[Rhodes22-list] Sailboats - Weather - Politics (Big Al, he was your governor)

Tue Mar 25 13:37:05 EDT 2008

Amen to you and Slim.

Personally I hate it when a politician talks to us like adults. Gimme those
good ol dumbed-down sound-bites.  And don't worry John McCain will fall
apart in any real debate. His chatty-cathy doll string is already breaking
down and the real fun hasn't even started.  His 'senior moments' have just
begun, along with the memory of his lusting to be a democrat.  In the end,
all he really has is just 'more bush'.

Don't forget George still has time to pull the economy out of the bucket
with his back door socialism for corporate america. Socialize the losses
(our tax problem) - privatize the profits (their gains).  And my Haliburton
stocks are soaring thanks to the no-bid contracts and the 17 million dollars
an hour american hemorrhage. 

And finally, it always refreshing to hear over and over the white bread take
on the wheat bread american experience with such authority.  

It may be political suicide to attempt a nuanced discussion on race, but it
does take courage.

Robert Skinner wrote:
> 
> Good morning, friends.
> 
> Slim has a very interesting point here.  
> 
> Those of us who believe that the Republican machine 
> has taken us in the wrong direction on a number of 
> major issues are interested in changing horses -- 
> in mid-stream if necessary.  
> 
> The focus is on change, and Obama has a good grip on 
> that.
> 
> Like Slim, my father and his contemporaries were 
> racist ethnophobes.  Initially, up to the age of 25 
> or so, I bought their values.  Then I wound up 
> thinking for myself, and questioning things.  That 
> has led to a rather different view of the world.  
> 
> Now I live in the uncertain territory between "is" 
> and "ought to be" -- depressing, exhilarating, 
> tragic, dangerous, and the ultimate comedy.
> 
> In our system of government, parties can assume too
> important a role, but they are the current reality,
> good and evil simultaneously.
> 
> /Robert
> ----------------------------------------------------
> Steven Alm wrote:
>> 
>> Brad,
>> 
>> Let me get this straight.  You think Obama's toast because he knows some
>> one
>> who's angry about the black experience in America?  Or he knows some one
>> who
>> knows some one who knows some one who likes Farrakhan?  This guilt by
>> association is a lot of BS.  Do you really think Obama's a racist
>> extremist?  Do you really think he's a Muslim?  A commy?  Do you really
>> think he has some hidden, anti-American agenda?  First, he's just as much
>> white as he is black.  Why not call him a white man?  Next, let's
>> remember
>> that the USA has not exactly been kind to blacks and I think it's pretty
>> easy for us white folks to dismiss Rev. Wright's comments as racist, but
>> he
>> (Wright) is not wrong when he says America is controlled by rich white
>> men
>> to the exclusion of blacks.  If you were black, I'm sure you'd have a
>> whole
>> different take on the American experience.  But it's almost impossible
>> for
>> the typical white person to see that.
>> 
>> I do not use the word "typical" lightly.  Neither does Obama.  Of course
>> there is such a thing.  We all have our own bias.  It's like the default
>> setting on your computer.  If you told me a story about a person who... I
>> would automatically think you're telling me about a middle-aged,
>> middle-class white male because that's my default bias.  I can't change
>> that.  I can't change who I am.  And of course there's nothing wrong with
>> that.  It's when you get to the stereotypes and prejudice (root word is
>> pre-judge) that we get into trouble.  This is where Rev. Wright got into
>> trouble--by letting his bias lean into the stereotypes and prejudice and
>> I
>> think Obama made that very clear in his now-famous speech addressing race
>> in
>> America.  The only road to success is to be positive instead of divisive.
>> 
>> I know what the right is asking here--how can you damn America when she's
>> sending you a welfare check every month?  The left is saying we wouldn't
>> have to send the checks if we didn't have such an inhospitable
>> environment
>> for them.  This paradox will not be solved anytime soon but I truly
>> believe
>> Obama's got the issue well-organized in his head and has the guts to
>> fight
>> the good fight against this ugly monster of racism that is still so
>> prevalent in our great but could be greater country.
>> 
>> To put it in another perspective, my own dear old dad is a
>> dyed-in-the-wool
>> right winger and many times I've heard him utter extremely racist
>> remarks,
>> the specifics of which I'm far too polite to repeat here.  Were I a
>> candidate and his remarks were leaked to the public, I suppose my
>> campaign
>> would be over.  After all, he's not merely my pastor, he's my flesh and
>> blood.  I could hardly deny that he's been my mentor.  I love my dad no
>> matter what trash he talks but many would conclude that I'm a racist too
>> by
>> association.  Is that fair?
>> 
>> Next question: who said the world is fair?  Maybe you're right, Brad, and
>> he
>> is toast because of this.  Or maybe the general population forgets all
>> about
>> this by the time of the general election.  People have pretty short
>> memories.  Either way it doesn't speak very well for the typical American
>> voter if they vote one way or the other based on this single issue.  Many
>> will not vote for Obama because he's (half) black.  Many will not vote
>> for
>> HillBilly because she's female.  Many will not vote for McCain because
>> he's
>> old.  I think you're in the minority though if you're voting
>> *for*something--most people vote
>> *against* something--myself included--I'll be voting against the
>> incumbent
>> party.
>> 
>> Slim
>> 
>> On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 5:07 PM, Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
>> 
>> >
>> > Captain Rummy,
>> >    The list is quiet because of the weather.  Brad sailed his boat to
>> his
>> > house... And how much snow did you get this afternoon?  It was snowing
>> in
>> > Wahalla around 2 P.M.
>> >
>> >     Maybe all the snow in Upstate New York has kept the New York
>> Rhodies
>> > quiet about their former Governor and for that matter their current
>> > Governor...  Apparently they both have the same problem, only one was
>> > caught
>> > by wire tap...
>> >
>> > Brad,
>> >
>> >     Come on now, Obama is not toast.  He still has some Rhodies in his
>> > following.  You never heard those Rhodies disclaim him.  They probably
>> > enjoyed Rev. Wright's sermons.  You should send those sermons to Bill
>> > Effros
>> > and ask him to comment.  Maybe those Rhodies can get Rev. Wright to
>> preach
>> > at their boat launchings.  They probably enjoy those UTubes:
>> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdJB-qkfUHc&feature=related
>> >
>> > See this:
>> > http://www.nabble.com/file/p16262834/cloth.gif cloth.gif
>> >
>> >
>> > Ed K
>> > Greenville, SC, USA
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Obviously, the list is slow to take advantage of 'global warming' and
>> not
>> > starting the season early.  I'll take advantage of the lull and fire
>> some
>> > shots at something other than squirrels.
>> >
>> > Economy - Business runs in cycles, get it?  There's always the 'next
>> best
>> > thing' and when it falls flat on its ass, there's always 'the next best
>> > thing'.  If you have half a brain you understand this cycle.  If you
>> have
>> > 1/4 a brain, you worry about recessions.  Don't believe anything anyone
>> > says
>> > about our current economy.  We're in a recession!  Either the sky is
>> > falling
>> > or stocks are on sale!  I'm buying!
>> >
>> > Politics - Obama is toast!  You don't win 'white' votes lecturing them
>> on
>> > how their grandmother was a 'racist'.  This guy will be lucky to get
>> > re-elected to the Senate from Illinois.  Trust me on this, a lot of
>> people
>> > in downstate IL would love to have their vote back.  He doesn't stand a
>> > chance in the general as POTUS and is a footnote in Illinois politics
>> as
>> > well.
>> >
>> > Sailing - the cost is going up!  Sails are made from oil based products
>> > and
>> > you'll see the price increases at replacement time.  On the other hand,
>> my
>> > fuel budget for five years of sailing is still less than $200 (not
>> > counting
>> > the cost of getting to/from the boat).  Just when you lose faith in the
>> > world, you realize there are a few good men like Stan Spitzer who build
>> a
>> > superior product that everyone can enjoy.
>> >
>> > Have a nice day and 'don't worry, be happy!"
>> >
>> > Brad
>> > __________________________________________________
>> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> >
>> >
>> > http://www.nabble.com/file/p16262834/cloth.gif cloth.gif
>> > --
>> > View this message in context:
>> >
>> http://www.nabble.com/Politics---Economics---Sailboats-tp16256610p16262834.html
>> > Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>> >
>> > __________________________________________________
>> > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>> >
>> __________________________________________________
>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> -- 
> Robert Skinner  "Squirrel Haven" 
> Gorham, Maine         04038-1331
> s/v "Little Dipper" & "Edith P."
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> 

-- 
View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Politics---Economics---Sailboats-tp16256610p16278334.html
Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.