Political Hotwire, Political Forum, Ballot.Com, Advocates Violence

Political Hotwire at Ballot.com is a political forum that I've been a member of for years, and for years I've watched the moderators and members slowly weed out conservatives, libertarians, and republicans through steady antagonistic behavior. Recently, even personal threats of violence made against conservative members have been allowed and encouraged by the moderators and joked about by the Democrats and liberals on the board. What used to be a great forum comprised of meaningful debate has become little more than a place where liberals can mock, antagonize, and physically threaten non-liberals. I can no longer recommend this forum, nor will I ever post there again myself.

But this brings up several points about the current election that I find utterly fascinating. The anger out there is getting intense and I worry that if Senator Obama isn't elected that we will see riot after violent riot in this country. Liberals have already threatened race riots in major cities and defended attacks against Obama's policies and professional associations with accusations of racism and bigotry. The strange thing is, that Obama is doing well in the polls. You'd think this would make the Democrats happy. Instead, they seem angrier than ever and I just don't understand why.

It also appears that there is a national effort to commit voter fraud in favor of Senator Obama. Corporate Media is solidly behind Obama and has shamelessly lost even the appearance of objectivity. When the masquerade itself is no longer important, you just know that liberals in this country are unusually committed to a candidate. The most heinous attacks against Senator McCain and Governor Palin have made this campaign one of the most disgraceful and shameful displays of political immaturity ever witnessed in American History.

Governor Palin's Hypocrisy on Drug Use

At Political Hotwire: Posted by, BurningGiraffe.

On Aug. 6, 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported, “Palin said she has smoked marijuana — remember, it was legal under state law, she said, even if illegal under U.S. law — but says she didn’t like it and doesn’t smoke it now. “‘I can’t claim a Bill Clinton and say that I never inhaled.’”

The paper quoted Palin as saying she opposed legalization of marijuana because of the “message” that would be sent to her children. Let’s ponder that a bit.

Gov. Palin is one of many millions of Americans who have acknowledged using marijuana and gone on to live productive, wildly successful lives. That list famously includes California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Sen. Barack Obama, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and astronomer Carl Sagan, and many others. That Palin used marijuana is no big deal. What is a big deal is that she thinks that the 100 million Americans who have done so — presumably including herself — deserve arrest, jail, and a criminal record.

The Hill Blog

This won't be a problem for Governor Palin because Drug Use is not a significant national issue, however, it does point to the duplicitous approach of Republicans when it comes to the law and "traditional American Values". Republicans are just as human, and therefore curious, as everyone else in this country. They too have experimented with drugs and premarital sex and vice of every kind. However, the Republicans seem willing to support the harshest possible penalties for vice. How can someone who has used drugs in the past, but who was never caught, and therefore never went to jail (accepted responsibility for their vice) support putting others in prison for the same behavior?

Can Obama Win if he Concedes the Center?

At Political Hotwire

By Burning Giraffe:

Here is what Obama should say,

"You say that America is a Capitalist nation, and as such is a land of opportunity? Well, where is that opportunity now? Unemployment is going up, the housing market has collapsed, small businesses can't do business, and even if you're making the same as you were in 2001, your dollar doesn't buy as much today as it did then. Don't buy into the hype! Because John McCain and the Republican Party make their living supporting a small corporate elite. You don't know these people because you don't elect them. They just cash your checks. President Bush and John McCain are essentially nothing more than the FACE of American Big Business. So it's Big Business versus Big Government. Who gets hurt by Big Government? The Rich. But the Rich can afford it. Who gets hurt by Big Business? Poor people. The VERY people who can least afford to be harmed.

My Fellow Americans, Never before have we needed Big Government like we do today. We are facing big problems. Can you fix it? No, you can't. Not because you aren't smart, capable, or creative, but because you can't, and your family can't, provide order in such a complex world. You need government. I know, we may be the punching bag over many dinner table conversations. But you need Government. You need government to do big things right. President Bush is a Big Government Republican, just like John McCain, and President Bush did Big Things badly. We'll, I'm going to do big things too, but I'm going to do them right. I'm going to listen to the people and provide them with the basic services they need to flourish as a people in a global economy".

It could work, but it would take a great deal of courage.

Governor Sarah Palin

National Polemic Forums: Burning Giraffe posts an article, "McCain Right for a Change".

Democrats have already begun to make the mistake of attacking Governor Palin’s experience, which has warranted an AP article entitled, Palin’s Age, Inexperience Rival Obama’s. Wherein Ron Fournier writes, “If Obama is an empty suit, as McCain has suggested, is Palin suited for the Oval Office herself?” This will shape a most beneficial debate for the McCain Camp, as the talking heads argue over who is less experienced, Governor Palin or Senator Obama. The contrast is so slight that Obama can’t win. Yes, Senator Obama has slightly more political experience than Governor Palin, but most of that experience has been earned in his bid for the presidency. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin has been governing Alaska, carrying overwhelming popularity and approval with both Republicans and Democrats. In fact, if you want to talk about Governing experience, Sarah Palin, unlike McCain, Biden, and Obama, actually has some.

Political Hotwire: Think For Myself posts his frustrations.

Why in the bloody hell would you choose a candidate that was currently being investigated for ethics violations? Seriously, 300,000,000 people in this country and your running mate is under investigation? Was everyone else unavailable for the job?

Political Hotwire: Bluegrass posts a thread entitled, "Palin: Support Teaching Creationism Alongside Evolution".

The more research one does on Palin, the more they can find a rather undistinguished record, as she rarely supports anything outside the standard GOP talking points.

But if one delves further, they will find that Palin supports Creationism alongside evolution in public schools. Creationism isn't science.

Mark Warner: The Infrastructure Democrat

Burning Giraffe has posted an excellent article @ National Polemic on Mark Warner's Speech at the DNC Convention.

Excerpt:

Mark Warner is an Infrastructure Democrat. You will not hear him bashing America as a depraved relic of an outdated Capitalist Age. You will not hear Mark Warner speaking of America's problems as the consequent of American greed. What you will hear, what you have heard for years, is Mark Warner speaking of establishing a foundation for American prosperity. We can debate political ideology for ages to come, but what we can't argue with are results. Results are what Mark Warner gave Virginians as Governor. Results are what Mark Warner would give Americans as President. Results are something we haven't seen from the Republican Party under the Rule of President Bush, nor from the Democratic controlled congress over the last two years, nor from the brief political record of Barack Obama. When the Democrats get serious about governing this nation and setting forth a real platform Americans can get behind, Mark Warner will be waiting... waiting to do for the country what he did for Virginia.

Whistle Stopper

Whistle Stopper Forums is a quaint, simple, delightful little corner of the political forum universe. This is one of those forums where you either fit in well with the people or you do not. I've been lurking there for some time, reading the posts, trying to form an opinion about the content. Unfortunately, the variety of content at the Whistle Stopper is too broad to pigeonhole into a single categorization. What does that mean for you? How do you know if you'd be interested? Well, like most small, but active, political forums, if you enjoy the people, you'll enjoy the site. If you can't stand the people, then you'll find nothing but frustration.

Whistle Stopper is running V-Bulletin, but has not upgraded to the latest version. It's soft, clean-cut design is smoothly integrated into an easily navigated, easily acceptable, always fast, forum. The Forum boasts over 1,000,000 posts and over 18,000 registered members. This is a well established Forum that has stood the test of time, going strong since 2003. If you are looking for a political forum to call home, this is definitely that kind of forum.

$5,000 Reward for Rice

Michaelr posted an article @ Political Hotwire concerning several New Zealand students who plan on arresting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Obviously many people support these kinds of over-hyped publicity stunts and seek to encourage them. I'm not sure its a very good idea.

How would you feel having the citizens of another nation arresting or detaining a public official of yours?