Getting Real About Bipartisanship
| Today I have the honor of being a guest blogger on a conservative blog, The BoBo Files. BoBo has a feature called Liberal Blogger Friday, where he invites a liberal blogger to post. When I saw his call for this week, I jumped at the chance. While I enjoy being a sarcastic critic of the right on this blog, I wanted to use the opportunity to reach out to the other side and see if I couldn't find some common ground. While the idea of walking into potentially hostile territory and going for pure shock value appeals to the part of me that made the angry political comedy film that you can watch in the top left column of this blog, I just gave JSF a really hard time about his two posts on "bipartisanship" and wanted to show him that the spirit of bipartisanship is about seeking common ground, not making unrealistic demands of the other guys. So what are you waiting for? Go read my post already! UPDATE 5/11/08 - Well apparently, most readers of that blog liked the idea of bipartisanship, but once the rubber hit the road they weren't so crazy about actually hearing another perspective without calling it bullshit and making snide remarks and making zero attempt toward working anything out. Gee, so much for listening to each other and trying to make a compromise. Like my failed attempt at holding a summit between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian bloggers, this was a lofty idea that just didn't work and left me feeling sad for the world. Labels: blogging, blogs, free speech |
Comments on "Getting Real About Bipartisanship"
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Wally Banners said ... (5/9/08 3:08 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/9/08 4:05 PM) :
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BoBo said ... (5/9/08 6:43 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/10/08 8:16 AM) :
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JSF said ... (5/11/08 9:40 AM) :
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Jason said ... (5/11/08 12:04 PM) :
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JSF said ... (5/11/08 2:29 PM) :
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Bud said ... (5/11/08 3:52 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/11/08 6:29 PM) :
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Maniac said ... (5/12/08 7:00 AM) :
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Jason said ... (5/12/08 10:57 AM) :
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Maniac said ... (5/12/08 1:03 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/12/08 1:25 PM) :
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JSF said ... (5/12/08 1:45 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/12/08 2:18 PM) :
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Wally Banners said ... (5/12/08 7:09 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/12/08 7:20 PM) :
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BoBo said ... (5/12/08 9:49 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/13/08 6:39 AM) :
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BoBo said ... (5/13/08 6:05 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/13/08 9:21 PM) :
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BoBo said ... (5/14/08 10:41 PM) :
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Jason said ... (5/15/08 7:09 AM) :
post a commentHey Jason am beginning to think that democracy kinda sucks. Maybe we should try an empire for a while. cause as you can tell not one senator or congressman gives a crap if you lose your home or how much you pay in gasoline. Its all bout them and taxes.
I guess it would depend on who the emperor is. But think of how little these assholes in Washington care about us and think of how it would be if they didn't have even what little accountability they have. No thanks!
Hey Jason, just want to say thanks for posting a most excellent discussion over at my blog. You've illicited some good conversations thus far. I'll leave it up at the top for the weekend to see if we get more...and thanks for the link back!
BTW - watching episode 2 tonight. Based on the way episode 1 ended, it looks like a good one!
Ahhh, the party scene if I recall correctly. Episodes 3 and 4 are my favorites.
Thanks for letting me post that. The opportunity to post on somebody else's blog really inspired me.
Jason,
Thanks for the linkage. Also, I fixed the links in the second post -- check out your link to the first one.
Also, I'll be linking to your Bi-partisanship post later today.
Thanks, JSF. Man, bipartisanship is really hard when you've got die hard dogmatic jerkos who aren't willing to budge and who get downright nasty when you offer an opinion they don't like. Should I makes some demands on that Gregory guy, mock him, or just ignore him?
Jason,
You do best mocking, I do best demanding (remember my bi-partisanship comes from a different angle. The LA Book Festival, Arianna Huffington's column citing Censorship and the 10 year old kid wishing death upon the President), especially given my factors.
Keep up with the mocking and the humor. I'm linking soon.
Jason, That was spectacular. I've never been more impressed or proud. You're my hero.
JSF, does mocking or demanding get us anywhere though? I'm so frustrated!
Dad, thanks!
Jason:
Your efforts at finding common ground are actually well intended. In the end, I think both the right and left share a common anger about failed policies in Washington, DC. We just have different means to get to an end result most of the time.
However, if trends continue and your Schwarze Kennedy is elected, there will be all out war on the Right. Not only is he unqualified to be President, he is a cry baby. Every time he gets attacked, he plays the race card.
It is not racist to raise questions about his judgement. How does he explain away a 20 year relationship with Wright? He has more than dabbled in far left-wing politics and that is the furthest thing needed if bipartisan solutions is the desired result.
But in the end, you should be applauded for your efforts.
Maniac
Maniac, thanks for the applause. But if your side isn't willing to try to meet in the middle, prepare to be steamrolled! Oh, it's not fair, is it? But hey, that's what you did to us and look how it turned out. We did it your way for the last 8 years and it's been an absolute clusterfuck.
Clinging to the Wright non-controversy is a beautiful sign of desperation. It may not be racist to bring it up, but certainly "Schwarze Kennedy" is. Why not just call him "Mulinian Kennedy," or just stop hiding behind foreign terms and call him a nigger?
Jason:
Let the steam rolling begin. As far as I'm concerned, I could care less.
As for your racist accusation, I couldn't be more amused. Schwarze is black in German and that has been what the German newspapers have been calling Obama. Get over yourself.
It has racist connotations here. You should know better.
Jason,
What I've been trying to write in the (3) Posts about Bi-partisanship were that Democrats do claim that want Bi-partisanship; When it comes to making the effort -- they do fail. It is easy to get the knock in about our guy, but how does it pave the way to end Partisanship? It doesn't
That guy Gregory on the other Blog can't see it from your side. But Gregory isn't all Republicans as the 3 Nazguls are not all Democrats.
Politics is either about Converting (voters or issues) or Casting out (people from the Parties out or ancilliaries).
For the past 7 years, the democrats have been in the role of casting out heretics. Then, to hear one of the Nazguls say, "The Democrats are the Party of Bi-partisanship," had me almost choke down my drink.
If you say that, prove it. Global warming is an imporatnt issues for Liberals and democrats; The war in Iraq is important for Conservatives and Republicans -- how does knocking one bring more people on board for the other?
JSF, I don't represent anybody but myself here. I'm not even a democrat. My feeling is that if people can come to compromises on a personal level, then perhaps it can be done by our elected officials. And I am doubting it can be done on a personal level.
I still think that your focus on the trash talking is going to go nowhere. That's never going to go away. There's a lot of personal dislike and it's only getting worse. I have a sinking feeling about all of it and just thinking about how irreparably torn our people are from each other kind of depresses me.
Yea Jason your right dpends on the emperor and the next one after. I guess I am just frustrated at seeing hard working people lose their money on gasoline. What are your thoughts on Gas price controls?
Wally, I'm all for controlling gas prices. I'm sick of seeing hard working people screwed over by all sorts of corporations, not just the oil companies. The oil companies can afford to make less profit if it benefits the people.
Jason,
I commend your efforts. It really was a good post. For the most part, many of those who actually did comment seemed to be open to your ideas. You did come across a few hardliners - I admit - but don't let a few discourage you.
I do believe your assessment is correct in that we all want to meet in the middle...we just can't decide on how to do it. I'd like to reiterate that the two-party system has done an excellent job over the past 16 years dividing the people. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall.
I was hoping to get more of your readers on there to help back up your position. I guess they just didn't want to venture into the darkside! LOL. They may have left with their heads spinning.
I put up a post earlier regarding gas prices. But, I think my suggestions are probably not what you would suggest..and then again..may be so.
Also - Episode 2 was excellent! Laughed my ass off! When I get a chance, I'll watch 3..looking forward to it!
See ya round!
BoBo, thanks for having me there. I think my readers checked out the post but avoided the fray. That Gregory guy, what a douche! If you liked ep. 2, you're gonna love 3. I think it might be my favorite one.
And if your gas plan involves lowering the prices, I might like it. My wallet has been effected enough to care less about caribou migration routes. But of course, drilling in the ANWR is not going to help anything for a few years.
LOL - it does most definitely involve lowering gas prices..by drilling in the ANWR, the Dakotas, The Gulf, and retrieving the Shale oil in Colorado as well as coal to gas and in the meantime getting the nukes back on line to alleviate the need for using fuel oil to heat our homes while in the meantime looking for other alternatives.
Greg is a pretty decent guy. He's just used to commenting on another blog that he and I frequent ~ they're REALLY nasty over there! He always has an edge on when he comments. Also, he happens to be stationed in Kuwait right now - I'm sure he's got a lot of stress going on right now!
These are all reasonable ideas for the long term, though not incredibly sustainable. Why aren't alternative energy sources part of your plan? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to hear anyone offering a solution. But I think if we're going to talk long term, we need to address a post-petroleum future before we all of a sudden get stuck unprepared. We also have to address the short term where filling up our tanks is breaking the bank.
As for Greg, I still think he's a douche who doesn't do your side any favors, but some day he might wake up, realize it, and change. There are plenty like him on my side too, and they all have excuses for their bad behavior. I know from experience. I used to be like that myself.
Jason - looks like you got focused on all my other statements that you completely overlooked "in the meantime looking for alternatives."
I'm all for any alternative to fossil fuels. While I'm not in the belief that we are anywhere near peak oil yet, the fact is..I'm sure we're creeping up on it!
I've seen plans for cars running on everything from water, hydrogen, and air to solar. I believe there is actually a production model coming down the line for air-powered.
Likewise, have you heard the CSX commercial? A huge freakin' freight train gets 380+ miles to one gallon of good old petrol. Why the hell can't we get our cars to do the same thing?
You know..the word Conserve..is in Conservative..wonder why the rest of those guys don't get it?
BTW - catchy riffs in the video above. I can't play a lick (pun intended) of music myself.
Bobo, I admit that I didn't have time to read your post. I think you're the only conservative who remembers that root. I see such an outright hostility from the right toward anything that has to do with better mileage, low emissions and alternative energy, it's damn refreshing to hear you talking about this. I know you guys hate Al Gore. I hate him too. But not to the point of being willing to throw away our planet just to spite him!
Thanks for the music comment. I posted a craigslist ad yesterday and have a couple of options for people to play with. You don't have to be a progressive to play progressive rock, but it probably helps. I can't wait to dust off my Fender!