicans in the house voted FOR Medicare when it originated in 1965 and the Republican President George Bush expanded it with Part D, The Prescription Drug Program.
It seems your question is irrelevant.
Calvin:
"Mao, Stalin, sure they were evil SOB's but that exonerates Christendom how?"
JJ:
I was making a comparison. The fact that the worst murderers in history were atheists blunts the attack that Christianity is the worst ideology that exists.
Anything can be corrupted. For instance, "love your neighbor" can be interpreted to love your neighbor so much that you will kill him to send him to a better world in heaven.
A few mislead apples does not negate all the good this verse had done by inspiring millions to help their neighbors. Because of the teachings of Christ millions of people in need throughout the world receive assistance compared to a handful who are abused by mislead believers.
"ConservoDem":
"When 'love thy neighbor' clearly means love all members of the tribe that follow the rules as prescribed by the dictatorial leadership."
JJ:
Jesus clarified this with the story of the good Samaritan which illustrated that all people are our neighbors.
Quote Of The Day
"The government by, of, and for the people has been turned on its head. It is now a government by the government, of the government, and for the government -- the people be damned."
-- Glenn Beck, "Common Sense," Page 11
-- End Of Part Two --
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