What scares the f*ck out of you?

[Griff]

I'm sure the birthers will be consistent on this one.

[classicman]

Srsly, I don't like any of the "potential candidates" right now at all. In a country of 300,000,000 the best we got is another Clinton and Bush? We R Suck.

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by classicman

Srsly, I don't like any of the "potential candidates" right now at all. In a country of 300,000,000 the best we got is another Clinton and Bush? We R Suck.

You know what you are supposed to do in this situation, don't you?

Run. For election, or, away.

[DanaC]

The system as it is, is not a meritocracy - so no: they are not the best you have. They are just what you have.

[Lamplighter]

w^Dana^s

So, follow Dr Phil's advice
... Figure out what each one has done in the past,
... Expect them to do the same in the future.
... Then decide which comes the closest to what you would want.

It does no good to just complain about not having the perfect candidate.

( This is why I have to be a dick )

[xoxoxoBruce]

Nobody would want to suffer the slings and arrows of higher office if it weren't for an overblown ego and /or an ulterior motive.

[Griff]

I generally get more pissed about the stuff politicians get wrong than pleased with the things they get right. I suspect I'm not the only one. It isn't a great atmosphere to work in for normal people.

[DanaC]

I disagree - 'nobody' is too absolute. There are and will always be a small number of people in political office, even at the higher echelons, who are true believers with a strong desire for civic service.

But they are, and always will be, outnumbered by those motivated by personal ambition, tribal or corporate influence, greed, and/or self-regard.

And both seem outnumbered by those who combine elements of the two.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I disagree - 'nobody' is too absolute. There are and will always be a small number of people in political office, even at the higher echelons, who are true believers with a strong desire for civic service.

But they are, and always will be, outnumbered by those motivated by personal ambition, tribal or corporate influence, greed, and/or self-regard.

And both seem outnumbered by those who combine elements of the two.

Altruism doesn't make it past local politics over here.
Any office above that (county, state, national), are candidates who are bought & paid for "guided".

[Griff]

BIG D AND THE KIDS TABLE LYRICS
"Try Out Your Voice"
I was talking to a young man at a party in these war days
And he asked me my thoughts
I talked about peace, fighting for the people,
he scowled then walked away
Told me my views are fucked

We screamed, we cried, the message has amplified
But they won't hear the people's voice
We scream, we cry, the message has amplified
But they won't hear the people's voice
Come on suits it's time to show us something
You know it's time for better days
Come on suits it's time to show us something
Just get your hearts out front, and prove you're something

Remember being proud, remember feeling loved,
remember when leaders gave sacrifice
I believe all men don't have a price
Truth in the state of the union address
Truth in this political process
I should not have to sing for this

We screamed, we cried, the message has amplified
But they won't hear the people's voice
We scream, we cry, the message has amplified
But they won't hear the people's voice
Come on suits it's time to show us something
You know it's time for better days
Come on suits it's time to show us something
Just get your hearts out front, and prove you're something
Try out your voice, now use it, now use it, we are the people
Try out your voice, now use it, now use it, we are the people
Try out your voice, now use it, now use it, we are the people
Try out your voice, try out your voice, just try out your voice
Now use it, now use it, we are the people

[classicman]

You THINK you have to be a dick because you THINK you are morally or ethically or some other bullshit better than or smarter than others. You are wrong.
You have to be for only one reason, because you are.

[glatt]

?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Refers back to post 20, glatt.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by classicman

...You have to be for only one reason, because you are.

Yeah, and it's a hard life.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Griff

Ted Cruz, White House, maybe I over-react...

how about Ted Cruz on climate change and/or history?

I give you a reprint of an Open Letter From Galileo to Ted Cruz.

Late last night, Galileo’s skeletal hand (not the one that’s in a museum, the other one) reached out of a grave and gave me this letter. I reproduce it in full.

Dear Ted, Dear Everyone,
Please stop dragging me into this. Please, please stop.

I spent most of the afternoon spinning vigorously in my grave. If someone had hooked me up to a generator, I could have powered a small village.

I spun because Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) told the Texas Tribune the following, as transcribed by Kate Sheppard of the Huffington Post:

Ted, your grasp of history is as secure as your grasp of science.

This is so wrong. This is more wrong than the geocentric model of the universe, the thing I actually spent my life debunking. (We knew Earth wasn’t flat, dang it. Columbus had already sailed!) What I battled wasn’t a ruling scientific theory, either. It was religious dogma. I am not saying that those are opposites, but mistaking one for the other is like mistaking you for someone with an understanding of climate science.

In fact, when you say “accepted scientific wisdom the Earth is flat” you mean “non-accepted non-scientific not-wisdom that had nothing to do with the flatness of the Earth.” Other than that, though, accurate.

If this shook hands with the literal truth of what happened, they would both vanish.

It is an honor just to be remembered. So few of us historical figures are. But how do I put this? What is an analogy that will penetrate?

It’s like saying “by opposing vaccinations, I am just following in the footsteps of a heretic called Edward Jenner, who as we all know invented the light bulb.” This is like invoking Elizabeth Cady Stanton to support Men’s Rights Activism, but crediting her with Prohibition. It’s like saying, “I am a Democrat, just like Ronald Reagan, who of course won the Civil War.” You might as well thank Tesla every time you perform dark magic.

Look, I’m the last person who wants to get dogmatic about science. If the facts stop supporting the theory, scientists will change the theory. That’s how it works. Heck, I even recanted when I was right.

And I don’t care what you believe about the climate. I mean, I’m dead already. I don’t care what you do with the place. Just don’t use my name to lend yourself credibility. Once being forced into a lot of inaccurate statements by people whose grasp on science was lacking is enough.

Eppur si muove,

Galileo Galilei

Confidential to JB, HRC, RP, MR, RS, SW, CC or even BC or NG or SP or MO’M: Please, please get into this soon so that I do not have to write to Ted Cruz every day.