OK. What happened to manners in America? Etiquette? I am so sick of smarmy, sarcastic, mean, derisive,demeaning,hateful, &stuff rhetoric....I could puke. In my company mailbox this morning, along with the ton of biz emails and inter-office shit......I get an email from a very close and dear friend. Someone that I have known for over thirty-five years. A nice guy. I love him. But we are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. In the past we tried to achieve middle-ground when we discussed politics......... but lately he has been sending me a bunch of cut and paste jobs slamming Democrats and Liberals.
He has lost his manners. 
Like a lot of commentators.
He sends me this. *
Just 143 days
Just 143 days
Interesting when it's put into perspective, isn't it?
Just think how great a professional of any kind you could be with only 143 days of experience! People want change so badly? . . . . maybe we should lower the experience requirement for doctors, lawyers, airline pilots, etc. This would cause some change!
Obama's 143 Days of Senate Experience Just how much Senate experience does Barack Obama have in terms of actual work days? Not much. From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United States Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory Committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. The one single Senate committee that he headed never even met once.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan. Think about it.......143 days -- 20.4 weeks -- 4.7 months . Our children spend more time in pre-school getting ready for kindergarten.
*
Just think how great a professional of any kind you could be with only 143 days of experience! People want change so badly? . . . . maybe we should lower the experience requirement for doctors, lawyers, airline pilots, etc. This would cause some change!
Obama's 143 Days of Senate Experience Just how much Senate experience does Barack Obama have in terms of actual work days? Not much. From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United States Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory Committee, he logged 143 days of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. The one single Senate committee that he headed never even met once.
After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan. Think about it.......143 days -- 20.4 weeks -- 4.7 months . Our children spend more time in pre-school getting ready for kindergarten.
*And he has been sending more lately. I really feel it is a lack of manners. And it hurts. Seriously. Why is it that we have basically lost respect for others? Why have we made media-heros of small, petty, paltry personalities? And then emulate them?
Dorothy Parker said, "Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words. "
I sent him back a bit of a rebuttal.....with links, and quotes, and data...... in essence I did 'politics' the way I used to. That I said I was not going to do anymore. I am really tired of debate. I ended the note with:
"Just 174 Days left of the Bush Mis-administration.
4,124 Americans Dead in Iraq....29,000 maimed and wounded..... and McCain vows to stay the course......
I do not need the McCain Experience.....I have had the Bush one."
4,124 Americans Dead in Iraq....29,000 maimed and wounded..... and McCain vows to stay the course......
I do not need the McCain Experience.....I have had the Bush one."
He sends me back a quick reply stating that I am 'Too Emotional'
Then GIVE IT UP, STEVIE and quit baiting me!!
Then GIVE IT UP, STEVIE and quit baiting me!!Get some FUCKING manners!
It is too early for a beer.... I have a lot I need to get done today.
I truly wish there was a candidate that filled me with hope, who practiced kind and inspired wisdom. Some one that I felt that I could respect as well as some one I felt my children could relate to and vote for as well.
I wish Bob was still around. I would vote for him in a heart beat.
27 comments:
And there, in a nutshell, is the "debate." You can't win. I don't blame you for not wanting to engage. I avoid it, even if it means that I have to smile in someone's face as they spew bullshit and hate in my direction.
I refuse to be confrontational with "them" because the minute you do, they switch the topic of conversation to your "bad, overly-emotional" behavior.
That is why I blog instead of sending out obnoxious emails. And that's why I also delete obnoxious commenters who are only looking for a fight.
Whoops. Sorry about the long comment.
I'm with you on the one-fingered salute.
And I don't think we've even begun to scratch the surface of ugly on this campaign.
dcup is right. And then when the rhetoric gets extra inflammatory, here come the "oh, I'm just kidding around. Which reminds of a joke I once heard about this chick and an ape, whoa, nellie, it's funny."
I can't even talk politics with my wingnut relatives without wanting to punch them in the fucking mouth, and it's a disconcerting feeling when you feel the only way to get your point across - since FACTS didn't seem to work - is to punch your folks or your sister in the fucking mouth.
Wait. We can delete obnoxious commenters? Sweet! You're all deleted! MUAHAHAAHAHA!
dcup is right. But the issue goes deeper than politics. Bad manners have become the norm in all areas of our lives. I see couples out on dates, not talking to each other - both on cell phones - disconnected. I see children over-scheduled with too many toys. People have lost the ability to have real conversation, to listen to each other - we have lost the ability to pay attention for longer than a sound byte. I'm depressed. I'd vote for Captain Kangaroo, or Mr. Rogers, or, what the hell, myself and Mary Ellen.
What IS it with these people? I have had the same problem with a couple of relatives on the far right. I don't send them crap shoving my views down their throats like big effing grapefruits. Frustrating! Why do they do this? I have wondered before if it isn't insecurity in their beliefs and the need to constantly reaffirm --to themselves --that they are right, as in holding the correct beliefs.
I have also seen alienation between some older family members over THIS VERY SAME THING. And in those cases, it is always, always, always the conservatives who initiate the problem. WHY?
Is it worth it to lose the affection and regard of someone you once loved over this? Do you love George Bush more than you love your own family? Your children? Your parents?
If so, the only question left is, does George Bush (or John McCain, over even Barack Obama) reciprocate that devotion?
FVCK NO!
(Has anyone tallied the number of days of experience the Shrub has? God save us from more of that kind of experience. Please, god???)
Possible answer to email:
EMOTIONAL? EMOTIONAL? You haven't SEEN emotional yet, but it's coming! This isn't it. This is me being rational. Me being emotional will look more like me storming through your door and stabbing you repeatedly with a butcher knife in your ear. You'll know the difference.
I just thought you should know the difference.
No?
Dcup.... I just feel abused when someone tries to foist off their opinion, especially when I do no solicit it. Street Evangelists are the same way. Gees, I do not go around telling folks that drinking massive amounts of beer and smoking drugs and having orgies is the correct thing! N' comment as long as you want!
Diva // Bad manners have become the norm in all areas of our lives//
Boy, Have you got that right!
my dear Ms. Blue....ya I hear about the grapefruits....gees, but--
"even Barack Obama) reciprocate that devotion?"
Barack ADORES me....Jesus told me so!
Randal "is to punch your folks or your sister in the fucking mouth."
Naw, my sister is a literate liberal and my mother is in a wheelchair....makes 'em both off limits for punching.
Wow...politics, violence, punching family members in the mouth? What's happened here? Where's the posts about beer?
Since I came out of the closet a long time ago about not signing on to Barack's bandwagon, I feel a little bit creeped out by having such a difference of a political opinion than most of my blogger friends. It kind of put me in a tenuous position because I feel that I should point out the falsehoods put out by the media, but if I do...it pisses off those who support him.
It's a real mess...so for now, my loyalty stands with Diva for Prez and if for some reason, heaven forbid, she drops out of the race....Mr. Rogers is my write-in vote.
The kind and gentle Captain Kangaroo is another possibility, but I fear those deep pockets could get him in trouble...
And if anybody has any ideas about punching me in the mouth...you'll be kissing the dirt faster than you can say "Hope and Change". Just sayin'....
;-)
ME.... it is not about political differences....it really is about respect. 'specially my buddy, Stevie.... he KNOWS I am a liberal ... he KNOWS that I am a Democrat.(for the most part--- there are some local elections where the fucking-meatball Dem candidate was so stupid, gees)
So he would send Hilary jokes, Obama jokes....and then get all fucking pious with me if I dished stats back at him. Or told him to knock it off.
It is like the old adage, "Sex, religion and Politics in Polite company......do not mix".... Then it gets to be a matter of respect. He started 'Baiting' me. Too Troll like for me. And it really breaks my heart that he would, like Scarlet said, risk 35 years of friendship to do that.
I did not plan on posting today. And when I emailed him back, telling him to give it a rest, I got two more emails back...the same shit. I really love the guy and I will not give up on him.
That was what I was trying to say....Bush has fucking tore us in two...I think McCain is made of the same shitty fabric. I would have voted for Hilary. I voted for her in the primary. I will vote for Obama this fall. I know he is flawed, and it is a damn shame that we have to choose between the lesser of two flaws.....
but there it is.
I want my fucking America back.
I really, really, really do.
Hey, you can dis Obama to me. Just be nice. I never give up on friends......or my country.
okjimm- I know, this stupid election has torn apart many a friendship. I'm glad you're not giving up on him, though. Eventually, this election will be over and everyone will be back to their day to day living. There will be people complaining about the government...as always.
Look at the bright side, kiddo, it's summertime and the parks and bike trails are beautiful. Enjoy them before the winter storms roll around again. ;-)
Ooops! I forgot...
{{{hugs}}} and {{{stuff}}}
I got tons of obnoxious emails from family about Clinton's penis so I couldn't wait to bomb them back when shrub got selected and started opening up his dumb mouth saying the stupidest crap imaginable. Did they want to hear/read/see it? HELL NO. I was told to stop it already, so I did because I am reasonable--but I couldn't resist adding "now you know how I felt"--however THAT WAS DIFFERENT see, it's A ok when they do it.
My father would cut my head off if George Bush told him to.
I think Barack loves me more than he loves you. It's just the way he looks at me out of the picture. I can just tell.
//...and fill the shoes of Ronald Reagan. Think about it...//
LMAO!!! I know this is not a laughing matter, but really...how crazy Americans can get!
I think that Nunly hit upon another issue that is really a huge one: so many people who do support Obama do not take kindly to hearing him criticized. The vitriol between Obama supporters and Clinton supporters defied the ability to have real debate - and here's another case in point. I am running as first Diva Prezidunt on the Shit From Shinola Ticket; Nunly is running with me as VEEP. A Jew, supporting Obama, and a (quasi)Nun, NOT supporting Obama. Yet we manage to get along just fine. I know that she dislikes Barack, but I also believe that she will NEVER vote for McCain, and she is completely within her rights to dislike Barack.
It's essential for people to disagree. It is dead wrong to insult someone who does not have the same opinions - so Mary Ellen and I disagree - with respect - on a crucial issue.
But, M.E. - Mr. Rogers is dead, you could NEVER vote for him. No, I take that back, you live in the Chicago area, voting for dead people is allowed.
hey Jood....good stuff....youse da candidate!!!
I think I need fairlane to come over and leave my comment about this subject. Personally, I'd be feeling pretty betrayed no matter how long I'd known the person and wouldn't be looking forward to the next outing. I think it's because a number of us have our heads so far out into the awful reality of the situation that it's become unimaginable to take it lightly. We're already sad enough knowing Obama is none of our first choice and to make matters worse the only thing he's engaged in changing since becoming the official nominee is his position on matters of supreme importance.
I'm very glad I'll be able to vote for Divajood and Nunley but I'm sad too that we can't even hope that Kucinich will ever be on a presidential ballot.
Okjimm, it seems like everyone knows someone like that. I have a friend of mine on the train who loves to bait people into emotional conversations, including me and I fall for it every time. The other day he got me going about the Michael Savage comments on autism or he'll say something idiotic about Obama. Finally, I just told him to go fuck himself and smiled. We still sit together. We're still friends. He hasn't been talking much about politics lately.
Captain Kangaroo was little before my time. I am more of a Romper Room kind of guy. I liked Miss Sally and her Romper Stompers!
i am writing in bob keeshan
a dead captain kangaroo is better than a live mccain
sadly there are people i just ignore because i cannot deal with the constant barrage of how great bush is and how horrible life will be under the dems. even after 8 years of sinking into this morass, there are still people who will defend his actions.
this is why i dont see much hope for this country --- there is NO such thing as true discourse and discussion -- not even bad manners -- but hate and disgust and intolerance and dismissiveness of other people's opinions and morales.
and of course there is the huge wingnut contingent that wants to turn this country into a theocracy
i blame the media -- they love the circus, sells lots of freecreditreports and tickets on travelocity
Romper bomper stomper boo, tell me tell me you whiny bastards.
And I didn't say I WAS going to get my Chuck Norris on, just that I have that sentiment from time to time. I'm an angry dude in the face of cultivated stupidity, what can I say.
Spartz..../the Michael Savage comments on autism /
I just read about that....what a vile piece of shit that guy is.
D'Cap.....nope...I still have hope. 'cause there are folks like you around. (ok,Randal, too.) & and the folks who hang around the Jonestown Races & such. We may be underground, but we are still around!!!!!
Sigh. Why can't people really see and hear each other? Either we're hiding behind jingles and slogans or we're pasting them over others. I guess it's because so much is at stake. I just hate that all the friction is over not enough difference. The rest of the world looks at our candidates and can't figure out how we select between them, the differences seem so small.
Now if Bunny Rabbit were Secretary of State, or better yet, National Security Advisor - no Mr Moose would be the NSA - then they could come and advise the president and every day there would be all these ping pong balls to clean up... That always seemed to keep things in perspective for the Captain. Whenever he got too big for his breeches... Maybe we all need to send bags of ping pong balls to the White House.
Its hard to maintain civility when idiots abound.
Its even harder not to stoop to their level.
But try we must..it serves no one to stoop to their level, but we all do occasionally.
Thats when I smoke a little cannabis..and then tell them to kiss my ass..with a smile on my face.
Steve... //Sigh. Why can't people really see and hear each other?//
Boy&Howdy...have you got that write!! Hey thanks for stopping...I have added you to the blogroll thingee, too. I checked yours...great art!
Dusty...Its hard to maintain civility when idiots abound.
Its even harder not to stoop to their level. -----
oh, but we gotz to! someone has to be civil....it may as well be us nice folks :)
The Liberals will not be voting for Obama. This notion has become perfectly clear to me.
Get used to the idea of President John McCain. :(
OKJIMM - I'd love to read the rebuttal you sent your friend - I too am in constant battle with my Republican "friends" -- any ammo you would share would be great :)
Thanks - and keep up the good work!
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