[drexlersdad]

Kerry is an Idiot. The only reason he got what 40 million votes, is that 40 million people were smart enought to see Bush was leading us towards a global mutiny of sorts. They didn't vote for Kerry, they voted against Bush.

[Talkhard]

Originally Posted by el_Diablo

I'd guess those answers are what he is looking for with his constant trolling.

I joined this board the same time you did, almost 3 1/2 years ago. I have participated in hundreds if not thousands of threads in that time, most of them about the Blazers and the NBA. I am obviously not a troll.
There are plenty of people on this board who say outrageous things about our president and our government, and throw around insults like party confetti. It's like a club around here. Because I hold a different political philosophy, those same "club members" enjoy attacking me.

Of course there is a double standard. I don't comment on it much because it seems futile to do so. It's very clear, as Ed O and BealzeeBob point out, that the moderators ignore the rules and look the other way when it comes to attacking me. So be it.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

Ah, yes, the personal attacks. That's always a sign that you're frustrated and don't know what else to say. Why don't you grow up a little, Hap? Engage me on the issues, if you can. Otherwise, just hold your tongue and your insults.

ahhh..isn't that cute? talkhard thinks he made a point.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

He lied, exaggerated and distorted the record. That's my position, and the position of many others who served with him in Vietnam.

Bush lied, exaggerated and distorted the truth. how come thats not your position inregards to Bush and the war in Iraq?

[Minstrel]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

There are plenty of people on this board who say outrageous things about our president and our government, and throw around insults like party confetti. It's like a club around here. Because I hold a different political philosophy, those same "club members" enjoy attacking me.

That's your opinion. My opinion is that your intolerance for other races, religions, gender and sexuality is repugnant to others, much moreso than mere difference in political philosophy would be. Also, your constant couching of posts in insults towards those you disagree with draw similar responses.

I expect you to fire back sarcastically and angrily, rather than thinking about it, but consider two things first: A. Since you and I (and many others) moved here from FanHome, the make-up of the forum has changed drastically. Many of the original group have faded away and many new people have joined yet you, alone (and apart from all other conservative posters), remain the constant for drawing derision and anger, B. even the conservative posters on the Political Economy forum, with whom you should presumably have much in common with in terms of political belief, tend to distance themselves from you and your Jew-bashing and jokes about how nice it would be to see more UN members die.

Feel free to fire back. Or even feel free to think about what I've said above and ponder whether any of this (ANY of it) might be your doing. If you ponder it and decide that you are, in fact, a pure victim who's done nothing to draw the responses you get, then I suspect you will rarely be in civil debates except with people who think exactly like you.

It's not a characterisitic of this board, or liberals, or the Pacific Northwest. Your style, confrontational and intolerant, will grate on almost any community.

[Talkhard]

Originally Posted by Minstrel

That's your opinion. My opinion is that your intolerance for other races, religions, gender and sexuality is repugnant to others, much moreso than mere difference in political philosophy would be. Also, your constant couching of posts in insults towards those you disagree with draw similar responses.

I expect you to fire back sarcastically and angrily, rather than thinking about it, but consider two things first: A. Since you and I (and many others) moved here from FanHome, the make-up of the forum has changed drastically. Many of the original group have faded away and many new people have joined yet you, alone (and apart from all other conservative posters), remain the constant for drawing derision and anger, B. even the conservative posters on the Political Economy forum, with whom you should presumably have much in common with in terms of political belief, tend to distance themselves from you and your Jew-bashing and jokes about how nice it would be to see more UN members die.

Feel free to fire back. Or even feel free to think about what I've said above and ponder whether any of this (ANY of it) might be your doing. If you ponder it and decide that you are, in fact, a pure victim who's done nothing to draw the responses you get, then I suspect you will rarely be in civil debates except with people who think exactly like you.

It's not a characterisitic of this board, or liberals, or the Pacific Northwest. Your style, confrontational and intolerant, will grate on almost any community.

I suspect that your own political leanings have blinded you to the nature of this board. The fact is, there are plenty of hateful things said here on a daily basis about president Bush, conservatives, traditional values, etc., etc. Because you agree with those sentiments, they don't seem outrageous, disrespectful, or innappropriate in any shape or form.

My "intolerance" that you mention is simply your way of saying you disagree with me. I could just as easily accuse you and others of intolerance on a whole range of issues. I've been in debates where people here scorned the idea of creation, of Christianity, and most traditional values--and have been quite disrespectful, condescending, and spiteful in the way they handled the discussion. The fact is, this board is almost homogenous in its liberal orientation and it hates any kind of dissent from that point of view.

As for my "constant couching of posts in insults," well, that's a good laugh. I get more insults thrown my way by the "civil and civilized" posters on this board than I ever throw out. It's remarkable to me that liberals pretend to be so open-minded and tolerant of others, yet they react with hateful bile when someone dares to challenge their world view.

I suspect that the other conservatives on this board are better at curbing their opinions than I am. They have undoubtedly seen the treatment I get and thus decided its better just to remain quiet and avoid the hailstorm of insults that would inevitably get thrown at them if they dared to speak their mind. That's a pretty kettle of fish, isn't it?

[Minstrel]

So, none of it is your fault. The whole world is out to get you and only you. All other conservatives are just frightened to post boldly like you.

Typical. And clearly untrue...the Political Economy is full of opinionated and out-spoken conservatives on a range of issues. They disassociate themselves from you because, frankly, you're the lunatic fringe that you generally sneeringly claim liberals are part of. Accusing Jews of controlling the media and cheering the accidental deaths of UN observers puts you outside the mainstream for liberals and conservatives.

I hope you didn't take it as a lecture. It was an honest attempt to explain why you have problems getting along in political discussions, and it has nothing to do with me disagreeing with you. I disagree with lots of people on this site, politically, especially on the Political Forum. No one has the problems you do, because they don't mix intolerance and confrontational style like you do.

Have you ever even tried posting without anger and outrage? Who cares if people insult Bush? Ignore the insults (which are aimed at a public figure, just as many Democrat figures are insulted) and civilly debate the people who argue policy. As long as you see yourself as a victimized crusader, you'll continue to be involved in constant flame wars. Not with me, but with plenty of others.

[Talkhard]

Originally Posted by Minstrel

The Political Economy is full of opinionated and out-spoken conservatives on a range of issues. They disassociate themselves from you because, frankly, you're the lunatic fringe that you generally sneeringly claim liberals are part of.

"Disassociate"? What the heck are you talking about? No one has disassociated themselves from anyone on that board. I don't post there very often, but when I do there is always a good back-and-forth discussion on the topic. I think you're engaging in a little wish fulfillment.

Accusing Jews of controlling the media . . .

Why is it that liberals always insist that oil companies and big business control the White House, but that Jews do not control the media? All you have to do is look at who runs the major media companies in this country, and you'll see the facts staring you right in the face. You know, telling the truth is not a racist thing. It's just telling the truth.

and cheering the accidental deaths of UN observers puts you outside the mainstream for liberals and conservatives.

For god's sake, get over it. I made a joke and you are still crying in your beer over it. Meanwhile, liberals made a movie about President Bush getting assassinated and most of the people on this board silently approve. It's only when your sacred cows get maligned that you can work yourself up into an indignant ferver.

[Blazer Ringbearer]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

He lied, exaggerated and distorted the record. That's my position, and the position of many others who served with him in Vietnam.

Fair enough. That's a much more defendable position than I assumed previously. I'm not sure I agree, but I really don't like the guy and it would probably make me vomit a little bit to spend time researching the topic in order to defend the guy.

By the way, I'm with all of the other folks who don't like the "Talkhard Rules". Talkhard is people too and deserves the same level of respect that we would like to receive from others.

Before I get a bunch of pot/kettle comments, I know I argue with Talkhard a lot, but I do my best to keep it civil. It can be tough sometimes, because we disagree a lot on most issues and we can both be pretty combatitive, but it's important to realize that behind the text and opinions are real people.

Aren't "liberals" supposed to be sensitive?

[hoojacks]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

It's remarkable to me that liberals pretend to be so open-minded and tolerant of others, yet they react with hateful bile when someone dares to challenge their world view.

Talkhard, so do republicans, but then they don't have to pretend to be open-minded

Methinks you may have an unfair point of view on liberals based on the actions of a.) people on this board and b.) **** you see on TV. The same goes with how some liberals on this board view conservatives. If every conservative was Bill O'Reilly and every liberal was Michael Moore, I would drink poison right now (just like I was going to when we drafted Roy, but whooo boy did that ever blow up in my face . )

Liberals are supposed to be proud of how they are respectful and tolerant of other people's opinions and ideas. The more you blast someone for having a POV that you don't agree with (republicans), the more intolerant you seem (republican.) Hell yes, we should argue about these things, and yes, it can/will get heated, just EVERYONE should be a little more wary of what direction these conversations steer towards. Seriously, if it just turns into a retarded back and forth between two or three people then nothing really gets accomplished, and we are only feeding the partisan politics that are destroying this country (imo.) I think we can all agree that the folks in Washington need to work together to make America great, so, I think, we should set an example.

/rant

[Talkhard]

Thanks, Blazer Ringbearer and Hoojacks. I appreciate the respect you have thrown my way, and I will do my best to keep things civil around here. I agree that these back-and-forth, tit-for-tat discussions are ultimately futile and boring. Everybody's working so damn hard to prove their point that they don't even listen to the other guy. Maybe we should declare a moratorium on political posts until the season is over. Here's hoping the Blazers give us enough to talk about this year!

[hoojacks]

Originally Posted by Talkhard

Maybe we should declare a moratorium on political posts until the season is over. Here's hoping the Blazers give us enough to talk about this year!

I wouldnt go that far

but yes, now that the season has started, the political posts will only crop up when something happens, not just for the hell of it.