Rules to being a 'true' *wink wink* liberal on DU

[Blue_Chill]

- You can't be religious
- You can't be for animal right an/or welfare (because there are more important things to worry about)
- You must be a socialist or a communist
- You must blame America for everything that is currently wrong in the world, and white people for everything that was wrong in the world before the US existed.
- You must hate the rich for being rich and seek to rid them of their wealth.
- You must believe that every war the US has ever been involved with was a war crime.
- You must refuse to show any respect for the dead at all yet get extremely angry when a Right Winger does the same.
** if you're a fan of popular entertainment, you've sold out to the corporatists and CAN'T be a liberal.
** you must hate SUV's and anyone who drives them.

** added by other DUers to this list.

Disclaimer - I am not saying that these are rules to being a liberal, or that anything is wrong with the above beliefs. I am simply pointing out what I have seen written in DU on the topic of what you can, can't, or must do to be a 'true liberal' by DUers that they get to decide such things.

add to it or flame it. But this is meant to be light hearted and not taked too seriously so have fun with it.

Enjoy

[Bandit]

1. And you were elected rule-maker when?????????

It sounds like an unhappy camper to me. Some one must have disagreed with your point of view so take it out on all. :shrug: What ever blows your skirt up.

[StopTheMorans]

2. hehe

BC, not to read to far into this, but when I read the title of your thread before clicking on it, I knew that the first rule was going to deal with religion (or lack thereof):) , and then I read the post:) for what it's worth...

on edit: can't spell "worth"

[Blue_Chill]

4. You know me so well!

So tell me do I like coffee or tea? :D

[PurityOfEssence]

24. I'm pretty sure you prefer Holy Whine

Everyone gets his/her ass kicked here; it's part of the charm.

[Blue_Chill]

26. 'Holy Whine' Ouch

that hurt you damn ant-theist! *sniffle*

Don't you know we christians have feelings *sniffle*

:D

[PurityOfEssence]

56. aaah, a couple of grails never hurt anybody

For thy stomach's sake.

Yep. It's just part of the ongoing "whateverist" agenda to crush and eviscerate life, leaving a stark wasteland, devoid of warmth and joy. Despicably, though, you denied me my fiendish glee by not sobbing in thwarted agony or flaming with righteous dudgeon.

Truly, you are no fun.

Drat.

[StopTheMorans]

27. don't know that

you haven't tried to convert me to the coffee or tea side yet;)

[Blue_Chill]

31. really? ok then

God looked down upon his chosen and proclaimed in a voice that rang out like thunder...

"thou shalt not choose tea over coffee"

A loud cry rang out from the hut of Mr. and Mrs. Lipton as they were crushed beneath a massive bag of whole bean French roast.

[StopTheMorans]

39. ok now i know:)

n/t

[PurityOfEssence]

64. yet wars persist to this day over the proper roast

and the grounds litter creation, spent and blackened.

The rift over brewing or steam injecting still divides the faithful, and percolates with an endless drip drip drip. Those who would boil is are beneath the name of cowboy. Some even demand the renaming of "Freedom Roast", and the libertines who sully the elixir with milk or sugar are merely a step this side of the blasphemers who practice the bean miscegenation of chocolate. Reform sects with flavored abominations make the pious cringe, and never shall the land be at peace.

Verily, as always, MY way is best...

So sayeth me.

Dammit.

[Blue_Chill]

65. According to revelation

The donut dunkers will bring forth the anti-christ.

[PurityOfEssence]

68. Let's declare a Fat-wa

It makes me so mad I'm lipid.

[Blue_Chill]

3. I am assuming you didn't read it all

so I will point out this last bit

Disclaimer - I am not saying that these are rules to being a liberal, or that anything is wrong with the above beliefs. I am simply pointing out what I have seen written in DU on the topic of what you can, can't, or must do to be a 'true liberal' by DUers that they get to decide such things.

add to it or flame it. But this is meant to be light hearted and not taked too seriously so have fun with it.

Enjoy

[Bandit]

11. Guilty as charged

:shrug: :-) Have one on me :beer:

[gristy]

5. I'm kinda running on empty this afternoon... What's your point??

:dunce:

[Blue_Chill]

7. Just to poke fun at those

that seek to define 'liberal' thru a narrow scope their own mind has created.

[molly]

15. If you are wealthy when you sign up on DU

you've got to give it all away or you are not a librul. :eyes:

[Walt Starr]

29. I've noticed the definition of "wealthy" varies as well.

If you hve enough money to make modest donations to DU each quarter and maintain a gold star, some will consider you wealthy.

Others consider wealthy to be having enough money to own an SUV and a house (in debt up to your eyebrows for them, but wealthy nonetheless).

[ronnykmarshall]

44. Hey now!

You've got a "Kerry" up there ...... YOU CAN'T be a "True Liberal"!!!

[Hanuman]

19. The point is:

Not all democrats are cut from the same cloth.

The democratic sprectral chart runs from "Marxist-Leninist, flag burning, Amerikkka hating pinko" to Joe Lieberman. And there is a HELLUVA lot of territory in between.

Somehow, DU has narrowed it's spectrum for the most part to a region somewhere to the left of that center.

The point: That region does not represent ALL democrats.

[Walt Starr]

33. Actually, much as I dislike him

Lieberman is considerably to the left of the likes of Zell Miller and John Breaux.

Just my opinion on personal observations.

[ronnykmarshall]

48. You "defended" Liberman!!

Get out! OUT! OUT!!!

Get thee back to Freepee Land! Shoo! Scat! Git!

[BiggJawn]

6. Don't forget to denigrate anyone who's shook Chimpy's hand...

Like Lance Armstrong...

Also-You must LOVE to drink Starbucks...Even if you have to hold your nose and make a face to do it.....:-)

[Blue_Chill]

12. Must...have...grande...latte

I NEED IT!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gringo]

8. I've seen nothing to indicate that those are the dominant opinions here.

That sounds like a freeper's critique of DU. I'm sorry that you feel that way, I know you are a good moderate democrat, so I'm not accusing you of anything. Your views are just as well represented here as mine. Aren't you really saying you want less tolerance of the far-left/socialist views that admittedly can be found here? If so, I disagree.

[Blue_Chill]

14. No one has claimed they are

I'm saying that a few post things such as those, and I mean to poke fun at such behavior.

[GBD4]

9. Many of the threads are dominated by discussions of what is a liberal

<< you must hate SUV's and anyone who drives them.>>

hehe I DO hate SUVs and vow to never drive one. terrible polluters, unnecessary for most owners' purposes and use up way too much gas. and as a driver of a sedan it is scary having to think about being crushed by one in a collision. isn't California thinking about banning them? I think state employees out there can't own them. seriously, they are really terrible. must one hate them to be a liberal? nah. but we liberals all ought to hate them in my opinion!

good post, Blue!

[redeye]

79. Even those that drive on hybrid...

...and do 15 kilometers per liter?

[quinnox]

10. LOL

Very good! And although it is satire, there is a hint of truth in it, which is either kind of scary or even funnier!

[goobergunch]

13. I COMPLETLY DISAGREE on two points

- You can't be for animal right an/or welfare (because there are more important things to worry about)

I haven't seen many threads on those issues, but that doesn't mean we don't care about them...I'm sure almost everyone on this board is against ANWR drilling, and at least I'm against TANF and its reauthorization bill in this Congress (H.R. 2350).

** if you're a fan of popular entertainment, you've sold out to the corporatists and CAN'T be a liberal.

Do you ever visit the Lounge?

Furthermore, almost everyone on DU dislikes Lieberman (I think there are maybe 4 people that like him) and he can't stand popular entertainment.

[Blue_Chill]

20. you should know that these have actually been seen on DU

The animal rights/welfare one was actually said to me. The other was said to someone else.

As for Lieberman....I haven't a clue how he came up so I have nothing to say.

[TLM]

46. I said it to you... but not as a way of saying you're not liberal.

I said that it is foolish to focus on animal rights, when there are so many people who need their rights protected.


I'll worry about the treatment of chickens, when we've got that whole human rights issue dealth with.

I get sick of seeing liberals who seem to care more about stray dogs than homeless people.

[Blue_Chill]

49. Hi

:hi:

[MISSDem]

67. TLM do you not realize that

cruelty to people usually, if not always, begins as cruelty towards animals.

[redeye]

80. They don't care "more"

Tehy care abotu other things. Some people focus on ending wars. Some focus on reducing mortality from curable diseases in Africa. Some focus on animal rights. Some focus on reducing oil use. All of those issues need attendance by people who're devoted to them and don't brush them as less important than others.

[RobertSeattle]

16. In a similar vein

Right wingers like the push the following "hate" myths about Democrats:
- Democrats "hate" capitalism. (not true)
- Democrats "hate" religion (not true)
- Democrats "hate" guns (not true)
- Democrats "hate" the rich (not true)
- Democrats "hate" the military (not true)
- Democrats "hate" the US (not true)
- Democrats "hate" George Bush (not true)

Throwing in the "hate" word helps to nullify anyone's arguments since "hate" implies emotion an no critical thinking. But I think all of these myths are just silly jingoisms to make life simple for hard core right wingers.

[redeye]

81. Ad hominem alert

Please address Blue_Chill's points and not the fact that the GOP sometimes uses them too and more broadly (all Democrats vs. DUers).

[Gringo]

17. This sounds like a rant

"this is meant to be light hearted and not taked too seriously so have fun with it."

Hardly lighthearted. Incredibly devoid of levity actually.

[Blue_Chill]

22. oh come on

Must I tickle you to get a smile?
*tickle tickle tickle*
eh? Still nothing?

[papau]

18. I thought I was a "liberal" Dem until I saw your list

I fail "can't be religious", "not for animal rights", "must be socialist or a communis", "hate/blame America and White folk for past world problems and US "war crimes" - or must see Jewish "war crimes" in Israel - and US "war crimes" -everywhere".

I do not understand the popular entertainment means you sold out to the Corporations point unless you are referring to the hate RIAA posts. In any case I am too old for this one, as well as the hate SUV one (I like hybreds and feel we must have a higher mpg rule - but "hate" ?).

Showing respect for others, dead or alive, I suspect is age related -as the 14 year olds seem to have the hardest time with the concept.

And again I fail the Liberal "hate" test as in "hate the rich for being rich" - but I do seek to rid them of much of their wealth - as a fair price for letting them keep the remainder.

Besides I own many guns and like to shoot and hunt - man - it is hard to be a liberal!

:-)

[wyldwolf]

32. In the case of entertainment...

It's not the RIAA posts. It's the "I hate (insert name) because they are (untalented, overexposed, don't deserve the fame, sold out to corporations, blah blah blah...)

These posters then go on to reinforce their libralness by stating what REAL entertainment is - indy music, showson Discovery, A&E, etc. and things most of the population have never heard or seen.

I'm just surpised the same outlook isn't taken with food, as in, "I only grow my own organic food because nice resturants gouge the consumer and fast food has sold out and perverted what was once an artistic food - the hamburger!"

[redeye]

82. REAL entertainment...

...are you implying that the music you see on MTV is not real entertainment?

[Melinda]

21. I dunno about anyone else, but I was clued in by *wink* *wink*

Shall I feign indignation? Don't tempt me, I'm a southern belle and I can swoon with the best of them!!

LMAO, great sardonic post, BC. :toast:

[EAMcClure]

23. The loudest lunatics can run the asylum

Any open forum that has minimal moderation can have the loudest few overwhelm the forum.

There are many factors which have broadened the awareness of youth, including myself (age: 26). The most important factor was the Internet. The second most important factor was a pair of good teachers who pointed me in the right direction on what to read and how (read everything, question all of it, fact-check their sources and footnotes).

The first thing someone does when their eyes are opened is REACT. Those of us educated in these here United States have been indoctrinated into a nationalist, U.S.-centered perspective. When that perspective is shifted, even by a few degrees, panic ensues. When I was 16, my marvelous History of the Americas teacher assigned "A People's History of the United Stats," to the class. This was explosive and mind-altering. Yes, you can discuss the genocide of the indigenous people, but once you comprehend the actual recorded history, you can not brush the events aside. You can not say it won't happen again, it is in the past.

I reacted by reading materials which were tacitly forbidden. Trotsky, Guevara, Chomsky, Foecault, Hitler, Toynbee, Spengler... I was trying to get a hold of my beliefs and perspective now that the nationalism had been overcome.

Mark my words, any and all left extremism is birthed as a reaction to the U.S. nationalist doctrine. Remove the mythology, demystify the U.S. role in world history, and people won't be so damned reactionary when they do sniff at the truth. It's just that once you really look around and see how messed up things are, it's like a new kind of Santa Claus has been falsified. And then... YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYONE.

Eric

[Blue_Chill]

25. TRUST NO ONE!

Skinner is watching

*climbs back into black helicopter*

[quinnox]

28. Here are some more

You must believe every political death or accident is conspiracy related.

You must believe the Democrats who voted for the war are hand in glove with Bush and agree with him on everything else, because after all, they voted to support Bush!

You must believe the U.S is always doing evil acts, and in general the masses of American people are dummies and uninformed. Of course, everyone on DU is a brilliant person, and there are no dummies on DU. Right??

You must believe all corporation are evil, and do nothing but try to make wage slaves and get as much money off blood labor as possible.

You must believe the military is evil, and unnecessary to America.

[TLM]

30. You sound like Rush....

[Blue_Chill]

34. no YOU sound like Rush

so there!:silly:

[Blue_Chill]

35. no YOU sound like Rush

so there!

[BushNixon04]

37. this thread is VERY Rush-like

and I'm suprised "Libs", "Libbies" or even "Commie" and "Pinko" didn't get used. Sigh.

[BushNixon04]

38. you DID say "communist"!!!

HILARIOUS! Go, you secret Coulter fan, go!

[Blue_Chill]

51. so let me get this straight?

You say that because I mentioned communism I am a secret Coulter fan that is like Rush?

Thanks for adding another rule! :D

[BushNixon04]

57. you hafta admit

you drifted seriously into Rush-Coulter land with your post. I realize you may have some difficulties getting along with others here at DU, but you shouldn't be stooping to smear tactics and name-calling if you have any plans for continuing good relationships.

And yes, you called liberals who disagree with your right-leaning view "communists", which is indeed a trademark trick of Ms Anne Coulter. Congrats.

[Blue_Chill]

61. bah!

I refuse to get in a flame war. Allow me to say "pffffffffffft."

[BushNixon04]

66. wasn't trying to "flame war"

...just makin' an observation. You can say what you want and say it how you like...which doesn't mean you are free from criticism.

On the "commie" thing, I will just share one small tidbit before I fade away: my dear beloved father, who is a lifelong conservative (but now despises Bush, god bless him) used to tell me as I was growing up, "Son, there are more communists on the college campuses of this country than there are in the entire Soviet Union".

(Turns out he was right, but not the way he thought he was right.)

Keep spewin yer anti-"commie" rhetoric, by all means. I'm outta here.

[BushNixon04]

40. you DID say "communist"!!!

HILARIOUS! Go, you secret Coulter fan, go!

[BushNixon04]

41. you DID say "communist"!!!

HILARIOUS! Go, you secret Coulter fan, go!

On edit: what the hell is with the multiple posts? I only posted this once....weird.

[ibegurpard]

36. Haha! Kind of what I was thinking.

If you disagree then you have no sense of humor...after all he was just joking.

[redeye]

83. No, he doesn't

Rush bashes Democrats and liberals. Blue_Chill bashes DUers.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

42. *sigh* Rules for being an instigator

start a thread like this

edited to correct my own poor behavior

[Blue_Chill]

53. bah! as I've said before

If you want to get flames you need only post one of two things.

1- "Jesus loves you"
2- "Nader is an asshat"

This thread is nuttin.

[StopTheMorans]

55. hear hear!

n/t

[LiberalLibra]

43. You've made some good points. nuff said

...............

[noiretextatique]

45. clearly, your locus on control is external

"A locus of control orientation is a belief about whether the outcomes of our actions are contingent on what we do (internal control orientation) or on events outside our personal control (external control orientation)." (Zimbardo, 1985, p. 275)

http://www.queendom.com/tests/personality/lc_access.html


now...repeat after me...this is an affirmation, orginally designed for alcoholics, but it works for any affliction of the consciousness, including victimization. i am substituting the word "god" for "good" to be as inclusive as possible.


good is the only power in my life.
nothing from without can touch the perfect life of good within me.
i am a perfect child of good, and nothing that anyone has ever done or said can interfere with my divine inheritance.
the power of good is greater than any circumstance in my life...
the strength of good is mine to use.
turning away from all feelings of inadequacy,
i discover that i that i need in within me right now.
as i forgive the past, i find that i have nothing to atone for
and nothing to run away from.
casting off the old me, i discover my true self...
i take dominion in my life
old habits have no power over me
conditions have no power over me
circumstances have no power over me
personalities have no power over me
i take dominion
i am whole
i am free
i am complete
now, and forvermore
and so it is.

[Blue_Chill]

69. oh......um...ok

thanks!

[noiretextatique]

72. you're welcome...try it...really

it does change your consciousness. some DUer has this message is his/her sig line (i paraphrase): if you focus on the solution vs. the problem, the problem ceases to exist.
perhaps your anger has more to do with you than with DU. or perhaps i'm just feeling extraordinarily metaphysical today :smoke:

peace, blue_chill...in a way, your post is helpful to me.

[Dem2dend]

47. You MUST own a cat or dog

n/t

[Blue_Chill]

71. What do you have against chinchillas?

OMG! I knew it, you're a freeper! :D

[SEAburb]

50. you can't be to the right of Michael Moore on any issue / nt

.......

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Emperor_Norton_II]

54. Yes, that's it! FEED that outrage!

Get angry, keep that endorphin rush at full charge in your forebrain! Being mad never means having to think things through!

Yrs in addiction,

[Blue_Chill]

58. Yup you figured it out.

Now excuse me while I climb into my black helicopter and flee.

[ronnykmarshall]

60. I just realized

Add you can't have any hummor.

[ibegurpard]

59. I really have to say I'm curious how you would react

to a similarly "light-hearted" post poking fun at PETA?

[Blue_Chill]

63. If it really was light hearted

I would add....

- To make up for years of torute you must immediately go to your local zoo and allow a tiger to eat you.

[damnraddem]

62. Wow, by those rules, I'm not a 'true *wink wink* liberal on DU.'

Luckily, those rules are b.s. that have nothing to do with why liberals post on DU. Some may reflect positions that some hold.

But I do blame the US for everything that was wrong in the world before the US existed, and white people for all that was wrong before white people existed. ;-)

Oh, and I actually do like 'West Wing' and 'Monk' (popular entertainment).

And animal liberation is my ENEMY, something about which I do worry. (How did that ever get in your list, anyway?)

And I have respect for Abe Lincoln, who's dead, and a Republican, to boot. There are even other people who are dead whom I respect.

But I do hate SUVs. Still some of my best friends drive SUVs -- I hate them for it. ;-)

(Actually, none of my best friends DO drive SUVs.)

Most of your 'rules' are irrelevant, Blue Chili -- but responding to this post is fun.

[Blue_Chill]

70. And animal liberation is my ENEMY

so tell us, just how many animals are you holding captive anyway?

[salin]

73. huh... I fit in as a liberal on DU - but I don't match your list

I am a (liberal) Christian.

I am not a socialist or a communist. (Though I think the mixed economy models that we have had in place in one form or another since the recovery from the Great Depression - make a lot of sense; sometimes the 'mix' goes too far in one direction (too much regulation by the late 70s) or the other (too little regulation and too much corporate welfare today) )

I don't blame America for everything - I recognize our history, its strengths and its weaknesses. Complex thought and a background in policy has taught me that every good policy has some unintended negative consequences. In my mind the only way to work through that is to find the possible problems/downsides in the policy and try to address them. If one only blindly looks at "whats right" (ala team bush in their plan for Iraq -and "post war IRaq) - then real tragedies - albeit often unintended ones - do occur.

I have never hated the rich. But I do have concern with the unfettered greed which has been manifesting itself in more and more extreme manners since the junkbond crazed days of the late eighties. The behaviors lead to some economic activities that do not lead to productivity or growth in the long run. Thus reconsidering our tax policies which sometimes exacerbate the problem, or asking why in some sectors greed has gotten so much more out of hand and disfuntional than it was say fifteen years ago is legitimate. Mind you, I know many people who are doing well economically who have not subscribed to the 1920s blinding greed that has returned. (There is a difference between corporate and civic leaders who are involved with philanthropy - good, vs. those involved in the corporate plundering and accounting hijinx to hide the plundering such as the major implosions we saw in some companies last year)

Gasp - I thought we went into Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo for the right reasons. I thought we should have intervened in Rawanda. I was against the first gulf war and I am against this gulf war. I was torn about Afghanistan but was horrified by the way we pulled out our resources and reniged on our promises of rebuilding the infrastructure of the country as a means for bringing stability and increasing participation in the fledgeling democracy. This was not only wrong, but it allowed the war lords back, the Taliban back, and it appears that the country is much as it was before the war (and Osama and Al Zawari are reportedly still in Afghanistan). I view each potential conflict, the reasons for going, the intended mission, the "exit strategy" and the ongoing policies towards that country to be very important in determining whether or not I support military conflict. (BTW, my father, brother and sister-in-law are vets, while my mother is a pacifist).

I tend not to weigh in on the dead threads. Will fess up that I might have made one less than colorful comment about Strom Thurmond. But try, even then, to keep it in perspective and not be all about vitriol.

I don't watch that much entertainment - personal choice and an issue of time and money. Not a political statement.

Okay - I find the luxury SUVs that do not appear to be "need based" (as in one needs it for life) a bit irritating. I find the companies producing them that refuse to improve their fuel efficiencies irresponsible, as this has increased our consumption and oil dependency on middle eastern oil over the past ten years. I find the government policy of giving tax breaks to businesses for SUVs and Hummers, while NOT giving tax breaks for those buying Hybrids (a loophole in the law prevents Toyota Prius owners from getting a modest break of maybe one thousand bucks), exceptionally irritating.

So - I don't quite fit your model of who can't be a liberal on DU. But I would dare to guess that you will find few on DU who have read my posts who will say that I am not a liberal.

[ClintonTyree]

74. My God..................

(oops, can't say that) I own an SUV! A small one, Ford Escape. I'll drive it directly to the county courthouse (wasting boatloads of gas) and re-register as a republican. I had no idea, I'm sorry. I'm glad someone pointed this out before I gave anymore money to Howard Dean. ;)

[SOteric]

75. You've left out

how militantly opposed one should be to guns. Or wait. Perhaps a person can't really be militant in opposition to guns and gun control. :P

I do appreciate the intended humour of your post, BC. I needed the chuckle.

I was initially surprised at how many didn't get it. But then, that further confirms a few notions I've been kicking around for a while.

[Leftist78]

76. Hmmm....

I haven't been posting here long, but I haven't gotten this impression. Maybe it's just a matter of time. At any rate, I know it's a joke, but I also think you're trying to make a point, so I'm going to address your points one at a time.

- You can't be religious

I don't believe this. I think the majority of us on the progressive left believe that you can be as religious as you want. The problem comes when religious people (not all, but many) tell me that because I'm not religious I'm going to hell, or they think their religion is so great that some of its rules should become national policy. This closed-minded attitude has no place on the left because it classifies me as some sort of second-class citizen because my beliefs are different, but aside from that, religion is fine by me.

- You can't be for animal right an/or welfare (because there are more important things to worry about)

While it's not one of the things that I'm actively involved with, I do know plenty of people on the far left who are actively involved in animal rights, and I don't have a problem with it. I don't prioritize that way, but to each his own.

- You must be a socialist or a communist

I'm not a communist. I freely and openly call myself a socialist, (the libertarian variety) I don't think you have to be a socialist to be liberal, but you at least have to have very strong beliefs about worker protections, unions, poverty, urban renewal, and a decent living wage. Anything less than this would mean at least partial support for lassie-fare capitalism, which by definition is opposed to liberalism. In short, you can't have it both ways.

- You must blame America for everything that is currently wrong in the world, and white people for everything that was wrong in the world before the US existed.

If you want to be honest about American history, then you have to be open to admitting when we have committed atrocities in the past. You also can't allow any kind of ridicules notions of nationalism to blind you to what America does in the world now. As far as what white people did before America, I don't think you can really defend the colonization of the rest of the world by various European white people. It was brutal, and to refer to it as anything other than brutal is to whitewash the truth. The right praises America's greatness blindly without considering who we walked on to get that greatness. I think those of us on the left are above that.

- You must hate the rich for being rich and seek to rid them of their wealth.

As a socialist, I do believe that the gross inequalities of wealth have to be addressed in the interest of economic justice, and I think anyone who claims to be on the left should have similar (maybe not identical) feelings on the subject. I wouldn't use the word hate. You can't hate someone without knowing him or her personally. I know a few individual rich people who I hate, not because they are rich, but because of what they do with that money.

- You must believe that every war the US has ever been involved with was a war crime.

Not every war, I think there were three wars that had a decent justification: the Revolutionary war, the Civil war, and WWII. Even though those wars may have been justifiable, many atrocities were committed in each by both sides. The message there is that no matter what the moral cause in the beginning, by the end of a war both sides have engaged in evil acts. Even so, sometimes war has become necessary in the past. Our job should be to make sure it doesn't have to be again.

- You must refuse to show any respect for the dead at all yet get extremely angry when a Right Winger does the same.

I don't get this one; maybe you're referring to the Wellstone thing. I'm not sure. My take on that is if the person deserved respect in life, then they deserve it in death. For example, I wrote an article about Strom Thurmond's death for AlterNet, (http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16277) and I pulled no punches about the man or his past.

** if you're a fan of popular entertainment, you've sold out to the corporatists and CAN'T be a liberal.

I like popular some popular entertainment, it depends what it is. It doesn't have to be corporate just because a corporation puts it out.

** you must hate SUV's and anyone who drives them.

I do have a strong dislike for SUV's, and my feelings for people who drive them vary depending on the person. If the person who is driving the SUV is informed about it's impact on the environment and how it helps sink us even further into fossil fuel dependence and still chooses to drive one anyway, then at the very least they are being irresponsible.

I realize you may consider yourself to be liberal, and anybody further left than you must be some kind of radical nutcase. To me though, you seem pretty moderate, and on some issues, that's not much better than being conservative.

[youngred]

77. those are some pretty broad generalizations you're making.

and rather unfair to boot, but since this is meant to be light-hearted that makes it all better :eyes:

[redeye]

78. Lol...

A couple more:

- You can't agree with anything Bush says or does - if he says that 1+1=2, then 1+1 must be equal to 3.
- You must blame the USA and American corporations for all of the world's ills since 1800.
- You must regard all intellectuals who disagree with you as instruments of the elite.
- You must hopelessly rape the words freedom, liberty, and patriotism, so that it'll look as if you support all three.
- You must regard Americans as special, as your extended family (most DUers who don't are capitalists like myself).
- If the Supreme Corut rules in your favor, then it's done what's right rather than what's popular. If it rules against you, then it's unelected and it subverts democracy.
- You must hate Bush for his we're-in-a-war rhetoric but then use the same bullshit for your position except that the enemy is Bush and not Saddam/Bin Laden.
- You must speak in empty slogans and criticize Rush and Ann Coulter for doing the same.
- You must lose all individuality, e.g. not dodge the draft because "someone may get killed in your stead."
- Everyone who thinks about himself is selfish.
- Everyone who thinks that money should matter is greedy.
- Everyone who disagrees with you is a freeper disruptor.
- Everyone who thinks that you're not 100% right is a dittohead.
- The poor never wage class warfare on the rich, but the rich always wage class warfare on the poor.

- You must blast Freepers for skewing polls and praise DUers for, well, skewing polls.
- You must use the words elitism at least twice a post.
- Everyone who was born rich or who made himself rich deserves either reeducation or deprivation of citizenship.
- You must attack Republican candidates by attacking their parents or their rich background.

And for the record, I'm to the left of any DUer but MSchreader, JanMichael, mopaul, and maybe IndianaGreen.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

84. The Ideological Rigidity

on this site makes me believe I stepped back in time to my grad school classes at Florida State University in the mid-80's.

If you are to the right of Bernie Sanders or Dennis Kucinich on this site you are dismissed as a hopeless reactionary.

If you point out that just exciting our base and not reaching out to moderate and even some conservative voters will result in the mother of all election debacles in 2004 you are dismissed as a Republican tool or DLC sychophant.

If you say that the war on terrorism is real you have some poster tell you you have a better chance of having a piano fall on your head.
While this might be emeprically correct try telling that to the average socccer mom.


By the way I am a yellow dog Democrat. Voting Democrat is a matter of religion with me. I am part of a rapidly disappearing minority; the 22% of white males who call themselves Democrats.

I say these things because I love the Democratic party and fear and loathe the Republican one.

Leftists can continue to have their far left circle jerk while Nero burns. If we don't wake up. The Democrat's will go the ways of the Whigs.

If you don't believe me bookmark this column and read it on November 8. 2004.

Fellow lefties of all varieties... Think hard about it.

[Gringo]

86. Exactly how is the "War on Terrorism" real?

This is the administration that kicked back and LET the worst act of terrorism just happen. And ever since, instead of trying to fight terror through both military means and more logical foreign policy, they've done nothing but make a mess of the airports, curtail OUR freedoms, and set up oil garrisons in Afghanistan and Iraq. Oh, they blew up a couple of Bin Laden's Tents on the way to build the pipeline, but the fact is that NOTHING has been done about terrorism. The majority of the money they've squandered has gone to the MIC contractors and to pay for these nasty wars. (I supported the attack on Afghanistan, BTW, though I don't believe Dumbya's motives there are the same as mine) The only thing real about this war on terror is the terror they inflict on Americans every goddamn time Dumbass's polls start to drop "Red Alert! Red Alert! They're gonna bomb and gas all the malls on Sunday! Psych! Red Alert! "chatter" says they're gonna take out the bridges close to YOUR HOUSE, wherever that is!!!! Gotcha! Red Alert!...."

Please, the war on terror is about as real as the "War on Drugs". You'd have to be a naive child not to see it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

89. "Pleas Reread My Post"

It doesn't matter if the war on terrorism is as phony as the war on drugs. If people perceive something as real it is real to them

A candidate that runs on the platform that the war on terrorism is as phony as the war on drugs would be crushed.

As for the war on drugs, I favor the decriminalization , not legalization of all drugs, with an emphasis on treatment.

I would do the same for prostitution and most victimless crimes.

The reason I favor decriminalization and not outright legalization is I believe drugs and prostitution are wrong but not wrong to the extent that one should be incarcerated for engaging in those activities

btw, I would never advise a candidate to embrace these positions unless he was running in Soho or Berkeley.

[Gringo]

90. You're backtracking a bit...

"If you say that the war on terrorism is real you have some poster tell you you have a better chance of having a piano fall on your head.
While this might be emeprically correct try telling that to the average soccer mom."

Here you are implying that the "war on terror" is real, and that dems shouldn't tell soccer moms that the real risk is low. My only complaint is with the idea that the war on terror is real, except as a rhetorical device and an excuse for money-wasting GOP pet projects.

"A candidate that runs on the platform that the war on terrorism is as phony as the war on drugs would be crushed."

Yes, if it's phrased that way. If he points out the complete emptiness and phoniness of how it's been done thus far, while advocating taking REAL, effective action against terrorism, he could win. The war on drugs is the same - it has been the most colossal waste of money and colossal failure I've ever seen. There must be a lot of sympathy for at least approaching it in different ways, if not for legalization as you advocate. I can't believe that most Americans agree with small-time drug dealers doing minimum 25-year prison terms, while murderers get out in as little as 3 to 5. I REFUSE to believe that most Americans believe in that.

[Gringo]

85. Wellllllll.....

"You can't agree with anything Bush says or does - if he says that 1+1=2, then 1+1 must be equal to 3."

If Bush says 1+1=2, then you can pretty much bet your bottom dollar that the fundamentals of the universe have changed and the correct answer is now 3, because he NEVER, EVER tells the truth about ANYTHING.

"You must hopelessly rape the words freedom, liberty, and patriotism, so that it'll look as if you support all three."

Might we be posting on the wrong board?

"You must hate Bush for his we're-in-a-war rhetoric but then use the same bullshit for your position except that the enemy is Bush and not Saddam/Bin Laden."

Huh? Are you sure you've been reading DU? I've seen no SBL apologists here.

"You must lose all individuality, e.g. not dodge the draft because "someone may get killed in your stead."

No, if you're a consistent hawk, you better damn well be willing to go die yourself, otherwise you are a hypocrite. Most of us would applaud a person who stays out of a war while condemning that war. That is called consistency.

"The poor never wage class warfare on the rich, but the rich always wage class warfare on the poor."

This is a truism, since the poor would be completely incapable of waging class warfare on the rich even if they are so inclined. The wealthy have done a great job of keeping the poor uneducated ans disorgnized by destroying the education system and through mass-produced "entertainment". Ah, the poor, put-upon wealthy. Shall we all pull out our tiny little violins?
Again, might we be posting on the wrong board?

Maybe you're just parodying the freepers. If so, whatever. I fail to see the humor in it - anywhere in this thread actually.

[buddhamama]

87. my personal rules for being a liberal

keep an open mind, be willing to re-evaluate your philosophies
and change as the situations change around you
don't get bogged down in group think-skip the polls
be your own moral compass
appreciate and respect diversity even when confronting a twit :-)
above all else value the goodness in yourself and others-not money not intelligence not beauty but just plain old goodness.

[jonnyblitz]

88. AHA!! you're really Rush Limbaugh arent you!!

Welcome to DU Rush!!!! <wink>