No hope for civility

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Mark DeMoss, director of the Civility Project, a two-year-old effort launched at the beginning of the Obama presidency to prompt legislators across the nation to cool political rhetoric, decided to shut the campaign down earlier this month -- even before the latest resurgence of debate about "vitriol" and rhetoric sparked by the events in Arizona over the weekend.

DeMoss, an evangelical conservative with ties to some big-name Republicans, cited a general lack of interest, as well as pervading signs that the nature of political discourse appeared only to be deteriorating during Obama's first two years as president, as justifications for halting his program.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, DeMoss provided a little insight about how his project was received by some on the right.

"The worst e-mails I received about the civility project were from conservatives with just unbelievable language about communists, and some words I wouldn't use in this phone call," DeMoss told The Times. "This political divide has become so sharp that everything is black and white, and too many conservatives can see no redeeming value in any liberal or Democrat. That would probably be true about some liberals going the other direction, but I didn't hear from them."

The pledge he sent to 585 sitting representatives, senators and governors in early 2009, asking them to sign on to the project's three tenets, was simple:

I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior.

I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them.

I will stand against incivility when I see it.

Story continues below
Advertisement

Yet two years after the launching of the initiative, he had only three signatures: Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Reps. Frank Wolfe (R-Va.) and Sue Myrick (R-N.C.).

"You three were alone in pledging to be civil," wrote DeMoss in a release this month announcing the closure of the group. "I must admit to scratching my head as to why only three members of Congress, and no governors, would agree to what I believe is a rather low bar."

While the lack of positive response appears to have been disheartening to DeMoss, he refrained from suggesting that there was any connection between increasingly contentious political discussions and the devastating violence in Arizona over the weekend.

"Whether or not there's violence, whether or not incivility today is worse than it's been in history, it's all immaterial," he told The Times. "It's worse than it ought to be."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/12/mark-demoss-civility-project_n_808219.html

I'm not sure what this adds to the current discussion, if anything, but I thought it was relevant enough to put out there. Hopefully something like this will find new legs given the events since its closing. I think this country is at a point where if our political climate doesn't get substantially better, on the level specifically of media, pundits, and politicians, and if such an event as this past weekend can't be used as the catalyst for doing just that, then any hope of actual constructive political discourse over the FUD, incitement, and flat out hate-mongering that passes for that now is completely doomed, and so will go the country as a whole.

 

[bamacre]

This nation has been divided politically for a long, long, time.

 

[sandorski]

This nation has been divided politically for a long, long, time.

There's a big difference between Political Division and what exists now.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

This nation has been divided politically for a long, long, time.

I agree, the mudslinging and hate has been around for as long as I can remember.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

There's a big difference between Political Division and what exists now.

You must not be old enough to remember the 60's.

 

[JSt0rm]

I honestly think the problem is we can read and communicate with so many people these days.

Like in the past, hillbillies in the south didnt talk to people who lived in San Fransisco. All they knew about each other were a couple little things but we were all Americans. Now look at these forums, I am subjected to witnessing the absolute stupidity and retardation that goes on in the minds of these neocon, conservative, intelligent designer nut job fucks. Because of this opening up with the internet we are basically fucked.

 

[sandorski]

You must not be old enough to remember the 60's.

You're correct.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I honestly think the problem is we can read and communicate with so many people these days.

Like in the past, hillbillies in the south didnt talk to people who lived in San Fransisco. All they knew about each other were a couple little things but we were all Americans. Now look at these forums, I am subjected to witnessing the absolute stupidity and retardation that goes on in the minds of these neocon, conservative, intelligent designer nut job fucks. Because of this opening up with the internet we are basically fucked.

You do understand that people will look at you and consider you to be absolutely stupid and retarded, right? As long as you are OK with that, then I see no problem.

 

[spidey07]

The biggest problem started around 2004/5 with the vilification of Bush by the left. They opened the genie and insisted that this kind of "discourse" was acceptable and even encouraged (Pelosi anyone?).

And now the shoe is on the other foot, with a president who has never seen such low ratings, a congress with record breaking ratings, going against the will of the people. And liberals wonder why the country is so against them.

It's the progressive way, they simply cannot understand nor accept that their agenda is not what this country wants. This nation is smarter then they think. This country has flat out rejected this president, has no respect of The People and is a complete failure.

Liberals can't understand why this is so, so they lash, deflect and squirm under the moral obligation of Americans to stop them. The world has seen their social experiments fail and WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT FAILURE HERE IN AMERICA!!!!!

Fuck Obama.

 

[feralkid]

The biggest problem started around 2004/5 with the vilification of Bush by the left. They opened the genie and insisted that this kind of "discourse" was acceptable and even encouraged (Pelosi anyone?).

And now the shoe is on the other foot, with a president who has never seen such low ratings, a congress with record breaking ratings, going against the will of the people. And liberals wonder why the country is so against them.

It's the progressive way, they simply cannot understand nor accept that their agenda is not what this country wants. This nation is smarter then they think. This country has flat out rejected this president, has no respect of The People and is a complete failure.

Liberals can't understand why this is so, so they lash, deflect and squirm under the moral obligation of Americans to stop them. The world has seen their social experiments fail and WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT FAILURE HERE IN AMERICA!!!!!

Fuck Obama.

We the people may have to have you put away one of these days.
............................................................................................

 

[spidey07]

We the people may have to have you put away one of these days.

My point stands and is true. In the great rules of kindergarten battles...

You started it. And now Obama has been the most divisive president in history, he continues to piss this country off every single day. And thanks to the vitriol and rhetoric of the left, it's now acceptable to hate the president and blame him for everything.

Now reap what you have sown. Made your bed, now lie in it.

His marxist divide and conquer strategy is working against him. He's dividing alright, but pushing all against him. Fuck Obama.

 

[feralkid]

My point stands and is true. In the great rules of kindergarten battles...

You started it. And now Obama has been the most divisive president in history, he continues to piss this country off every single day. And thanks to the vitriol and rhetoric of the left, it's now acceptable to hate the president and blame him for everything.

Now reap what you have sown. Made your bed, now lie in it.

His marxist divide and conquer strategy is working against him. He's dividing alright, but pushing all against him. Fuck Obama.

I didn't start anything, spidey.



You are just bats.

 

[Jhhnn]

The biggest problem started around 2004/5 with the vilification of Bush by the left. They opened the genie and insisted that this kind of "discourse" was acceptable and even encouraged (Pelosi anyone?).

And now the shoe is on the other foot, with a president who has never seen such low ratings, a congress with record breaking ratings, going against the will of the people. And liberals wonder why the country is so against them.

It's the progressive way, they simply cannot understand nor accept that their agenda is not what this country wants. This nation is smarter then they think. This country has flat out rejected this president, has no respect of The People and is a complete failure.

Liberals can't understand why this is so, so they lash, deflect and squirm under the moral obligation of Americans to stop them. The world has seen their social experiments fail and WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT FAILURE HERE IN AMERICA!!!!!

Fuck Obama.

You have the mind of a child, the historical perspective of a fruitfly, and the conviction of a brainwashed zealot.

And were apparently still in diapers when the Right smeared Clinton with everything they could dream up.

Obviously, invading Iraq on false pretenses and the coattails of 9/11 had nothing to do with anybody despising GWB. Nor did the Partriot act, illegal surveillance, secret renditions, torture or any of the rest of his numerous failings, which include over stimulating and crashing the economy in the prosecution of top down class warfare.

 

[CrackRabbit]

The biggest problem started around 2004/5 with the vilification of Bush by the left. They opened the genie and insisted that this kind of "discourse" was acceptable and even encouraged (Pelosi anyone?).

And now the shoe is on the other foot, with a president who has never seen such low ratings, a congress with record breaking ratings, going against the will of the people. And liberals wonder why the country is so against them.

It's the progressive way, they simply cannot understand nor accept that their agenda is not what this country wants. This nation is smarter then they think. This country has flat out rejected this president, has no respect of The People and is a complete failure.

Liberals can't understand why this is so, so they lash, deflect and squirm under the moral obligation of Americans to stop them. The world has seen their social experiments fail and WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT FAILURE HERE IN AMERICA!!!!!

Fuck Obama.

Can't stop here, this is bat country.

 

[LegendKiller]

You have the mind of a child, the historical perspective of a fruitfly, and the conviction of a brainwashed zealot.

And were apparently still in diapers when the Right smeared Clinton with everything they could dream up.

Obviously, invading Iraq on false pretenses and the coattails of 9/11 had nothing to do with anybody despising GWB. Nor did the Partriot act, illegal surveillance, secret renditions, torture or any of the rest of his numerous failings, which include over stimulating and crashing the economy in the prosecution of top down class warfare.

This is about what I was going to post. The right led the way with their smear of Clinton back in the 90s. They hated the fact that he was massively popular, was leading the country in some of its most prosperous years, and he was cock blocking them from spending the hell out of the near balanced budget. They wanted to destroy him any way possible.

Then to shackle this country the buffoon, Bush (whom I voted for the first time) a second time only to start a war through lies and destroy the economy through tax breaks and stupid economics.

The right had led the way down the gutter with Obama, effectively blaming him for Bush's car crash while drumming up a mass hysteria through Beck, Palin, and the rest.

Spidey, your revisionist history is impeccable yet entirely predictable and pathetic.

 

[bfdd]

There's a big difference between Political Division and what exists now.

agreed.

they've used political division to divide us. the whole united we stand thing, yeah they took a shit on it for their sake. by their I mean politicians

 

[spidey07]

This is about what I was going to post. The right led the way with their smear of Clinton back in the 90s. They hated the fact that he was massively popular, was leading the country in some of its most prosperous years, and he was cock blocking them from spending the hell out of the near balanced budget. They wanted to destroy him any way possible.

Then to shackle this country the buffoon, Bush (whom I voted for the first time) a second time only to start a war through lies and destroy the economy through tax breaks and stupid economics.

The right had led the way down the gutter with Obama, effectively blaming him for Bush's car crash while drumming up a mass hysteria through Beck, Palin, and the rest.

Spidey, your revisionist history is impeccable yet entirely predictable and pathetic.

1994 bitch.

1994.

2010....2010. Pay fucking attention to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

Keep talking, keep blaming the failure of Obama. Keep it up.

 

[etrigan420]

1994 bitch.

1994.

2010....2010. Pay fucking attention to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

Keep talking, keep blaming the failure of Obama. Keep it up.

lolololol!!! Ahahahahah!!!

1994? SERIOUSLY????

You. Don't. Have. A. Fucking. Clue.

 

[LegendKiller]

1994 bitch.

1994.

2010....2010. Pay fucking attention to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

Keep talking, keep blaming the failure of Obama. Keep it up.

Please, what about 1994? What about it? The fact that Gingrich and his cronies wanted to spend ALL of the surplus after the "contract with America"? The fact that the amoral fuckwit thinks he can run now, even after he foisted Clinton by his own amoral standards?

The "Will of the people" is a bunch of knuckle draggers like you buying the bullshit spewed by Palin, Beck, and Limbaugh.

I will keep it up you fucking piece of shit leeching hypocrite. Why don't you give your taxpayer dollars back from that bloated salary of your wife. If you were half the man you claim to be you'd do that and stop being a hypocrite.

 

[Jhhnn]

The more Spidey raves, the more it's obvious he's in total denial about how we came to this juncture, about the fact that over extension of credit and overheated economies have been the cause of every major economic downturn in history.

Obama didn't do that- his predecessor did. Obama didn't engineer the bank bailout- that was also the work of his predecessor. Obama didn't gum up the workings of the govt his first 2 years in office- Republicans did.

And yet, it's all Obama's fault. Everything.

And I'm sure that Repub attempts to further implode the economy over the next 2 years will be his fault, too.

Repubs gained control of the HOR by riding a wave of discontent of their own making. It wasn't pro- republican at all, but rather anti-incumbent. That'll become evident in 2012, when they're the incumbents and we'll be deeper in the ditch thanks to their efforts.

Then what? Blame Obama, of course!

Dems really have played the whole thing poorly, I'll grant that, and it's largely by understating the problems and playing into the false Repub narrative. We're in for a long tough slog, as will become evident when the UI extensions run out, and when the wave of foreclosures proceeds. The notion that extending pissant middle class taxcuts can have the same stimulative effect as the credit bubble is laughable, and absurd. The notion that extending tax cuts at the top will result in greater investment in the American economy is equally absurd. That's not what happened during the Bush years, at all, and there's no reason to think it'll be any different today.

Have you sold that extra house yet, Spidey? Do it now, take a loss if you have to, because it won't be getting any better anytime RSN. Your idols in the banking biz and the HOR will see to that. Get out from under while you can.

 

[Steeplerot]

2010....2010. Pay fucking attention to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

And what happened? For all the fearmongering of the right wing blowhards making a buck off of blubbering cowards in the USA about evil Obama and Communists climbing in the back doors for grandma the election was pretty much the same old folks who come out for midterms.

With the same predictable change in government cycle. You useful idiots listen to too much garbage. The GOP couldn't even get both houses back, even with their bullshit front group the teaparty dropping corporate cash.

Pathetic. Imagine what Soros could do with all that money wasted by the GOP and the tea party for so little results in 2010?

We would run the world!! /manical grin stroking pointy goatee

 

[irishScott]

Well that's one reason I can be grateful for voting for Frank.

 

[alphatarget1]

My point stands and is true. In the great rules of kindergarten battles...

You started it. And now Obama has been the most divisive president in history, he continues to piss this country off every single day. And thanks to the vitriol and rhetoric of the left, it's now acceptable to hate the president and blame him for everything.

Now reap what you have sown. Made your bed, now lie in it.

His marxist divide and conquer strategy is working against him. He's dividing alright, but pushing all against him. Fuck Obama.

I dare to say that Obama is divisive because 1/4 of the country (mostly whites) just can't stand having a black man as president...

Even though I'm very much against most of Obama's policies and what he has done as president.

 

[Steeplerot]

I dare to say that Obama is divisive because 1/4 of the country (mostly whites) just can't stand having a black man as president...

Half of the electorate are registered or vote. So thats about 1/8th of the nation. The baby boomers and older generations really. A dwindling group regardless whose last gasp of old-school 20th century hate through old-school corporate media mergers and privately financed hate speech through cables to tee-vee sets will be just another embarresment to overlook in a history book soon. I am sure teaparty crap will be looked back upon as a historical blemish on America and the last gasp of a old dying vanguard of the elite white ruling classes trying to isolate themselves from change since they have already since assimilated ages ago and grown distant from the American dream.

Selfishness and narcissistic apathy have taken over for a generation betrayed by their own hopes for a future never realized, -not all boomers are like this though we still have the cultural pioneers and their works of a generation. I am trying to ignore the shaking fist at cloud old conservative mindset though, its a drag.

 

[Craig234]

The biggest problem started around 2004/5 with the vilification of Bush by the left. They opened the genie and insisted that this kind of "discourse" was acceptable and even encouraged (Pelosi anyone?).

And now the shoe is on the other foot, with a president who has never seen such low ratings, a congress with record breaking ratings, going against the will of the people. And liberals wonder why the country is so against them.

It's the progressive way, they simply cannot understand nor accept that their agenda is not what this country wants. This nation is smarter then they think. This country has flat out rejected this president, has no respect of The People and is a complete failure.

Liberals can't understand why this is so, so they lash, deflect and squirm under the moral obligation of Americans to stop them. The world has seen their social experiments fail and WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT FAILURE HERE IN AMERICA!!!!!

Fuck Obama.

LOL, I don't usually read much less respond to spidey, but this is hilarious.

Clinton was regularly attacked as a murdering, organized crime, cocaine ringleading agent of China selling out the US's top military secrets among other things - and impeached.

Richard Mellon Scaife had a $50 million "Arkansas Project" with people digging up any baseless lies anyone would come up with to trumpet in right-wing media (see books by David Brock who was in on it or Sidney Blumenthal was was called a wifebeater as part of it). The Republican Congress spent $70 million dollar to 'investigate' a long laundry list of false accusations, when their own hand-picked prosecutor cleared the Clintons on every charge, they replaced him with the guy who stumbled across Monica Lewinsky - with the help of a group of high-priced corporate lawyers who secretly conspired to try to get Clinton any way they could.

There have always been strong attacks - you can go back to the founding fathers for some doozies including 'bastard children' - but the right has created an industry for it.

The attacks on Bush were almost entirely a nation reacting to a terrible president's bad behavior (who had not really even won the office), not false attacks as with Clinton.