"See ya spine. Nice having you around."

[Guest MikeSC]

Let's say your driving on the interstate.

 

You're going 70 in a 65.

 

Behind you, some dude is LIVID because you're speeding --- but not enough for his happiness. You see him flipping you off and screaming at you.

 

Using your logic, you're to blame for him being pissed.

You just described what happens almost every time I get on the interstate. And hell yes I'm the reason the guy behind me is mad. He's also a lead-footed asshole, but he wouldn't be mad if I weren't there.

That is, to be generous, the most asinine thing I've ever heard.

 

It's not YOUR fault because some fucktard is irrational.

 

It's the fucktard's fault for being irrational.

-=Mike

[Jingus]

Mike, I didn't say that I was to BLAME and should be PUNISHED because the guy was mad. I'm just saying that I'm the reason the guy was mad.

[Guest MikeSC]

Mike, I didn't say that I was to BLAME and should be PUNISHED because the guy was mad. I'm just saying that I'm the reason the guy was mad.

But you're NOT. The guy is being irrational. It's HIS fault he's pissed. It's not YOUR fault.

-=Mike

...Ditto France --- who, to be generous, has hated EVERY American President over the years...

[Guest MikeSC]

Apparently, we replaced a fool with an invertabrae:

 

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is all but certain to press for a rule change that would ban filibusters of judicial nominations in the next few weeks, despite misgivings by some of his fellow Republicans and a possible Democratic backlash that could paralyze the chamber, close associates said yesterday.

 

The strategy carries significant risks for the Tennessee Republican, who is weighing a 2008 presidential bid. It could embroil the Senate in a bitter stalemate that would complicate passage of President Bush's agenda and raise questions about Frist's leadership capabilities. Should he fail to make the move or to get the necessary votes, however, Frist risks the ire of key conservative groups that will play big roles in the 2008 GOP primaries.

 

Frist feels he has no acceptable options to seeking the rule change unless there is a last-minute compromise, which neither party considers plausible, according to senators and aides close to the situation. "I think it's going to happen," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said this week, although he would prefer that Frist wait to allow more legislation to pass before the Senate explodes in partisan recriminations. Aides privy to senior Republicans' thinking concur with Thune.

 

Bull-fucking-shit. Either Frist is in need for some high powered viagra, or he's afraid of Senate Democrats pulling a Newt Gingrich scoarched earth strategy. This is the Republican party that came into office with the federal judiciary as high up on priorities for the Senate. And what they do in face of opposition? Jack. Shit.

 

Senate Democrats like Reid and Boxer have threatened to put the Senate on lockdown. Instead of standing up to the Dems, like he should, he wants to back down, making the whole party back down on its commitments, its promises, and its philosophy.

 

To hell with the national Republican party. Not only do they cozy up to larger and larger corporate interests (an anthemea to true free market capitalism), meddle in too many personal affairs, and lick the boots of those idiots that would politicize MY religion, now they don't even have the balls to stand up to moronic and juvenile tactics from the oppositon. The national party is not going to get a single penny from me until they find their backbone.

BTW, just to show people, Frist's biggest single problem is that he has NO leadership qualities whatsoever. What we're watching here is a Presidential hopeful proving himself unfit for the White House. The Senate might be the worst place to look for a candidate because NOBODY there has an iota of leadership.

 

Including Hillary and McCain.

-=Mike

...I said Rice early. I'll say it late. She's going to the be candidate...

[Jingus]

Okay, I'm not even sure exactly what we're arguing about anymore. My head hurts.

 

Paradigm shift: how about we replace the word "fault" with "catalyst"? In your example, Mike, if I changed my behavior (sped up) or if I wasn't there at all, the guy wouldn't be mad. Mathematically speaking, that does mean that I am the variable in this equation, and that the guy behind me is the constant. Ergo, the fact that I exist and am driving a car at 70 MPH in this apparently one-lane interstate is the reason why this guy is mad.

[Guest MikeSC]

Okay, I'm not even sure exactly what we're arguing about anymore. My head hurts.

 

Paradigm shift: how about we replace the word "fault" with "catalyst"? In your example, Mike, if I changed my behavior (sped up) or if I wasn't there at all, the guy wouldn't be mad. Mathematically speaking, that does mean that I am the variable in this equation, and that the guy behind me is the constant. Ergo, the fact that I exist and am driving a car at 70 MPH in this apparently one-lane interstate is the reason why this guy is mad.

And I'm arguing that irrational rage is the fault of the person who is feeling the rage, not of anybody else "causing" it.

-=Mike

[Jingus]

Okay, I'm not even sure exactly what we're arguing about anymore.  My head hurts. 

 

Paradigm shift: how about we replace the word "fault" with "catalyst"?  In your example, Mike, if I changed my behavior (sped up) or if I wasn't there at all, the guy wouldn't be mad.  Mathematically speaking, that does mean that I am the variable in this equation, and that the guy behind me is the constant.  Ergo, the fact that I exist and am driving a car at 70 MPH in this apparently one-lane interstate is the reason why this guy is mad.

And I'm arguing that irrational rage is the fault of the person who is feeling the rage, not of anybody else "causing" it.

-=Mike

Mike, I am not arguing about moral judgements here, I am arguing about cause and effect, can't you see that?!

[Guest MikeSC]

Okay, I'm not even sure exactly what we're arguing about anymore.  My head hurts. 

 

Paradigm shift: how about we replace the word "fault" with "catalyst"?  In your example, Mike, if I changed my behavior (sped up) or if I wasn't there at all, the guy wouldn't be mad.  Mathematically speaking, that does mean that I am the variable in this equation, and that the guy behind me is the constant.  Ergo, the fact that I exist and am driving a car at 70 MPH in this apparently one-lane interstate is the reason why this guy is mad.

And I'm arguing that irrational rage is the fault of the person who is feeling the rage, not of anybody else "causing" it.

-=Mike

Mike, I am not arguing about moral judgements here, I am arguing about cause and effect, can't you see that?!

And I'm arguing it's not cause and effect. I'm arguing it's irrationality. There is no reason for it.

-=Mike

[Jingus]

::pulls over and takes a nap::

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America]

Welcome to Current Events, where no one (or Mike) can even come to a logical conclusion if it was first suggested by someone who was initially arguing with him!

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

That would totally be Jingus' fault. Were he not there, I'd be able to go 85 like I wanted, and I'd be happy.

[Slayer]

Welcome to Current Events, where no one (or Mike) can even come to a logical conclusion if it was first suggested by someone who was initially arguing with him!

Bush r00lzors!

[Slayer]

...no wait, Bush suxx0rs!

[kkktookmybabyaway]

So I guess we can now blame Jingus for taking this thread off track.

 

Oh, and to answer this "guy mad at me for not going faster" question. If I was in the left-hand lane and there was zero traffic, then I would be at fault because you're supposed to go a bit faster in the left-hand lane, and 5 mph just won't cut it. However, if there's a buttload of traffic then the dillhole behind me can go fuck himself...

[Guest MikeSC]

Apparently, we replaced a fool with an invertabrae:

 

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is all but certain to press for a rule change that would ban filibusters of judicial nominations in the next few weeks, despite misgivings by some of his fellow Republicans and a possible Democratic backlash that could paralyze the chamber, close associates said yesterday.

 

The strategy carries significant risks for the Tennessee Republican, who is weighing a 2008 presidential bid. It could embroil the Senate in a bitter stalemate that would complicate passage of President Bush's agenda and raise questions about Frist's leadership capabilities. Should he fail to make the move or to get the necessary votes, however, Frist risks the ire of key conservative groups that will play big roles in the 2008 GOP primaries.

 

Frist feels he has no acceptable options to seeking the rule change unless there is a last-minute compromise, which neither party considers plausible, according to senators and aides close to the situation. "I think it's going to happen," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said this week, although he would prefer that Frist wait to allow more legislation to pass before the Senate explodes in partisan recriminations. Aides privy to senior Republicans' thinking concur with Thune.

 

Bull-fucking-shit. Either Frist is in need for some high powered viagra, or he's afraid of Senate Democrats pulling a Newt Gingrich scoarched earth strategy. This is the Republican party that came into office with the federal judiciary as high up on priorities for the Senate. And what they do in face of opposition? Jack. Shit.

 

Senate Democrats like Reid and Boxer have threatened to put the Senate on lockdown. Instead of standing up to the Dems, like he should, he wants to back down, making the whole party back down on its commitments, its promises, and its philosophy.

 

To hell with the national Republican party. Not only do they cozy up to larger and larger corporate interests (an anthemea to true free market capitalism), meddle in too many personal affairs, and lick the boots of those idiots that would politicize MY religion, now they don't even have the balls to stand up to moronic and juvenile tactics from the oppositon. The national party is not going to get a single penny from me until they find their backbone.

So, Cereb, given the debacle of Voinovich's refusal to vote for Bolton because he "missed meetings", is there any reason, whatsoever, for anybody to ever support Frist again? Is the leader can't get something as simple as a UN appointment through the Senate, what the hell good is he?

 

I thought Lott was a weak leader --- until I saw Frist in action. Under Frist, the GOP has managed to let a minority run the Senate.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk]

Okay, Mike, all bickering aside, I want your honest opinion on something...

 

Does being Senate majority leader help or hurt Frist's chances of becoming Republican nominee in 2008, especially if his term ends in 2007?

[Guest MikeSC]

Okay, Mike, all bickering aside, I want your honest opinion on something...

 

Does being Senate majority leader help or hurt Frist's chances of becoming Republican nominee in 2008, especially if his term ends in 2007?

Frist has no shot, whatsoever, of winning the nomination. None. He has demonstrated an utter lack of leadership and there is nothing he can do to correct that. I don't think being the majority leader helped him --- but he would be an utter no-name if he wasn't and, thus, would have no shot then, either.

 

I honestly believe that neither party will nominate a Senator anytime in the near future.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk]

Okay, Mike, all bickering aside, I want your honest opinion on something...

 

Does being Senate majority leader help or hurt Frist's chances of becoming Republican nominee in 2008, especially if his term ends in 2007?

Frist has no shot, whatsoever, of winning the nomination. None. He has demonstrated an utter lack of leadership and there is nothing he can do to correct that. I don't think being the majority leader helped him --- but he would be an utter no-name if he wasn't and, thus, would have no shot then, either.

 

I honestly believe that neither party will nominate a Senator anytime in the near future.

-=Mike

I know you've pushed for C. Rice in the past, but in the event she does not choose to run, do you have a probable alternative?

[Guest MikeSC]

Okay, Mike, all bickering aside, I want your honest opinion on something...

 

Does being Senate majority leader help or hurt Frist's chances of becoming Republican nominee in 2008, especially if his term ends in 2007?

Frist has no shot, whatsoever, of winning the nomination. None. He has demonstrated an utter lack of leadership and there is nothing he can do to correct that. I don't think being the majority leader helped him --- but he would be an utter no-name if he wasn't and, thus, would have no shot then, either.

 

I honestly believe that neither party will nominate a Senator anytime in the near future.

-=Mike

I know you've pushed for C. Rice in the past, but in the event she does not choose to run, do you have a probable alternative?

Probable alternatives?

 

CO Gov. Owens is possibility. Colin Powell could be a MAJOR longshot (stress the phrase "major longshot"). Jeb Bush could be a possibility. I think Mark Sanford (Gov. of SC) could be an insanely big sleeper choice --- though a VP nomination is a far more likely scenario.

 

I will say McCain and Giuliani are dead in the water before a primary starts.

-=Mike

[SuperJerk]

Traditionally, the Republicans nominate whichever candidate has the highest profile...

 

...it doesn't sound like anyone nationally famous will even run.

 

Interesting.

[Guest MikeSC]

Traditionally, the Republicans nominate whichever candidate has the highest profile...

 

...it doesn't sound like anyone nationally famous will even run.

 

Interesting.

The GOP either goes with biggest name or who is "due" (see Dole, Bob in 1996).

 

The GOP is laden with exceptionally solid candidates for 2008.

-=Mike

[Vyce]

CO Gov. Owens is possibility. Colin Powell could be a MAJOR longshot (stress the phrase "major longshot"). Jeb Bush could be a possibility. I think Mark Sanford (Gov. of SC) could be an insanely big sleeper choice --- though a VP nomination is a far more likely scenario.

*bangs head against wall*

 

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO.