Smithers MINNEAPOLIS

Jessica Alba for Prez!

That’s fine Smithers but don’t start asking question about what we think (like your guest blogger who I won’t name). When we come to smithersmpls.com, we want the answers spoon fed to us.

Cool beans, man. One of the issues I’m most concerned with, and that I think is just as exciting as the main election, is the Democratic primary. I think everyone can agree that the war is stupid. But do people really believe that Hilary can take control and end it? Or the (relatively) new senator Obama can withstand all the attacks from the Republican side, which he will be much more open to being young and (relatively) radical? I still think Edwards is the guy who could best get the job done!

Are we so apathetic in this country that we no longer care that over 3700 soldiers have died and we have spent a sum approaching the cost of the Marshall Plan and achieved…what?

pretty much yeah

I love politics and am very interested in it, and I like that you blog about it, but for me and maybe others, it’s more about feeling helpless and disheartened. I like Barack a lot and right now he’s my top pick, but the election is still one year away and already he is starting to sound like a sound bite. Hilary always sounds like she’s yelling. -And on the Republican side, well the majority of the potential candidates doubt the theory of evolution and ALL of them (in the last debate that I watched) still don’t think gays should be allowed in the military. With all of that, I just feel tired and a little sad, and sometimes find myself tuning out, but I would hate for that behavior to label me as apathetic. I don’t get it either when folks don’t take an interest at all, but from time to time we all need a break from the madness.

Rudy G. is not exactly a social conservative Rebecca. I kind of doubt he would block gays from the military.

I am not going to get in any pissing match here. (this is why I don’t usually comment) But to be clear, in the last debate I watched,(I can probably find it on Utube if need be) that had all of the potential republican candidates on stage, they were all asked to raise their hand if they thought it was ok for gays to serve in the military. Not one of them raised their hand. Whether or not Rudy would allow it or not, he didn’t speak up in defense of it. My point above was only to say that the process of weeding through and finding what is “truth” or what is “good” gets hard and laborsome for those of us paying attention.

My buddy Bolstad is in Iraq so I stay worried about his safety. What do you want me to do? Write my congressman a letter? E-mail Tuffy? Can’t we just talk more about your weight problem?

For the most part, politics is why I’m here. So bring it, meat.

On the other hand, maybe now you don’t want to.

Bring it on!

Wait didn’t someone else say that…

Political discussion is a must. The major networks have become nothing more than entertainment. In fact, the most frustrating conversations I participate in involve those whose only news source is the television. How far back in our local rags do you have to turn to find the important topics?

Don’t let Guiliani’s putative moderation on social issues distract you — his proposed foreign policy is more of the Bush approach, without the restraint. I wholeheartedly support more politics, so long as adequate time is spent ridiculing candidates the mainstream keeps fawning over. (Let’s start with Rudy.)

“We’re at war and now isn’t the time to question our military’s admissions policy.” - Rudy Giuliani March 2007

So your implication is that he’s either in support of a nondiscriminatory military? (or is indifferent, one of the two)

Rudy G. is a threat to the social right. Take for example Concerned women in America who in 2001 lambasted him for living with two gay guys and recieving kisses on his way to work. Sounds like a real gay-basher to me.

He may not reverse this policy during a war, but I think thats reasonable.

Come on people. Don’t you know that love can build a bridge between your heart and mine? Wait…homme said I can’t ask anymore questions. Sorry homme. Do you think that’s fair? Discuss.

Why do I care what Giuliani’s views on gays are? The guy is a scumbag. Without 9/11 he would have been forgotten a long time ago.

You probably don’t care about Rudy’s views Jim R. I’m only throwing this out because Rebecca made it sound like all the Republicans are anti-gay. It’s simply not true. A couple of them (Rudy included) are socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

Smithers, it’s pretty clear your politics blind you for the most part and you’ve been drunk on democratic kool-aid for years…which just makes you one of the many..whether it be R or D.

How about a new twist this election season. Think of it as a recovery program. So put away the Bill Richardson for president pajamas you go nite nite in. Throw out all the Al Franken SNL VHS tapes you love so much…and try try try to no longer see the poltical landscape through ONE prism…

Continue your endless rant about Republicans. It’s generally good stuff and needs to be said. But now, turn that ever sharp wit and cynicism inward and expose all bullshit the Dem side does as well. That way you can actually be taken seriously by all. There are endless one sided outlets to tune into and they’re all basically noise at this point. Take yourself off that list.

Com’on Smithers! Impartiality can be yours. The truth will set you free. Keep hope alive. Rock over London, rock on Chicago…

Politics???? No way!!! Stick to telling us your heartrates during your track kierin madison standing team sprint persuits.

Seriously, I for one can’t wait.
Snide

Tressle,

So Giuliani loves gays and is a republican…isn’t that pathetic? I mean, here is a party that has exploited the concept of “the other”; has exploited sexuality while pointing to the other party as being overly sexualized, and stirred up hatred of gays and used alienation of human individuals to further their political ends. They introduced legislation and ballot initiatives in most states throughout the coutry in order to get those on “their side” opposed to “the godless other liberals who support homosexuality” out to vote so that they can maintain “their moral majority” and control of the government while they raped the country blind. Giuliani has ridden this republican wave as far as any other, so if you are going to defend Giuliani as some sort of pro-gay republican, I will say he is far greater a hypocrite than Senator Craig.

b2b,

I am actually genuinely pleased to hear your cynicism. I would like to clarify that the Richardson pajamas were mine, not Smithers. Smithers may wear Richardson pajamas also, but I have never seen Smithers in bedroom attire so I cannot comment on that. You seem to have a lot of knowledge about politics, governance, and public policy. I appreciate that. You seem to think that–with the choices we have–it is all the same, and it is all a loss. I would like for you to explain that further, and actually provide a reasonable alternative.

Damn it Jim, I’m a doctor, not a magician…

Well I’m a lover not a fighter, and it hasn’t stopped me from getting my ass kicked.

b2b, once again, you fuckin’ rock, dude.

B2B for Prez!

B2B
Once again, I call out to you to set forth what your democratic-free kool aid prism looks like. I am eager to hear what do you stand for and less of empty critiques of what you don’t like. For example: Which horse do you support for president and why. It could be some cool third party or non party candidate that nobody has heard of, please enlighten us. Eugene McCarthy is dead and not planning to run, as far as I know. Who escapes that taint of party politics that you speak of so often? Who among the masses is fit to govern?

If b2b were smart, he’d be supportin James H. McCall for President - and that goes for all of ya.

The guy sings songs about freedom, how cool is that!

You can bring Democratic BS to my attention and I will post and comment.

OK, I’m not b2b - but for starters, your opinion that the Democrats deserve every vote *not* cast for a Republican is pure BS….

The Republican platform is:

Anti-choice
Anti-minority
Anti-science
Anti-environment
Homophobic
Fundamentalist Christian
Pro-war

You’re so negative, Smithers. The Republican platform is:
Pro-life
Pro-majority
Pro-industry
Pro-Heterosexual
Pro-Jeebus
and Anti-Peace

That’s five things Republicans are for and only one against! Near complete positivity!

jeebus christ, i leave for a bit and the kool-aid kids call me out. wait, sans jim r, he could be part of the solution.

ok, here we go….

jim r

you pretty much nailed it. i don’t see much difference between the two major parties. honestly i think they attend the same parties and clink there glasses across the same table. politics is more of a big business than the corporate fucko’s that most people love to hate yet happen to work for.

as far as politics, goverance and public policy. i think the root cause of our current tale of woe is that the republicans and democrats operate solely in the political realm. goverance and public policy are now only tools to make the other side look bad. that i believe is the problem that needs to be fixed.

unfortunately, we the great unwashed masses refuse it seems, to address this and continue to believe that one side or the other can fix it if it weren’t for that pesky other side getting in their way. others would say that it is the great debate between the two parties that gives us the best legislation. keep drinking.

i don’t think there currenly is a reasonable alternative and i don’t think we will get one until we stop enabling the current maddness by blindly backing one party or another. sadly, i don’t think this will happen.

think of it, how different has it really been (in terms of public policy….and many other aspects) from vietnam until now? and if you believe there is, or things have progressed…..congratulations, you’re part of the problem.

ped
I must admit, the fact that my poltics are a mystery to you i take a sign that i’m on the right track. there is joy in this world…really. i’m not asking you not to be a democrat, i’m just asking you put down the blind rage and see that your side is fucking you too…and you should be upset about it.

Eugene McCarthy…he’s dead? what? your kidding.
empty critiques? sure, i suppose my not having picked a side gets your brain smoking and your head about to explode.

i haven’t decided who i will vote for….hell, maybe i’ll write you in. if there were a clever 3rd party candidate who was for limiting public service to 2 terms, i’d vote for that person. hmmmm funny how you don’t hear that from the R or the D’s. oh wait, i think the R’s were big on that til they got in power.

you, smithers, plan b, snide, etc. will vote for whomever the dems put up. and of course a bunch of repulican sheep will vote for whatever asshole they put up. yawn…….

smithers

ah yes, the key issues. do you really think the people you favor actually care about that shit. really?

yeah, that’s the rebublican platform. you’re right. i’m voting democratic for the rest of my life.

and as for your challenge, i’ll give you a simple one i’ve mentioned before to start out with. explain baseline budgeting (first, what it is) and why the democratic party would be in favor it it continuing until the end of time. if you can’t own up to that one you’ve truly gone off the cliff..

ok, i gotta go. gotta catch the last half of kieth oberman and then some fox news.