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Just In Case You Think the Political Twilight Zone Is Limited to One Side
It’s worth noting that many of us here at TMV have in recent months been highly critical of some of the demonizing and paranoia-tinged political polemics from the Republican’ Party’s new right. But as those of us who are independent voters know, it is not limited to both sides. And, nooooooo, this is not an invitation to start another tiresome debate about “false equivalency” — a phrase now as grating as “defining moment….just doesn’t get it…tried to change the subject…the smell test.”
But just as it is a fact that not all of the nuts are found on the shelves of your supermarket, not all of the political Twilight Zone cases are on the Republican right.
And just as thoughtful conservatives will not remain silent when silly, paranoid or almost provocative rhetoric comes from the right, some thoughtful people on the left are calling out the Twilight Zoners on the left who perhaps have read too many Jesse Ventura books (maybe they should take a break from those, and start reading TMV).
And to those on the right and left who embrace this kind of rhetoric that only turns off many voters because it is to patently political and inaccurate, here are some songs that may be of interest:
AND:
20 Responses to “Just In Case You Think the Political Twilight Zone Is Limited to One Side”
Lobbying Firm’s Memo Spells Out Plan to Undermine/smear Occupy Wall Street
Yeah, cause private business would never use federal troops to shoot at strikers, protesters or marchers…
That memo is not surprising. Nor if someone claimed this was going on could that be construed as real paranoia. That’s standard politics. The kind of thing Crooks and Liars is writing about and the kind of things coming from some talk show hosts, birthers, people who insist Obama is a Marxist is different It is to THOSE people to whom the two embeds above are dedicated.
Yes Joe, there are both left threaded and right threaded wingnuts. The difference is that the left threaded variety does not now control a political party.
Joe, they will never admit that their nuts are anywhere in the same league as the Reps are.
If we had a Dem primary with Sharpton and others, then we could use the E word.
I agree with Joe about how nuts the article by Wolf is. I agree that there are others on the left who are just as far out there. But yes, in response to dduck, I know two things about the fruitcakes of the right. They are considered much more mainstream in the Republican Party for one. Also, there are no left wing kooks with the following among large numbers of Democrats that Limbaugh, Levin, Coulter, Beck and Hannity have in the Republican Party.
We all know there are nuts and looney’s on both sides but contrary to your inference the real difference is Liberals own up to them, up front and in public whereas Conservatives tend to try to defend on some crazy belief that 10 bad conservatives are better than one DFH… ALWAYS.
One or two examples of a major GOPer saying “I (we) was (were) wrong” OR “‘so-and-so’ (O’Keefe / Breitbart / the other fat guy) was mistaken and doesn’t represent us” would get me to re-evaluate my position.
‘the catch’: example must be five years old or less.
“Yes Joe, there are both left threaded and right threaded wingnuts. The difference is that the left threaded variety does not now control a political party.” ~ Ron B.
Exactly.
This always happens when people try to point out that the left has it crazies. Invariably I am directed to someone who I have never heard of, or who I have heard of, but is politically irrelevant. Meanwhile, the people on the right who I consider crazy are either elected officials, head massive political action groups, run a religious organization with millions of members, have a nationally run TV or Radio show with millions of listeners, sell millions of books whenever they print one, or are currently leading the pack in the GOP presidential nomination.
There aren’t crazies in the GOP right wing, those are just the regular GOP. Seriously, I had to google Naomi Wolf. Can someone please use an example of a powerful left political figure. Doesn’t have to be an elected official, being a major powerbroker to elected officials will be enough. But don’t come here with a Naomi Wolf or a Noam Chomsky and tell me that is someone who matters, because they don’t.
LOL, I bet myself (who else?) that I could get you guys to agree with me when I said:
“Joe, they will never admit that their nuts are anywhere in the same league as the Reps are.”
Yes, we are bigger and better nuts, especially on these “threads”.
BTW: I hope Hillary throws her hat in and generates a Dem primary. Then we can have real fun watching the non-nutty Dems foaming at the mouth.
Perhaps you could help me out dduck and point out a major lefty nut who actually, you know, has power and influence. Good luck, the left does a better job of weeding out the folks like PETA and Code Pink from actually becoming major players.
Thanks dduck, Yours was the “perfect Republican answer“… You simply ignored the questions and points raised, and therefore in your conservative mindset the questions and points DID NOT EXIST.
I actually remember a discussion a while back on this board with some righties trying to assert that Olbermann (who was then still on MSNBC) and Limbaugh had comparable influence within their respective parties. Seems like a laughable assertion right now.
…and so we take up the self righteous middle…as the weak suffer and die in plain view.
Being afraid to do what is right by mitigation, is worse than doing what is wrong. Especially when in defense of the status quo.
Slamfu, you are correct, there are no major nuts with power in with the Dems. The party itself, as a whole, is a BIT nutty, but mostly just fiscally irresponsible. They have kind hearts, but soft heads, meaning to me- tax and spend.
Stevek, thanks for “perfect”, I’ll take it even with the quotation marks.
BTW: since you’ve labeled me a conservative, I should point out that I am pro-abortion, anti-gun, hate most rightie commentators and just think Obama is over his head, but a nice guy.
With the actions and inactions undertaken by the Republican Party over the last twelve years for anyone to write that the Democrats are fiscally irresponsible is simply beyond belief.
Let’s see what the republicans have done for U.S. lately:
But duck thinks Obama and Democrats are “over their heads” while thorough his silence he gives a pass to the idiots running for the Republican nomination.
You’re too funny duck… too funny, and yes, I did say “perfect” because in my eyes you are a “perfect” example of the Republican electorate.
SteveK, what can I say, except you are a good example of some strata of Dems. Not all, you will note, as I think there are many moderate Dems out there.
Some Dems, only have one view, and that is the party line, and it is true of Reps also. I stand with the people in those parties that can think for themselves and see that both parties are mostly full of it.
Those that ONLY see evil on the other side can only hinder a reconciliation of the present acrimonious political atmosphere.
dduck, When it was pointed out by several people in this thread (myself included) that Republican “nuts” are running the show while Democrat “nuts” are kept on the fringes by Democrats you made no effort to acknowledge or disprove the point … you played your “duck joke” card:
Again, several people tried to get you to acknowledge (or refute) the perception that the ‘nuts’ are running the show in the GOP and kept at bay by the Democrats.
Still not replying to the point you replied:
Again you appear to be unwilling or unable to address the points made SO you try to change the subject to “fiscally irresponsible”
When I address your segue you come back and say that people like me
Hummm… How about just trying to address the questions you’ve been asked instead of attacking the motives and values of others?
HA, HA……………………………..
The “several” You address your points, and I’ll address mine.
In this defining moment (and please don’t try to change the subject) it’s clear that purveyors of false equivalency (a ruse that doesn’t pass the smell test) just don’t get it.
Dduck said, “Yes, we are bigger and better nuts, especially on these “threads”.” AND:
“Slamfu, you are correct, there are no major nuts with power in with the Dems.”
NO equivalency here.