Arizona Memorial Service

[PapaG]

Actually, the Doctor was misquoted in PapaG's post (shock!); this was indeed the first time Congresswoman Giffords opened her eyes.But to the event. These are my thoughts for those interested in actually, you know, having a reasonable sharing of views. A couple of people have already made it clear they do not. In fact they seem to be more angry about what Obama said than they are about the actual shooting. I hope that is an incorrect impression, but it's definitely the one I'm getting.

OK. First, this was a memorial service, not a funeral. It's a distinction. A funeral is where the survivors gather to mourn. A memorial service, and I've been to some that made this explicit, is to celebrate the life of the person/persons. And in this case also to send well-wishes to the injured and salute the heroes. I think this is why President Obama spent so much time describing the six people who died. One was a Federal Judge, but the others were "ordinary Americans", all ages, men and women, different faiths, but all people who should be celebrated for their lives and for their love for others. I admit at first the cheering sounded "off" to me, but then I realized, no, it was appropriate. Because one crazy person with a gun can and does destroy individual lives, but this event showed that no such person can destroy America, as long as we don't allow him (or her) to do so. This was about reclaiming what is best in the country, correcting where we need to, honoring those who represent what is best.

Even at an actual funeral, levity is not always out of place. When my mother, may she rest in peace, died, my siblings and I all gave eulogies. My brother recalled that when he was a boy and had chores, our mother would always leave him a Hostess cupcake or Ring-Ding. This brought shouts of laughter, since, as we all know, as a man my brother is a total vegetarian, organic, whole grain, health nut who would not touch a Hostess cupcake with a 10 foot tofu pole.

I also think of the President's comment about words that heal and words that hurt. And that is why I thought Governor Brewer gave a good talk. I say that although I have loathed her for so many reasons. An unpopular appointed governor, she jumped on immigrant-bashing bandwagon to save her career, spread lies about beheaded bodies in Arizona desert, cut off the tiny amount of funds going to transplants so that, unlike imaginary "death panels" people have actually died while she falsely claimed transplants don't work, and promoted a state law allowing anyone to carry concealed weapons virtually anywhere. Despite my feelings about her and her policies, I still liked her speech. I most sincerely hope she takes her own words to heart and engages in a discussion on immigration that does not scapegoat and at least finds a way to restore transplant funds.

I also think of how President Obama told Daniel Hernandez sorry, no matter what you say, you are a hero. (Hernandez, from his body language, struck me as a rather shy person, then here he is between the President and a former Supreme Court justice on national TV, probably thinking the Spanish equivalent of oi vey!) Now, anyone who ran into bullets and saved a Congressperson's life deserves praise whoever he/she was. But think of it. Who have been the scapegoats in culture wars? Latinos and gays. (The odious Patrick Robertson just blamed the New York snowstorms on NY being too gay friendly and the odious Fred Phelps is picketing Christina Green's funeral, both claiming approval from god.) Hernandez, a gay Latino, could have said "screw it, I don't want to be part of a country where I'm second class citizen and blamed for everything". But no, he said this country can be better than its prejudices.

Honestly, would those slamming Obama prefer that he went to a party fundraiser instead, as the Speaker did? Or that he issue a scripted video proclaiming himself the true victim and reviving anti-Semitic slurs as a former governor did? Or say that Giffords was to blame, as the chair of the state Tea Party did? Or say that the true lesson of the attempted assassination of a Jewish Congresswoman is the need to convert to Christianity, as Erick Erickson did? Words that heal and words that hurt.
And finally, are those who are as SLyPokerDog said, crapping all over this, actually listen to the event? Did you learn anything from the event, and this past week?

Um, no, and this tripe coming from you is rich. You may be the most divisive poster, in terms of separating people into various stereotypical groups, on this board. Gender, politics, sexuality, etc. etc.

Thanks for the laugh, crandc. Let's see if you learned a lesson, because from the unproductive incivility that I read in the bolded paragraph, you're the same partisan hack you've always been.

You just took a big smelly shit on this thread as well. Congrats.

 

[PapaG]

Honestly, would those slamming Obama prefer that he went to a party fundraiser instead, as the Speaker did? Or that he issue a scripted video proclaiming himself the true victim and reviving anti-Semitic slurs as a former governor did? Or say that Giffords was to blame, as the chair of the state Tea Party did? Or say that the true lesson of the attempted assassination of a Jewish Congresswoman is the need to convert to Christianity, as Erick Erickson did? Words that heal and words that hurt.

And finally, are those who are as SLyPokerDog said, crapping all over this, actually listen to the event? Did you learn anything from the event, and this past week?

I did. I learned that you are ironic, based on what I posted right above this sentence.

I did. I learned that the intial thread on this was full of hateful rhetoric, based solely in ignorance, yet guided by political bias, by MARIS, Sug, and Mr. Jayremmie, among others.

I did. I learned that the Pima County sheriff was more interested in blaming Rush Limbaugh than he was in sending security to a public event involving a sitting US Rep.

I did. I learned that Obama was crushed by this tragedy, as this photo so vividly illustrates as he arrived in Tucson.

I did. I learned that "Hope and Change" has been replaced by "Together We Thrive".

I did. I learned that the major media, the Democrat Party, and people like you will say anything to try and tie the so-called "right-wing" or "Tea Party" to the actions of a very disturbed individual.

I did. I learned that they do this to try and advance their own political agendas.

I did. I learned the names of all who died in the massacre. Have you, crandc? Or were you too busy keeping track of John Boehner, Sarah Palin, and the other political bogeymen you've created in your self-righteous mind?

I did. I learned that there is always an agenda.

I did. I learned that the USA is irreversibly damaged because of divisions that people like you create, crandc, and that people like Sarah Palin create.

 

[crandc]

Yes I did.

I learned that the USA is irreversibly damaged because of divisions that people like you create, crandc, and that people like Sarah Palin create.

I didn't know I had the power to irreversibly damage the USA.

And obviously my family was wrong to share a joke at my mother's funeral. Thank you for your instructions. I won't remember them next time someone close to me dies, though.

 

[PapaG]

.

And obviously my family was wrong to share a joke at my mother's funeral. Thank you for your instructions. I won't remember them next time someone close to me dies, though.

That's not what I said. Did you learn anything this week, crandc? If so, what was it, because that paragraph I bolded just seems like the same old bullshit that you always have posted.

 

[boatsandstars]

PapaG is disgusting, I remember when this forum was borderline intelligent discussion. Now it's just spam from obnoxious "angry as hell" asshole conservatives.

 

[PapaG]

PapaG is disgusting, I remember when this forum was borderline intelligent discussion. Now it's just spam from obnoxious "angry as hell" asshole conservatives.

What have you learned from this week, boatsandstars? You've always been a prime example of civility and "intelligent discussion".

I find exploiting the death of 6 people by turning it into a political rally disgusting, and I find the President grinning from ear to ear while arriving at such a scene disgusting. If you don't, no biggie, I'm not surprised at all. If I want to vent about it, I'm fine with others taking issue to it.

 

[Minstrel]

I learned how to make a kicky chicken and vegetable stir fry.

If anyone was interested in what I learned this week.

 

[Stevenson]

Now that the country is having a long-overdue discussion about toning down the anger and treating each other with more respect and civility, despite political differences, I suggest that you look at your words and in the mirror Papa.

You are the person to whom we are referring.

 

[PapaG]

Now that the country is having a long-overdue discussion about toning down the anger and treating each other with more respect and civility, despite political differences, I suggest that you look at your words and in the mirror Papa.

You are the person to whom we are referring.

Oh please. crandc couldn't even get through one post without throwing mud at her political enemies, John Boehner was being smeared by Democrats immediately after the speech, and Sheriff Dupnik blamed everybody on the right he could think of for inspiring this kook. Hell, read the entire thread on this board the pertains to the actual shooting and show me the "civility" in it.

But today, this must all be forgotten, because a smiling man who claims to heal people gave a campaign speech?

Puh-leeze. This "change in rhetoric" won't last through the weekend, if it has even changed in the first place. Obama is as much to blame for the divisiveness in this country as anyone, yet he now wants it to stop?

Whatever.

 

[hasoos]

So?

You're working soooooo hard to crap all over this.

I'm not an Obama fan but your complaints are petty and ridiculous.

You have been far more disrespectful by claiming there were no heroes the day of the shooting compared to your complaints about t-shirts and eye openings.

Just more mean spirited bullshit from the same type of person who did this shooting. Anybody who denies that the fiery political rhetoric, especially in Arizona with folks showing up to meetings with representatives with guns didn't spur this bullshit on is short a few brain cells. If you disagree with somebody over a political issue the answer isn't violence. It is dialogue. That was his message. End this insantiy bullshit that has started recently with people all "up in arms". You aren't going to change peoples minds with a gun, and you can't kill an idea.

 

[PapaG]

Just more mean spirited bullshit from the same type of person who did this shooting. Anybody who denies that the fiery political rhetoric, especially in Arizona with folks showing up to meetings with representatives with guns didn't spur this bullshit on is short a few brain cells. If you disagree with somebody over a political issue the answer isn't violence. It is dialogue. That was his message. End this insantiy bullshit that has started recently with people all "up in arms". You aren't going to change peoples minds with a gun, and you can't kill an idea.

This is outrageous. Fuck that, hasoos.

Read your own hateful and divisive commentary. Also, aren't you always bashing Christians on this board? I'll see if I can find some examples.

http://hasoos.newsvine.com/

 

[crandc]

PapaG, I have no intention in getting into a bickering war with you. I said, "These are my thoughts for those interested in actually, you know, having a reasonable sharing of views. A couple of people have already made it clear they do not. "

Goddess knows I can be potty mouth at times, but I do think "fuck you" when hasoos said you can't change a mind with a gun is not a reasonable sharing of views.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

This is outrageous. Fuck you, hasoos.

Read your hateful and divisive commentary. Also, aren't you always bashing Christians on this board?

http://hasoos.newsvine.com/

This is where you lose it PapaG. Come on dude, go back and read this thread from the beginning. You're a smart guy, you knew when you started this thread that your interpretation of the Memorial Service was going to cause arguments. At one point you were even begging for it.

Now that you've finally gotten the arguments that you've tried so hard to start you get all upset over it?

Mellow dude, did you really believe that you weren't going to upset people with your multiple attempts to spin the truth on the memorial service?

 

[PapaG]

Here is a thread chock full of hasoos' own brand of demonization and hatred.

http://sportstwo.com/threads/156375-Religious-Zealots-strike-again!

There are plenty more. I'd say that the hatred that you exhibit on this board toward large demographic groups is much closer to the thinking of Jared Loughner than anything you'll find from me here. Did Loughner hit a little to close to home for you, Big Guy? I am laughing at you bemoaning "fiery political rhetoric" when you've been such a busy beaver partaking in it yourself.

 

[PapaG]

This is where you lose it PapaG. Come on dude, go back and read this thread from the beginning. You're a smart guy, you knew when you started this thread that your interpretation of the Memorial Service was going to cause arguments. At one point you were even begging for it.

Now that you've finally gotten the arguments that you've tried so hard to start you get all upset over it?

Mellow dude, did you really believe that you weren't going to upset people with your multiple attempts to spin the truth on the memorial service?

I think comparing me to Loughner is outrageous. Then again, hasoos has a history of bashing groups of people with hateful rhetoric on this very board, so I'm guessing he is projecting his own feelings on me. I don't mind the criticisms of my thoughts on last night's spectacle, but for people like crandc to lecture me while doing the exact same thing in her own post points out the hypocrisy of last night's "message", IMO.

So, I guess my thread has served the purpose I knew it would serve. "Tolerance" should have been learned for some people, but not for others.

Mission Accomplished!

 

[PapaG]

PapaG, I have no intention in getting into a bickering war with you. I said, "These are my thoughts for those interested in actually, you know, having a reasonable sharing of views. A couple of people have already made it clear they do not. "

Goddess knows I can be potty mouth at times, but I do think "fuck you" when hasoos said you can't change a mind with a gun is not a reasonable sharing of views.

"Fuck you" was for him comparing me with Loughner, not for the rest of his hypocritical bullshit.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I think comparing me to Loughner is outrageous. Then again, hasoos has a history of bashing groups of people with hateful rhetoric on this very board, so I'm guessing he is projecting his own feelings on me. I don't mind the criticisms of my thoughts on last night's spectacle, but for people like crandc to lecture me while doing the exact same thing in her own post points out the hypocrisy of last night's "message", IMO.

LOL! What did you think you'd get?

You throw grenades in the forum then you get upset when there's blow back? You knew people would get upset but you don't like how upset you got them?!?

Listen, a few days ago I started a thread in the OT section about Quizz announcing he was going to the NFL. I knew my added editorial was going to piss people off. That was my intention. But when people hurled some shit back at me I sure didn't get all pissed over it. It's my fault.

Just like it's your fault for the crap people are saying about you. IMO, you should be proud. You pissed people off which was pretty much your original intention.

 

[PapaG]

LOL! What did you think you'd get?

You throw grenades in the forum then you get upset when there's blow back? You knew people would get upset but you don't like how upset you got them?!?

Listen, a few days ago I started a thread in the OT section about Quizz announcing he was going to the NFL. I knew my added editorial was going to piss people off. That was my intention. But when people hurled some shit back at me I sure didn't get all pissed over it. It's my fault.

Just like it's your fault for the crap people are saying about you. IMO, you should be proud. You pissed people off which was pretty much your original intention.

I'd like to know how what I said is so outrageous. Even some Democrats today were saying it was too festive of an atmosphere. Does anybody even know that hundreds of people attended another, more somber service held last night?

Anyhow, I didn't get pissed off until somebody who has a history of posting hateful things compared me to Jared Loughner. Everything else in this thread is fine with me, as it simply points out the hypocrisy that I intended to point out.

So, I'll move on from hasoos' stupid insult, and you are right, you know.

I did get the reactions that I expected, and they followed the pattern I expected them to prove. To me, the post of the thread was crandc's initial post, in which she lectured me on civility, and then fucked it all up at the end by throwing verbal grenades at the people she perceives to be her enemies. Classic.

 

[MickZagger]

The part where the cameras caught Obama smiling and laughing were just plain weird, and frankly, chilling. Can't wait to see those videos tomorrow, if the pool allows them to be released. What is wrong with this guy?

He's clearly a muslim.

 

[MickZagger]

I heard Obama sleeps with one of these under his pillow.

 

[PapaG]

Send in the clowns...

 

[PapaG]

I guess Dear Reader won't be giggling about these type of words in the future?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/05/wanda-sykes-jok.html

Wanda Sykes' Jokes About Rush Limbaugh Prompt Debate
May 10, 2009 3:47 PM

There's some chatter in the blogosphere and on cable TV about comedian Wanda Sykes' routine at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last night, particularly her jokes about conservative talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh.

"Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails," Sykes said. "So you're saying, 'I hope America fails', you're, like, 'I don't care about people losing their homes, their jobs, our soldiers in Iraq'. He just wants the country to fail. To me, that's treason He's not saying anything differently than what Osama bin Laden is saying. You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight."

Sykes then said, "Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs."

TIME's Karen Tumulty wrote "It will be most interesting to see how well Rush Limbaugh can take the sort of stuff that he dishes out on a daily basis."

But London Telegraph US editor Toby Harnden had a very different reaction, writing "Obama seemed to think this bit was pretty hilarious, grinning and chuckling and turning to share the 'joke' with the person sitting on his right. There's not much room for differing interpretations of what Sykes said. She called Limbaugh a terrorist and a traitor, suggested that he be tortured and wished him dead. What was his crime? Hoping that Obama's policies - which he views as socialist - will fail. That's way, way beyond reasoned debate or comedy and Obama's reaction to it was astonishing...Obama laughing when someone wishes Limbaugh dead? Hard to take from the man who promised a new era of civility and elevated debate in Washington."
Pat Buchanan, who has his own history of offensive comments, likewise said on MSNBC that Sykes's jokes about Limbaugh will "hurt the dinner."

On CNN's Reliable Sources today, host Howard Kurtz asked if his guests if Sykes' jokes went "way, way over the comedic line?"

"I think it does," said the Washington Times' Amanda Carpenter. "I mean, there is a willingness for these jokes to be a little saucy at these dinners. I think that went over the line."

Carpenter also expressed distaste for two other Sykes' jokes, including: "Gov. Palin, she’s not here tonight, she pulled out at the last minute. Somebody should tell her, that’s not really how you practice abstinence.”

Said TIME's Joe Klein: "comedy is by definition inappropriate. I mean, this is just comedy. And we're talking about a guy in Rush Limbaugh who is inappropriate half the time I hear him on the radio."

"But he doesn't do it at a White House Correspondents' dinner." said Carpenter.

"He describes himself as an entertainer," said Klein. "Wanda Sykes -- entertainer. This is entertainment."

What do you think?

- jpt

May 10, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (626)
.”

 

[Tortimer]

PapaG is right on with most of what he has posted. I did like what Obama was saying but not the pep rally feel and T-shirts etc. I just couldn't believe what I was watching and hearing from the crowd.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I think comparing me to Loughner is outrageous. Then again, hasoos has a history of bashing groups of people with hateful rhetoric on this very board, so I'm guessing he is projecting his own feelings on me. I don't mind the criticisms of my thoughts on last night's spectacle, but for people like crandc to lecture me while doing the exact same thing in her own post points out the hypocrisy of last night's "message", IMO.

So, I guess my thread has served the purpose I knew it would serve. "Tolerance" should have been learned for some people, but not for others.

Mission Accomplished!

[video=youtube;jndpIJmhvYM]

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I heard Obama sleeps with one of these under his pillow.

LOLZ, I brought 2 of those back when I went to Japan in High School. A Desert Eagle and a Baretta. They were pretty fucking real looking. Back then they didn't have the red caps on them though.

the year after, people couldn't bring them on checked luggage in customs for some reason.

 

[Pokemanzdood]

I heard Obama sleeps with one of these under his pillow.

You dun goofed!
[video=youtube;SmR89bFZLdc]

 

[MickZagger]

^LOL!

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You dun goofed!
[video=youtube;SmR89bFZLdc]

DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!

Because of the video you posted I just discovered Boxxy is back.

[video=youtube;MfSLV3fhoTM]

 

[PapaG]

DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!

Because of the video you posted I just discovered Boxxy is back.

[video=youtube;MfSLV3fhoTM]

Wait ... Boxxy is back? This changes everything!

 

[Minstrel]

Because of the video you posted I just discovered Boxxy is back.

[video=youtube;MfSLV3fhoTM]

Where's the little girl I loved so dearly?