[Rhodes22-list] Political reply to Ben C - you are kidding?

Brad Haslett flybrad at gmail.com
Sat Oct 25 17:28:32 EDT 2008 

Ben,

Yeah, you're on to something.  When my wife listens to Obama she hears
Chairman Mao.

Brad

On Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 4:04 PM, Benjamin Cittadino
<bigben65 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> You know Brad,Herb and Ed, I have been trying to think of a way to express my
> biggest problem with Palin. I think I may have the germ of an idea, not
> fully formed yet but I'd be interested in your reaction. Ross Perot, crazy
> little bugger that he was, did have a point when he said that one of the
> most important jobs of the President was to make use of the "bully pulpit"
> that the office provides.  The Pres has no legislative or judicial power but
> it is the power of inspiration and advocacy, and the power to make Americans
> feel good about themselves, and/or become motivated to meet great challenges
> as a nation that makes the office so important.
>
> Think about listening to FDR, Kennedy, Reagan and Bush Sr.  These men moved
> us to handle the challenges of their times. Clinton was such a man as well.
> When we listen to Barak Obama speak, I believe most Americans hear similar
> inspiration.  Even you men, if you could forget what you think you know
> about his past, if you just LISTEN to the words, he makes everybody who
> listens to him want to be and do great.
>
> When people listen to Ms Palin, half are inspired to hate the other half.
> In the words of "W", she's a divider not a uniter.  Her sarcastic and mean
> spirited references to real Americans vs. THE OTHERS, is a call to the worst
> in each of us, a call to blame  THEM for our troubles.
>
> Do you see? Do you hear it? Am I on to something here?
>
> Ben C.
>
> TN Rhodey-2 wrote:
>>
>> Herb, I do see the difference. I also understand the scholarship is not
>> for
>> raising your kids. Do you see that? You ignored that part of my post. I
>> wonder why?
>>
>> My definition would includes the most prestigious scholarship i am aware
>> of.
>> Can you name a more prestigious academic scholarship? You respond to my
>> post
>> but never answered the question.  I do agree that more people seek a HS
>> diploma than a Rhodes Scholarship. You will argue the silliest things.
>>
>> Anyway iyou agreed with main point....a Rhodes Scholarship does not make
>> one
>> a good person or president.
>>
>> Wally
>>
>> On Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 1:46 PM, Herb Parsons
>> <hparsons at parsonsys.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Ben's Definition - "single most prestigious, competitive, sought after,
>>> challenging, and rewarding academic honor…"
>>> Wally's Definition - "a highly sought after ACADEMIC scholarship"
>>>
>>> I do hope you see the difference between the two. I'd be willing to make
>>> a bet with anyone on here, ANYONE. I'd be willing to bet that there are
>>> more people seeking a high school diploma in any one year than there are
>>> seeking Rhodes scholarships. I think a HS diploma would be a much more
>>> sought after honor.
>>>
>>> That's the problem with hyperbole. People get so caught up in saying
>>> things that they quickly lose track of what they are saying.
>>>
>>> However, the real point to this is:
>>>
>>> Does having gaining a Rhodes scholarship make on more qualified for the
>>> white house? I don't think so.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> TN Rhodey wrote:
>>> > Ed, Perhaps you are letting your opinion of Clinton tarnish the
>>> achievement
>>> > of a Rhodes Scholarship. As Ben mentioned it is a highly sought
>>> > after ACADEMIC scholarship. This is not his definition this is reality.
>>> Is
>>> > there a more prestigious post graduate scholarship offered?
>>> >
>>> > A Rhodes scholarship is not awarded for raising a family or imparting
>>> your
>>> > approved values.  It is nothing like Mormons sent abroad.....they were
>>> not
>>> > selected for their mission based on academics. Many who achieve the
>>> academic
>>> > honors you mention are later selected for a Rhodes Scholarship.
>>> >
>>> > Most seem to recognize that a Rhodes Scholarship is awarded to the
>>> cream
>>> of
>>> > the academic crop. Beings a Rhodes Scholar does not guarantee high
>>> morals,
>>> > post graduate achievement, or groom one for future presidency. I wonder
>>> how
>>> > many Rhodes scholars own Rhodes sailboats?
>>> >
>>> > Wally
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 7:51 AM, Tootle <ekroposki at charter.net> wrote:
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >> "Bill Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar…"  "Surely you realize this post
>>> >> graduate
>>> >> grant is the single most prestigious, competitive, sought after,
>>> >> challenging, and rewarding academic honor that a college graduate can
>>> >> receive. Please tell me you accept that fact."
>>> >>
>>> >> Ben in American it is acceptable to have people with other opinions.
>>> It
>>> is
>>> >> understood that one opinion is not necessarily the absolute epiphany.
>>> >>
>>> >> So as to your statement, I will accept what you said about 'a Rhodes
>>> >> Scholar' as fact to you.  And that is your opinion.
>>> >>
>>> >> My opinion is not the same and my values are not the same.  And I know
>>> >> other
>>> >> Americans who share my opinion, and may know some who share yours.
>>> >>
>>> >> As for the part that part that says, "single most prestigious,
>>> competitive,
>>> >> sought after, challenging, and rewarding academic honor…"  I suggest
>>> that
>>> >> may be true, but only to those who seek that specific type
>>> recognition.
>>> >>
>>> >> Your definition does not include 'Scientific Achievements' of an
>>> academic
>>> >> nature.  Your definition does not include 'Achievements' of economic,
>>> >> religious, social (to include community) and a plethora of
>>> achievements
>>> >> that
>>> >> may have other or different academic measurements.
>>> >>
>>> >> So I give the Rhodes Scholar the same or equal weight as cum laude or
>>> summa
>>> >> cum laude, or other academic honors.
>>> >>
>>> >> In summary, while it is nice to have some who go to another country to
>>> >> study
>>> >> for a year or two, I do not limit my recognition of important
>>> achievement
>>> >> to
>>> >> that group.  I am not a Mormon, but their practice of sending young
>>> men
>>> on
>>> >> missions to different parts of this country or other countries
>>> accomplishes
>>> >> a similar education.
>>> >>
>>> >> A researcher who finds important medical facts about diseases to me is
>>> an
>>> >> equal or greater achievement. than a Rhodes Scholar.  And, note that
>>> this
>>> >> can be accomplished in an Academic laboratory.
>>> >>
>>> >> A young lady who finds a husband and has several children and imparts
>>> into
>>> >> those children important societal values to me is a higher achievement
>>> than
>>> >> your Rhodes Scholar.
>>> >>
>>> >> So, we do not agree.  Others are free to agree with you.  What we are
>>> >> talking about is the difference between 'Conservative' values and
>>> >> liberalism.
>>> >>
>>> >> Ed K
>>> >> addendum, ""A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one
>>> of
>>> the
>>> >> high virtues of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of
>>> >> necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger,
>>> are
>>> >> of higher obligation."    Thomas Jefferson
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> Benjamin Cittadino wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >>> Tootle;
>>> >>> I recently called Bill Clinton a genius in defending my position that
>>> it
>>> >>> is not her accent that makes Sarah Palin a moron. Clinton has a
>>> >>>
>>> >> pronounced
>>> >>
>>> >>> accent.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> As you must have known , but perhaps have blocked from your memory,
>>> Bill
>>> >>> Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar.  Surely you realize this post graduate
>>> >>>
>>> >> grant
>>> >>
>>> >>> is the single most prestigious, competitive, sought after,
>>> challenging,
>>> >>> and rewarding academic honor that a college graduate can receive.
>>> Please
>>> >>> tell me you accept that fact.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Bill Clinton speaks in complete, gramatically correct, coherant
>>> English
>>> >>> sentences.  His paragraphs have a beginning, a middle and an end that
>>> >>>
>>> >> hang
>>> >>
>>> >>> together as eloquent expressions of a complete thought.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Bill Clinton can talk for hours on esoteric subjects of foreign and
>>> >>> domestic policy, without notes.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> He is spontaneously witty, charming, quick, and isn't afraid to
>>> appear
>>> >>> "intellectual". He is utterly unafraid to be challenged on any
>>> subject
>>> by
>>> >>> anyone, and is a persuasive advocate for his point of view.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Sarah Palin spouts transparently canned lines, which almost always
>>> >>>
>>> >> include
>>> >>
>>> >>> the words, "maverick, soccar Mom, pit bull, Joe six-pack, hockey mom,
>>> >>>
>>> >> real
>>> >>
>>> >>> americans, and/or you betcha" over and over.  She has one talent,
>>> >>>
>>> >> sarcasm,
>>> >>
>>> >>> and it is no wonder to me why she is so popular with some of the
>>> folks
>>> on
>>> >>> this forum.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> She wants to be VP to a man who has had multiple bouts with serious
>>> >>>
>>> >> cancer
>>> >>
>>> >>> and is of advanced age.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> I am not alone in my assessment of this person.  David Brooks and
>>> other
>>> >>> right of center writers like Peggy Noonan and others feel exactly the
>>> >>>
>>> >> same
>>> >>
>>> >>> way.  I'm in good company in my assessment.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Who thinks she is not a moron?  As far as I can tell, only afew hardy
>>> >>> souls on this forum.  Well, good luck with that.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Ben C.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> PS- for purposes of this discussion I define moron as a person of
>>> obvious
>>> >>> intellectual incapacity who is also mean, nasty, sarcastic and adds
>>> >>> nothing to the public discourse. It is a function of both attitude
>>> AND
>>> >>> aptitude.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> PPS-Yes Tootle I know that makes me a moron in your eyes. I can live
>>> with
>>> >>> that.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> Tootle wrote:
>>> >>>
>>> >>>> Is he getting the thirst for 'politics'?  Maybe the governorship of
>>> say,
>>> >>>> Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia ... sounds like he as an audience
>>> >>>> waiting...
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>> Ed K
>>> >>>>  http://www.nabble.com/file/p20149918/WigeeBoard.jpg WigeeBoard.jpg
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>>
>>> >>>
>>> >> --
>>> >> View this message in context:
>>> >>
>>> http://www.nabble.com/Bullshit-and-the-Art-of-Crap-Detection---Political-tp20148504p20163445.html
>>> >> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>> >>
>>> >>
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>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Bullshit-and-the-Art-of-Crap-Detection---Political-tp20148504p20167906.html
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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