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

Sat Oct 25 17:22:29 EDT 2008

no.
You have to go by what people do, not what they say.
Jb
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Benjamin Cittadino" <bigben65 at earthlink.net>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2008 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Political reply to Ben C - you are kidding?


>
> 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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> >> >>
> >> >>
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> >> >
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>
> -- 
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Bullshit-and-the-Art-o
f-Crap-Detection---Political-tp20148504p20167906.html
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
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