Olive branches

jeffkrol · 04-07-2010, 07:13 AM

GOP Sen. Coburn Extends Olive Branch of the Year
Daniel Stone
Remember the charges last summer that civility in Washington is dead? Not so. Just ask GOP Sen. Tom Coburn, who at a town-hall meeting over the weekend in Oklahoma had some choice words for the Foxerati. After a woman explained her fear of being thrown in the slammer if she didn’t buy health insurance, Coburn took her and his gossip-spreading partisans to task. “The intention is not to put any one in jail,” he said. “That makes for good TV news on Fox but that isn’t the intention.” Taking a jab at Fox in front of a conservative audience is risky—even political suicide to get on the behemoth network’s bad side—but Coburn kept going. Not only is Fox at times inaccurate, but Nancy Pelosi, the person Republicans have spent the most time vilifying, is actually “a nice person.” Huh? “How many of you all have met her?” he asked the crowd that we can only imagine had its jaws on the floor.

No word yet on how GOP Central will handle Coburn’s remarks. On the one hand, it's hard to argue they're not true. Partisans on both sides have noted Pelosi’s nice demeanor, despite her sometimes disagreeable policies. And look no further than funnyman Jon Stewart for examples of ways Fox exhibited what Stephen Colbert would call “ truthiness” during the health-care debate (not to say that the other cable guys haven’t occasionally stepped in it too). But on the other hand, a huge portion of the GOP’s electoral strategy depends on painting Democrats and their policies as the biggest evils in the world, with no exception.

Coburn faces reelection this year in a race he’s still leading, but could become close this summer. Which makes his comments a complete gamble. Either he’s working to paint himself as an elder statesman who can cut through partisan bickering to shape good policy. Or he’s just allowed his primary opponent, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, to accuse him of secretly being on the other team. Trying to be fair and balanced has never been so tricky.
GOP Sen. Coburn Extends Olive Branch of the Year - The Gaggle Blog - Newsweek.com
Tom Coburn Defends Pelosi, Tells Constituents to Turn Off TV - Washington Wire - WSJ
At a town hall meeting, Sen. Tom Coburn criticized Fox News, saying it peddled false information about the health care bill, and he chastised constituents who had nasty things to say about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Parallax · 04-07-2010, 07:19 AM

Whether his statements were accurate or not, I have to believe he is going to regret making them.

Nesster · 04-07-2010, 07:26 AM

It's a sad situation, really, how zombified republicans have become, captive to the most lunatic fringes due to the primaries. Did you see even the Maverick himself disowns the term now?

However it plays out in the republican primaries, the general election will be different. Despite all the politics, I think the biggest determining factor will be the economy. If it's clearly getting better, the Dems will have a good night, if not, then it's the Reps.

lithos · 04-07-2010, 07:31 AM

Originally posted by Parallax

Whether his statements were accurate or not, I have to believe he is going to regret making them.

"Have to believe"?

Yes, you're all Rupert Murdoch's bitch.

Parallax · 04-07-2010, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by lithos

"Have to believe"?

Yes, you're all Rupert Murdoch's bitch.

What I meant was that his party is going to vilify him for making statements counter to the party's interest and it may very well cost him the election. It happens in all parties.

"Have to believe" is a common figure of speech. Perhaps a little more familiarity with the English language and even a perfunctory attempt to understand the meaning of a post
would preclude your knee jerk instinct for name calling.

Rupert · 04-07-2010, 07:49 AM

Yes, he will probably regret these words. I won't say "All", but the vast majority of right wingers are mean spirited angry people, void of any reason or facts other than what they get at FAUX News. For them, they are the only "True Americans", and any kind words to the left,or even the center, are pure blasphemy. This hard line hate sold in Nazi Germany, and galvanized the population, but it won't work here, and they will eventually implode, which is not all that far off. America turned the corner on their style of politics with the end of Jesus George and his reign of Terror.........we won't go back to it anytime soon, if ever.

It's all about the numbers......there just aren't enough right wing lunatics to pull off another episode like the eight years of destruction like George gave us. Too many Democrats...too many minorities that will never vote Republican, too many good people left in America to pull on Jackboots and march to the hate and bigotry of the right.
Regards

Parallax · 04-07-2010, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by Rupert

Yes, he will probably regret these words. I won't say "All", but the vast majority of right wingers are mean spirited angry people, void of any reason or facts other than what they get at FAUX News. For them, they are the only "True Americans", and any kind words to the left,or even the center, are pure blasphemy. This hard line hate sold in Nazi Germany, and galvanized the population, but it won't work here, and they will eventually implode, which is not all that far off. America turned the corner on their style of politics with the end of Jesus George and his reign of Terror.........we won't go back to it anytime soon, if ever.

It's all about the numbers......there just aren't enough right wing lunatics to pull off another episode like the eight years of destruction like George gave us. Too many Democrats...too many minorities that will never vote Republican, too many good people left in America to pull on Jackboots and march to the hate and bigotry of the right.
Regards

Yes, Rupert; and its just coincidence that the deepest divisions politically, racially, and economically all occur during Democrat administrations.

Rupert · 04-07-2010, 08:32 AM

Originally posted by Parallax

Yes, Rupert; and its just coincidence that the deepest divisions politically, racially, and economically all occur during Democrat administrations.

It is not surprising, since anything that is not hard right brings out all the worst of the fruitloops, guys like Timothy McVeigh and the new ones we are seeing now that want to kill policemen and start a political shooting war......you have a bunch of really sick people Jim, just admit it!
Regards!

Nesster · 04-07-2010, 08:48 AM

Studies of populist movements show that the groups tend to polarize and radicalize when their political aims are not met. For example, out of SDS the Weathermen, on the 60s/70s left.

The stated and well known strategy of the Republican party - stated by their own operatives and consultants - is the polarization of the electorate through emotional hot button issues, thus energizing the base to vote and win elections for what otherwise would be a minority party. The list of the dirty tricks and false issues is long, and the list of social hot buttons pressed is longer. The rhetoric has to keep notching up to keep people angry enough to vote Republican.

When the political anger thus generated fails to win an election - which is a valid and ordinary thing to be expected in a democracy - it becomes bitter and radicalized. When it manages a win, it dissipates because it never was a coherent positive political agenda, but rather a protest and anti- movement. Note that the beneficiaries and patrons like it like this just fine, their main aim is to win the next election, not to actually reform government based on political principles. Nor to govern well, either, as that's another inconvenience - better to screw up government in order to feed the next election cycle.

In the next election, I believe the state of the economy will be the deciding factor. If this is so, do you really think the Republicans see it in their interest to work to improve the economy? So far their behavior clearly indicates that they do not.

Artesian · 04-07-2010, 09:06 AM

Originally posted by Rupert

It is not surprising, since anything that is not hard right brings out all the worst of the fruitloops, guys like Timothy McVeigh and the new ones we are seeing now that want to kill policemen and start a political shooting war......you have a bunch of really sick people Jim, just admit it!
Regards!

The "Christian" group that wanted to kill policemen where not Republicans. Most were registerd Democrats.
A

Parallax · 04-07-2010, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by Artesian

The "Christian" group that wanted to kill policemen where not Republicans. Most were registerd Democrats.
A

Don't confuse him with facts. His mind's made up.

GeneV · 04-07-2010, 12:38 PM

Originally posted by Parallax

Don't confuse him with facts. His mind's made up.

Not to confuse another poster with the facts, but actually only one (1) of the 9 arrested is known to be a registered Democrat. FWIW, this corresponds roughly to the percentage of Tea Partiers who claim that registration in polls.

Rupert · 04-07-2010, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by GeneV

Not to confuse another poster with the facts, but actually only one (1) of the 9 arrested is known to be a registered Democrat. FWIW, this corresponds roughly to the percentage of Tea Partiers who claim that registration in polls.

So that puts the rightwing fruitloops at roughly 90% of the mix.....fitting nicely with the part where I said "most" not "all". Where are those confusing facts at boys?
Regards!

Green_Manelishi · 04-07-2010, 01:23 PM

I betcha you can beat someone into submission even with an olive branch.

Rupert · 04-07-2010, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by Green_Manelishi

I betcha you can beat someone into submission even with an olive branch.

That sort of hurts my feelings....sort of.....
Regards!

04-07-2010, 07:13 AM	#1
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Olive branches GOP Sen. Coburn Extends Olive Branch of the Year Daniel Stone Remember the charges last summer that civility in Washington is dead? Not so. Just ask GOP Sen. Tom Coburn, who at a town-hall meeting over the weekend in Oklahoma had some choice words for the Foxerati. After a woman explained her fear of being thrown in the slammer if she didn’t buy health insurance, Coburn took her and his gossip-spreading partisans to task. “The intention is not to put any one in jail,” he said. “That makes for good TV news on Fox but that isn’t the intention.” Taking a jab at Fox in front of a conservative audience is risky—even political suicide to get on the behemoth network’s bad side—but Coburn kept going. Not only is Fox at times inaccurate, but Nancy Pelosi, the person Republicans have spent the most time vilifying, is actually “a nice person.” Huh? “How many of you all have met her?” he asked the crowd that we can only imagine had its jaws on the floor. No word yet on how GOP Central will handle Coburn’s remarks. On the one hand, it's hard to argue they're not true. Partisans on both sides have noted Pelosi’s nice demeanor, despite her sometimes disagreeable policies. And look no further than funnyman Jon Stewart for examples of ways Fox exhibited what Stephen Colbert would call “ truthiness” during the health-care debate (not to say that the other cable guys haven’t occasionally stepped in it too). But on the other hand, a huge portion of the GOP’s electoral strategy depends on painting Democrats and their policies as the biggest evils in the world, with no exception. Coburn faces reelection this year in a race he’s still leading, but could become close this summer. Which makes his comments a complete gamble. Either he’s working to paint himself as an elder statesman who can cut through partisan bickering to shape good policy. Or he’s just allowed his primary opponent, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, to accuse him of secretly being on the other team. Trying to be fair and balanced has never been so tricky. GOP Sen. Coburn Extends Olive Branch of the Year - The Gaggle Blog - Newsweek.com Tom Coburn Defends Pelosi, Tells Constituents to Turn Off TV - Washington Wire - WSJ At a town hall meeting, Sen. Tom Coburn criticized Fox News, saying it peddled false information about the health care bill, and he chastised constituents who had nasty things to say about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

04-07-2010, 01:23 PM	#14
Green_Manelishi Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: On the edge ... Posts: 179	Olive branches I betcha you can beat someone into submission even with an olive branch.

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04-07-2010, 07:19 AM	#2
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Whether his statements were accurate or not, I have to believe he is going to regret making them.

04-07-2010, 07:26 AM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	It's a sad situation, really, how zombified republicans have become, captive to the most lunatic fringes due to the primaries. Did you see even the Maverick himself disowns the term now? However it plays out in the republican primaries, the general election will be different. Despite all the politics, I think the biggest determining factor will be the economy. If it's clearly getting better, the Dems will have a good night, if not, then it's the Reps.

04-07-2010, 07:31 AM	#4
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Originally posted by Parallax Whether his statements were accurate or not, I have to believe he is going to regret making them. "Have to believe"? Yes, you're all Rupert Murdoch's bitch.

04-07-2010, 07:47 AM	#5
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by lithos "Have to believe"? Yes, you're all Rupert Murdoch's bitch. What I meant was that his party is going to vilify him for making statements counter to the party's interest and it may very well cost him the election. It happens in all parties. "Have to believe" is a common figure of speech. Perhaps a little more familiarity with the English language and even a perfunctory attempt to understand the meaning of a post would preclude your knee jerk instinct for name calling.

04-07-2010, 07:49 AM	#6
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Yes, he will probably regret these words. I won't say "All", but the vast majority of right wingers are mean spirited angry people, void of any reason or facts other than what they get at FAUX News. For them, they are the only "True Americans", and any kind words to the left,or even the center, are pure blasphemy. This hard line hate sold in Nazi Germany, and galvanized the population, but it won't work here, and they will eventually implode, which is not all that far off. America turned the corner on their style of politics with the end of Jesus George and his reign of Terror.........we won't go back to it anytime soon, if ever. It's all about the numbers......there just aren't enough right wing lunatics to pull off another episode like the eight years of destruction like George gave us. Too many Democrats...too many minorities that will never vote Republican, too many good people left in America to pull on Jackboots and march to the hate and bigotry of the right. Regards

04-07-2010, 07:54 AM	#7
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by Rupert Yes, he will probably regret these words. I won't say "All", but the vast majority of right wingers are mean spirited angry people, void of any reason or facts other than what they get at FAUX News. For them, they are the only "True Americans", and any kind words to the left,or even the center, are pure blasphemy. This hard line hate sold in Nazi Germany, and galvanized the population, but it won't work here, and they will eventually implode, which is not all that far off. America turned the corner on their style of politics with the end of Jesus George and his reign of Terror.........we won't go back to it anytime soon, if ever. It's all about the numbers......there just aren't enough right wing lunatics to pull off another episode like the eight years of destruction like George gave us. Too many Democrats...too many minorities that will never vote Republican, too many good people left in America to pull on Jackboots and march to the hate and bigotry of the right. Regards Yes, Rupert; and its just coincidence that the deepest divisions politically, racially, and economically all occur during Democrat administrations.

04-07-2010, 08:32 AM	#8
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by Parallax Yes, Rupert; and its just coincidence that the deepest divisions politically, racially, and economically all occur during Democrat administrations. It is not surprising, since anything that is not hard right brings out all the worst of the fruitloops, guys like Timothy McVeigh and the new ones we are seeing now that want to kill policemen and start a political shooting war......you have a bunch of really sick people Jim, just admit it! Regards!

04-07-2010, 08:48 AM	#9
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Studies of populist movements show that the groups tend to polarize and radicalize when their political aims are not met. For example, out of SDS the Weathermen, on the 60s/70s left. The stated and well known strategy of the Republican party - stated by their own operatives and consultants - is the polarization of the electorate through emotional hot button issues, thus energizing the base to vote and win elections for what otherwise would be a minority party. The list of the dirty tricks and false issues is long, and the list of social hot buttons pressed is longer. The rhetoric has to keep notching up to keep people angry enough to vote Republican. When the political anger thus generated fails to win an election - which is a valid and ordinary thing to be expected in a democracy - it becomes bitter and radicalized. When it manages a win, it dissipates because it never was a coherent positive political agenda, but rather a protest and anti- movement. Note that the beneficiaries and patrons like it like this just fine, their main aim is to win the next election, not to actually reform government based on political principles. Nor to govern well, either, as that's another inconvenience - better to screw up government in order to feed the next election cycle. In the next election, I believe the state of the economy will be the deciding factor. If this is so, do you really think the Republicans see it in their interest to work to improve the economy? So far their behavior clearly indicates that they do not.

04-07-2010, 09:06 AM	#10
Artesian Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 365	Originally posted by Rupert It is not surprising, since anything that is not hard right brings out all the worst of the fruitloops, guys like Timothy McVeigh and the new ones we are seeing now that want to kill policemen and start a political shooting war......you have a bunch of really sick people Jim, just admit it! Regards! The "Christian" group that wanted to kill policemen where not Republicans. Most were registerd Democrats. A

04-07-2010, 12:04 PM	#11
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	Originally posted by Artesian The "Christian" group that wanted to kill policemen where not Republicans. Most were registerd Democrats. A Don't confuse him with facts. His mind's made up.

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04-07-2010, 12:38 PM	#12
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by Parallax Don't confuse him with facts. His mind's made up. Not to confuse another poster with the facts, but actually only one (1) of the 9 arrested is known to be a registered Democrat. FWIW, this corresponds roughly to the percentage of Tea Partiers who claim that registration in polls.

04-07-2010, 01:09 PM	#13
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by GeneV Not to confuse another poster with the facts, but actually only one (1) of the 9 arrested is known to be a registered Democrat. FWIW, this corresponds roughly to the percentage of Tea Partiers who claim that registration in polls. So that puts the rightwing fruitloops at roughly 90% of the mix.....fitting nicely with the part where I said "most" not "all". Where are those confusing facts at boys? Regards!

04-07-2010, 01:37 PM	#15
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Originally posted by Green_Manelishi I betcha you can beat someone into submission even with an olive branch. That sort of hurts my feelings....sort of..... Regards!