Why the Hostility?

[Stuck In Texas]

As you can see from my post count, I'm new here. I've been reading through the "War and Politics" threads and I was wondering why there is so much hostility here. I guess it's fun to discuss politics, but it seems like every conversation degenerates into name calling and insults. Maybe some of you have had problems with each other in the past, but it strikes me as odd that some people will take personal shots right away instead of debating the issues.

I think history has shown that no party is on the correct side of every issue. I just find it strange that people will say some of the most outrageous things to each other simply because another person doesn't agree with a particular political point of view.

More than likely nobody on here is going to change another person's mind, so what is the point of all the personal attacks?

Just a curious newbie.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Why the Hostility?

Because, as footstepsfrom#27 pointed out, this board simply reflects the reality of the political situation in America right now.

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Why the Hostility?

Because, as footstepsfrom#27 pointed out, this board simply reflects the reality of the political situation in America right now.

Do you mean the personal attacks or the polarization? I agree that the U.S. is polarized in a way like I've never seen before. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[ClevelandBronco]

"You should have disagreements with your leaders and your colleagues, but if it becomes immediately a question of questioning people's motives, and if immediately you decide that somebody who sees a whole new situation differently than you must be a bad person and somehow twisted inside, we are not going to get very far in forming a more perfect union."

— Bill Clinton

Too often we here forget the sage advice offered by our former president.

I'm as guilty as anyone else.

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

"You should have disagreements with your leaders and your colleagues, but if it becomes immediately a question of questioning people's motives, and if immediately you decide that somebody who sees a whole new situation differently than you must be a bad person and somehow twisted inside, we are not going to get very far in forming a more perfect union."

— Bill Clinton

Too often we here forget the sage advice offered by our former president.

I'm as guilty as anyone else.

That was an excellent quote. I had not heard it before. Thanks!

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Stuck In Texas

Do you mean the personal attacks or the polarization?

Both.

Originally Posted by Stuck In Texas

I agree that the U.S. is polarized in a way like I've never seen before. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Support for Bush has dwindled down to his religious nutter base, so the tide is clearly turning against the neo-cons.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Too often we here forget the sage advice offered by our former president.

Presidents have the luxury of allowing others to do their mud slinging for them.

[SteveTensi13]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Presidents have the luxury of allowing others to do their mud slinging for them.

So do terrorist leaders!

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Both.



Support for Bush has dwindled down to his religious nutter base, so the tide is clearly turning against the neo-cons.

Can you not think of one person you know who is a Bush supporter who is reasonable? I only ask because you usually have derogatory comments about anyone who supports the president. There are others that seem to have nothing but derogatory comments for anyone who doesn't support him. I know this goes both ways, but this is part of the thinking I don't get. I understand that I'm probably not the most politically savvy person in the world, I just think there is much more to life than politics, but some people seem to have so much anger inside when discussing issues over which they have, in reality, little to no control over.

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Presidents have the luxury of allowing others to do their mud slinging for them.

Agreed!

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by SteveTensi13

So do terrorist leaders!

Agreed!

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by Stuck In Texas

Can you not think of one person you know who is a Bush supporter who is reasonable?

No.

Because support for an incompetent, corrupt, criminal, and disastrous "leader" like Bush isn't rational - anymore than the support and deference kids in a messed up, dysfunctional family show their drunken, abusive father is based on any appeal to reason, logic, or facts.

[SteveTensi13]

Understand Stuck in Texas, LABF is part of a "fifth Column" movement. An active participant in the islamo-fascist PR campaign to demoralize America and undermine our troops. Ever hear of Tokyo Rose? Well, we have our version right here on the internet. I'm positive LABF is also active on other web sites spreading lies and disinformation.

[SteveTensi13]

Oh, and welcome to the Orangemane! Hope you join us in the football forum. LABF almost never goes there!!

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Originally Posted by SteveTensi13

Understand Stuck in Texas, LABF is part of a "fifth Column" movement. An active participant in the islamo-fascist PR campaign to demoralize America and undermine our troops. Ever hear of Tokyo Rose? Well, we have our version right here on the internet. I'm positive LABF is also active on other web sites spreading lies and disinformation.

Understand, Texas, that SteveTensi13 is our resident Ann Coulter impersonator.

Even Steve's fellow Bush supporters realize he's several fries short of a happy meal.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Stuck In Texas

That was an excellent quote. I had not heard it before. Thanks!

Welcome to the board, Stuck.

I'm one of those "religious nutters" LABF is warning you about.

I'm a Christian who supports gay marriage and opposes the death penalty. I've pulled my kids out of their private Christian school. They're in public school now and I don't want Creationism or Intelligent Design or whatever else they want to package it as taught in public school. I don't support school prayer, or even a moment of silence. I do want The Pledge of Allegiance to be taught and recited in public (government-sponsored) schools. I'd defend any student who refused to recite the Pledge.

I supported the incursion into Afghanistan, but I'd like a better answer as to why it never led to the capture of Osama Bin Laden. I supported the incursion into Iraq, but I'm no longer convinced that it was done for the right reasons or in the right way. Now that we're there, however, I'm looking for answers as to how we can get out without allowing a disastrous power struggle that could cause even more misery than Saddam, the resident and imported terrorists, and the U.S. military put together has inflicted so far.

I believe that on balance the U.S. is the greatest force for good in this world. Its Constitution is one of the greatest documents ever produced and agreed to by men.

I'm a free market capitalist. I'm philosophically opposed to taxation for any social program. I think that private charity is better equipped than our federal government to care for people's needs. I want to replace the national income tax with a national sales tax that would tax the act of spending money and wouldn't tax the act of earning and saving money.

I don't suffer conspiracy theorists kindly. I don't have much confidence in the individuals who fill their roles in my government. Conspiracies require evil geniuses. I haven't run across much that makes me think these guys are evil. I have even less evidence that they are geniuses.

There's a bunch of other stuff as well, but it might be easier if you just think of me as a religious nutter and/or an evil neocon.

You'll be up to speed in no time.

[Rigs11]

Originally Posted by SteveTensi13

Understand Stuck in Texas, LABF is part of a "fifth Column" movement. An active participant in the islamo-fascist PR campaign to demoralize America and undermine our troops. Ever hear of Tokyo Rose? Well, we have our version right here on the internet. I'm positive LABF is also active on other web sites spreading lies and disinformation.

Ah i see that you're following along like a good little sheep. Using the fascism word just like your pupeeter Dumbya.You support a chickenhawk who has left our troops to die on a daily basis for a war based on lies, and you have the nerve to tell someone else that they "undermine" the troops. What a bunch of horseshet.

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

No.

Because support for an incompetent, corrupt, criminal, and disastrous "leader" like Bush isn't rational - anymore than the support and deference kids in a messed up, dysfunctional family show their drunken, abusive father is based on any appeal to reason, logic, or facts.

I understand your point of view. The thing is that while there are a number of people who agree with all of the things you're saying about the president there are many who also claim they can refute those charges. I personally believe that everyone has good in them - while at the same time - have failings.

You are obviously steadfast in your views (and more power to you), there are people on the other side of the fence, just as steadfast, who believe nothing has been proven.

If you don't mind me asking, were you this anti-Bush/republican before he was elected or is it the things he's done since he's been in office that have made you dislike them so much?

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by L.A. BRONCOS FAN

Presidents have the luxury of allowing others to do their mud slinging for them.

He said it after his presidency, but I get your point.

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by SteveTensi13

Understand Stuck in Texas, LABF is part of a "fifth Column" movement. An active participant in the islamo-fascist PR campaign to demoralize America and undermine our troops. Ever hear of Tokyo Rose? Well, we have our version right here on the internet. I'm positive LABF is also active on other web sites spreading lies and disinformation.

I have no problem with anyone who has strong beliefs. I've noticed that you're on the other side of the aisle from LABF. Your beliefs are just as strong and I think that's admirable. I have to admit that it's a guilty pleasure to watch you guys go at it.

Truth be told, I used to be the same way about politics. I was very passionate about my beliefs, but then I took a deep breath and realized that I could argue until I was blue in the face, but I wasn't going to change anybody's mind and all I was going to do was generate even more hostility. Now I try to look at each issue separately and decide from there.

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by SteveTensi13

Oh, and welcome to the Orangemane! Hope you join us in the football forum. LABF almost never goes there!!

Thanks Steve! After all, that's the reason I'm here!!!

[SteveTensi13]

Originally Posted by Stuck In Texas

I understand your point of view. The thing is that while there are a number of people who agree with all of the things you're saying about the president there are many who also claim they can refute those charges. I personally believe that everyone has good in them - while at the same time - have failings.

You are obviously steadfast in your views (and more power to you), there are people on the other side of the fence, just as steadfast, who believe nothing has been proven.

If you don't mind me asking, were you this anti-Bush/republican before he was elected or is it the things he's done since he's been in office that have made you dislike them so much?

Are you trying to psycho-analyze us or what?

[Stuck In Texas]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Welcome to the board, Stuck.

I'm one of those "religious nutters" LABF is warning you about.

I'm a Christian who supports gay marriage and opposes the death penalty. I've pulled my kids out of their private Christian school. They're in public school now and I don't want Creationism or Intelligent Design or whatever else they want to package it as taught in public school. I don't support school prayer, or even a moment of silence. I do want The Pledge of Allegiance to be taught and recited in public (government-sponsored) schools. I'd defend any student who refused to recite the Pledge.

I supported the incursion into Afghanistan, but I'd like a better answer as to why it never led to the capture of Osama Bin Laden. I supported the incursion into Iraq, but I'm no longer convinced that it was done for the right reasons or in the right way. Now that we're there, however, I'm looking for answers as to how we can get out without allowing a disastrous power struggle that could cause even more misery than Saddam, the resident and imported terrorists, and the U.S. military put together has inflicted so far.

I believe that on balance the U.S. is the greatest force for good in this world. Its Constitution is one of the greatest documents ever produced and agreed to by men.

I'm a free market capitalist. I'm philosophically opposed to taxation for any social program. I think that private charity is better equipped than our federal government to care for people's needs. I want to replace the national income tax with a national sales tax that would tax the act of spending money and wouldn't tax the act of earning and saving money.

I don't suffer conspiracy theorists kindly. I don't have much confidence in the individuals who fill their roles in my government. Conspiracies require evil geniuses. I haven't run across much that makes me think these guys are evil. I have even less evidence that they are geniuses.

There's a bunch of other stuff as well, but it might be easier if you just think of me as a religious nutter and/or an evil neocon.

You'll be up to speed in no time.

Wow! That was well put and very concise! Thanks! I think over the past few days I've seen enough lines in the sand drawn to figure out who's on what side of the political fence.

On the Pledge of Allegiance issue - do you know that here in Texas students are supposed to recite a Pledge of Allegiance to Texas as well as to the U.S.? I've told my son not to do it. I don't believe in pledging allegiance to a state.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Stuck In Texas

Wow! That was well put and very concise! Thanks! I think over the past few days I've seen enough lines in the sand drawn to figure out who's on what side of the political fence.

On the Pledge of Allegiance issue - do you know that here in Texas students are supposed to recite a Pledge of Allegiance to Texas as well as to the U.S.? I've told my son not to do it. I don't believe in pledging allegiance to a state.

I have a sister who is a vice principal in a Fort Worth school. That sounds a lot like Texas, all right.

And good for you for standing up and making your values real for your son.

[SteveTensi13]

I was only so-so involved in politics until 9-11. Afterwards, I saw how the dems were all "Well, we are partly to blame for this" instead of rallying around the flag. Since then my hatred of the DNC and libs has grown ten fold.