jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2013 7:05:47 GMT -5
For de batters and lovers of politicians............
We hang petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. ~Aesop, Greek slave &fable author
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. ~Plato, ancient Greek Philosopher
Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. ~Nikita Khrushchev, Russian Soviet politician When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Quoted in 'Clarence Darrow for the Defense' by Irving Stone.
Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel. ~John Quinton, American actor/writer
Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other. ~Oscar Ameringer, "the Mark Twain of American Socialism."
I offered my opponents a deal: "if they stop telling lies about me, I will stop telling the truth about them". ~Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952..
A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country. ~Texas Guinan. 19th century American businessman
I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians. ~Charles de Gaulle, French general &politician
Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks. ~Doug Larson (English middle-distance runner who won gold medals at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, 1902-1981)
I am reminded of a joke: What happens if a politician drowns in a river? That's pollution. What happens if all of them drown? That's a solution!!!
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Post by helens on May 6, 2013 7:19:24 GMT -5
The biggest problem with politicians is what it takes to get enough recognition to run for any office. Also, in no other 'profession' does a person have their background scrutinized and picked apart continuously. Plus, every competitor tries to get ahead by both digging up and making up dirt. The people who actually make it to public office tend to be cleaner than the Ivory Snow baby... and are still smeared like convicted felons. It's the strangest professional category in history and always has been.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2013 14:15:46 GMT -5
Yep.And it is a sad position.No win for sure.One bad politician destroys the reputation for 100 others-instantly.It is strange-that is a good description.I could not do it.
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Post by helens on May 6, 2013 16:38:55 GMT -5
Most people couldn't do it... the invasion of privacy, the judgement by every single person over the most private details of your personal life... not to mention your family's personal life. Anything interesting that happens means your family can't go to work or get out of the driveway with thousands of reporters and rubber neckers on the front yard and driveway. Neighbors get sick of it. Many potentially good politicians have turned their backs just from the beginning attention they get.
The kind of person who can run for office starts with skin a foot thick, extended families with no lives that have squeaky clean records and can tough out the invasion of their past and present relationships, business dealings, etc.
I have a LOT of respect for most politicians because no one in any profession undergoes the types of difficulties trying to get a job... and they do this and most fail to get very far anyway. And everyone already knows that the first thing they undergo before running for the lowest offices, City Council or Property Appraiser, are background checked through private detectives and all public records by every competitor and major supporter before they even throw their name in the hat.
In this day and age of internet, odds are not good that a 'bad' politician makes it through to run for the first office, let alone on a national level. And you see some who do run cracking up after they win (silly photos of costumes, email crotch shots, bribery and set up corruption issues).
Very few people are tough enough to do it, and I'd go so far as to say that the type of individuals who do become politicians are the mental equivalents of the top physical athletes. Knowing that doesn't stop any of us from rooting for or insulting them either.
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garock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,168
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Post by garock on May 6, 2013 17:23:54 GMT -5
I was watch the Simpson's last night and Moe tried and almost committed sucide. On the floor Homer was pressing his chest and got Moe back to life. He was ask if he was ok and he said yes. Homer then ask Moe a question to be sure he has his senses back. Homer ask Moe "Who is our President?" Moe replied "Some stupid jerk". Homer replies "He's ok, he's back". I was laughing so hard I had tears coming down my face. Even Moe Knows ! !
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
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Post by Sabre52 on May 6, 2013 20:06:46 GMT -5
Interesting observations Helen. I have a lot of disrespect for most politicians ( after all, the bulk of them are lawyers) *L*. Most seem to me to be power crazed, narcissistic, megalomaniacs who immediately forget about their responsibility to the "folks" as soon as they are elected and instead go on the payroll of every special interest group who will fill their coffers with ill gotten gains. IMHO I actually think that most politicians that make the cut are the worst of the lot ie "The Prez" you dote on so much, guys like Boehner and Reid or the evil witches Hillary, Pelosi, Feinstein et all. The good guys running for offices are plowed under by the evil political machines simply because they are not evil, grasping, morally bankrupt, megalomaniacal, political sharks. But then heck, I've always said you were a Pollyanna anyway, so no surprise you praise those bastiches....Mel
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2013 20:59:27 GMT -5
For 30 years i invested in real estate because lawyers/politicians invest in real estate.A genius move on my part.Lowest taxable income available-by the design of our dear greedy politicians.They are well paid but pay little taxes with the liberal tax shelters they designed for their own income.Follow their money trail and protect yourself.The tax shelters by Reagan allowed me to really get a jump with sheltered income.Accelerated depreciation a passed in early 80's-WOW.Buy a $100,000 property and write off %12 ($12,000) in first year when in actuality it way increased in value.%11 ,%10 ,%9 ,%8 for the next 4 years - no money down property and get rewarded with 49,000 dollar deduction over 5 years.Buy 3 like that one and hardly pay any taxes and a fat salary.Politicians ate that one up w/a spoon. It is true about politicians-in most cases the vipers win the election.And their followers are classic sheeples,following the he/her off the cliff.
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Post by helens on May 6, 2013 21:10:50 GMT -5
Interesting observations Helen. I have a lot of disrespect for most politicians ( after all, the bulk of them are lawyers) *L*. Most seem to me to be power crazed, narcissistic, megalomaniacs who immediately forget about their responsibility to the "folks" as soon as they are elected and instead go on the payroll of every special interest group who will fill their coffers with ill gotten gains. IMHO I actually think that most politicians that make the cut are the worst of the lot ie "The Prez" you dote on so much, guys like Boehner and Reid or the evil witches Hillary, Pelosi, Feinstein et all. The good guys running for offices are plowed under by the evil political machines simply because they are not evil, grasping, morally bankrupt, megalomaniacal, political sharks. But then heck, I've always said you were a Pollyanna anyway, so no surprise you praise those bastiches....Mel Mel, I don't dote on any politicians. HOWEVER, we have what we have, and if we want certain things or don't want certain things, we can't ignore what they do. I have a lot of respect for ALL politicians, because I know what they sacrifice to do it, and I think they're also crazy. No amount of perks is worth the kind of daily humiliation they suffer... imagine seeing pix of yourself doing something embarrassing, with captions, all over the internet, every day... there isn't a human alive who doesn't suffer from SOME kind of emotional reaction from continuous insult and degradation. The higher the politician, the more they get hammered. To live that way every day of your life is just insane, and if you had a megalomaniac bone in your body, you will sooner or later want the people who torment you to get hammered back. It's human nature. 'Normal' people wouldn't do it, even though every last one of us love to be armchair warriors. Respect where respect is due. Yes, they absolutely do fatten their net worths from the office... frankly, for putting up with the crap, they deserve it. Why don't one of you guys run for office? James or Mel, there's NO REASON you can't run for city council... or run for state legislature, start local. Put the time where your mouth is:). You guys who clearly love politics and have loads of opinions... why NOT do it? You realize that you can right?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on May 6, 2013 21:32:56 GMT -5
Remember,i live in Atlanta and am a minority caucasian male.And have recieved favorable treatment because of it.Another ingenius move on my part-token minority caucasian male-i get away with all kinds of stuff-i love my local county government. If you want to help,you should let Atlanta Fulton County's government train the politicians of New York City.
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Post by Rockoonz on May 6, 2013 23:09:15 GMT -5
Now with the Benghasi report in and all the lies exposed, a little politics at it's finest...
Can anyone say Impeach?
Lee
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on May 7, 2013 4:25:34 GMT -5
Too funny Lee.
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on May 7, 2013 8:32:51 GMT -5
*L* I suppose you could call what politicians do "sacrifice". I'm sure they get all weepy and say it that way to make themselves look cool. I'd call what they do "investment". They put themselves out there for money and power. Not many poor politicians out there. They get good retirement and health bennies. Good protection mostly at our expense. Get to live the high life on the public dime and rub shoulders with the rich and famous and eventually become the rich and famous themselves, if they are not that already. Everyone makes sacrifices for employment but few get such rewards and I figure narcissists Like "Obama" and most every other politician live to be in the public eye anyway so no big sacrifice in those cases, at least. Heck they compete to see who can be in front of the camera the most. Obama wins however. Can't turn on the telly without seeing that doofus...Mel
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robsrockshop
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2012
Posts: 715
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Post by robsrockshop on May 7, 2013 8:59:55 GMT -5
They're all liars. The cream of the crop always rises to the top. Whereby cream refers to habitual liars, sociopaths etc. Now they come right out and say when the truth is too ugly that they will lie. Personally I hope that tshtf sooner than later im tired of the suspense.
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Post by helens on May 7, 2013 14:13:18 GMT -5
*L* I suppose you could call what politicians do "sacrifice". I'm sure they get all weepy and say it that way to make themselves look cool. I'd call what they do "investment". They put themselves out there for money and power. Not many poor politicians out there. They get good retirement and health bennies. Good protection mostly at our expense. Get to live the high life on the public dime and rub shoulders with the rich and famous and eventually become the rich and famous themselves, if they are not that already. Everyone makes sacrifices for employment but few get such rewards and I figure narcissists Like "Obama" and most every other politician live to be in the public eye anyway so no big sacrifice in those cases, at least. Heck they compete to see who can be in front of the camera the most. Obama wins however. Can't turn on the telly without seeing that doofus...Mel If it's so rewarding, why won't you do it Mel? You can speak for the little guy, right? I keep reading about the greed, the corruption, the rotten lying selfish greedy politicians. KNOWING that our entire system is one where anyone who really wants to run for office can do it... Why won't you do it and make a difference? When you get there, pull a Bernie Sanders, and don't accept the graft, live on your salary and don't do what other politicians do. Pull a Steve Jobs and work for $1 a year. Refuse all bennies and work for the public good if you'd like. But why won't you do it?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2013 15:26:27 GMT -5
I'll answer Helen's query "Why don't you do it?"
Because as a human being I could not work with all the slime.
I have spent over 100 hours of my life in the presence of politicians fighting for/against legislation. Their job seems to require they shake your hand act like your best friend and then stab you in the back at the first opportunity. They lie cheat and steal at every opportunity. Never let a good catastrophe go. Take bribes under the guise of campaign donation.
I am incapable of doing that, and incapable of staying civil in the company of those that do. Paraguay looking better every day.
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Post by helens on May 7, 2013 17:20:16 GMT -5
Yah... that's why I left DC too actually.
But the fact is, if you don't like how something's done, you do something to change it. The fact is, any of us can change it if we REALLY want to. And a lot of people DO go into politics with the noblest of intentions... some, like Bernie Sanders, stand by their principals for decades. They don't take any of the free money floating around DC.
Consider how we know politicians. Do we KNOW them? No we don't. Have we met most of them? No we haven't. So what formed our opinion on who they are and whether they stand for what we want or not? Oh, we READ about it. Who writes those articles? Are they biased? Of course they are.
If your brother/best friend/spouse became an elected official tomorrow, would you even recognize them by what you read about them in the paper? Probably not. Who controls politics? The politicians, or the media, who feed you every single thing you know or believe when it comes to politics?
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on May 7, 2013 17:39:06 GMT -5
*L* As for politicians or the main stream media, may as well try to defend a pile of horse apples. They're all directly associated with horses asses, and though being sh*t is in their nature, that still don't make them smell any better.
Helen: I seldom judge politicians by what the media says about them. In this modern age of the telly and the net, we can see them speak and tell their lies in front of all of us. They can hide behind a media smokescreen but they can't hide what they say smack dab in front of a camera or microphone. Pretty easy to see the country is run primarily by crooks, liars, clowns and low functioning halfwits. Heck, I've probably just insulted all the aforementioned groups by the comparison.....Mel
PS: I agree with Scott. I have no desire to associate with thieves, scumbags and aholes. I choose my company with great care because we are judged by the company we keep. If we judged our politicians that way, we'd elect better politicians but unfortunately most voters seem to be dumbasses and vote sellers *L*
And, though I've done a bit of it, I absolutely hate public speaking!!!!!! *L*
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Post by helens on May 7, 2013 18:17:52 GMT -5
Mel... you have NO way of knowing whether they are great actors or not. How on earth do you judge whether someone is sincere by what you see of them giving a speech either?
I know you've watched a movie before... pretty convincing portrayals of every type of character, wouldn't you say? You aren't going to tell the difference between a great actor telling you a lie vs an honest man made nervous by someone in the audience.
Further, speeches are not written by the politicians themselves, you can't even tell whether the words reflect the actual nuance of what the politician would have said... they are all 'handled' at that level by pros who have 'handled' multiple other politicians in the past.
We don't have ANY way of knowing what the real person is like by watching them read a pre-written script after spending months/years with a team of professional handlers grooming them for their speeches.
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Post by helens on May 7, 2013 18:19:03 GMT -5
I think at least one of you should run for public office here!!! Just think of how much fun we would have helping someone we know (even if we don't agree with every position they may have).
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
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Post by jamesp on May 7, 2013 18:33:27 GMT -5
Helen Helen
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