Obama and the new Civility. aka more hypocrisy from the left

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
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This is only an op-ed and not really a consequential one at that. But it does a great job of illustrating the incredible amount of hypocrisy we are seeing from the left when it comes to how people speak about the President or our government.

Just about everything the left claims we should not being saying about Obama had already been said by the left about Bush.

Enjoy.
It was sometime early this year that Americans finally learned the rules of proper political discourse — another dividend from the Obama administration. We can all be grateful for our new bipartisan protocols, which will go something like the following.

It will be considered childish to caricature a stressed president for mangling his words, whether “nucular” or “corpseman.” If, from time to time, the commander-in-chief flubs up and says something stupid like Bush’s “Is our children learning?” or Obama’s “Cinco de Quatro,” we have learned to accept that such slips are hardly reflective of a lack of knowledge. The old “gotcha” game is puerile and, thankfully, is now a thing of the past.

Nor should we ever refer to any elected administration as a “regime” — that unfortunate habit of the likes of Maureen Dowd, Chris Matthews, and various talk-radio hosts. Thank God, we in 2010 all recognize the pernicious effects of such near-treasonous rhetoric.

At last there is a return to civility. If we were confused in recent years as to whether “hate” was a permissible word in public discourse — as in the outburst of Democratic national chairman Howard Dean, “I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for,” or the infamous essay by The New Republic’s Jonathan Chait that began, “I hate President George W. Bush” — we now accept that such extreme language in the public arena is not merely uncivil, but is an incitement to real violence. The use of the word “hate” at last has become “hate speech.”

With Rep. Joe Wilson’s improper outburst to President Obama — “You lie!” — we also have at last come to appreciate that those in Congress have a special responsibility not to use incendiary language to defame our government officials. That’s why we now lament Rep. Pete Stark’s slur of George W. Bush from the House floor as a “liar” — the same Rep. Pete Stark who said of our troops that they had gone “to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”

But since 2009 Americans have finally learned that our soldiers are sacrosanct and must not be smeared — as in Sen. Richard Durbin’s characterization of American military personnel as synonymous with Nazis, Stalinists, or Pol Pot’s murderers; as in the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s comparison of American troops to Saddam’s lethal jailers; as in Sen. John Kerry’s smear of our soldiers as acting in terrorist fashion. Evocation of Nazi or Brownshirt imagery particularly coarsens the public discourse; it demonizes opponents rather than engage them in real debate. So we can all concur now that Sen. John Glenn, Sen. Robert Byrd, and former vice president Al Gore spoke quite improperly when they compared their president’s governance to that of the Third Reich.

Our military officers deserve special consideration. No senator should ever again accuse a wartime theater commander of telling an untruth (“suspicion of disbelief”). Major newspapers should not extend discounts to pressure groups that defame our officers with cheap slurs such as “General Betray Us.” All that is dangerous rhetoric. Indeed, it risks undermining our noble bipartisan efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We now know that environmental terrorists of the sort that spike trees, torch forestry equipment, blow up people with letter bombs, or wage anti-globalization urban violence are engaging in the same sort of behavior as are the unhinged militias. Therefore we must all be careful, left and right, in criticizing our government — lest either another Ted Kaczynski becomes too inflamed by Al Gore’s accusatory furor about environmental desecration, or a Michigan militia member goes over the top after hearing a talk-radio rant about Barack Obama.

Ever since Dwight Eisenhower hit the back nine, critics have snickered at golf-playing presidents — as if their polo shirts, shades, and splashy caps were revelations of aristocratic disdain for the rest of us, or as if they were engaging in a sort of loafing amid world crises. Not now. We have come to realize that presidents should play golf — in fact, lots of it — both for needed relaxation and as a reminder that it is no longer a sport of the elite.

With the appropriate criticism of former vice president Dick Cheney’s public attacks on the Obama anti-terrorist protocols, we have established that vice presidents emeriti, by virtue of the dignity of their positions, should not engage in partisan hits on subsequent administrations. Cheney’s slights remind us why there was once media outrage when former vice president Al Gore said of President Bush, “He lied to us,” “He betrayed this country,” “He played on our fears” — or when he dismissed Bush’s Internet supporters with the slur of “digital Brownshirts.”

We have always been worried about presidential braggadocio. Just as we came to realize that George Bush’s “bring ’em on” and “dead or alive” were unnecessarily polarizing, so too talk of bringing a gun to a knife fight, or predictions that a supporter would “tear up” a talk-show host, or remarks about “fat cat” bankers are unnecessary presidential provocations.

In other words, with the presidency of Barack Obama, the nation has collectively established at last the proper parameters of political rhetoric and conduct. What was the norm in the past is now recognized as coarse, if not dangerous — and so won’t be repeated in our future.
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,395
4,452
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Is it just me or does the thread title have nothing to do with the blog post?


I thought the same thing.


Dear John,

WTH is up with this? I mean, it's nice and dishonest and all, but really obtuse, even for you.
 
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Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
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This country is full of self hate. You don't realize how much you hate yourself and because of this self-loathing you are incapable of realizing true love for another person. You are sick and will never be well. Humanity is full of hatred and disease. One day you will finally realize that the only prison holding you is the one you made yourself. People who hate themselves look for a hate group to belong to.
Americans are morons and when morons get mad they are dangerous, especially to themselves. The Republican party is one such hate group in which smart government leaders pretend to hate government to get elected to it. Hate hate hate hate hate!
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,530
3
0
:thumbsup:
This country is full of self hate. You don't realize how much you hate yourself and because of this self-loathing you are incapable of realizing true love for another person. You are sick and will never be well. Humanity is full of hatred and disease. One day you will finally realize that the only prison holding you is the one you made yourself. People who hate themselves look for a hate group to belong to.
Americans are morons and when morons get mad they are dangerous, especially to themselves. The Republican party is one such hate group in which smart government leaders pretend to hate government to get elected to it. Hate hate hate hate hate!
Lol,chaneling Moonie FTW
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
8
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I thought the same thing.


Dear John,

WTH is up with this? I mean, it's nice and dishonest and all, but really obtuse, even for you.
The thread title is the title of the op-ed piece, with some added comment to let you people know what it is about.

If you don't see the hypocrisy then maybe you need to read it again or pay more attention to what is going on in the world.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
33,378
7,443
136
It is quite clear that they expect us to treat Obama better than they treated Bush.
 

CitizenKain

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2000
4,480
14
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Article said:
But since 2009 Americans have finally learned that our soldiers are sacrosanct and must not be smeared

Our military officers deserve special consideration. No senator should ever again accuse a wartime theater commander of telling an untruth (“suspicion of disbelief”).

No, fuck that. You'd think for people who get their rocks off by shooting people they'd take a little criticism better.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
The left started this with their hatred and constant Bush bashing. So I say this with great pride and patriotism.

FUCK BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. FUCK THAT BASTARD. FBHO.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,649
2,384
126
The left started this with their hatred and constant Bush bashing. So I say this with great pride and patriotism.

FUCK BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. FUCK THAT BASTARD. FBHO.

Criticism of the President didn't start with GWB. Perhaps you have forgotten the long inquistion of Clinton in the 90s.

It's fair to say every President has been harshly criticized since George Washington's day. Look up some political cartoons from the early 1800s sometime-they were extremely harsh.

And PJ, I've read your posted blog twice and still miss the point you are trying to make. Believe it or not, many of us criticized GWB based on the merits of his performance.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,530
3
0
The left started this with their hatred and constant Bush bashing. So I say this with great pride and patriotism.

FUCK BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. FUCK THAT BASTARD. FBHO.
You think a whackjob like you praising him would be a good thing?
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
8
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And PJ, I've read your posted blog twice and still miss the point you are trying to make. Believe it or not, many of us criticized GWB based on the merits of his performance.
And those of us who criticize Obama do so based on his performance.

The difference is that people who called Bush names were cheered by the left, but those who criticize Obama are racists, or hate mongers etc etc.
 

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,395
4,452
136
And those of us who criticize Obama do so based on his performance.

The difference is that people who called Bush names were cheered by the left, but those who criticize Obama are racists, or hate mongers etc etc.



(sigh)

People who call Obama names are cheered by the right, but those who criticized Bush were called Traitors and Un-American.

Stop being such a dunderhead for Christ's sake!
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,530
3
0
And those of us who criticize Obama do so based on his performance.

The difference is that people who called Bush names were cheered by the left, but those who criticize Obama are racists, or hate mongers etc etc.

Well you should tell Wankers like Whitey07 and HIV to calm it, they are to the Right was McCraigen is to the Left. Also Bush was at least given a pass from many on the left and center thanks to 9/11 and he preceded to fuck the dog hard over 8 years so he had a long track record of fail to deserve his criticism
 

palehorse

Lifer
Dec 21, 2005
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0
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Well you should tell Wankers like Whitey07 and HIV to calm it, they are to the Right was McCraigen is to the Left. Also Bush was at least given a pass from many on the left and center thanks to 9/11 and he preceded to fuck the dog hard over 8 years so he had a long track record of fail to deserve his criticism
...and Obama has one year of total fail, and counting...

Hell, our entire govn't is total fail at this point. Every single elected official should be disposed and replaced by intelligent hard-working Americans who themselves never wanted to be a politician.

The only thing worse than an existing politician is someone who wants to become one.

Fuck 'em all.
 

bamacre

Lifer
Jul 1, 2004
21,030
2
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Sure it's hypocritical, just as it was when the Bush administration and the Right called the Dem's and the anti-war folk everything from "unpatriotic," to "terrorist sympathizers."

That's what being a Republican or Democrat is all about. Being a hypocrite.
 

GarfieldtheCat

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2005
3,708
1
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The left started this with their hatred and constant Bush bashing. So I say this with great pride and patriotism.

FUCK BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. FUCK THAT BASTARD. FBHO.

Google "false equivalence", but be prepared for your head to explode when you realize you have no idea what you are talking about.

Somehow I don't understand how congress legally passing a healthcare bill is somehow equal to Bush claiming unlimited executive power to break the law.

Clue to cluelessspidey: One is legal, one is not. There is no comparision.

And if you are talking about Obama continuing some of Bush's policies, how can you complain at all, since he is doing what Bush did?

Just admit it. You are a bigot. And apparently, proud of that fact.
 

GarfieldtheCat

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2005
3,708
1
0
And those of us who criticize Obama do so based on his performance.

The difference is that people who called Bush names were cheered by the left, but those who criticize Obama are racists, or hate mongers etc etc.

Yes, because lying about starting a war, killing 100,000+ people in Iraq, illegal spying on US citizens, and torture are OK things apparently. Oh wait, they aren't.

So what is your point? That Bush indeed did desrve criticism?

Somehow complaining that Obama is a socialist (not at all), Kenyan (lol), and a Muslim (yea, right) without ANY evidence at all is not the same as what Bush did. Sorry, but the truth hurts.

Torture, 100K dead, illegal wiretapping =/= "Socialist secret Muslim Kenyan"

Not even close.
 

Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
41,095
513
126
Google "false equivalence", but be prepared for your head to explode when you realize you have no idea what you are talking about.

Somehow I don't understand how congress legally passing a healthcare bill is somehow equal to Bush claiming unlimited executive power to break the law.

Clue to cluelessspidey: One is legal, one is not. There is no comparision.


And if you are talking about Obama continuing some of Bush's policies, how can you complain at all, since he is doing what Bush did?

Just admit it. You are a bigot. And apparently, proud of that fact.

How does Obama's administration claiming they can execute American citizens without due process factor into this discussion?
 

umbrella39

Lifer
Jun 11, 2004
13,819
1,126
126
The left started this with their hatred and constant Bush bashing. So I say this with great pride and patriotism.

FUCK BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA. FUCK THAT BASTARD. FBHO.

Wonders how long before the SS come knocking on your door you fake patriot fuck?
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,251
8
0
Yes, because lying about starting a war, killing 100,000+ people in Iraq, illegal spying on US citizens, and torture are OK things apparently. Oh wait, they aren't.

So what is your point? That Bush indeed did desrve criticism?

Somehow complaining that Obama is a socialist (not at all), Kenyan (lol), and a Muslim (yea, right) without ANY evidence at all is not the same as what Bush did. Sorry, but the truth hurts.

Torture, 100K dead, illegal wiretapping =/= "Socialist secret Muslim Kenyan"

Not even close.

^ nice straw man pointing out the most absurd and off the wall accusations and pretending that everything else Obama is doing doesn't exist or isn't questionable.
 
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Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,530
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...and Obama has one year of total fail, and counting...
In your opinion. He has made some missteps but that comes with being new on the job, I've yet to witness a President in my lifetime who hasn't had similar missteps during the fist part of his first term. Maybe The real Bush (GW's daddy) if you don't take into account him puking all over the Japanese PM which I though was epic win. Maybe I just don't remember as his term wasn't all that memorable, it was more like a HBO Mini Series, Kicking Sadam's Butt Lol
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
0
0
...and Obama has one year of total fail, and counting...

Hell, our entire govn't is total fail at this point. Every single elected official should be disposed and replaced by intelligent hard-working Americans who themselves never wanted to be a politician.

The only thing worse than an existing politician is someone who wants to become one.

Fuck 'em all.


Pointing out that 'fail' would be appreciated.

I love the way the new Con Talking Point is 'the hypocrisy of the left'. The Party of No (Ideas) rages on.

LOL at the National Review --- The NeoCons 'scream' hypocrisy, use slur to describe what Stark said on the House Floor (instead of questioning the accuracy of his statement) and cite Wilson's 'improper outburst' at the President during the State of the Union address (was he raising his little pinky when he said it?).

Bush and his Criminal Cabal lied their asses off no matter how you Contards spin it.

And I would like to point out:

Perfessor Johnnie is to 'Bush Apologist' as IHateVirus is to 'AIPAC Schmuck'





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