[Ace]

Originally posted by .::Tin Can::.
I enjoy watching the Republican Convention on TV, and not all of it is rock and pop bands. They show up as basically the intermission between segments. Instead of letting everyone stand around for 5, 10, maybe 30 minutes, they put on entertainment.

But when you compare the two conventions, Democratic ones were more of a Bush-whacking ceremony, whereas this one is not a Kerry-hating ceremony.

Yeah, more of an everybody who isn't a card-carrying member of the Party-hating ceremony

Afterall, you can't just accuse the folks of hating only Gays and Muslims

[.::Tin Can::.]

Call it what you want Ace, but I still enjoy watching it and listening to what the people have to say, and nearly cried watching the Ronald Regan video.

[Rictor]

in my opinion, the Democratic convention was not Bush-bashing enough.

I mean, you have someone who is widely regarded as the worst American president in recent memory. And they let him off the hook by taking positions that are the same or actually to the right of him. The Democrats are letting Bush off easy, and I resent that.

[MatthewPapa]

they dont make fun of him enough because there is not enough to make fun of......

[Rictor]

Originally posted by .::Tin Can::.
Call it what you want Ace, but I still enjoy watching it and listening to what the people have to say, and nearly cried watching the Ronald Regan video.

but...but...they're lying. Its so obvious they're lying. The whole thing is a PR set-up, there isn't a single line or a single haircut that the image consultants haven'ty double-checked. Its no insincere. Its not about the issues, its about Jenna's jokes, and the "image" that Laura Bush puts forward. Its about Arnie acting tough, and simple lines that people can remember and cheer for.

Seriously, Tiara said it best, its like watching the MTV awards. Politics is supposed to mean something, but instead everyone is focusing on whether Kerry spent Christmas 500m left of the border or 500m right of the border. Its all about personality and image, and the actual policies are secondary.

[MatthewPapa]

The whole purpose of the convention is to attract attention and get everybody fired up. I dont really see whats so bad about the showy stuff, as long as it doesnt get out of hand (which it didnt.)

[.::Tin Can::.]

No, Rictor, they are not lying. In fact if anyone on either side of politics is lying, it is most likely Kerry. Second, Bush is not the worst president in history. In fact he has done better than Clinton EVER could have done as president, and yet he was viewed as "Quite good in his position".  Give it a rest already. No one cares if Bush screwed up a few words in his speech or didnt follow what was good at the moment, which is what Kerry is GOING to do. I would much rather have someone like Bush in office then someone who is more likely to screw this country like Kerry.

[Rictor]

for the last time, I am criticizing Kerry as much or more than Bush.

How can you possibly believe Arnie's "When Nelson Mandela was let out of prison, America was there with him. When the berlin wall fell, America was there" BS. They are faking some sort of value or principals, when in fact it is very obvious that they (they meaning politicians) have none.

My only comfort is that hardly anyone outside of the US takes this stuff seriously.

[Knight Templar]

Are you guys watching tonights' (wed) ? This Democrat Turncoat Senator is really funny.

[.::Tin Can::.]

I was watching the RNC about 20 minutes ago before I came up, played some NS, then checked out the boards. What confuses me is how a lot of non-Americans even CARE about our politics. I rarely (if ever) see anyone saying how they can run Germany, France, Australia, or England's politics better other than the people who live in the country themselves. If you dont live here and havent even visited America, dont think you know what is better for us when you have not even stepped foot on the ground we walk every day. I would never in my life make a topic *****ing about British, German, or French politics and how much they suck and how much more intelligent I am over your political system, and how I know better than all of you. I wouldnt do it, and neither should you.

[vyper]

[q]and nearly cried watching the Ronald Regan video.[/q]

So did half of Indo-China.

[Rictor]

yes, but do you think that American politics affects only Americans? thats why you never hear people talking about French or Swedish politics, or in any case not as much, because whatever they decide affect only their citizens. But what the US decides affects the whole world.

Now, if you're a nation who is in good standing with the US (such as Britain or uh....Britain), or is powerful enough to protect its sovereignty (such as Russia or China), then you have less to worry about. But if you are not powerful enough, be it economically, militarilly or politically, to guard against foreign influence on your nation's politics (say...Bulgaria for example. Or Haiti), then you are deeply concerned with what happens in Washington.

[vyper]

[q]I rarely (if ever) see anyone saying how they can run Germany, France, Australia, or England's politics better other than the people who live in the country themselves.[/q]

Meet the neoliberal left and WTO-based right, they call it "old Europe" and accuse nations of being cowards for wanting no part in a pointless war.

[vyper]

[q](such as Britain or uh....Britain)[/q]

I refer you to Sun Tzu. Know your enemy.

[.::Tin Can::.]

Originally posted by Rictor
yes, but do you think that American politics affects only Americans? thats why you never hear people talking about French or Swedish politics, or in any case not as much, because whatever they decide affect only their citizens. But what the US decides affects the whole world.

Now, if you're a nation who is in good standing with the US (such as Britain or uh....Britain), or is powerful enough to protect its sovereignty (such as Russia or China), then you have less to worry about. But if you are not powerful enough, be it economically, militarilly or politically, to guard against foreign influence on your nation's politics (say...Bulgaria for example. Or Haiti), then you are deeply concerned with what happens in Washington.

Yes, and Im sure any minute now, we are going to mobilize ALL of our troops on an immediate attack on Germany, France, and all European nations within weeks, due to the simple fact that we dont like them.

[MatthewPapa]

Originally posted by .::Tin Can::.
I was watching the RNC about 20 minutes ago before I came up, played some NS, then checked out the boards. What confuses me is how a lot of non-Americans even CARE about our politics. I rarely (if ever) see anyone saying how they can run Germany, France, Australia, or England's politics better other than the people who live in the country themselves. If you dont live here and havent even visited America, dont think you know what is better for us when you have not even stepped foot on the ground we walk every day. I would never in my life make a topic *****ing about British, German, or French politics and how much they suck and how much more intelligent I am over your political system, and how I know better than all of you. I wouldnt do it, and neither should you.

Nicely said .
Even if there is a ripple effect, Americans are usually concerned about what happens to them first and their allies second. If it was the other way around I would be very concerned.

[vyper]

[q]due to the simple fact that we dont like them[/q]

Son, it doesn't always rely on military power. It's called politics.

[Rictor]

did I say germany or france? No, they are both in good standing and powerful enough to have their way. I was reffering to Latin American nations, East European nations, some Middle-East and South Asian nations and most of Africa.

now, these are the ones to hav to feat direct intervention (rarely military, its usually more subtle than that). However, there is hardly a single country, including the above mentioned "immune ones" that will not in some way be affected by American politics. Can the same be said of Norway or Scotland?

[vyper]

[q]Can the same be said of Norway or Scotland?[/q]

You what? *gets out Union Jack and waves menacingly* What you meaning?

[.::Tin Can::.]

Rictor, we didnt attack Iraq because we didnt like them, the guy running them, or how their political system was put together. We attacked because they had fairly obvious links to Al Queida, and we made it VERY clear at the start of the war we would attack anyone who harbors or supports terrorsists, so that was his final warning. Comply or die. We also liberated the rest of the people in the process of bringing down the guy who funded them pretty heftly.