Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making body

Minstrel · May 28, 2010

Republicans want to take over the House in the fall, but there's a problem: They don't have an agenda.

So on Tuesday, they set out to resolve that shortcoming. They announced that they would solicit suggestions on the Internet, then have members of the public give the ideas a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down. Call it the "Dancing With the Stars" model of public policy.

Republicans were very pleased with their technological sophistication as they introduced the Web site, America Speaking Out a ceremony at the Newseum. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who created the program, said that to get software for the site, "I personally traveled to Washington state and discovered a Microsoft program that helped NASA map the moon."

Using lunar software is appropriate, because the early responses to the Republicans' request for ideas are pretty far out:

"End Child Labor Laws," suggests one helpful participant. "We coddle children too much. They need to spend their youth in the factories."

"How about if Congress actually do thier job and VET or Usurper in Chief, Obama is NOT a Natural Born Citizen in any way," recommends another. "That fake so called birth certificate is useless."

"A 'teacher' told my child in class that dolphins were mammals and not fish!" a third complains. "And the same thing about whales! We need TRADITIONAL VALUES in all areas of education. If it swims in the water, it is a FISH. Period! End of Story."

House Republicans, meet the World Wide Web.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy.../05/25/AR2010052504396.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

barfo · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

Usually when you start up a forum to kick it off you post a bunch yourself, and you get your friends and biggest fans to post stuff. I expect that's what's going on here.

barfo

Ed O · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

Crowdsourcing is a joke in many cases. The Left has demonstrated (with the Tea Party crashings) that they are willing to infiltrate efforts to act, and I'm sure the Right is no better.

In this case, some people MIGHT believe that dolphins are fish, but... it's more likely to me that it's 4chan people or MoveOn.org people who are trying to be monkeywrenches.

Ed O.

Eastoff · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

I would wager it's just anyone who hears about it.

SlyPokerDog · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

Wow people are just wrecking that site. It's pretty funny.

"we should make english the official language of the US and stop spending tax dollars on translations for mexicans! if english is good enough for baby jesus, its good enough for americans."

BLAZER PROPHET · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

Funny stuff.

Eastoff · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

You have to expect that their real base is typically afraid of the getting sucked down interweb tubes.

BLAZER PROPHET · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

But wait a minute. It was a democrat,Al Gore, who invented the internet.

bluefrog · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

It's scary that I actually agree with many of the comments on there:
Tax churches
Legalize and tax marijuana
Reduce military spending
Remove caps on oil spill liability

Some of these are hilarious though

I propose we outlaw the '60s. It is an un-American decade full of liberal ideology that is damaging to our nation's children. Anyone who lives in, has lived in, or will live in the '60s should be immediately deported.

You know those mist fans they have at 6 Flags? Put those in public places and use holy water for the mist. Not only will it provide a refreshing cool-down spot on hot summer days, and it'll melt any heathens who walk under it.

BrianFromWA · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

why would churches get taxed? Why should military spending go down? At least for your 650B, you're getting ships, tanks, airplanes and people to drive them. For the 300B we have to pitch in to make up the deficit b/w Medicare/Social Security intake vs. outlay, you're not getting anything except 62-year-olds and higher not working.

bluefrog · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

All religious organizations, not just churches, should be taxed. Why should an institution founded on fantasy and myth, be exempt from taxation while existing in a society that supports the infrastructure and services that make it possible for that religion to succeed? religious organizations develop into huge corporations with huge properties, investments, and influence over legislation.

BrianFromWA said:
you're not getting anything except 62-year-olds and higher not working.

I'm not sure what this means but we could use the money from reduced military spending for a number of things: reducing the deficit, cutting taxes, building a base on the moon...

BrianFromWA · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

It means that, for all the griping (justified, perhaps) about military spending, you're actually getting something for it. If you want to cut spending, you just weaken the military by not buying as many planes, tanks and ships. If you dial back social security or medicare, you're making 62-and-older folks get back to work or live off their retirement.

So sure, let's cut back the military spending. I'm on board for that. When we cut down Welfare, Social Security, Medicare and other social programs. And we can look at building moon bases when we don't owe China 13T dollars.

boatsandstars · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

And how much bigger and stronger is our Military compared to the country in 2nd? I don't think we will be in danger of having a weak military anytime soon. Sleep soundly. The world needs less planes, tanks, and ships as a matter of fact.

bluefrog · May 28, 2010

Re: Republicans discover unmoderated Internet forum is not the best policy-making bod

Medicare and medicaid can go. It's making the affordable medicine problem worse.

Let's cut welfare and SS by 20%

And lets make equal cuts to the military. What's that leave the military with? Somewhere in the ballpark of $0

BrianFromWA · May 28, 2010