Speaking of politicians...

Chris Losinger

here's a story from Slate that describes Republicans trying shouting down the war vs. Milosovic. note that in this piece, the Republicans sound exactly like the anti-war crowd these days (or what you expect the Democrats to sound like once the war gets going - just in time for the presidential election race). you might think it was put together recently to show some kind of ironic role-reversal: ie. those evil Republicans are just playing politics, just like the Democrats are these days, etc.. and, indeed it was. http://slate.msn.com/id/27730/[^] ...but then look at the date it was published: May, 1999. it's an ironic role-reversal piece, but one contrasting Kosovo vs. GW I, not the upcoming DubyaDubya III. the last paragraph is almost too good to be true: "Some Democrats call Republicans who make these arguments unpatriotic. Republicans reply that they're serving their country by debunking and thwarting a bad policy administered by a bad president. You can be sure of only two things: Each party is arguing exactly the opposite of what it argued the last time a Republican president led the nation into war, and exactly the opposite of what it will argue next time." ain't politics grand? -c

When history comes, it always takes you by surprise.

Bobber!

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Most politicians are scum. Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Jorgen Sigvardsson

Chris Losinger wrote: ain't politics grand? A good politician tells the public what the majority wants to hear. When they don't, they lose the election. [edit]Clarification: As Anna just said; politicians are scum. Just because they're good, it doesn't mean they're not scum. And yet we vote for the bastards. [/edit] -- Uh huh. Yeah.

Roger Wright

If a non-scum individual runs for election, does he/she automatically become scum by running, or by being elected? Or does that occur the first time a decision is made that you disagree with? Clarify, please!;P It is ok for women not to like sports, so long as they nod in the right places and bring beers at the right times.
Paul Watson, on Sports - 2/10/2003

Jorgen Sigvardsson

I will clarify my viewpoint: Politicians may start out as a good people. They have visions and ideals they want to persue. However, after a couple of years constantly fighting the ugly system, they have to choices:

Resign and do something else, and stay a good person
or they can continue as corrupted politicians

And then there are of course natural scumbags. But they don't need politics as an occupation, they do just fine without it. It comes natural to them. :) -- Uh huh. Yeah.

Marc Clifton

If a non-scum individual runs for election, does he/she automatically become scum by running, or by being elected? No. Non-scum individuals never win elections. Marc Help! I'm an AI running around in someone's f*cked up universe simulator.
Sensitivity and ethnic diversity means celebrating difference, not hiding from it. - Christian Graus
Every line of code is a liability - Taka Muraoka
Microsoft deliberately adds arbitrary layers of complexity to make it difficult to deliver Windows features on non-Windows platforms--Microsoft's "Halloween files"

KaRl

Hum.. IMHO it's too easy to spit on them: we have the politicians we deserve :rose:

Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

benjymous

I've always believed in the principle that the only person who should be allowed to have power is the person who least wants it. Anyone who craves power must have alterior motives -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!

brianwelsch

I agree, Karl, in a democracy we have very little room to complain. BW "We get general information and specific information, but none of the specific information talks about time, place or methods or means..." - Tom Ridge - US Secretary of Homeland Security

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

I've always thought the same thing. Even if a politician appears to be sincere, the party line effectively forces them to duck questions and be adversarial. Put a bunch of politicans together in a debate and they act like children. I hate it, I really do. :( Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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