"I just wanna be a nice guy."
rly?!?
As I dropped in a little political talk t’other day, tryin to edjamakate one of our young cowboys, he actually said that as he refused to have an opinion: “I just wanna be a nice guy.”
I reminded him that “nice guys” end up as slaves. No response but an *eye roll*. Then I reminded him, slaves don’t get to own cows. Thought I saw a little flicker, there. Hope springs eternal.
All that was to lead to the spreading discussion about how “effective” or “destrutive” to the Conservative point of view are those protesters who hoot ‘n’ holler in town hall meetings, and the outright, spluttering anger of those who speak.
Never mind that this discussion never took place when Sheehan and the Code Pinkos were screeching from a ditch—and being given seats to Congressional hearings. There aremerits to both sides.
Calm, reasoned questions citing facts and quoting bits of HR 3200 will persuade some fence-sitters and some who have not yet began to study the issues. OTOH, those who are sitting at home, throwing things at their TV and thinking they’re alone in their rage cannot help but be encouraged by seeing folke like them showing up and speaking their minds clearly and angrily—even if not with the aplomb that is [incorrectly] attributed to our TOTUS.
The thing is, most of these folks are normal, every day type citizens. They’ve not been desensitized like we political junkies have to the lying, the name-calling and the knee-deep BS. When a big thing like this comes along and prods them out of their daily routine of doing the jobs that Americans will do—paying the taxes that support this circus—all that comes like a bucket of cold water in the face. The outrage hits all at once and they go from zero to Freakin’ Pissed quite fast.
It’s actually a healthy response, when ya think about it.
The problem comes not from individual’s actions but from the attempt to characterize the whole crowd—and the entire argument—by the actions of one [or a few] individual.
Discussion of Krauthammer ["beware the backlash"] and McCarthy [ gut-check time ] at Ace’s
“I reminded him that “nice guys” end up as slaves.”
Or finish last, as they say.
“... they go from zero to Freakin’ Pissed quite fast. “
I remember another old saying about how we’re slow to anger, but when we do - watch out!
I think this “debate” is getting to be like the climate change debate. They both went from talking about the facts (or lack thereof) to an emotional rant (involving “Nazis” and “terrorists").
Posted by ZZMike on 08/12/09 at 09:30 AM
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