Eight Reasons America Is On Edge

[Berkut]

You quoted Fate but your response was to Guller.

Oh right, I used him as a living example that yes, the left has their share of crazies who like to use terms like "nigger" as well. Not really a violation of the spirit of the Fate rule, I think.

[The Brain]

Not really a violation of the spirit of the Fate rule, I think.

Slippery, meet slope.

[garbon]

This thread is an example of why we can't have nice things.

Once again Ed wins the thread

[garbon]

Not really a violation of the spirit of the Fate rule, I think.

Slippery, meet slope.

[Sheilbh]

It isn't about race, except to the extent that his fanbois try to excuse any criticism of him by playing up his race. Thank god he doesn't think his race is nearly as important as you do.

I think at least some of it - among the guys with 'Don't Tread on Me' signs, carrying guns - is about race and among some of the tea partiers too I imagine.  I think saying race has nothing to do is absurd.  It would be truly remarkable, post-racial America's immaculate conception.  But I don't equate those guys with general opposition or unhappiness with Obama and I didn't ever equate the extreme with opposition to Bush either. 

There is a moderate sensible opposition that was tarred with 'MoveOnism' (not that many people here cared) and ignored.  I think that's what some on the left are trying to do now with their opposition.

[Ed Anger]

This thread is an example of why we can't have nice things.

Once again Ed wins the thread

I'll share my prize money with you.

[garbon]

I'll share my prize money with you.

[Berkut]

It isn't about race, except to the extent that his fanbois try to excuse any criticism of him by playing up his race. Thank god he doesn't think his race is nearly as important as you do.

I think at least some of it - among the guys with 'Don't Tread on Me' signs, carrying guns - is about race and among some of the tea partiers too I imagine.  I think saying race has nothing to do is absurd.  It would be truly remarkable, post-racial America's immaculate conception.  But I don't equate those guys with general opposition or unhappiness with Obama and I didn't ever equate the extreme with opposition to Bush either. 

I was specifically remarking about Raz claim that the criticism leveled in the OP were all about race. They did not mention his race at all.

And like I pointed out - saying the criticism of Obama is racial is missing the point. Is there some facet of racism? I am sure there is - is it important? Probably not - had Obama been white, but otherwise identical, he would still be vilified by the Tea Partyers out there. Being a nice white boy didn't get Clinton a free pass from the right wing crazies.

There is a moderate sensible opposition that was tarred with 'MoveOnism' (not that many people here cared) and ignored.  I think that's what some on the left are trying to do now with their opposition.

Of course - it is what both sides do. In fact, I suspect that there are plenty of Dems who get down on their knees every night and thank whatever god they worship that there are some crazies out there they can respond to, so they can ignore the actual debate.

Which is precisely the point of responses like Razs. Simply dismiss any criticism as being about race. Play that race card, and play it again and again and again.

[Sheilbh]

And like I pointed out - saying the criticism of Obama is racial is missing the point. Is there some facet of racism? I am sure there is - is it important? Probably not - had Obama been white, but otherwise identical, he would still be vilified by the Tea Partyers out there. Being a nice white boy didn't get Clinton a free pass from the right wing crazies.

Clinton wasn't a nice white boy.  He was a draft-dodging pot-smoking, hippy with a dash of corruption - which were cultural things that could touch off a reaction as strongly as race, in my opinion (I think Bush's 'Jesus is my favourite philosopher' is the sort-of counterpoint).

Plus I think there's an attitude of 'where's our country gone?' to a lot of the more extreme protests which to me seems like what you'd expect from some people who're just not terribly comfortable with a black President.

Of course - it is what both sides do. In fact, I suspect that there are plenty of Dems who get down on their knees every night and thank whatever god they worship that there are some crazies out there they can respond to, so they can ignore the actual debate.

Which is precisely the point of responses like Razs. Simply dismiss any criticism as being about race. Play that race card, and play it again and again and again.

Okay.  But this doesn't mean we get to say there's no racial element (we don't get to play the 'playing the race card' card, as it were) and dismiss that without thought.  Because that's as lazy, in its way, as what Raz says.

[Eddie Teach]

I think at least some of it - among the guys with 'Don't Tread on Me' signs, carrying guns - is about race and among some of the tea partiers too I imagine. 

Like this guy. 

[MadImmortalMan]

Yeah, I don't really think so, Shelf. This shit is mostly about economics. If there are any race-haters, it's just fringe dudes trying to piggyback on the events the same way that commie party supported by North Korea does at Obama rallies and WTO protests.

[Razgovory]

If Berkut is going to be prissy and ignore me he could have at least did it at the beginning of the thread and prevented the whole argument.

[Martinus]

This shit is mostly about economics.

I thought this was mostly about not paying taxes. 

[Martinus]

Incidentally, what I don't get is why so many of these teaparty types seem to look back to the past as some sort of tax eldorado? I mean, in 1960s, wasn't the highest tax bracket in its 80%s?

[MadImmortalMan]

This shit is mostly about economics.

I thought this was mostly about not paying taxes. 

Yes.