The embodiment of all that is wrong in politics

[Nyarlathotep]

I am sitting here looking out my window at a car whose bumper sticker manages to encapsulate, in three pictures and six words, all that is wrong in politics.

It's very simple. It has a picture of a elephant (Republican symbol, for the non-USAians who may or may not know this), a Donkey (Democrat symbol) and Hillary Clinton. Beneath it it has them labelled "The Good" (beneath the elephant), "The Bad" (beneath the Donkey) and "The Ugly" (beneath Hillary)

For one thing, its a bumper sticker. IMO, sound bites and bumper sticker rhetoric has replaced rational argument in this country. But hey, there is only so much depth you can fit into a small space so I would otherwise just roll my eyes and ignore it.


But wait, there's more. This bumper sticker is also a prime example of the "Our side can do no wrong, their side is teh suxxor!!!!1!111!!!!" mentality that permeates so much of politics. It is not an arena where ideas compete and the best ones rise to the top. It has become something more akin to a football game, where both side midlessly cheer on their team and the good of the country doesn't matter one whit, so long as their team wins, goddamit.

Oh, and there is the obligatory baseless personal attack that has nothing to do with politics but gets thrown in there anyway. Whether you like Senator Clinton's politcs or loathe them, does her being ugly have anything to do with anything? But such nonsense is par for the course these days.

All of these problems are exactly why I loathe politics. And they managed to provide a shining example why in a 2" by 11" area. Pretty efficient use of space, I'd say.

[Tmy]

They hate Hillary cause shes a women. A women who dares to have an opinion.

Really, the venom thats directed at her is so nasty. What did she do that was SOOOOO bad?

[TragicMonkey]

I don't think Hillary Clinton is ugly. I think she's rather attractive for a woman her age.

[Ziggurat]

How about all those "Free Tibet" bumper stickers. It's been decades, and Tibet's are still overpriced!

Bumper stickers are useless. I have yet to meet someone who looks at a stickerless car and thinks less of the driver because of the lack of opinion expressed on their fender. And if I ever did meet someone like that, it would be a pretty good warning to stay away.

[Nyarlathotep]

How about all those "Free Tibet" bumper stickers. It's been decades, and Tibet's are still overpriced!

I have always wanted to make one that says "Free Tibet" and then, in tiny lettering beneath it "With purchase of any other Tibet of equal or greater value"

Bumper stickers are useless. I have yet to meet someone who looks at a stickerless car and thinks less of the driver because of the lack of opinion expressed on their fender. And if I ever did meet someone like that, it would be a pretty good warning to stay away.

True. I just found it amusing that this one could, in such a small space and in so few words, provide such a demonstration of all that I see as being wrong with modern politics.

[Mephisto]

They hate Hillary cause shes a women. A women who dares to have an opinion.

Really, the venom thats directed at her is so nasty. What did she do that was SOOOOO bad?

She got to publicly drag Billy by the ear back into the house for a prolonged tongue lashing and bitch-slapping the likes of which has never been heard in the White House. ;)

Personally, I have no big problems with Hillary minus the fact that she's on a tangent regarding video game violence/sex and flag burning. It's a shame that the educated have to embrace knee-jerk issues for the public's support.

[UserGoogol]

"Our side can do no wrong / Their side is t3h suxx0r" would make a GREAT bumper sticker, for what it's worth. I might have to steal it from you.

[jj]

They hate Hillary cause shes a women. A women who dares to have an opinion.

Really, the venom thats directed at her is so nasty. What did she do that was SOOOOO bad?


She had the appalling effrontery to think for herself. Same crime Christie Whitman committed. (N.B. Don't take this comment as approval for the idea, I'm simply stating why I think the 'pubs hate Hillary. )

[Dark Jaguar]

I have an idea for a bumper sticker.

"Us = Good. Them = Bad."

That's it, just black text on a white background.

[Bjorn]

Bumper stickers are useless. I have yet to meet someone who looks at a stickerless car and thinks less of the driver because of the lack of opinion expressed on their fender. And if I ever did meet someone like that, it would be a pretty good warning to stay away.It might be the other way around - a few weeks ago Voice of San Diego wrote this:

Linda Laroca had a nice new job with nice surroundings and a nice boss. One day the boss wanted to meet Linda in a Vista shopping center on her day off. They would take care of some company chore. That's where the boss espied Linda's bumper sticker: AIR AMERICA RADIO, 1360 PROGRESSIVE TALK. According to the North County Times, Laroca's boss was aghast. She suggested Linda might be a part of al-Qaeda, then she fired her.http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=euLTJbMUKvH&b=312465&ct=2059159

Free speech doesn't apply to bumper stickers!

[kalen]

To avoid any trouble, get a bumper sticker of the flag and a sticker that says you support the local police benevolence fund.

Anything else, you might get your car keyed by some jerkoff who doesn't like your politics.

Actually, just ditch the car altogether and get a bike.

[Dr Adequate]

"The country is on a high state of alert. For all I know, you might be in al-Qaeda."

Oh dear ... and look at this (http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/09/news/sandiego/20_24_273_8_06.txt) ... these guys make the rightwing woowoos on these forums look sane.

[Charlie Monoxide]

I saw a bumper sticker the other day here in Orlando. It was small (about 4" square). It simply had a large W and in small writing near the bottom "Still President" ...

Charlie (sad, but true) Monoxide

[Skeptic]

They hate Hillary cause shes a women. A women who dares to have an opinion.

Which is why someone like Dr. Rice will never make in anywhere in the administration.

[Cain]

Question for the original poster: Why do you hate America?

Oh, and Hillary Clinton is evil.

[RandFan]

Oh, and Hillary Clinton is evil. Oh, I wouldn't say that.

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:H1GuiC1N9o5pGM:www.usasurvival.org/images/hillary.jpg

[RandFan]

For one thing, its a bumper sticker. IMO, sound bites and bumper sticker rhetoric has replaced rational argument in this country. But hey, there is only so much depth you can fit into a small space so I would otherwise just roll my eyes and ignore it.

I don't mind savaging elected officials. I have a problem when people start to give up critical thinking and only see politicians in the worst possible light or drink the kool-aid of the opposition whatever it is. I know so many people who just can't stomach the idea of Hillary being president. Hey, I don't like her myself but mark my words. I'm happy to come to her defense when it is warrented and if she becomes president the world will still go around and I can live with it. Who knows, maybe my life will be as good as it was when her husband was president. If it is then I won't mind her being president. But let's still make fun of her just as we make fun of Bush.

http://www.spunangel.com/scraps/December2004/bush-as-neuman.jpg

[peptoabysmal]

She had the appalling effrontery to think for herself. Same crime Christie Whitman committed. (N.B. Don't take this comment as approval for the idea, I'm simply stating why I think the 'pubs hate Hillary. )
Maybe the Republicans have other motives. It couldn't have anything with Hillary blaming her husband's infidelity on a "vast right wing conspiracy" now could it?

Yours is a peculiar argument directed towards a party that has promoted a black woman to the highest position in government ever held by a black woman, yet you stand in defense of a woman who had the effrontery to accuse the opposition party of being plantation owners in front of a mostly black audience?

Condoleezza Rice is the second woman to be U.S. Secretary of State, after Madeleine Albright during the Clinton administration. She is the first black woman to be Secretary of State, and the holds the highest position in a presidential cabinet that any black woman has held. Rice describes herself as a moderate Republican, and has never been identified with so-called "black issues", which has led some African-Americans to view her with suspicion. She says she became a Republican when she watched the 1984 Democratic Convention on TV, and decided that the Democrats' appeals to "women, minorities, and the poor" really meant "helpless people and the poor". Rice said, "I decided I'd rather be ignored than patronized".
http://www.nndb.com/people/205/000024133/

Or is it somehow better to talk about rebuilding a chocolate New Orleans?

I think the Democrats need to start looking inward for the explanation of their political failures.
http://www.igopogo.com/Wehavemet01.jpg

[Regnad Kcin]

I believe the original post is filled with wisdom, sad to say.

Speaking of bumper stickers, I recall seeing one: "Impeach Clinton. And her husband." It was displayed on a car following Mr. Clinton's first election, but before he was even sworn in. That's right...the enemies of reason and manners and respect had taken a contrarian position, not for any high crimes the Clintons committed separately or together, but because "their guy" didn't win.

Inane.

[Regnad Kcin]

Maybe the Republicans have other motives. It couldn't have anything with Hillary blaming her husband's infidelity on a "vast right wing conspiracy" now could it?Of course, she did no such thing.

Yours is a peculiar argument directed towards a party that has promoted a black woman to the highest position in government ever held by a black woman, yet you stand in defense of a woman who had the effrontery to accuse the opposition party of being plantation owners in front of a mostly black audience?Of course, she did no such thing.

[Ed]

Of course, she did no such thing.

Of course, she did no such thing.


Matt Lauer: "You have said, I understand, to some close friends, that this is the last great battle, and that one side or the other is going down here." Hillary Clinton: "Well, I don't know if I've been that dramatic. That would sound like a good line from a movie. But I do believe that this is a battle. I mean, look at the very people who are involved in this — they have popped up in other settings. This is — the great story here for anybody willing to find it and write about it and explain it is this vast right-wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced for president." Wikki

[Kevin_Lowe]

Matt Lauer: "You have said, I understand, to some close friends, that this is the last great battle, and that one side or the other is going down here." Hillary Clinton: "Well, I don't know if I've been that dramatic. That would sound like a good line from a movie. But I do believe that this is a battle. I mean, look at the very people who are involved in this — they have popped up in other settings. This is — the great story here for anybody willing to find it and write about it and explain it is this vast right-wing conspiracy that has been conspiring against my husband since the day he announced for president." Wikki

Thanks for confirming that Regnad was right.

[Angus McPresley]

...and if she becomes president the world will still go around and I can live with it.


In an ideal world, nobody would be told who was actually elected, and we'd have to vote based on how our lives were actually going. Seriously, would you know if a Dem or Repub was in office, based on the actual effect on your lives? Some, maybe, but most, not.

[Angus McPresley]

Thanks for confirming that Regnad was right.


Precisely. She may have said "vast right wing conspiracy", but where does she blame her husband's infidelity on this? Ed?

[Ed]

true. the infidelity was nothing, the exposure and such was the result of a conspiracy.

[Belz...]

But wait, there's more. This bumper sticker is also a prime example of the "Our side can do no wrong, their side is teh suxxor!!!!1!111!!!!" mentality that permeates so much of politics. It is not an arena where ideas compete and the best ones rise to the top.

That's what happens when you stick with the same two parties for two hundred years.

It has become something more akin to a football game, where both side midlessly cheer on their team and the good of the country doesn't matter one whit, so long as their team wins, goddamit.

I think you meant Gunderscoredammit.

[Belz...]

I have always wanted to make one that says "Free Tibet" and then, in tiny lettering beneath it "With purchase of any other Tibet of equal or greater value"

:dl:

Love that one, man.

[Random]

I have always wanted to make one that says "Free Tibet" and then, in tiny lettering beneath it "With purchase of any other Tibet of equal or greater value"

I actually have a bumper sticker on my car that says “FREE TIBET: With weapons technology purchase”.

[Nancarrow]

A few years back the British satirical magazine Private Eye had an offer on the corner of its cover, "Free Pinochet with every issue"

[DanishDynamite]

I am sitting here looking out my window at a car whose bumper sticker manages to encapsulate, in three pictures and six words, all that is wrong in politics.

It's very simple. It has a picture of a elephant (Republican symbol, for the non-USAians who may or may not know this), a Donkey (Democrat symbol) and Hillary Clinton. Beneath it it has them labelled "The Good" (beneath the elephant), "The Bad" (beneath the Donkey) and "The Ugly" (beneath Hillary)

For one thing, its a bumper sticker. IMO, sound bites and bumper sticker rhetoric has replaced rational argument in this country. But hey, there is only so much depth you can fit into a small space so I would otherwise just roll my eyes and ignore it.


But wait, there's more. This bumper sticker is also a prime example of the "Our side can do no wrong, their side is teh suxxor!!!!1!111!!!!" mentality that permeates so much of politics. It is not an arena where ideas compete and the best ones rise to the top. It has become something more akin to a football game, where both side midlessly cheer on their team and the good of the country doesn't matter one whit, so long as their team wins, goddamit.

Oh, and there is the obligatory baseless personal attack that has nothing to do with politics but gets thrown in there anyway. Whether you like Senator Clinton's politcs or loathe them, does her being ugly have anything to do with anything? But such nonsense is par for the course these days.

All of these problems are exactly why I loathe politics. And they managed to provide a shining example why in a 2" by 11" area. Pretty efficient use of space, I'd say.
Far be it for me to single out America in a bashing session, but in this case I'll make an exception. :)

1) We don't have bumper stickers here.

2) We don't have American-style news, where soundbites, pretty anchor-people, and the weather make up the news.

3) We have a plethora of political parties to choose from, not the minimum of two needed to call yourself a democracy (or republic or whatever).

If you feel a bumpersticker sums up everything that an American might feel was wrong with politics there, you may very well be right. But, for me, you would be right for the wrong reasons.

[Mark]

Maybe the Republicans have other motives. It couldn't have anything with Hillary blaming her husband's infidelity on a "vast right wing conspiracy" now could it?

Other than using the term "conspiracy" she was absolutely correct. What do you call a 44 million (unadjusted) dollar witch hunt to get anything on her? Not to mention the fundie videos saying Bill and Hillary were murderers many times over.

Not a conspiracy, because it wasn't secret. But they surely were out to get her!

[DavidJames]

Other than using the term "conspiracy" she was absolutely correct. What do you call a 44 million (unadjusted) dollar witch hunt to get anything on her? Not to mention the fundie videos saying Bill and Hillary were murderers many times over.

Not a conspiracy, because it wasn't secret. But they surely were out to get her!Mark: read his claim a little closerMaybe the Republicans have other motives. It couldn't have anything with Hillary blaming her husband's infidelity on a "vast right wing conspiracy" now could it?he's a tool.

ask him for evidence and I would expect either witless sarcasm, more sophomoric ramblings or simply be ignored,

[azazal]

How about all those "Free Tibet" bumper stickers.

I like the Famliy Guy episode:


(shamelessly lifted from IMDB)
Protestors: Free Tibet! Free Tibet!
Peter Griffin: I'll take it!
[He runs to a nearby phone booth]
Peter Griffin: Hello, China? I have something you may want. But it's gonna cost ya. That's right. All the tea.

[Mark]

Mark: read his claim a little closerhe's a tool.

ask him for evidence and I would expect either witless sarcasm, more sophomoric ramblings or simply be ignored,

Fair enough...it's even worse than I thought. ;) When did she say that?

[Nyarlathotep]

If you feel a bumpersticker sums up everything that an American might feel was wrong with politics there, you may very well be right. But, for me, you would be right for the wrong reasons.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything is terrible over here and we are all stupid and ugly to boot. I got the memo.

[DanishDynamite]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everything is terrible over here and we are all stupid and ugly to boot. I got the memo.
Nope. You just don't handle criticism well. There is a word for that.....oh, yeah: thin-skinned. :)

[ImaginalDisc]

Which is why someone like Dr. Rice will never make in anywhere in the administration.

Would you characterize Dr. Rice as opinionated? I have noted her to be well in line with the ploicies of the administration she works for. Perhaps if she were a senator, and was required to answer questions directed to her by the voters, we would know more about her. For now, she deals on levels that don't involve the direct exchange with the American people.

[corplinx]

I use political bumper stickers to easily identify people for my population thinning program incorporating a side program of making delicious soylent green for the poor out of people who don't make the intelligence cut.

Examples:
Still Voting Democrat? You're Stuck on Stupid
W: The Idiot

[Cthulhu]

I have 2 stickers on my car...

1. an oval "WWFSMD" with a drawing of said Flying Spaghetti Monster

and

2. A "Miskatonic University" sticker.

I often wonder if anyone around here gets it. But then I stop caring.

[RandFan]

Far be it for me to single out America in a bashing session, but in this case I'll make an exception. Oh I love the false humility. Riiight.

1) We don't have bumper stickers here.

2) We don't have American-style news, where soundbites, pretty anchor-people, and the weather make up the news.

3) We have a plethora of political parties to choose from, not the minimum of two needed to call yourself a democracy (or republic or whatever).

If you feel a bumpersticker sums up everything that an American might feel was wrong with politics there, you may very well be right. But, for me, you would be right for the wrong reasons.We'll then you are truly the greatest nation on earth.

Here's your sign. In case you don't know you where it on your forehead. No, the one on your neck under the hair.

http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/graphics/gold_star.gif

We are so lucky to have you on the forum. And to think, everyone thinks Americans are arrogant. Boy won't they be surprised.

[egslim]

Oh I love the false humility. Riiight.
Did you notice the smilie in his post? Indicating a somewhat light-hearted comment... Really not worth getting your panties in a twist over. :)

We'll then you are truly the greatest nation on earth.
Where did he claim anything even remotely like that?
Furthermore, suppose I lived in the biggest (Russia), most populous (China), richest per Capita (Luxembourg), least corrupt (Finland) country with the longest average lifespan (Singapore).
Then I would still try to improve - complacency is never a good thing - even if it meant taking criticism and examples from others. No country is ever the greatest in everything, there is always something to be learned from others.

to think, everyone thinks Americans are arrogant.
You just proved their point, since a fundamental part of arrogance is the inability to take outside criticism.

Now if it makes you feel any better, we just had rapping politicians here - in my opinion a lowpoint in Dutch politics. I honestly don't know what's worse, politics through bumperstickers or hiphop music. How about you try to improve the bumbersticker mentality, while I do the same about the hiphop?

(I'm not talking about introducing legislation, but entering discussion and debate with others to promote logical arguments as being superior to soundbites - wether they are rap or bumperstickers - for deciding political issues.)

[Angus McPresley]

true. the infidelity was nothing, the exposure and such was the result of a conspiracy.


Which is also not what she said.

[RandFan]

Did you notice the smilie in his post? Indicating a somewhat light-hearted comment... Really not worth getting your panties in a twist over. :) It's difficult to get the tone of posts sometimes. I took the smilie as a smug feeling of well being. I apologize. Larsen takes every opportunity to bash America, IMO, and gets a bit old. I've never been there and I'm quite sure Denmark is a wonderful place to live. Perhaps better than America in many ways. I just get tired of America bashing. Maybe we deserve it but it is still exasperating.

Again, my apologies,

RandFan

P.S. I am wearing Denmark red and white at the moment.

[rikzilla]

I am sitting here looking out my window at a car whose bumper sticker manages to encapsulate, in three pictures and six words, all that is wrong in politics.

It's very simple. It has a picture of a elephant (Republican symbol, for the non-USAians who may or may not know this), a Donkey (Democrat symbol) and Hillary Clinton. Beneath it it has them labelled "The Good" (beneath the elephant), "The Bad" (beneath the Donkey) and "The Ugly" (beneath Hillary)

For one thing, its a bumper sticker. IMO, sound bites and bumper sticker rhetoric has replaced rational argument in this country. But hey, there is only so much depth you can fit into a small space so I would otherwise just roll my eyes and ignore it.


But wait, there's more. This bumper sticker is also a prime example of the "Our side can do no wrong, their side is teh suxxor!!!!1!111!!!!" mentality that permeates so much of politics. It is not an arena where ideas compete and the best ones rise to the top. It has become something more akin to a football game, where both side midlessly cheer on their team and the good of the country doesn't matter one whit, so long as their team wins, goddamit.

Oh, and there is the obligatory baseless personal attack that has nothing to do with politics but gets thrown in there anyway. Whether you like Senator Clinton's politcs or loathe them, does her being ugly have anything to do with anything? But such nonsense is par for the course these days.

All of these problems are exactly why I loathe politics. And they managed to provide a shining example why in a 2" by 11" area. Pretty efficient use of space, I'd say.

Good OP. I share the frustration. But you know...sometimes those bumper-thingys can be smart, amusing, light-hearted and fun. Both sides are guilty of bumpersticker vitriol...but I've always noticed the lefties were a bit better at the funny stuff. Here's my faves:

Bipartisanship:
I'll hug your elephant, (picture of pachyderm)
You can kiss my a** (picture of donkey)

During the presidential campaign of 1996 one of the major hits against Bob Dole was that he was old. So there was this Dem bumpersticker which looked exactly like the "Dole in '96" sticker...only one little change:
Dole is 96

Nasty but very friggin' funny since it was unexpected.

Of course the best one on the Repub side had to be after the 2004 re-election of Bush:
Misunderestimated in 2000,
Unredefeated in 2004

Yeah; bumpersticker logic is something to growl at on the road. But we shouldn't have to put up with it on the JREF forum. We come here for a bit more than shallow thoughts.

-z

[RandFan]

Yeah; bumpersticker logic is something to growl at on the road. But we shouldn't have to put up with it on the JREF forum. We come here for a bit more than shallow thoughts."Get your philosophy from a bumper sticker" --Green Day

Aparently it's that or the Daily Show. :)

I agree Rik

[DanishDynamite]

It's difficult to get the tone of posts sometimes. I took the smilie as a smug feeling of well being. I apologize. Larsen takes every opportunity to bash America, IMO, and gets a bit old. I've never been there and I'm quite sure Denmark is a wonderful place to live. Perhaps better than America in many ways. I just get tired of America bashing. Maybe we deserve it but it is still exasperating.
Firstly, thanks to Egslim for very accurately understanding my post. :)

While I realize that posts on a forum don't convey as much information as a head-to-head conversation would, I'm still somewhat surprised by Nyarl and Rand's reactions. They are old old-timers and should know me by now. Still, I apologize for apparently being unclear.

Again, my apologies,

RandFan

P.S. I am wearing Denmark red and white at the moment.
I won't shock you by telling you what I'm wearing (or not) at the moment, but I appreciate the comment. :)

[Cleon]

I won't shock you by telling you what I'm wearing (or not) at the moment, but I appreciate the comment. :)

Argh! Dude!

Must...poke....out...mind's....eye...with....point y....thing....

[Nyarlathotep]

While I realize that posts on a forum don't convey as much information as a head-to-head conversation would, I'm still somewhat surprised by Nyarl and Rand's reactions.


In my case, residual annoyance at having just read, not fifteen minutes earlier, something on a blog somewhere else entirely that boiled down to 'Americans are boorish, stupid, ugly and their mommas dress them funny' Thus making me a little more prone to get irritated by such comments, even in jest.

[DanishDynamite]

In my case, residual annoyance at having just read, not fifteen minutes earlier, something on a blog somewhere else entirely that boiled down to 'Americans are boorish, stupid, ugly and their mommas dress them funny' Thus making me a little more prone to get irritated by such comments, even in jest.
I understand.

BTW, just for clarification, are you saying that American mommas don't generally dress their offspring funny?

:)

[Zbu]

I have 2 stickers on my car...

1. an oval "WWFSMD" with a drawing of said Flying Spaghetti Monster

and

2. A "Miskatonic University" sticker.

I often wonder if anyone around here gets it. But then I stop caring.

I'd so get those, but I think it might clash with my Iron Maiden bumper sticker I found on the ground when I first got to Uni. Plus, the design of cars today really doesn't do much for bumper stickers.

[Nyarlathotep]

I understand.

BTW, just for clarification, are you saying that American mommas don't generally dress their offspring funny?

:)

heh. Generally over here when we say "You're ugly and your momma dresses you funny", its an insult aimed at someone old enough that his mother should not be dressing him at all.