tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post8913804584153159142..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Another Open Thread...AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-54836927807072270632012-03-19T15:23:17.812-04:002012-03-19T15:23:17.812-04:00Joel, I agree. Of all the people I've met, I ...Joel, I agree. Of all the people I've met, I have to say that the Mormons really have some of the strongest values of anyone AND they really do live by them. It is the rare Mormon I've met who will violate their beliefs just because it would help them professionally. It's not personally my kind of lifestyle, but I respect it greatly.<br /><br />And when I compare that to Santorum, who is all sound and fury, but who truly has no core value whatsoever, I find myself stunned by the idea that somehow Romney is the guy with "no core" or that Santorum is "the moral" one of the two. Santorum is glitz with no substance, Romney is substance with no glitz. Conservatives should always prefer the Romney-method.<br /><br />It frustrates me that conservatives are falling for these things without ever considering that they're being fed a line by the MSM that just isn't true.<br /><br />And the pro-Santorum love by the MSM reminds me of the argument McCain made in 2008: "the media has been good to me, so I will be the best candidate." Wrong. They are good to you now because they see you as the weak link. Once you get chosen, then they will savage you.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-46588060238071814092012-03-19T15:15:01.817-04:002012-03-19T15:15:01.817-04:00What really is annoying is the MSM talking up Sant...What really is annoying is the MSM talking up Santorum and some conservatives parroting the me. Like this one. <br /><br />Santorum: "Romney has no core." Seriously, the man should go and find out about Mormons. Attend one of their Sunday meetings. He will find a core that is far better than he has right now. <br /><br />I remember when I attended one. It is still memorable. It didn't have fire and brimstone. It wasn't overlaid with heavy rituals. It had at least three speakers, and not just old guys, one was a missionary fresh from Germany. The best speaker had the temerity to tell a joke. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-19664180499737281782012-03-19T14:32:08.240-04:002012-03-19T14:32:08.240-04:00tyranmax, We are in the middle of a conservative c...tyranmax, We are in the middle of a conservative civil war of Religious Right v. Economic Right. I'm not sure what the ultimate result will be, but the Religious Right actually belongs on the left and they may gravitate back over there IF the left gives up the atheists.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-12529319741929527882012-03-19T14:31:19.991-04:002012-03-19T14:31:19.991-04:00...stunningly new conservative ideas... I would ar...<i>...stunningly new conservative ideas...</i> I would argue that there are no such things, and to be wary of anyone claiming to have one. <br /><br />As far as speaking the "language of conservatism" goes, I don't believe in it. I think it is just a buzzword for "buzzwords." That's a double-edged sword at best. One of the most stunning complaints I've heard against Romney is that he once said folks should "pay their fair share" which sounds like something Obama would say. Nevermind that each man means something entirely different.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-24674060212001546372012-03-19T14:30:20.110-04:002012-03-19T14:30:20.110-04:00Joel, I agree. One of the things that gets lost i...Joel, I agree. One of the things that gets lost in this whole debate is that Romney really is a decent guy. His whole history demonstrates that, as does his demeanor. He believes in American values and would not hesitate to do his job as President to the best of his abilities without picking favorites or holding people hostage. I can't say the same thing about the others... especially Obama.<br /><br />My point though is more general. IF... IF Romney is a secret liberal. Why would Romney go out of his way to give something to conservatives once they've proven he doesn't need them?<br /><br />I don't think Romney is a secret liberal, nor do I think he's that political. But it's a nonsense argument I keep hearing that somehow smearing the guy and fighting a futile primary battle against him will somehow make him owe us?<br /><br />I think you're right about the blogs. I'm starting to see shifting away from the Santorum as well. I think people are seeing the writing on the wall because even when Santorum wins, he still loses the delegate count. At this point, even a brokered convention is pretty much impossible.<br /><br />I think the poll this weekend showing that Newt's people are evenly split will help push that along too because it just makes it even more obvious that the ABR camp can't win.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-63176024760530010092012-03-19T14:22:03.216-04:002012-03-19T14:22:03.216-04:00I'm surprised at myself for thinking this, but...I'm surprised at myself for thinking this, but thanks to the media divide, a part of me thinks that a major party upheaval of some sort is likely in the near future (by which I mean my lifetime, not the coming months).tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-57716050522957019792012-03-19T14:20:06.943-04:002012-03-19T14:20:06.943-04:00tryanmax, I THINK Romney is much more conservative...tryanmax, I <i>THINK</i> Romney is much more conservative than people understand. I get this from having listened to all of his debates and having found a consistent pattern of him providing reflexive conservative answers. In other words, I'm hearing it in his instincts at this point.<br /><br />Yes, he doesn't use the nomenclature and he's not out there proposing stunningly new conservative ideas, but I hear it every time he suggests that something is a matter for states rights or when he talks about the need to get government out of the private sector and stop attacking individual rights. Those are solidly conservative thoughts and they seem to be his first answer to each question -- something I cannot say of the others.<br /><br />Indeed, thinking back on the "compassionate conservative" comment is instructive. On the one hand, that should have clued us in that something was wrong with Bush -- that he fundamentally misunderstood the nature of conservatism and that he had a disdain for conservatism. On the other hand, I honestly don't see Romney revealing "inner liberalism" in this manner. So I am very much starting to believe he is a lot more conservative than people want to believe.<br /><br /><br />My point on the idea of pulling him right is just that IF he is a secret moderate as they claim, then conservatives are kidding themselves if they think the way they are behaving will make him beholden to them. Once you prove to someone that they don't need you, you pretty much lose any power you may have had. That's what's going on here, especially as they are also attacking him repeatedly. It doesn't take long for true enmity to build up in that situation.<br /><br />In truth, I don't think Romney is the kind of guy to hold a grudge. He seems too decent for that. But it certainly isn't helping.<br /><br /><br />On the damage issue, well said. The problem is that conservatives are moving into their own bubbles on talk radio and on the net, and they aren't hearing what moderates are saying. They think this is "just talking sense," whereas moderates are hearing this and cringing.<br /><br />I always try to listen to the moderates because they decide elections. And there are a TON of moderates with conservative beliefs who have been turned off from the conservative brand over the years because of the liberal smear of conservatives as white, racist, religious-kooks... AND because too many conservatives have willingly adopted that because it served their purposes.<br /><br />This election cycle could have been the moment conservatism became a 60% electoral force. Instead, with guys like Newt and Beaker playing into every negative far-right stereotype (and huge numbers of conservatives agreeing with them), we have really lost the moderates. They will vote for Romney at this point because they want to be rid of Obama, but they will not finally identify themselves as "conservative." And that hurts us long term.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-90087607648180885622012-03-19T14:05:11.335-04:002012-03-19T14:05:11.335-04:00Andrew,
This is where Romney out-shines Santorum ...Andrew,<br /><br />This is where Romney out-shines Santorum and Obama. Should Mississippi suffer a calamity, Romney wouldn't hesitate to ask them if they need any help. I don't think Santorum would and I know Obama wont. Also, almost every blog has one or two people holding out for Santorum in the forlorn hope that a brokered convention will yield a conservative more to their liking. <br /><br />Redstate is the only blog I know of who is still playing with the fiction that Santorum can win it all. The rest are just being polite to their audience. <br /><br />Plus, Romney knows that he has to keep to the right. If he doesn't, he loses. The Conservative Majority will be electing Romney.Joel Farnhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15856960977033430002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-56223603388117954242012-03-19T14:01:46.322-04:002012-03-19T14:01:46.322-04:00I can only hope to be right, but I think Romney is...I can only hope to be right, but I think Romney is more conservative than he's been painted. That said, I completely understand what you are saying. If Romney happens to actually be the masked-moderate his detractors think him to be, they are encouraging it. The far-right has become every bit as deluded as the far-left in their confirmation bias. Nothing will dissuade them from their beliefs. <br /><br />I'm afraid I am now wholly on board with you about the damage that has been done to the conservative brand. Every time Newt and Beaker open their mouths, they basically say, “Why, yes, I’m a white racist bigot homophobe. And that’s why you should vote for me.” Just by his staid manner, Romney is far more conservative than those two. Meanwhile, RWR has done all it can in the last year to equate conservatism with the far-right. Part of that is due to the lack of any other terminology for that end of the spectrum. But much of it has to do with the self-serving actions of <i>nouveau célèbre</i> right-wing pundits losing their collective heads and adopting leftist tactics to make their arguments.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-11736199255719470622012-03-19T13:28:59.524-04:002012-03-19T13:28:59.524-04:00I'll tell you something else, conservatives ar...I'll tell you something else, conservatives are proving they are stupid. They are proving they will fall for what the MSM tells them so long as the MSM packages it right.<br /><br />Also, I find myself very frustrated by the delusional argument that somehow by throwing a futile temper tantrum we are "keeping Romney in line" or "forcing him to be more conservative."<br /><br />Hardly. Throwing a tantrum does not win respect, it wins enmity. Also, this is teaching Romney that he can win without conservatives. So if he is a secret moderate, then what he's learning right now is that he can laugh off conservatives in the future because they lack to the power within the party. And if I were Romney, I certainly wouldn't give a shit about what places like Mississippi want in 2014 or 2015 because they have proven they lack the power to do anything to him.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-64456540482359062642012-03-19T13:24:30.930-04:002012-03-19T13:24:30.930-04:00Conservatives are being played right now by the MS...Conservatives are being played right now by the MSM and by self-interested RWR. They are having a massively negative stereotype imposed upon them: "conservative" equals angry, white, male, hillbilly evangelicals who hate women and gays and want to use the government to force them pesky women and gays back into their place.<br /><br />Conservatives are stupidly embracing this too and this will hurt conservatives for years to come. Indeed, what person who thinks they might be a conservative but isn't sure will want to join THAT crowd?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-78586762814824590252012-03-19T13:19:23.399-04:002012-03-19T13:19:23.399-04:00What kills me is that, by any objective standard, ...What kills me is that, by any objective standard, Romney has this in the bag, more-or-less. But the ongoing theme, still, at this late stage, is "why can't Romney seal this thing up?" <br /><br />Pundit #2: "Well, it clearly shows a divide within the Republican party. Romney just doesn't connect with "real" conservatives.*<br /><br />*slack-jawed, toothless, inbred, red-necked yokels from the sticks.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-12107984757114493872012-03-19T13:08:14.315-04:002012-03-19T13:08:14.315-04:00tryanmax, I'm not surprised, not at all. This...tryanmax, I'm not surprised, not at all. This is the same game they play every time now.<br /><br />1. Romney is destined to lose... so we should all support Beaker.<br /><br />2. Romney is making unidentified gaffes -- Santorum's gaffes are all explanable and no one sees them as gaffes, so Beaker will win. . . so we should all support Beaker.<br /><br />3. Beaker really won despite the numbers. . . so we should all support Beaker.<br /><br />4. Romney only won because he has money. . . so we should all support Beaker.<br /><br />5. Romney underperformed because everyone expected him to win. . . so we should all support Beaker.<br /><br />6. That race didn't matter anyway. The only race that matters is _______ (insert next race where Beaker is competitive).<br /><br /><br />In any event, you are right. Conservatives are doing nothing to endear themselves to Hispanics. It's one thing to insist on a color-blind system, but it's quite another to treat Hispanics like they are foolish children who are have mono-interests and act like drones.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-4559408712397188282012-03-19T13:00:59.098-04:002012-03-19T13:00:59.098-04:00And the RWR spinners keep on spinning: Romney won ...And the RWR spinners keep on spinning: Romney won Puerto Rico handily, but only because Santorum made a gaffe by calling them "a Spanish-speaking country-uh-er-island." Translation: Puerto Ricans are thin-skinned, fickle and stupid. Way to reach out to the Lation vote, talkers! <br /><br />Of course, no one is surprised that Romney won, even though the day before yesterday he was destined to lose. I mean, he says he would have opposed Sonya Sotomayor! Santorum voted for Sotomayor back in '98, so that makes him a lock with Puerto Ricans, right? Mitt is so tone-deaf with Puerto Ricans! How can he possibly explain himself? <br /><br />"Judge Sotomayor and I have very different judicial philosophies," Romney told island voters last week. "She is an activist, a liberal jurist. And I prefer people who follow the Constitution and do not make law as a judge. And so I will support Justices who are conservative and who follow the constitution."<br /><br />See how he squirms? Oh, wait...<br /><br />Somebody get Kristian Ramos on the line for me. I need to tell him that he apparently does <i>not</i> speak for all Latinos, after all.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-24808227535605563292012-03-19T12:46:13.843-04:002012-03-19T12:46:13.843-04:00Pan-Am! An airline gone rogue! :)
It sounds like ...Pan-Am! An airline gone rogue! :)<br /><br />It sounds like this series is worth reading.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-84012266246285429772012-03-19T12:39:56.957-04:002012-03-19T12:39:56.957-04:00Kit, they don't tell you that until the end of...Kit, they don't tell you that until the end of the 3trd book - Until then I was trying to make Panem a bastardization of Pan-Am or something.<br /><br />Hunger Games books: very interesting. starts as saving your family, making your way in a harsh world. then turns "global" so you see that it's def. freedom over tyranny. how to live your life in tyranny. how to react to tyranny. eventually, how to fight (or if to fight).<br />I very much enjoyed the books. The 1st is the best (as usual)because it's setting up the world, introducing the people. The 2nd and 3rd take on the tyranny in the personal and then empire-wide. <br />There's a point where someone discusses what will come next and the idea of a republic is raised - and the idea is treated with derision because they have no idea how that will work. A feeling of post-USSR.<br /><br />Because of the "Game" in the first one, I think a lot of people will miss the big picture. But it is unmissable in the next 2. I am looking forward to seeing how they do it all.rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-42207932972039625722012-03-18T22:37:16.448-04:002012-03-18T22:37:16.448-04:00Well, it sounds like it will do well.Well, it sounds like it will do well.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-80691168166988270322012-03-18T22:29:05.307-04:002012-03-18T22:29:05.307-04:00The country, Panem, by the way, apparently comes f...The country, Panem, by the way, apparently comes from the phrase "Panem et circensas", or "Bread and Circuses".<br /><br />Clever.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-67883804091633752732012-03-18T22:18:49.506-04:002012-03-18T22:18:49.506-04:00Buy the book. They pretty much cover the book shel...Buy the book. They pretty much cover the book shelves at Wal-Mart right now.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-21247459756624148172012-03-18T22:12:53.902-04:002012-03-18T22:12:53.902-04:00It's been a big hit among the Young Adult crow...It's been a big hit among the Young Adult crowd and, from what I've read, is surprisingly realistic and gritty for what we think of as a Young Adult book. <br /><br />The book does not shy away from how harsh her life is nor how cruel the practice of the Hunger Games are.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-71932076856527713152012-03-18T22:12:17.666-04:002012-03-18T22:12:17.666-04:00Kit, That's really about all I know about it. ...Kit, That's really about all I know about it. Beyond that, I don't know if it's liberal/conservative action/romance/drama or what.<br /><br />Here's your link: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY" rel="nofollow">LINK</a>AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-43395593508291689612012-03-18T22:07:43.137-04:002012-03-18T22:07:43.137-04:00Woody Harrelson is in it too.
It also doesn'...Woody Harrelson is in it too.<br /><br /><br />It also doesn't hurt the movie that the girl playing Katniss, Jennifer Lawrence, is quite the looker.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-43493224806008936282012-03-18T22:02:40.497-04:002012-03-18T22:02:40.497-04:00Seen the trailers?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...Seen the trailers?<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY<br /><br />It's set in the future where, in the aftermath of an apocalypse a government has arisen in North America called Panem ruled by the Capital. About 80 years ago the rest of Panem, the 13 Districts, rebelled and were crushed, with the 13th being obliterated.<br />Now as punishment, 2 children, one boy and one girl, are chosen by lot from the 12 Districts to be "Tributes" , in what is called "the reaping", are sent to the Capital to fight in to the death called "The Hunger Games".<br /><br />The book is about a 16-year old girl named Katniss, who lives in the very poor 12th District (modern day Appalachia) who has been pretty much caring for her mother and little sister, Prim, since her father died in a coal mining accident by hunting gathering (sometimes illegally) for food, often with a bow and arrow, her favorite weapon.<br />When her younger sister, who wouldn't last 5 seconds in a fight to death, is chosen Katniss volunteers to go in her place. <br /><br />I've been reading the book and it is pretty well written.<br /><br />Like with Harry Potter they've chosen some fairly recognizable actors for the adults such as Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks, and Lenny Kravitz.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-72367444609420942232012-03-18T21:41:44.096-04:002012-03-18T21:41:44.096-04:00Kit, Well, I'm glad to hear there's a new ...Kit, Well, I'm glad to hear there's a new topic. :/<br /><br />I actually know almost nothing about <i>The Hunger Games</i>. So I can't really comment on it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-78141584666322116352012-03-18T21:30:30.172-04:002012-03-18T21:30:30.172-04:00Also, did you know in Hunger Games that Elizabeth ...Also, did you know in Hunger Games that Elizabeth Banks is playing the woman in all the make-up?<br /><br />Wow, she was unrecognizable!Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.com