[joemama]

What matters is that they are unable to control their distaste and/or want to make the Dixie Chicks scared/think before they speak

Why are they unable to control their distaste and/or want to make the Dixie Xhicks scared/think before they speak? Could it have anything to do with a recent addition to the Republican political ethos that merges any political dissent with lack of patriotism? Could it be the numerous right-wing talk show hosts that were whipping the Republican listeners into a frothe of fear and anger? Could it be that the radio stations that were organizing this villification just happen to be owned and operated by close Republican friends of the president?

Come on, bud. If Rush, O'Reilly, and plenty of Republicans across the country can call the antiglobalization rioters "liberal extremists", I can call Republican extremists Rethugnicans.

You still did not counter my position.

That kind of thinking is the same kind that breeds racism. "A nigger stole my bike." No, a thief stole your bike, the fact that he's "a nigger" has nothing to do with it.

You know, it would if people were BORN REPUBLICAN!!! You see, membership in a political party is a choise of the member. The person believes the ideas of the party and generally agrees with the party platform. Therefore, disagreesing with a person because of their political party is the same as disagreement about a person's point of view.

This is different from racism in that race is an inate, inalterable characteristic of a person - and not a statement about the person's point of view.

God King" moniker for President Bush is ridiculous

Yes it certainly is - as is the deferment of any criticism of the president, credulous faith in his statements, and villification of his critics.

Would people have been up in arms if Natalie Maines said: "I am ashamed that Jimmy Carter is from Arkansas"? Of course not. This is my point. George washington was called a "jackass" by his critics - and this was while the Union could still easily fall. This president is not critically analyzed and many wingnuts think he is chosen by God. Why is "God King" such a horrible thing to call the president.

Wasn't a large swath of the media calling Bill Clinton "slick willy"?

If I said, "why would anyone believe somebody like that ReThugnican prick, Dave?", this would be an ad hominem attack. In this sense - instead of presenting an argument against your position, I am attacking your person.

If I said, "I call the rabidly jingoistic subpopulation of the Republican party 'Rethugnicans'." This would not be an ad hominem attack. I am not trying to counter an argument made by an opponent in a debate by calling them a name. I am making a sarcastic statement about a large group of people that may not necessarily exist - and may not necessarily be represented on this board. Using terms like "Rethugnicans" is sarcastic and disrespectful, but it is not racist.

I think you are a fucking idiot

This is an ad hominem attack. I am glad you are learning, Dave.

Why? Because I don't need to know all about your motivations and your reasoning, because I've seen it hundreds of times before

This is stereotyping. I guess you must be a racist, too - by your reckoning. If you say that black people all support the Rainbow coalition or that they all love watermelon because you've "seen it hundreds of times before", you must be a racist.

based not upon what a person says but an affiliation or lack thereof

Funny. I love the irony in your post. I guess you do have a sense of humor.

All Republicans are thugs. All Mexicans are lazy. All blacks steal.

I love how you equate a statement I made - directed at a certain subpopulation - with racism. What I love more is that you bring up these nasty little sterotypes to bolster your opinion. Who is really the racist here?

And when we boil it down, it's always some asshole who's so rabid with his views as to be unable to accept facts that are contrary to his opinion. Wow, what wonderful people to have around

You looking in the mirror there, bub? I think I have been ready to accept any facts that are contrary to my opinion - I think I have expressed that across this board. If I disagree, I try to create a logical argument that supports my position. I am not perfect, and I am bound to occasionally make a faulty argument, but I don't just dismiss opposing points of view out of turn.

you've demonstrated it numerous times. "God King", "Rethugnicans"

Maybe my math is off, but by my count, that makes 2 statements. I think I have typed at least a thousand words across this site - so I think about .2 % of my posted text has contained such horrible displays of racism and bad logic. I am terribly sorry for my rampant racism and ferocious stereotyping.

you yourself must resort to calling names to discredit people

If the president is a liar, a bully, and a conveniently religious poltician - who leads like a king - who many think was chosen by God, is it wrong to call him such things? If a group of people in a political party associate vanadalism, and terror against an artist with their participation in political activity, is it wrong to call them on that?

I think you need to lighten up dave.

You're the self-satisfied liberal that rages against "the right" without using your brain whatsoever

Care to back up your claims with arguments that clarify your position a bit, or is it enough for you to call me names, attack my intellect, and pidgeonhole my point of view? This statement reminds me of somthing about Pots calling Kettles black - I don;t know, maybe its just me.

If George Bush said that he wanted to start spraying food plants with dihydrogen monoxide to increase their yield, you would probably be vehemently against it until you realized that it's just water

What a great quip. You seem to have the whole pigeonholing thing down pat. Now you can move on to other logical fallacies.

Yes, I think you are a sheep.

Odd thing about sheep. They generally follow whatever the rest of the herd is doing. When it is time for war, the sheep jump to war. When it is time for peace, the sheep jump behind peace. When it is time for a tax cut, the sheep jump behind the tax cut.

Sheep don't usually have reasons for their positions. They just assume their role. Sheep don't usually fight. Sheep don't argue back.

What makes you think I am a sheep?