Ok, so tell me again why we post diaries?

I recently posted a diary relating to Obama's future relationship to the military

So, anyway, I post my comments and get attacked on a personal basis by some guy that I had never heard of, and have never met. Ok, well, I guess that that if you post something, you should expect good and bad. That is fair.

However, I simply do not get why so much of the attack of other another diarist's commentary is subject to such a personalized level of attack within a forum such as this where we are supposedly trying to encourage discussion and debate.

Many of you saw and commented on my last post, but I noticed that the final posts involved me and only one other diarist. No one else commented after this diarist and I got into our "p*******g contest"; I admit it was getting childish. I shouldn't have let this commentary get under my skin, but then, I wouldn't be me. And even now, I would guess I am posting right now, partially at least hoping for some validation of what I said. Chalk this up to weakness, cowardice, or silly emotinalism if you wish. But I'd prefer some meaningful feedback instead.

So how about if folks, was I out to lunch on this? If not, then how do we have dialogue? I think that this is really what bothers me the most about this.

I joined the Young Turks thinking that this would be a fourm for meaningful discussion; maybe for a guy my age, I am surprisingly naive. I am over 50 now, and just too old and tired to want to even get involved in silly male hormone laced proving of my intellectual manhood. I don't have the time, and I don't have the energy. I mean really, if the commentary is serious and civil, then why the need for such vitriol?

I know that I am not the only person that has been subject to this kind of vitriol here. However, why even bother having a forum if the commentary becomes vicious and dishonorable? I have in the past tried, with varying degrees of success to come to the defence of others who have experienced the nastiest vitriol after having posted. As the saying goes, I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it. Disagree fine, but don't throw the chance for real interchange out the window.

I would welcome your thoughts. As to the individual in question, all I can saw is what I always say. I served to protect everyone's right to comment, regarless of how stupid or smart, silly or wise, shallow or inciteful. And, that included you.
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 Display:
Not on the TYT forum, but in general, on the internet. So, I feel your pain. No one has more experience in dealing with criticism than I do. You HAVE to let it roll off you -- and just talk to the people that you find to be constructive.

Now I didn't see the earlier diary, so I don't know the specifics behind that at all. But in general, there will always be people who vehemently disagree with you and feel emboldened by the anonymity of the web. This combination leads them to say things they normally would never say in person.

But there are a lot of other people who you can really relate to online and definitely at this forum. So, seek them out and have fruitful dialogue with them.

I know it's hard to ignore the haters, but you can do it and meet great people and exchange interesting ideas.

by Cenk on 01/04/2009 01:35:14 AM EST

I get so tired of the nasty personal attacks.  Instead of a meaningful exchange of ideas, posts turn into hateful baiting and personal attacks.  As for me, I do the same thing I do when I'm training my dogs--I ignore bad behavior and reward good behavior.  They soon learn good behavior gets them the attention they want, and I get well-behaved dogs.  Maybe if we all do it....

As for KenTX, I feel sorry for him.  Someone pisses on his Wheaties every morning, and that's gotta suck.

by 1xx3xy on 01/04/2009 02:02:31 AM EST

Well, I have been surfing the net, listening to great jazz videos on Youtube and music I downloaded from Itunes, and of course, listening to TYT podcasts of past shows. I just came by to see if anyone had offered any thoughts.


Thanks for the feedback. I felt pretty down. For me, the biggest issue for me are these "wars" that have taken the lives or maimed thousands of good men and women, a lot of them kids. My last post talked about the hope I feel now that Obama is going to be the new CIC; both Darlene and I feel these folks have a real advocate and protector now in a way they haven't had for the longest time. For my wife and I as retired military, it rips us apart seeing what has happened and continues to happen to these kids. It genuinely hurts us both down deep inside, and we both hate thinking about it.

So, when you get hit with the kind of commentary I did as a result of my post, and given how much it really does bother my wife and I, it really was disheartening and really murder to take

Thanks to you and Cenk for your thoughts.

Best to you both! And I mean it sincerely when I say as a wish for you both, "may the wind in your sails always be full, and may you always have trailing seas!"

Cheers to all!

Yours, Aye!

by acramer on 01/04/2009 03:00:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
That’s when you commit a cheap shot on a player, and on the very next play from the line of scrimmage, he comes back over the top, hitting you so hard that your mouthpiece is on the 20 yard line, your helmet is on the 30 yard line, your cleats are on the 40 yard line, and your jockstrap in on the 50 yard line.

Allow me to replay your infraction:

You made the assertion that American troops love Barack Obama.

I countered with polls from Military Times
that merely called this assertion into question.

Then I pointed out that the Canadian Navy hasn’t been in an engagement since the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 (in which my Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario ancestors fought for the Crown, oddly enough).

And you started whining and crying like a little baby.

Here are two TYT Forum rules for you to commit to memory:

  1. Not everyone will agree with you.
  2. When you hit somebody, they are allowed to hit back.
Welcome to the NFL.

by KenTX on 01/04/2009 03:47:00 AM EST

[ Parent ]

Ken just gave you his playbook. A counter play is a

Slant Left Clinton Go Route

The play goes like this "Clinton had surpluses, no war  and a booming economy...unlike the phony real estate bubble economy used by Republicans as a ruse to lower taxes and claim the tax cuts drove economic growth "

You will inspire several , well, days of anti-Clinton tirades totally unrelated to any subject thread in the blog.  Also Kens typical and , somewhat tired topics include

The Military Loves Republicans. "Proven" by polls by the Washington Times and Wing Nut World News and other off the wall, or Republican controlled sources. Of course polls from MANBLA that show their members vote Republican are ignored

The XXXXXX crisis is the fault of Democrats. This will be " proven" by several brief and incomplete and oblique references to Limbaugh  RNC talking points.

A 31% tax rate is OK but a 34% tax rate is Socialism

"Gloabal cooling" makes increased dependance on fossil fuels OK.

FDR prolonged the Depression. Republicans blah blah blah...

TWBA ( other blogger) is the smartest man blah blah blah. Youll see this  man crush when your kicking his ass and TWBA steps in to divert attention , often preventing another humiliating defeat of Ken

Democrats hate the wealthly...blah blah blah there is no recession....my Mexican gardener make 100k..blah blah blah

I could go on but I want to preserve my hopefull feelings for the New Year .

"Freedom is important to Republicans as long as someone else pays for it on the battlefield and on April 15th."

by MRFred on 01/04/2009 08:13:32 AM EST

[ Parent ]

"Righteous indignation" doesn't suit you any better than it does me. You know damn well you can't walk by an outhouse without jiggling it - you like stirring shit up; don't act so indignant.

I think a better football analogy would be you playing Lucy to the Charlie Brown's of the world. If you didn't get a kick out of pulling that football away, you would be content to let people punt all day long, but there's that lil' devil inside that keeps pulling it away.

Hope you and yours had a pleasant New Year's.

by MedfordTim on 01/04/2009 04:35:47 AM EST

[ Parent ]

what "personal attack"?

You run your mouth and talk a big game without any personal experience just like the rest of the Neo Con chicken hawks out there.

Somebody calls you out and you call it a "personal attack". I'm currently playing the worlds tiniest violin just for you.

BTW, your poll still is worthless according to any pollster or statistician you ask.

by z1p101 on 01/04/2009 10:53:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]

One of my favorite aspects of this site is the back-and-forth nature instead of just adding a comment to thousands of others. 

The thing is, YOU are in control of which posts you respond to and how you respond. If you decide to get into a pissing match, don't complain when your leg gets wet. A responder is simply pissing into the wind until YOU decide to step in front of him. In THIS case, you threw chum into shark infested water when you started asking about service records and such. What sort of reasoned dialogue did you expect at that point?

There is a school of thought that any kind of response is better than being completely ignored. I've always considered comments to be an indicator of interest in the issue at hand. I know I post a LOT of stuff that seems to be of little interest to the general reading audience. Doesn't really matter because the occasional "thanks for posting this" is enough. "Meaningful feedback" is the exception rather than the rule, and thet's true anywhere comments are allowed.

There is also a distinction between discussing facts and discussin opinions. Your post was from the gut; the subject itself unquantifiable. At it's core was a message of hope, not truth. We hope Obama will do right by service people, but we don't know what will happen when push gets shoved. Ain't nothin' wrong with hopin' but the pieces are still being put on the chessboard - it's a little early to be judging results one way or the other.

Hell, man, you got CENK to post a comment! That, my friend, is an accomplishment few can lay claim to.

by MedfordTim on 01/04/2009 04:11:22 AM EST

I always read your stuff even if I don't always comment.

Sometimes I have nothing to add, but I HATE seeing threads with 0 comments so I occasionally I go out my way to post something brief (because I enjoyed it and or appreciated the effort).

At any rate, don't assume there is no interest just because there are no/few comments. Hell, even Cenk's threads have bombed out at times in the past, it's just the nature of this particular forum for whatever reason.
 
We need some kind of comment Viagra.

by ihavenobias on 01/04/2009 05:40:25 AM EST

[ Parent ]
cut the crap and just say you are defending a troll no matter what ignorant hateful tripe he posts because he helps pay your cable bill and be done with it.

try net zero  its only 9 bucks a month and you wont be beholdin to a turd gargler.

Republicans portray the government as the enemy. Then when they take over, they prove it.

by Chinese Democracy on 01/04/2009 12:32:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]
They could've posted Goatse or Tubgirl, or if you're lucky maybe nugget porn

by Perry on 01/04/2009 09:02:30 AM EST

They spread like a fungus. You can

a. ignore them
or
b. respond to their posts in which case you have to remember you are dialogging with the lowest form of life. They exist to stir shit. They are bitter hate filled troglodytes whose heads are so full of right wing propaganda they have no idea what the truth is and usually dont care.

One or two people here and there try to "defend their right to post" etc. Thats total bull shit of course.

Be advised that this forum allows flaming to the max and flaming is what trolls engage in most because they cant win based on facts.

ignoring them works best for some people and as a bonus you know ignoring them bothers them because part of the reason they post at all is the attention.

Republicans portray the government as the enemy. Then when they take over, they prove it.

by Chinese Democracy on 01/04/2009 12:27:34 PM EST


After all, he responds quite often, as in option B. 

CD sure doesn't know what REAL flaming is because the stuff that gets posted here is more akin to a wet match. A real flame can be thing of beauty if the writer has any imagination and a way with words beyond "Aw, eat shit, motherfucker!"

And he's right that there are some of us who defend those who go around biting at the heels of other posters. We even defend HIM doing it. I'm not sure if he gets the irony, though...


by MedfordTim on 01/04/2009 01:36:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Tiny Termite admits that all liberal sites have their  "trolls", but this one is unique in that it allows a high degree of "flaming".

Translating his gibberish into English, I think what he's saying is that TYT is the only liberal forum that allows conservatives real free speech. Are there any other liberal sites that even come close? 

In the interest of decorum and good taste, Dave has been forced to tombstone many nics, like the guy who posted photos of bloody fetuses, or the guy who sounded like "Rainman" with a keyboard, or the guy who posted from a compound in Idaho that he referred to as "Der Bunker".

But this website promotes a healthy dialogue between liberal voices and conservative voices. I think it has something to do with Cenk's conservative roots. According to a recent broadcast by Guest Host Dave Koller, Cenk was once a moderate-to-conservative broadcaster on Sirius Talk. Then a slot came open on Sirius Left, and Cenk said: "WTF, I can do 'Gay for Pay.'". The rest is history. I sometimes wonder how much of Cank's Stockholm Syndrome broadcasting has really effected his political perspective, but then I remember that Dogan now votes Democrat, so I guess the transformation is real.

by KenTX on 01/04/2009 02:45:37 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Did dave really say that Cenk said "WTF, I can do Gay for Pay?"  I have hunch he didn't, but if he did that's hilarious even if a little unpc.  

by rev24 on 01/04/2009 02:57:53 PM EST

[ Parent ]
He didn't say it exactly like that.

I really enjoyed the show when Dave hosted during Cenk's wedding. The gave some interesting history of the show.

Dave, please give us the date, so we can pull it up on podcast.

by KenTX on 01/04/2009 03:20:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]
At least we can agree on something - Dave rules when he's given the mic!

I have to admit that this thread is getting a little awkward.  I feel as if I'm stepping into Cenk's master plan to recreate the first season of "Survivor" since he recently revealed that he was cut during the semifinal tryouts.  It's alright Cenk, I know would of kicked some *ss!

by rev24 on 01/04/2009 03:42:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
many times what made him abandon conservatism. If you want to believe that he is pretending, hey whatever floats your boat.

by 14K on 01/05/2009 09:03:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
This website allows an ignorant troll to harass flame annoy and fuck with other posters. That doesnt make this site special in my book.

A "healthy " debate is something you cant have because you are not healthy. They dont call it the lunatic fringe for nothing.

Differing opinions are one thing. What you do is another.

I just play at your level..because I have a right to

Republicans portray the government as the enemy. Then when they take over, they prove it.

by Chinese Democracy on 01/07/2009 01:01:02 PM EST

[ Parent ]
in defending the indefensible?

by 14K on 01/05/2009 09:52:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
 The real irony is  someone that bums money to pay for high speed cable because they don't feel like leaving the house thinking they have the right to lecture anyone.

Your sense of morality is fucked

Who is the royal WE?

Btw KenTroll has had tons of posts removed.. did the moderator have a right to do that? I mean  KenTool has a right to post whatever he wants true?

Republicans portray the government as the enemy. Then when they take over, they prove it.

by Chinese Democracy on 01/07/2009 12:56:23 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Guess I'll call you "option B" from now on.

Um, option B? The "We" referred to the sentence immediately preceeding it: "...some of us who defend those who go around biting at the heels of other posters"

Obviously, the "we" doesn't apply to you. You are one of "those." A heelbiter.

Yes, I even support your postng silly retorts and out-of-left-field insults. Like the one I'm responding to.

Doesn't it make you feel all warm and fuzzy to know there are people who care. Even if you ARE an asshat?

by MedfordTim on 01/07/2009 04:04:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I've heard that cry hundreds of times from weakling liberals in the years I've posted in this forum.

Liberal political philosophy simply can't compete with conservative political philosophy when the two are compared side by side, so they try to diminish dialo gue by urging other forum parti cipants to not communicate with the "enemy". They do it in the forum. They do it in the chat rooms. They do it via PMs.

But it never works. That's the beautiful thing. It's like waving a piece of bacon in front of a dog. The dog can't resist.  

by KenTX on 01/04/2009 03:11:23 PM EST

[ Parent ]
So, you said:

"Liberal political philosophy simply can't compete with conservative political philosophy when the two are compared side by side, so they try to diminish dialo gue by urging other forum parti cipants to not communicate with the "enemy". They do it in the forum. They do it in the chat rooms. They do it via PMs.

But it never works. That's the beautiful thing. It's like waving a piece of bacon in front of a dog. The dog can't resist."

In actuality, the problem with trying to compare liberal and conservative philopsopy side by side, is you can't; that is because you conservatives either ignore "facts" staring you in the face, or simply just start making things up.

By way of example, I was just reading a book by Benjamin Friedman, a Senior Professor at the Harvard School of economics called "Day of Recokoning" which examined the failure of Regan's economic policies. He penned it in 1988. You can almost take what he worte word for word and apply it to the American Economy under bush; bust did the same thing, and made the same mess. Conservatives say, things similar to this "oh no, it is not true, here are the real facts", when they don't like what they have heard. The problem with conservatives and you in particular, is you "don't want to be confused by the facts". Just as was said by Friedman 20 years ago, Liberals are forced to make the same argument a second time, and you conservatives, still "don't want to be confused by the facts".

So, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by your reaction to my post. Nope, don't confuse me with demonstrable fact, "look over there, Barrack is smoking Crack!" My mistaked was not mustering a better counter comment to your silly and assinigne post then asking if you had served? I mean after all, how can we have facts based discussion if I resort to emotionalism.

Well, fortunately for me you were able to keep emotion out of our "dialogue" and commmented:

"Heneceforth, whenever you post in this forum, I will be there to make you look like the nitwit that you are.

Facts are stubborn things.

It's not my fault that the military voted overwhelmingly against Barack Obama."


Before I go on, just let me thank. It is great to know you are going to be there to set me straight from now on; how could I have ever gone on into my waning years without your sage counsel to guide me. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful life guide.

I don't think it would have made any difference regarding the vitriolic commentary that you have since have unleashed whether or not I had responded differently to you. Sooner or later you you would have started with the sacarstic patronization anyway; that is the kind of guy you are. And, even as I am writing this it occurs to me that you may simply be posting simply "for sport", and really aren't interested in anything but trying you prove your intellectual manhood.

So what does any of this have to do with Benjamin Friedman? This. You guys use what you want and ignore the rest. You ignored most of what Friedman except for those things he said you thought could be used to make your case. And in exactly the same way, you basically ignored the point of my post, and interpreted it to mean that I had said the military supported Obama. See? You are a tTypical Conservative.

Actaully, what I said was firstly:

"I think he (Obama) gets it, and I think the reaction of the troops to him is real and I think they have picked that up as well. There is a great picture of Barrack which was associated with that Huffingtion Post story (see I told you we call him Barrack), showing him shaking the hand of a young service man. If you look at the young man's face, I am sure you will see the same thing I did; there is a look on that young person's face of joy, respect and enthusiasim that I don't think was ever captured in pictures of the other guy and "the troops". It wasn't captured with Bush, becuase IT WAS NEVER THERE. Seeing this for the first time that I can recall, simply makes me feel hopefull

And a little later I said this:

That is what gives me hope, because it confirms something I have felt about Barrack from early on. I truly think he is the real thing; he will dissapoint us for sure, and make decisons we won't understand at the time, but when it comes down to it, he will almost always call it right, with us at the center of the decision. He will do that because I believe he has an exceptional capacitiy and willingness to meaninfully listen.

I am convinced he will think and act, with reason, measure, concern and respect for those whose lives will be so mostly affect. That is what a true leader is, and, does. And, I think that is why those pictures reflected what you saw in the face of that brave and deidcated young man I know he is not a kid, but given my age, it is hard for me not to feel that, and to wish there was some way for me to protect and spare him from the potential peril associated with his selfless and obvious committment to the national welfare."

I don't know how you get that I am claiming all of the military supports Obama out of that, but you are welcome to reach whatever conlusion you want.

That leads me to my response to you first post. Obviously you weren't interested in dealing with the content of what I posted and resorted to the plan of attack other diarists above have outlined. I fell for it hook, line and sinker, and off you went. You are so smart!

However, I think you missed the point. I had made it throughout my post; you either missed it ignored it, or are just simply unable to understand it. The point is that real young men and women are getting killed and maimed, for absolutley nothing. And what is worse, guys like you support it. So, to have a guy like you come back feeling that gives you rightous license to spew the vitriol you did was just too much. My question acutally was the right response.

So again I say, "why haven't you served?" Guys like you are really good at letting others haul the tough stuff, you won't do it, you don't want to get your hands dirty. And besides, why should you when others are so willing? That was why I challenged you. I say it again, you can have an opionion, but you better know what you are talking about, and when it comes to the military and understanding what it really means to serve, you know absolutely nothing; you will never understand the sacrifice these kids made for you, and that is sad for you.

Well, I may have only been in the CANADIAN NAVY, but I served, and I know what I am talking about. Guess what? We have things on our ships that go boom and bang-bang, just like your ships. But, unlike the government led by boobs such as Bush, et al, you know, the guy you think is a genius, my government doesn't go looking for fights where there are none. But being the bully that you are, it must make you feel good to pick fights with we "peace loving fools from the North".

When it all comes down to it, you are a loud-mouthed fool and a coward. I agree it is easy to post things like this on the net, but I wouldn't shy away from saying this to your face if we had met.

So, ruminate on this for a while, but be carefull, if you actually start thinking your head may explode.

by acramer on 01/04/2009 06:57:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ken actually believes some of the things he says, but not many, mostly he tries to get reaction.

When Ken declares victory you know you've won. When Ken questions your credibility you know his has been destroyed.

Ken tends to bookmark links he thinks support his case even after the "polls" he loves have been proven to have faulty methodology. Funny not all conservatives view Kens military world with such rose colored glasses.

Perhaps Dec. 8, 2004 was the day – the point where the “military vote” started peeling off from the Republican Party, for which it had been steadfastly true in majority numbers for at least 25 years. It was the day Army Spc.Thomas Wilson asked then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld: “Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to uparmor our vehicles?”

It's ironic that you asked Ken about his service, and until recently I knew he always gave lip service to the troops, but I read a post that I must say actually surprised me. It shows the actual contempt Ken holds for those who served and who he actually considers "Heroic"

Actually, some people need to make the economy work and pay enormous, confiscatory taxes, so goobers like this guy can sail around the coast and eat doughnuts and sea biscuits.

The "heroes" of society are the people who create wealth, so the rest of you parasites can continue to live off the host organism. I put this in biological terms, so that even you can understand it.

Need I post more to show exactly the people Ken holds in high esteem?

I must say I was disappointed with this revelation of contempt Ken holds for those who actually served, and hopefully it was poor attempt at hyperbole.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative." John Stuart Mill

by Hubble on 01/04/2009 09:08:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
A very wise veteran, who I hold in highest regard, just sent me this private message:
"It's okay to occasionally allow a yearling to grow horns before hunting it down and eviscerating it."

Of course he was speaking purely metaphorically about the way we interact in the forum, but I very much appreciated his guidance.

I don't care if the new guy served in the Coast Guard, or he served as a Candy Striper, or he served as a Rubbish Removal Specialist, or he did something much less dangerous and served in the Canadian Navy. His opinions on political issues are no more valid than mine, because I'm the guy in the forum who has been paying for all of these services.

I'm through making apologies on this subject. You guys need to explain why other people should provide for your basic needs, such as health care.  


by KenTX on 01/04/2009 11:24:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
when you don't, the peasants inevitably storm the castle. Its a small price to pay. Hey, taxes are lowest in Antarctica. No dole, no health care, no democrats (well, not very many in anycase). Put a couple thoughts behind it.

by hazmat on 01/05/2009 02:23:22 AM EST

[ Parent ]
This transition looks like the Storming of the Bastille. Before you celebrate Le Revolution, you should read up on the history of the aftermath.
MoveOn.org

by KenTX on 01/05/2009 09:48:56 AM EST

[ Parent ]
We already had a revolution, it was the Great Republican Revolution of 94.

I do agree that the image does resemble the country after the Republicans got finished.

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative." John Stuart Mill

by Hubble on 01/05/2009 11:20:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
the whistling sound you heard was my point sailing over your tiny head.

by hazmat on 01/05/2009 11:27:10 AM EST

[ Parent ]

does Ken assume he is supporting us all through his taxes? I know I pay my own.

What have you ever done for this country Ken? Making money and paying taxes on it isn't service to our country. It requires no effort on your part and it is entirely self-serving. You'll probably say pumping oil from your property.

by desertpear on 01/05/2009 02:14:50 PM EST

[ Parent ]
What has Steve Jobs done for America? Let's say that neither one of these guys ever did a single charitable, philanthropic act in their entire lives. In the final analysis, what did they do for their country? Then compare their contribution to some nitwit on a Coast Guard boat. Your inability to understand the important contribution of capitalist pigs like me, is the reason you can't have an intelligent conversation on the subject. You are a feeble minded liberal, and I enjoy (figuratively) abusing you in this public forum.

by KenTX on 01/05/2009 06:18:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]

This is nothing?

I'm asking about the contribution of a nitwit in Texas, remember? I asked what YOU did for your country, not what Bill Gates or Steve Jobs did. Would you like to have a second try Pig?

by desertpear on 01/05/2009 08:45:45 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I created jobs. I created shareholder equity. I created wealth for other Americans. Along the way, I paid enormous taxes to the U.S. Treasury. I also gave significant money to charity.

I assisted in the creation of the wealthiest economy on the face of the earth, to the benefit of all Americans.

Compare this level of achievement with that of a government employee who works for the Coast Guard, or a biologist who lives alone, because nobody can stand her.

by KenTX on 01/05/2009 09:49:23 PM EST

[ Parent ]

My dad can beat up your dad.

by Spencer on 01/05/2009 10:43:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]

remember this one from city slickers? "I crap bigger than you." May god bless Jack Palance, wherever he is.

 

by hazmat on 01/06/2009 12:13:54 AM EST

[ Parent ]

I live with RATS, remember?

Weak sauce Ken, and you are such a copycat insulter!

by desertpear on 01/06/2009 05:58:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
This makes me feel bad, because I always try to be an original insulter. I'm confused.

Nobody has ever accused me of living alone. Nobody has ever accused me of not being wildly popular with my friends and family.

Maybe somebody already beat me to the punch and called you the female version of Ted Kaczynski? If so, I humbly apologize to that originator, and congratulate him for hitting the nail on the head when it comes to accurate and devastating insults.

As far as my list of charities goes, I'm unwilling to give out that kind of personal information. It's too easy to cross reference with other personal information, kind of like geneology data. 

by KenTX on 01/06/2009 06:55:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]

makes for a dumbass discussion.  It's the internet.  None of it can really be proven without giving out too much info, so what's the point of bringing it up and interrogating others about it?

Hence, my dad can beat up your dad.  Also, I'm the King of the Universe.  Believe me because I said it.

by Spencer on 01/06/2009 07:04:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Very good question Spencer.

It all started when a Canadian Coast Guard guy made the assertion that his opinion was more valid than my opinion, because I never served in the military during time of war. Never mind that the Coast Guard guy never served in the military during time of war either. Never mind that Barack Obama never served in the military during time of war either.

The point he was trying to make is that conservatives don't get to have an opinion on foreign affairs if they never served in the military during time of war, but liberals can express any opinion they please, regardless of the circumstance.

Henceforth, whenever a liberal makes an assertion like that, he will be met with strenuous resistance. And whenever a weakling, little old man, self-proclaimed social ist from Canada makes a thinly veiled threat of physical violence, he better have some mighty big muscles.   & nbsp;

by KenTX on 01/06/2009 08:44:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Ken has whipped out the Royal proclamation and given us a "Henceforth".

Not counting this post Henceforth has been used in this forum 34 times.

28 times Ken has decreed a Henceforth, 4 times is was a comment quoting Ken. Twice it was Acroso posting the same 1984 Ted Kennedy quote.

Ken uses "Henceforth" like a Bill O'Reilly "On Notice" to let a guilty party know he will track them down and destroy their arguments for all to see. Don't be surprised if the Henceforth security team comes a knocking.


As you can see everyone should start a quacking in their boots because we've been hit with the dreaded "Henceforth".

"Although it is not true that all conservatives are stupid people, it is true that most stupid people are conservative." John Stuart Mill

by Hubble on 01/06/2009 09:33:32 PM EST

[ Parent ]
you are so right Ken!  I live alone, so I am exactly like Ted Kaczynski.  And nobody likes me, not even my family!!  I just sit at home alone in a dark cold house crying.  wah wah.

by desertpear on 01/07/2009 12:32:46 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I applaud anyone who realizes their “sense of self” and personal achievements, but I would hesitate to elevate one’s status based on how many jobs they created or how much wealth they have made possible for others.  Material wealth is not the only aspect of society with which to gauge that society’s success.  There is health, education, scientific and technological advancement, and maybe ultimately, too many to list.  While your level of achievement, based on the criteria that you use, makes you a winner, the government employee who works for the Coast Guard, and using different criteria, might feel that s/he is serving America and therefore a “higher good”; the biologist might discover a cure for a disease that would otherwise wipe out half the human population, etc.  If I write an IQ test, big surprise, it might “prove” that I’m brilliant.  Assessing “achievement” and our own selves can be problematic - subjectivity usually gets in the way.

by MsGinger on 01/06/2009 08:53:01 PM EST

[ Parent ]
through one ear and out the other.

by desertpear on 01/05/2009 02:17:20 PM EST

[ Parent ]
the right wing echo chamber in between? Yes, I mean that.

by hazmat on 01/05/2009 03:24:16 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I wanted to show you what the country has come to with this socialist takeover. Will Americans be satisfied with a majority of voters forcing a minority of producers and achievers to provide them with basic needs such as health care and retirement benefits? This is where the battle lines will be drawn in the next two years. If your side wins, we can change the name to the United States of France. In the end, capitalism might be defeated, but I'm not going down without a fight. Neither are 60 million affluent people in this country. We have money to invest in a battle.

by KenTX on 01/05/2009 06:42:55 PM EST

[ Parent ]

1. "socialist takeover"? Some of us wish Obama was a socialist. Most people who have studied Obama's policy prescriptions would not call him socialist. That was a vapid statement. By the way, it was *your* president who did more to socialize the government than anyone since FDR. And the manner and substance of the socialisation is abhorrent to real socialists. You should focus your energy on the republican party, which deserves to be gutted by true opponents of socialism.

2. Voters and productive people are not mutually exclusive categories. However in your case I think the argument could be made.

3. No one is being asked to "provide health care" for someone else. Businesses and individuals are alike pushing the government to provide basic services so that they don't need to be met by the same businesses and individuals. If this doesn't happen, our businesses will remain uncompetitive with their counterparts in countries that do provide these services. In fact, all that has been proposed is for the government to offer affordable, high quality health insurance. You are for the free market, aren't you?

I can tell you without reservation, that I do not like what the free market has given me in health insurance. It is not responsive at all to consumer demand. I intend to sign up for the government insurance as soon as it becomes available. Maybe it will suck, but it can't be much worse than Aetna if its good enough for Congress.

4. Providing basic services is not equivalent to a "defeat" for capitalism any more than is building roads, maintaining a police force and a military. Nor is it a "defeat" for capitalism to regulate commerce. Even Adam Smith understood this.

5. 60 million affluent people. Really? Obama campaigned on a promise of cutting taxes for 95% of taxpayers. By my calculation that leaves 15 million (of 300)  who are not receiving a tax cut or may indeed have their taxes raised. Will you find 60 million people who hate the idea of the government offering insurance? Good luck with that, my friend.

6. "we have money to invest". This is a laughable statement. I didn't realize rich people were holding back!

7. Retirement needs. The government doesn't serve anyone's retirement needs. We decided collectively in the great depression  that we no longer would stand for elderly people going hungry. That ship has sailed, dude. Bush came the closest anyone is going to come to destroying social security in a long time. It is one of the main reasons his popularity dropped precipitously after 2004. There are two solutions for the problem of feeding old people. You can euthenise them or give them a little pocket money. We chose the latter. Grow up and get over it.

 

by hazmat on 01/05/2009 07:52:41 PM EST

[ Parent ]
“Some of us wish Obama was a socialist. Most people who have studied Obama's policy prescriptions would not call him socialist.”
He hasn’t even taken the oath of office yet, so we don’t know if he will turn out to be a socialist, which would make you and the millions of other Democrat voters very happy.

“That was a vapid statement.”
Vapid statement? You, and every other liberal in this forum openly and readily admit that socialism is the ultimate goal. Don’t run away from your own statements.

“By the way, it was *your* president who did more to socialize the government than anyone since FDR. And the manner and substance of the socialization is abhorrent to real socialists.”
I won’t even address legislation that was opposed by most Republicans, and supported by most Democrats, including Barack Obama. That’s a ridiculous argument.

“Voters and productive people are not mutually exclusive categories. However in your case I think the argument could be made.”
I would be very happy to compare my level of achievement and economic productivity with anyone in this forum, especially you. If you were more productive and more successful, you would be concerned about socialist Democrats taking away the fruits of your labor, and redistributing your wealth to deadbeats, bums, moochers, and other assorted Democrats.

“In fact, all that has been proposed is for the government to offer affordable, high quality health insurance. You are for the free market, aren't you?”
You bet. The free market already provides numerous health insurance options. You can even purchase low cost insurance from Billy Mays. By contrast, government provided heath care is the epitome of socialism.  Let’s say that ObamaCare provides health insurance to a family of four for $250 per month, which is a really good deal. That’s less than most low income people spend on cigarettes or malt liquor. Do you think that a single low income family in America will ever have to fork over $250 per month for health insurance? Hell no! The taxpayers will be forced to provide free health care for these 80 million people

“I can tell you without reservation, that I do not like what the free market has given me in health insurance.”
Wait until you are waiting in line with illegal aliens and the other 80 million bums who are receiving free services, trying to get access to the same doctors. When you finally get an appointment, nobody will ask you and Juan Garcia how much you guys paid in income taxes. You will both get the same level of crappy care, even though you are paying for Juan’s bill.

"we have money to invest"
You’re about to learn the meaning of the words “blowback” and “recoil”. The only question is how long it takes for America to react.

“You can euthanize them or give them a little pocket money.”
Social Security was designed to be sort of like a government savings account. You’re supposed to get out of it, roughly what you put into it. If you pay the maximum FICA taxes every year, up to $100,000, you’re supposed to get a check of around $3000 per month when you reach retirement.

But watch the Obama Administration propose “means testing”. You could work hard, save your money, and when it comes time for that $3000 monthly check, and you will be disappointed to learn that you won’t receive your earnings, because it is being forwarded to people who didn’t work hard, so we can give them “a little pocket money”. That’s called socialism, and it’s what you are cheering for.

by KenTX on 01/05/2009 09:26:08 PM EST

[ Parent ]

"...socialism is the ultimate goal."   

I've not heard that anywhere on this site in the many years I've been posting. There are some - repeat, SOME programs which ought to be covered by the "general welfare" desire in our Constitution. I go much further than Obama (single payer, dude!) on some of his issues but that doesn't mean I want a socialist country. I want a Fair Trade policy - nothing wrong with trade or profit, just obscene profits and grossly unjust trade.

I like businesses so much, I'd like to see corporations go back to being businesses and lose their "personhood" status. It would make it sooo much easier to hold these bastards accountable. How is that a Socialist view?

I could be wrong; there might be some full-fledged Socialists hangin' around, I'm just saying that my impression is that posters are for a responsible capitalism instead of the "Grab It All!" form we've been seeing since Reagan.

Bush, the Banks, the Financial giants of this country did Al Qaeda's bidding - drove our economy straight into the ground. That course needs to change.

"...being forwarded to people who didn’t work hard..."

Wanna try that one again? You mean like waitresses, cooks, dishwashers, janitors, retail employees, etc., etc.? You think those people haven't worked hard? Simply outrageous. You think them bums? There is NO direct correlation between how hard a person works and what they are paid. If that were so, diswashers would be getting executive salaries and executives would be getting janitor wages.

And you're trying to pull a fast one with that "$3000 a month S.S. check" nonsense. That is only if you've averaged $7685 per month income and don't retire until 70. Most people get much, MUCH less. You might call it "subsitance" level - if the recipient is lucky. (of course, what ought be considered "subsistance" in 2009 is a whole 'nother thread...)

Oh, and as a low income person, I do want you to know that I don't drink malt liquor and I've been rolling my own cigarettes for a decade so my monthly bill for those combined items is roughly $35 per month - and the tobacco taxes goes to the state health insurance program which I don't qualify for because my $950 income per month is too much.

Guess that's what I get for being a bum...

by MedfordTim on 01/06/2009 02:14:10 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Like bobo said, they’re giving money away to people who need it.
 

“Ms. Halterman hasn't had a job for about 13 years, she says. She receives about $3,000 a month from welfare programs, food stamps and disability payments related to a back injury. "I may not have everything I want, but I have everything I need," she says.”

by KenTX on 01/06/2009 03:14:42 AM EST

[ Parent ]

I tried to email the author asking him to break that down because I don't believe him, but you have to be a subscriber to WSJ to contact their writers. That figure is smellier than a Salmon sitting in the back seat for a week. I am kept at an income level which barely qualifies for Food Stamps. $10 per month is the MAX I qualify for. He would need to explain to me how he arrived at that figure - it just doesn't fit the real world.

But I DID notice that the rest of the article pretty much sums up the point I was trying to make. Unscrupulous loan agents signing up anyone they can so they can sell the mortgages. Greedy profiteers cold calling people with loan offers and bending the truth in order to get the loan through.

by MedfordTim on 01/06/2009 11:25:05 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Have some consideration for the penguins.

by desertpear on 01/05/2009 02:16:46 PM EST

[ Parent ]
the penguins are republican? Why else would they go to such lengths to avoid the crushing burden of the American top marginal rate? If instead they are merely god's creatures following their instincts then I beg your pardon.

by hazmat on 01/05/2009 03:27:18 PM EST

[ Parent ]
"Ken actually believes some of the things he says, but not many, mostly he tries to get reaction."

Getting a reaction without any conviction in what you are posting is exactly why trolls post.

The Young Turks is not the only place they lurk as he tries to claim.

There are trolls on almost every other political site they all have varying degrees of tolerance for them.

by 14K on 01/05/2009 09:57:31 PM EST

[ Parent ]
A wiener dog who keeps changing his nic.

by KenTX on 01/05/2009 11:20:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
a right wing nut job that is so paranoid they obsess on changing nics

Republicans portray the government as the enemy. Then when they take over, they prove it.

by Chinese Democracy on 01/07/2009 01:05:11 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Here's a few about our brave Kenneth:

His name is Ken, and he lives in Texas, obviously. What you may not have realized is that he is a major strategist for the cornservative movement in general and the Repubocrat party specifically. His great innovation is to "hide in plain sight", regularly posting details of how and when the Real America will swoop down and reclaim its birthright from the spoilsports whose shameless trickery knows no limit. Who is this genius? Sorry, that's classified, but here's a hint: it rhymes with "doughbody".

He has a large red mole on the back of his neck. His kids think it's gross.

His wife, who no longer pretends she will learn to love him, is in it for the long haul - "He's a good provider", is what she tells her friends.

When not posting to TYT, Ken enjoys building model planes and listening to Asleep at the Wheel. He once got a Triple Word Score in Scrabble with "roustabout".

All the above statements are facts. But are they true facts? Hey, it really doesn't matter, does it? - we're just havin' some fun on the ol' internet, is what we're doin'! Anyway, acramer, welcome aboard; I know you'll fit right in around here once you realize who deals the cards.

by ashbul on 01/04/2009 09:52:49 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I thought it was model oil derricks and offshore platforms?

by desertpear on 01/05/2009 02:15:45 PM EST

[ Parent ]
People get huge balls when they are not face to face. They say things they never would in a typical conversation because there are not any repercussions. So just ignore them they probably live a lonely boring life.

by joshny on 01/04/2009 02:40:51 PM EST

Liek in my diary where I said they should stop Ana at any cost people said some really hurtful things

by Perry on 01/04/2009 02:43:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
The Internet can really bring out the asshole/bitch in some people.

It's because of the natural dehumanizing effect of cyberspace and like you said, no face to face interaction.

by ihavenobias on 01/04/2009 04:58:32 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Think Gilbert Gottfried mixed with Don Rickles

by Perry on 01/04/2009 05:03:02 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Think Gilbert Gottfried mixed with Don Rickles

Christ on a mechanical bull, you should be banned immediately just for putting that combination in our heads.

by OneHitKill on 01/05/2009 01:14:06 PM EST

[ Parent ]

All of the negativity was the making of a certain fellow Texan. He's not here for constructive debate; he's a troll. And the quickest way to kill a troll is to ignore it.

And God bless you for stepping up and defending your country. I wish I could've done the same (I was going to enlist in the Air Force in '93, but was kept out for medical reasons). As long as he've never committed any war crimes, you always have to respect a soldier, even if his government wages wars unjustly.

by LudwigVan on 01/04/2009 06:37:31 PM EST

In Ken's own words, his meaningless participation here is "like waving a piece of bacon in front of a dog." So let him wave his little bacon and end up with an extra-toothy greeting. We'd be awfully mean to deny him his last remaining source of pleasure, hazardous to his health (and reproductive system) though it may be. He is nothing, but thinks he's king of everything. It's a comfortable balance.

by OneHitKill on 01/05/2009 01:21:29 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Now that is a scary image.

by desertpear on 01/05/2009 02:10:54 PM EST

[ Parent ]

It's best to ignore them; just get that dirt of your shoulders.

Now, can we start a permanent religion debate thread, limited only to intelligent discourse?

by YuryTheEnglishTutor on 01/06/2009 02:54:10 AM EST

acramer, I share your wish for meaningful discussions, and it sounds like the vast majority here at TYT do as well.  The overly reactive and stubbornly ideological minority clearly have a different aim, but fortunately for us, we are not on the "losing" end.  We gain through every exchange.

"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it. Disagree fine, but don't throw the chance for real interchange out the window."

If they do throw it out the window, it's because they are incapable of receiving the message and therefore the insight.  And when babies cry, of course our instinct is to take care of them.  But, presuming everyone here can at least figure out how to feed themselves and dispose of their own poop, there is nothing more you are obligated to do for them.  Please keep posting - the rest of us do "hear" you.


by MsGinger on 01/06/2009 09:17:28 PM EST

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