We Need More Political Rhetoric, Not Less

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

The Rodeo Clown Posse was led out of Tucson in a cloud of dust with a hay-burning frenzy by Arizona's Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik. Close in tow were hyper-boiling politicians and the usual lefty print and TV media cowboys such as Rep. James Clyburn, columnist Paul Krugman, TV antagonista Chris Matthews, and even our own Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. These tin-star constables couldn't get on their donkeys fast enough to round up the usual outlaws. ...

If political speech were not poignant, direct, explicit, colorful, indeed overheated and frequently uncomfortable and unwelcome -- short of libelous and directly life-threatening -- it wouldn't need to be protected, would it? ...

Speech of all types -- political or otherwise -- is protected because it forms the fundamental platform for sustaining the marketplace of ideas without which a democratic republic cannot survive. That's not to say that all ideas are equally elegant or elegantly expressed, or even that they deserve to be heard. But most ideas, even if clumsily expressed or devoid of merit, whether asserted gently or forcefully, deferentially or in your face, form the nutrient-rich red blood cells of our great nation's discourse. ...

Read Full Article: www.americanthinker.com/2011/01/we_need_more_political_rhetori.html

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...interesting take, huh? I'm not so sure I want to "ratchet up" any rhetoric on my part... but I do wonder if I say the same 'ol, same 'ol, would it be perceived as ratcheted up by those who think I should be ratcheting down...

[billisonboard]

Isn't it amazing how both sides love to tell the other side to stop saying what they are saying.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

...amazing how that works, huh?
...but I'm still curious about the hows and whys of fostering more dialogue, especially in today's environment...

[rockon]

I still subscribe to the theory that most distrust and contempt of elected officials is based on their actions more then their words. It seems to be common knowledge and apparently accepted that what they say is not necessarily the truth or at least not the whole truth. I

[billisonboard]

I personally subscribe to the theory that most district and contempt of elected officials is a knee jerk reaction that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

[rockon]

It is similar to the used car salesman who deals with the stigma everyday that used car dealers are crooked or the fisherman that no one believes just because fisherman have been known to stretch the story a little. There are many elected officials out there who have been caught in bald face lies, corruption or ethic violations and yet they walk away and sometimes even get re elected due to apathy or other reasons. This doesn't mean every fisherman lies or that every used car salesman is crooked or that every politician is evil but there are way to many who are and it has created a huge distrust and lots of anger towards them and the government as a whole. It is really up to them to change the way business is conducted before that perception will change.

[rockon]

billioson, Are you suggesting that there is not distrust and contempt for elected officials or are you stating there is no grounds for this contempt? There are many examples in the recent months and years of corruption within our own government and I don't think it would be a knee jerk reaction to expect better from them.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

At some point, "political rhetoric" is sort of like those annoying political television ads that pop up every election cycle ~ people may watch (briefly), then they either tune them out or change the channel.

[billisonboard]

Jan 12, 2011 15:43:48 GMT -5 rockon said:

billioson, Are you suggesting that there is not distrust and contempt for elected officials or are you stating there is no grounds for this contempt? There are many examples in the recent months and years of corruption within our own government and I don't think it would be a knee jerk reaction to expect better from them.

Step one-the knee jerk reaction:
Politicians are not trustworthy and are contemptable.
Person X is a politician.
Therefore person X is not trustworthy and is contemptable.

Step two/part one - the self-fulfilling prophecy:
Policicians are not trustworthy and are contemptiable.
I am trustworthy and not contemptable.
Therefore I will not be a politician and run for office.

Step two/part two - the selfr-fulfilling prophecy:
Policicians are not trustworthy and are contemptiable.
I am not trustworthy and am contemptable.
Therefore I will be a politician and run for office.

[rockon]

Now I'm concerned about you!

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

It's pretty clear this shooter was NOT politically motivated. He was just a loon. It's also pretty clear that the incompetent sheriff IS politically motivated AND a loon.