after george dubya

IanG · Post by **IanG** » 12 Oct 2008, 09:07

The mirror ran the headline after his re-election

Listening to Palin,....

chris25 · Post by **chris25** » 12 Oct 2008, 09:23

at this current moment in time, I very much doubt mr McCain will get in, I think an Obama victory is on the cards. Not that I care because Obama is as equally retarded as McCain. I havn't seen one sensible policy from any of them, and they both originate from elitist backgrounds and like every politician since WWII, they will do nothing for the people.

As someone who hates neo-conservatism and neo-liberalism, if I were a yank I simply wouldn't bother voting.

As for Bush.. yes he is an utter idiot and a mad man. How can people be so dumb to vote him in? Just like here, just like the last election voting in nu Lab, if people have their expensive houses, foreign holidays and widescreen TV's then they will vote to maintain the status quo. In the past big changes in political philosophy have only occured during uncertain economic conditions.

IanG · Post by **IanG** » 12 Oct 2008, 09:30

I was listening to some comedy and thought she can't be that bad....
so I looked for the original CBS interview and was stunned.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 12 Oct 2008, 14:10

chris25 wrote:if I were a yank I simply wouldn't bother voting.

As for Bush.. yes he is an utter idiot and a mad man. How can people be so dumb to vote him in?

Perhaps it wasn't so much that he got voted in as all the clever people simply didn't bother voting.

johnathome · Post by **johnathome** » 13 Oct 2008, 18:37

Oh good grief! She's not very good 'off the cuff' is she

I wouldn't mind a link for the complete interview.

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 13 Oct 2008, 19:59

johnathome wrote:Oh good grief! She's not very good 'off the cuff' is she

I wouldn't mind a link for the complete interview.

As she can't think of the name of a single newspaper when asked one does get the impression that her mind is tabula rasa except where filled with appropriate soundbite responses by her handlers.

Or she's one of those people who's mind goes blank and can't think when under pressure. Either way not a good qualification for somebody who might have to take over the top job if her pre-senile geriatric cancer patient boss keels over.

Ludwig · Post by **Ludwig** » 13 Oct 2008, 20:11

johnathome wrote:Oh good grief! She's not very good 'off the cuff' is she

I wouldn't mind a link for the complete interview.

What are you, some kind of masochist?!

IanG · Post by **IanG** » 14 Oct 2008, 07:46

johnathome wrote:Oh good grief! She's not very good 'off the cuff' is she

I wouldn't mind a link for the complete interview.

Interview

or better still

Debate

Tina Fey as Palin

johnathome · Post by **johnathome** » 14 Oct 2008, 20:10

Ludwig wrote:What are you, some kind of masochist?!

Thanks for the links

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 14 Oct 2008, 20:22

johnathome wrote: Thanks for the links

Another one for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMyNk8J1c8g

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 15 Oct 2008, 11:39

The more I read about the Americans and their election, the more I think that their phenomenal consumption of GMOs is having an direct effect on their IQs.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 15 Oct 2008, 15:45

emordnilap wrote:The more I read about the Americans and their election, the more I think that their phenomenal consumption of GMOs is having an direct effect on their IQs.

That's not fair on GMOs...bad political choices by Usonians pre-date GMOs by quite a few years.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 15 Oct 2008, 16:18

GMOs and pesticides then.

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 15 Oct 2008, 19:38

emordnilap wrote:The more I read about the Americans and their election, the more I think that their phenomenal consumption of GMOs is having an direct effect on their IQs.

alternatively...
The more I read about the Americans and their election, the more I think that their phenomenal consumption of Fox News is having an direct effect on their IQs.

I had a chance to experience it personally earlier this year. The style of presentation and editing seems specifically designed to stop you thinking. It's more akin to brainwashing techniques than anything else.

Complex issues are either ignored or compressed/trivialised to the point of nonsense. Trivial political point scoring blown up out of all proportion. All the talking points appear to be written by the White House press secretary.

Non mainstream opinion where not ignored is constantly ridiculed and given the looney tunes treatment.

I could only take it in quarter hour chunks. After that the editing, constantly whirling super saturated graphics and virulent right wing bias would start to make me feel nauseous.

Ludwig · Post by **Ludwig** » 15 Oct 2008, 20:13

skeptik wrote:
emordnilap wrote:The more I read about the Americans and their election, the more I think that their phenomenal consumption of GMOs is having an direct effect on their IQs.
alternatively...
The more I read about the Americans and their election, the more I think that their phenomenal consumption of Fox News is having an direct effect on their IQs.

I had a chance to experience it personally earlier this year. The style of presentation and editing seems specifically designed to stop you thinking. It's more akin to brainwashing techniques than anything else.

Complex issues are either ignored or compressed/trivialised to the point of nonsense. Trivial political point scoring blown up out of all proportion. All the talking points appear to be written by the White House press secretary.

Non mainstream opinion where not ignored is constantly ridiculed and given the looney tunes treatment.

I could only take it in quarter hour chunks. After that the editing, constantly whirling super saturated graphics and virulent right wing bias would start to make me feel nauseous.

I don't know if you've seen British TV news recently, but it's not much better. In particular the mandatory interview technique seems to be:
- Read a couple of opinionated newspaper editorials as "research".
- Hector and interrupt the people you're interviewing repeatedly so as to put them immediately on the defensive and ensure that they stick to their script.

Jon Snow was the one exception but I'm never home in time to see C4 News and I believe he tends to take a back seat to the young'uns these days. He showed that the best way of getting revealing answers from people is to politely lead them down blind alleys and then drop bombshell questions when they least expect it. The thing is, that takes skill and hard work (i.e. research), whereas it's much easier to be a sub-Paxman and just shout at people in the hope that viewers won't notice that you can't think on your feet.