BBC Blog Network

User Profile

LAshutterbug

Listed below are comments made by LAshutterbug between Thursday, 9th October 2008 and Wednesday, 21st October 2009.

«Newer
Older»

Climate conference 'set to fail' 11:11pm on 21 Oct 2009 Sigh. Of course Copenhagen is doomed to fail. It would fail even if the most sweeping emission changes were unilaterally (or perhaps "magically" is the better word) enacted around the globe. This is because no-one has publicly acknowledged that climate change is not the overriding problem. Yes, it's a problem, but it's not THE problem, which is that there is too much of what produces climate change in the first place. No, it's not coal, it's not oil and it isn't CFCs. It is...wait for it...US. As in, there are too many people on the planet, and have been for a long time now. The world's population is expanding faster than its ability to deal with such expansion's consequences, and as a result, there will be somewhere around 9 billion people on the planet (and rising!) by 2050. And with populations ever expanding, devouring natural resources and wiping out species after species of plants and animals, things are simply not going to get better, if we maintain the status quo on population control. THAT is what's truly needed...population control. The herds need to be culled, if the herds are to survive in the long run. And yes, I sadly am well aware of what the implied requirements: slaughter on such a gargantuan scale that it would make World War II look like a tea party by comparison. Will it happen? Probably not...and as a result, it would not surprise me at all if the next series of wars in high likelihood will be fought over what will be remembered as the "basics" for all like food and water, which will become luxuries for the few. Great legacy we've left, huh? Boy, the world will certainly not miss us when we're gone...
What Specter's defection means 10:50pm on 28 Apr 2009 This is more of an embarrassment to the Republicans than a strategic defeat, as Spector has stated clearly that he's going to vote with his own mind and will not be in lock-step with the Dems on every issue...which is pretty much the same stance he has historically had with his old party. If the Dems want their filibuster-proof majority they're going to need more than Spector and Al Franken to get it.

(15) "One of the amusing reactions to the right's demonization of opposing views is that a growing percentage of Americans like the idea of socialism. I doubt whether most know what socialism is..but they want universal health care and the right has called that socialism."

I don't think most Americans know what true Socialism is either, since from 1980 onwards the right has without letup perpetuated the idea that public policy even just a millimeter to the left of Reagan automatically qualifies as pinko, ultra-liberal free-love hippie anarchist atheist Bolshevik communist 1984 end-of-Western-civilization slavery. Give me a break...this sort of of take no prisoners, victory at all costs, scorched-earth political/religious/social fearmongering dogma is what has thrown the Republican party into the area of increasing irrelevancy. Meghan McCain is 100% spot on...the old guard of Cheney, Rove, Gingrich, etc. just DOESN'T GET IT. Looks like this could be the proverbial 40 years in the Wilderness for the GOP...maybe that will be enough time for that fat, bloated, doddering political elephant to slim down and provide leadership that looks forward, rather than fawning over the obsolete glories of the past.

(Oh, and by the way...GOP does not stand for God's Ordained Party. That realization is step #1 to liberating the party from the religious extremists who currently hold it hostage.)
Rattlesnakes, jackalope and a clean energy revolution 6:33pm on 11 Mar 2009 Did you actually sample any of the BBQ rattlesnake? And if so, did it taste like (organically-raised, free-ranging) chicken?

If you get the chance, gator-on-a-stick is another peculiarly southern American phenomenon...
Evolution vs creationism 10:21pm on 13 Feb 2009 #8 - sadly you are 100% correct, which is why a growing number of sensible Americans are fortunately turning away from Intelligent Design--which of course is simply Creationism disguised in a lab coat--and embracing Pastafarianism...as in, the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. (www.venganza.org) After all, if the notion that the universe was created and run by a Judeo-Christian God that nobody has so much as glimpsed for the entirety of man's existence can fly, so can that of a being of divine pasta which rewards its disciples in Heaven with a stripper factory and beer volcano. In the words of the prophet Bobby Henderson:

"I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence."

And one of my fellow Americans wrote this? I could swear its' cheekiness sounds much more British to me...
Obama's Republican fans 11:10pm on 18 Dec 2008 They're not going to need any pardons from President Obama, as most of them will likely already have gotten them from the one who currently resides in the White House. Despite the earlier promises of our our Constitutional monarch King George II (head of state and almost completely powerless, as recent history has shown) I have little doubt that he will pull a big page out of Bill Clinton's playbook and unleash a blizzard of pardons come January. The list will include Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rove, Rice, Libby, Gonzales...and that's just for starters. Of course, Georgie-Porgie almost doesn't have a choice, as this is pretty much the only way his people will remain beyond the reach of U.S. law. And, since my country would sooner go Communist before joining the ICC and be forced to behave like everybody else and abide by rules, these Nuremburg-worthy trolls will walk away scot-free. The final disgusting piece of the Bush legacy.

Funny how I have the sudden urge to stock up on spare pairs of shoes...
Breaking stereotypes with Cupcake 10:52pm on 03 Nov 2008 Cupcake, you would be a huge hit out here in California. Hope you enjoy the bit of fame that has been bestowed upon you...it really is funny how a moderate redneck from Florida can have his face plastered around the world by a British media outlet, huh?

Maybe the BBC can sponsor Cupcake on a goodwill tour of the UK? What about it, Matthew?
Crumbling bridges 11:26pm on 28 Oct 2008 It may shock some right-wingers to realize that this is part of the "spreading wealth around" that Senator Obama has referred to. For some reason, I seem to prefer this to the alternative (the spreading of limbs and internal organs around) that occurs when the bridge collapses.
Low blows 9:56pm on 14 Oct 2008 #4 Stephen Derry:

Absolutely spot-on correct. But of course this is to be expected when you have a right wing who is convinced that G.O.P. stands for "God's Ordained Party", and who conveniently overlook the fact that the Founding Fathers made it quite clear that Church and State do not mix. And who endorse the idea of America as the great melting pot, so long as the melting doesn't take place anywhere near them.

Soft, unimaginative, easily frightened and easily manipulated people--this is the Republican base. These are the people who buy the poisonous words of the likes of Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh hook, line and sinker. It would be sad if it weren't so utterly dangerous.
Getting angry 11:00pm on 10 Oct 2008 #4 - moderate_observer:

"Ive never heard of such anger on a campaign trail before. this is looking like something from the 60s."

Actually there's a much more recent reference: Karl Rove's out-and-out trashing of John McCain (and to a lesser extent, Al Gore) in the 2000 presidential race on behalf of then-governor Bush. It was Rove who let this evil genie out of the bottle, and the obliteration of political civility in this country is his legacy. He will no doubt be judged by future generations as one of the darker figures in American history. And, sad to say, Palin has picked up right where he left off. Not very surprising, since she doesn't seem to know what else to do--certainly not offer up a credible (or even vaguely coherent) policy.

To play on one of her more famous comments: what's the difference between Sarah Palin and Karl Rove? Lipstick.
I walk the line 10:54pm on 09 Oct 2008 #3 Reuben34g

To quote Rowan Atkinson: Tell me, have you ever visited the planet Earth, sir?

This gentleman takes the phrase "divorced from reality" to Bushian heights.

«Newer
Older»

^ Back to top

BBC MMVI

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

BBC.co.uk

BBC Blog Network

Find and talk to the BBC's bloggers.

User Profile

LAshutterbug