The general public is generally quite stupid.

Citrate1007: The general public is generally quite stupid.

Yea, what's the saying? A person is smart, people are stupid.

It still doesn't mean we want to see it.

But of course, this is one dust-up that will never end. Because in modern politics it seems the goal is to constantly find ways to smear the opposition, facts and decency be damned. That's the reason the birther lie endures. That's the reason that John Kerry, whose military service was distinguished, could be besmirched by the "swift boaters" and a host of political opponents who hadn't anything like his record of service. And because both sides do it to one another, it is considered to be fair play.

Don't you guys see? Obama releasing his long-form and Kerry's military service being pretty well vouched for are exactly like Romney not releasing tax returns.

This guy seems to think "wrong" can only mean "illegal." Mitt's taxes are not irrelevant; I'd say how we structure tax policy in this nation is integral to understanding why things are so dysfunctional.

But of course, this is one dust-up that will never end. Because in modern politics it seems the goal is to constantly find ways to smear the opposition, facts and decency be damned. That's the reason the birther lie endures. That's the reason that John Kerry, whose military service was distinguished, could be besmirched by the "swift boaters" and a host of political opponents who hadn't anything like his record of service. And because both sides do it to one another, it is considered to be fair play.

If both sides do it, why did you just list one?

shut up, stupidhead Subby.

Shoulda had the Obvious tag.

CNNalamadingdong couldn't not be any more phalonaboney

Did Romney release his tax returns yet? The complete return from any one year?

"Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They don't pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks. This is what we have to offer. It's what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain't going to do any good; you're just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. F*ck Hope.'"

What scares me the most is that our political discourse by our elected officials is quickly devolving into a mirrored argument of a fark flamewar. When the internet tough guys and trolls start making more sense than our actual leaders we will all be doomed.

Brandyelf: Did Romney release his tax returns yet? The complete return from any one year?

Yes, 2010. That's where the jokes about his dancing horse came from.

FTA: Every time you hear a politician sling mud at an opponent rather than addressing a real issue, recognize that you're the one being dissed. Then do us all a favor and vote your anger.

That's the whole point, asshole. The rich play by very different rules than the poor, and highlighting that on the national stage is the only way to get the morons who are too busy 'voting their anger' to pay attention for a second.

Citrate1007: The general public is generally quite stupid.

That's a generalization that I can generally and genuinely agree on.

/Leaves to drink and watch sports

For the most part, they're right. Which is really sad. And why nothing will ever change

If that kind of childish rhetoric didn't work conservatives would hold little power in this nation. It's just now they are getting concerned about it because the left have finally figured out that taking the high road is a failing strategy. Only took them 30 years or so...

"When the Obama team systematically goes after Romney for his business background...it reveals deep insecurity about his case for re-election and it alienates the business community unnecessarily."

Note how something Harry Reid said morphs into "the Obama team systematically goes after Romney for his business background." This dyed-in-the-wool Democrat wants us to know that the members of the Democratic Party walk in lockstep, and anything one of them says was put into his mouth by "the Obama team." Vast left-wing conspiracy.

Rmoney's "business background," and his vision of what "business" should be, is the primary issue in this election.

This journalist apparently drew the Shill For a Day card at the office.

As my old boss, the late Ron Brown, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, used to say, "You can't be for jobs and against the people who create them."

That's the problem with Democrats. They take Republican spin at face value and argue from there, not realizing they've already given away the game.

Yeah, the Reid accusations are horrible. Almost makes one yearn for the days when Gore accused McCain of having fathered an illegitimate child in 2000. Or when Dick Gephardt made the "Willie Horton" ad against Dukakis in '88.

odinsposse: As my old boss, the late Ron Brown, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, used to say, "You can't be for jobs and against the people who create them."

That's the problem with Democrats. They take Republican spin at face value and argue from there, not realizing they've already given away the game.

But who would be for jobs and against the middle class? I'm confused...

/tongue in cheek

That's not a smear. "She's got a new boyfriend. A younger guy with long hair who's a bad boy and negatively influencing her judgement." is a smear.

/Actually a rumor being circulated about a local elected official

Citrate1007: When the internet tough guys and trolls start making more sense than our actual leaders we will all be doomed.

Strategery

How dare Obama act like a petty schoolboy talking about Mitt's business experience? Why doesn't he take the high road like Mitt Romney and talk about how he wants to turn America into a Marxist dystopia where wealth is outlawed?

i don't remember CNN being so angry about the whole birther thing until they could BSABVR the mess. Sauce for the gander, you sons of b*tches.

Citrate1007: The general public is generally quite stupid.

Right up there with admins who greelight the same article twice in eight minutes.

CNN sure is angry when a democrat uses a republican/fox news strategy. I guess after seeing it used so often and so effectively against the democrats CNN decided the one time it is used against a republican presidential candidate they have had enough of the tactics and need to call it out. Someone should ask the writer why they never called it out before.

Earguy


Citrate1007: The general public is generally quite stupid.

Right up there with liberal admins who greelight the same anti-Romney article twice in eight minutes.

adjusted that for you

Karma Chameleon: 'The Public Sucks. F*ck Hope.

I miss George so damn much. He ended up a sad, ranting old man who repeated everything he said twice, but damn if he wasn't right on the damn money.

karnal: Right up there with liberal admins who greelight the same anti-Romney article twice in eight minutes.

well, fark is part of the liberal-lamestream-driveby-media-consp iracy, what do you expect?

Shamwow: CNN sure is angry when a democrat uses a republican/fox news strategy. I guess after seeing it used so often and so effectively against the democrats CNN decided the one time it is used against a republican presidential candidate they have had enough of the tactics and need to call it out. Someone should ask the writer why they never called it out before.

Couple things here.

First, Romney could stop this discussion right now by releasing 12 years of tax returns like his dad and Obama did. The fact that he hasn't means he's hiding something. Did he use a sleazy illegal tax shelter? Did he get fined by the IRS after an audit? Did he simply pay no or little taxes via legal means, which hurts the Republican meme that the rich are paying enough taxes? We don't know, but clearly there's something in those tax returns he doesn't want the American public to know about, else he would release them like everybody else who runs for President in recent history has.

Second, negative campaigning (and negative TV ads) simply works in binary elections. They hurt you a little and hurt your opponent a lot-net result is you gain. Now, they don't work in multi-candidate primaries or general elections with a strong third candidate, because both the attacker and attackee lose, which means the other candidate(s) in the election gain. (When I'm talking about a strong third candidate, I'm talking about one polling in the 20%+ range, not Gary Johnson's 1%ish range.)

What they need is more maps and such because Iraq and...such.

/or something

//lost the train of thought

These days, the discussion here on Fark, even with all the snark, is better than just about any political discussion board. Sure, there are the trollish types and such here, but by and large, Farkers have more to say, more original opinions and are willing to back up their points with relevant details.

On the other sites, it is like reading sound bite transcripts from Fox, MSNBC, CNN etc.

theknuckler_33: Citrate1007: The general public is generally quite stupid.

Yea, what's the saying? A person is smart, people are dumb, panicky, and stupid.

Expanded that a bit for you.

homelessdude: These days, the discussion here on Fark, even with all the snark, is better than just about any political discussion board. Sure, there are the trollish types and such here, but by and large, Farkers have more to say, more original opinions and are willing to back up their points with relevant details.

On the other sites, it is like reading sound bite transcripts from Fox, MSNBC, CNN etc.

Scary, isn't it.

My wife wonders why I comment here, and it's because out of all the places on the web, this place has some of the most reasonable yet diverse discourse.

Well, seems as though the stinkier the mud, the more intelligent the slinger... It's evolution baby!

This was proven a couple weeks ago with this link:
Researches find poop-throwing by chimps is a sign of intelligence

Heresiarch: Yeah, the Reid accusations are horrible. Almost makes one yearn for the days when Gore accused McCain of having fathered an illegitimate child in 2000. Or when Dick Gephardt made the "Willie Horton" ad against Dukakis in '88.

Uh, I would double check that if I were you. It wasn't Gore, it was Bush in the primaries.

Car_Ramrod: Heresiarch: Yeah, the Reid accusations are horrible. Almost makes one yearn for the days when Gore accused McCain of having fathered an illegitimate child in 2000. Or when Dick Gephardt made the "Willie Horton" ad against Dukakis in '88.

Uh, I would double check that if I were you. It wasn't Gore, it was Bush in the primaries.

that'sthejoke.jpg

Slinging mud

False equivalency.

Sometimes criticism of the other candidate is bullshiat, and sometimes it's valid.

homelessdude: These days, the discussion here on Fark, even with all the snark, is better than just about any political discussion board. Sure, there are the trollish types and such here, but by and large, Farkers have more to say, more original opinions and are willing to back up their points with relevant details.

Agreed. I try to get into conversations on news sites and Facebook but those folks don't really respond to me too much. I guess maybe the format of Fark is more conducive to long conversations. And yeah the quality of discourse is much better around here. Keeps me coming back.

karnal: Earguy


Citrate1007: The general public is generally quite stupid.

Right up there with liberal admins who greelight the same anti-Romney article twice in eight minutes.

adjusted that for you

I find it amazing you're able to type and *adjust* things so deftly.

\one-handed typing joke, in case you hadn't figured it out
\\I'll use small words for you

WTF did I just read?

Ladies and Gents, that - THAT - is how you do concern-trolling.

Brick-House: [3.bp.blogspot.com image 850x410]

How are you going to remind people that he is black when he looks so white in that comic?

I hated that article because the individual in question implores the reader to vote with their anger, while they continue to vote down party lines which they've followed their entire life.

Brick-House: [3.bp.blogspot.com image 850x410]

Hey, it's that 'cheesy' cartoonist again!

/see, cos he's named after two kinds of cheese
//and his cartoons are like limburger

Brick-House: [3.bp.blogspot.com image 850x410]

Heh. So in a thread about idiocy influencing politics, this is the thought you chose to add?

/Heh.

Elites are destined to lead our hierarchies. The trick is picking the right elites.