City Paper gives reporters 10 rules for Stewart/Colbert rally

[Keino]

Originally Posted by tuckahoeskin

Moderate conservatives?

Correct. People more right than middle, but definitely right leaning as compared to a moderate liberal but left of the staunchly conservative.

[justinskins]

Originally Posted by cal_junior

Political ideology aside, it is hard to disagree with the premise of the rally: That being our country would be in dramatically better shape if the discourse was less extreme.

I might take issue with that premise.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by justinskins

I might take issue with that premise.

Well, then you're no different than Hitler! lol

[Keino]

All 3 of you sound like the SS.

[akhhorus]

Originally Posted by Keino

All 3 of you sound like the SS.

Thats the kind of rhetoric that I'm come to expect from bloodthirsty gay raping Stalinists like you.

[justinskins]

Originally Posted by akhhorus

Well, then you're no different than Hitler! lol

Stop trying to silence me with your Gestapo tactics.

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by justinskins

I might take issue with that premise.

The floor is yours . . .

[justinskins]

Originally Posted by cal_junior

The floor is yours . . .

There's a feeling common to many left-of-center folks that the great problem with politics is a lack of civility and rationality. In particular, there's a longing for a JFK-style approach to policy, in which enlightened technocrats and their supporters in civil society can solve the serious problems we face. In that worldview, rational political discussion among elected officials, and their well-informed constituents, serves as a complement to such efforts. That's a view I used to share, and which I increasingly believe is naive and frankly utopian, in addition to being rather elitist.

In reality, politics require a lot of struggle, some of it in the upper reaches of government and academia, and some of it in the gutter. Global warming, continued racial inequality, poverty, the excesses of finance capitalism--solving such problems is impossible without overcoming the determined resistance from those who benefit from ignoring or perpetuating them. There is a very vocal and powerful right-wing that will do whatever it takes to prevent such problems from being solved.

In my mind, the calls for political civility by liberals reflect the same foolishness that led Obama to make overtures to the Republicans, who were plainly never interested in compromise (except insofar as "compromise" meant bowing completing to their agenda). It also leads to half-measures like the health-care bill, which has invigorated the Republican opposition (which is generally quite content to let people get sick as long as the state doesn't have to pay for it), while doing little to inspire excitement among their own base (did they really expect liberals to fall in love with RomneyCare?).

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by justinskins

There's a feeling common to many left-of-center folks that the great problem with politics is a lack of civility and rationality. In particular, there's a longing for a JFK-style approach to policy, in which enlightened technocrats and their supporters in civil society can solve the serious problems we face. In that worldview, rational political discussion among elected officials, and their well-informed constituents, serves as a complement to such efforts. That's a view I used to share, and which I increasingly believe is naive and frankly utopian, in addition to being rather elitist.

In reality, politics require a lot of struggle, some of it in the upper reaches of government and academia, and some of it in the gutter. Global warming, continued racial inequality, poverty, the excesses of finance capitalism--solving such problems is impossible without overcoming the determined resistance from those who benefit from ignoring or perpetuating them. There is a very vocal and powerful right-wing that will do whatever it takes to prevent such problems from being solved.

In my mind, the calls for political civility by liberals reflect the same foolishness that led Obama to make overtures to the Republicans, who were plainly never interested in compromise (except insofar as "compromise" meant bowing completing to their agenda). It also leads to half-measures like the health-care bill, which has invigorated the Republican opposition (which is generally quite content to let people get sick as long as the state doesn't have to pay for it), while doing little to inspire excitement among their own base (did they really expect liberals to fall in love with RomneyCare?).

None of this sounds like you think having a more measured, pragmatic conversation is a bad thing. Just that you don't see it happening.

I guess I probably agree that the goals of this rally aren't realistic. The ratings Fox News gets are evidence lots and lots (and lots) of people don't care about honest dialog.

I'm just happy a few guys with big microphones are giving it a shot.

[RedskinsDave]

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

I was thinking about attending when they were billing it as a rally for moderates. This country needs that so desperately. I'm not really interested in attending a rally for either side side if it promotes the same old partisan bickering.

Originally Posted by Keino

Precisely. And precisely why moderate conservatives, who are also sick of the tone of the discourse in this country will likely attend.

There won't be moderate anythings there. Its a big jolly, liberal laugh fest that will do nothing but make cracks at people they disagree with. You can choose to buy the whole meme that its not political but it most certainly is. It also is making no effort to calm the discourse. I can be really funny while I rip someone to shreds. Its even easier when the audience is at the edge of their seats just waiting for me to do it.

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by RedskinsDave

There won't be moderate anythings there. Its a big jolly, liberal laugh fest that will do nothing but make cracks at people they disagree with.

It also is making no effort to calm the discourse. I can be really funny while I rip someone to shreds.

I'll be stunned if any of these predictions turn out to be true. These guys are too smart to sell a rally based on a desire for rationale, non-partisan dialog and then do just the opposite with national TV cameras rolling.

You can say a lot of things about Stewart and Colbert, but neither of them are dumb men.

[RedskinsDave]

Originally Posted by cal_junior

I'll be stunned if any of these predictions turn out to be true. These guys are too smart to sell a rally based on a desire for rationale, non-partisan dialog and then do just the opposite with national TV cameras rolling.

You can say a lot of things about Stewart and Colbert, but neither of them are dumb men.

I won't hold my breath for the jokes on Obama. They know their audience and will save their dem shots for folks like Reid and Pelosi.

[justinskins]

Originally Posted by cal_junior

None of this sounds like you think having a more measured, pragmatic conversation is a bad thing. Just that you don't see it happening.

It's a very pretty ideal, one that I've found very attractive in the past. But the ideal can be bad if it keeps liberals from fighting as hard (and sometimes as dirty) as they need to.

[cal_junior]

Originally Posted by RedskinsDave

I won't hold my breath for the jokes on Obama. They know their audience and will save their dem shots for folks like Reid and Pelosi.

If the pre-rally build-up is any indication, the majority of the jokes will be about how the the country actually isn't a collection of terrorist Muslims, narrow-minded rednecks and America-hating Socialists. The idea that Democrat and Republican voters are unable to talk about problems without biting each other's head's off will be the great evil.

Media (rather than politicians) will get the brunt of the abuse and I'm guessing they'll make point not to spend the entire time talking about Beck and Limbaugh. If it turns into a Fox News bashfest they won't be able to assume the intellectual higher ground they're going for.

[BurgundyNGold]

Originally Posted by RedskinsDave

There won't be moderate anythings there. Its a big jolly, liberal laugh fest that will do nothing but make cracks at people they disagree with. You can choose to buy the whole meme that its not political but it most certainly is. It also is making no effort to calm the discourse. I can be really funny while I rip someone to shreds. Its even easier when the audience is at the edge of their seats just waiting for me to do it.

I liked the original premise of the rally. It was initially meant to be a parody of the heavy handed, incendiary rhetoric of Beck on the mall. Calling those kind of people out for their scorched earth political policies is a good idea. What it has morphed into since I have no interest in.

It's ironic, actually. The tea baggers have hijaaked the conservative movement, which led to Beck's rally. Stewart/Colbert's parodic response rally meant to call out Beck's hipocrisy and to promote the middle promptly gets hijaaked by the Ariana Huffingtons of the world for the liberal cause.

BTW, anyone who thinks that Glenn Beck is the only opportunistic douche who leverages political idealism for his own personal gain should look left at Arian Huffingotn. But do so quickly before she moves again.