Rules for Thee, Not for Me

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

No, she was a commie. working to promote communism and communist ideals in Cuba.

The objective of that group was to challenge U.S. policies towards Cuba, including our embargo against Cuba and its impact upon the Cuban people. One needn't necessarily be a communist to think that our policies toward Cuba are stupid and perhaps counterproductive. Indeed the efforts of the Venceremos Brigade are coordinated today by the Pastors for Peace.

That said, having been a communist, communist sympathizer or just an anti-Cuban-embargo activist 50 years ago (as someone in their early 20's in the mid '70's) is far more benign than being a fascist or even a MAGAMoron today. Look at all the MAGA Republicans who went to hobnob with Putin in Moscow in recent years or who praise Viktor Orban today. They're far more dangerous than someone who was a disillusioned, idealistic California college kid 50 years ago.

[whell]

Originally Posted by finnbow

That said, having been a communist, communist sympathizer or just an anti-Cuban-embargo activist 50 years ago (as someone in their early 20's in the mid '70's) is far more benign than being a fascist or even a MAGAMoron today.

BS. Communism is one of the most, if not the most, destructive forms of government in the modern world. Nothing compares. Not even close. What a stupid comment you made.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by whell

BS. Communism is one of the most, if not the most, destructive forms of government in the modern world. Nothing compares. Not even close. What a stupid comment you made.

You'd prefer fascism?

Speaking of stupid comments, Ms. Gish.

[whell]

Originally Posted by bobabode

You'd prefer fascism?

Speaking of stupid comments, Ms. Gish.

Yeah, your comment was pretty stupid. I agree.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by whell

Yeah, your comment was pretty stupid. I agree.

Weak sauce HR boy.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

BS. Communism is one of the most, if not the most, destructive forms of government in the modern world. Nothing compares. Not even close. What a stupid comment you made.

Translation: Whell likes fascism.

Seriously though, communism is not the greatest threat to our republic today. Indeed, it is only practiced in 4 countries in the entire world (China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam) and it is not endorsed, practiced, praised or emulated by either of the major American political parties. Fascism, however, is at the intellectual core of Trumpism and the modern-day American conservative movement and is a profound threat to our republic.

Moreover, my larger point was that Karen Bass exhibiting communist sympathies 50 years ago as an idealistic California college kid is meaningless compared to the GOP's overt embrace of fascism today. Hell, neoconservatism, which was the basis of Republican foreign policy for several decades, was founded by former Marxists and communists (Kristol, Podhoretz, Decter, and Glazer).

Your knowledge of history and political science is truly laughable. The more profound you try to be, the more ignorant you sound.

[whell]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Translation: Whell likes fascism.

Seriously though, communism is not the greatest threat to our republic today. Indeed, it is only practiced in 4 countries in the entire world (China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam) and it is not endorsed, practiced, praised or emulated by either of the major American political parties. Fascism, however, is at the intellectual core of Trumpism and the modern-day American conservative movement and is a profound threat to our republic.

Moreover, my larger point was that Karen Bass exhibiting communist sympathies 50 years ago as an idealistic California college kid is meaningless compared to the GOP's overt embrace of fascism today. Hell, neoconservatism, which was the basis of Republican foreign policy for several decades, was founded by former Marxists and communists (Kristol, Podhoretz, Decter, and Glazer).

Your knowledge of history and political science is truly laughable. The more profound you try to be, the more ignorant you sound.

The communists and leftist radicals of yesterday are now far closer to the Dems of today. Hell, the Bernie Sanders was one of the leading candidates in the 2016 election cycle. Speaking of someone who is historically pro Russia.

That said, you don't need to get rid of the 2nd Amendment to take guns out of the hands of responsible gun owners. All you have to do is make it unattractive for gun manufacturers to sell arms in the United States. Biden and many other Dems are in favor of exactly that..and probably happily watch the gun industry massively contact in the process.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...ustry-n1263556

Karen Bass has stated, as recently as July, during her mayoral campaign that "guns have no place in our city" (even though she's a gun owner...or used to be until recently). Which side of the gun manufacturer liability issue would we find her on? Hmmmmm.....

https://twitter.com/KarenBassLA/stat...-a-break-in%2F

Rules for thee but not for me, right Karen?

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

The communists and leftist radicals of yesterday are now far closer to the Dems of today. Hell, the Bernie Sanders was one of the leading candidates in the 2016 election cycle. Speaking of someone who is historically pro Russia.

As a moderate and independent, I'm no fan of Bernie, but he is neither a communist nor leftist radical (nor a threat to the country). He's a Democratic Soci@list in the European tradition like the Labor Party in the UK or the SPD in Germany. If he had his way (and he has spoken on the subject), he would like social programs in the USA to be similar to those in Denmark. Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, a democracy, a founding member of NATO and the country with the highest standard of living in the world. It, like the other Scandinavian social democracies, is neither soci@list nor communist despite ignorant characterizations of them from the American Right.

Also I think your concern about Bernie's relationship to Russia is somewhere between misplaced and ridiculous. Many in your party, including its leader, are outspoken Putin fanboys. Trump just called Putin "savvy" and "a genius" on the eve of Putin's unprovoked attack on a sovereign Ukraine after having tried to blackmail Zelensky a couple of years ago by withholding weapons needed to defend against Russian aggression.

You really should swear off whatever news sources you use to come up with such specious garbage. Parroting wingnut bullshit without a sound grounding in history, geopolitics, politic science and political economy just makes you look like an misinformed fool. Some quality reading would do you good.

[whell]

Originally Posted by finnbow

As a moderate and independent, I'm no fan of Bernie, but he is neither a communist nor leftist radical (nor a threat to the country). He's a Democratic Soci@list in the European tradition like the Labor Party in the UK or the SPD in Germany. If he had his way (and he has spoken on the subject), he would like social programs in the USA to be similar to those in Denmark. Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, a democracy, a founding member of NATO and the country with the highest standard of living in the world. It, like the other Scandinavian social democracies, is neither soci@list nor communist despite ignorant characterizations of them from the American Right.

Also I think your concern about Bernie's relationship to Russia is somewhere between misplaced and ridiculous. Many in your party, including its leader, are outspoken Putin fanboys. Trump just called Putin "savvy" and "a genius" on the eve of Putin's unprovoked attack on a sovereign Ukraine after having tried to blackmail Zelensky a couple of years ago by withholding weapons needed to defend against Russian aggression.

You really should swear off whatever news sources you use to come up with such specious garbage. Parroting wingnut bullshit without a sound grounding in history, geopolitics, politic science and political economy just makes you look like an misinformed fool. Some quality reading would do you good.

You can change the topic, and yap about Denmark, then call me a fool for not agreeing with you about Bernie's take on Denmark, but you seem to forget that I didn't bring that up. You did. So, whatever.

Bernie is a stateist and a pragmatist. He'll be whatever he needs to be to get elected. But show me a European Socializt country that wants to go as far as Bernie did when he was campaigning:

- Everyone who wants a job can get one, with a $15/hour starting wage. In 2020, that seemed like a decent hourly wage. In Biden's inflation fueled nightmare of and economy, its an entry level wage. The federal gov't could then become the world's largest employer.

- Nationalize energy production and transportation, and broadband service providers.

- Public companies would be required to have a significant percentage of employee ownership and 40% or more worker representation on the Board of Directors.

Not to mention his Russian honeymoon where he returned signing the praises of "...the openness, the optimism, the enthusiasm in the nation." Is he naive, a dupe, a useful idiot, a fan? All of the above is the likely answer.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by whell

You can change the topic, and yap about Denmark, then call me a fool for not agreeing with you about Bernie's take on Denmark, but you seem to forget that I didn't bring that up. You did. So, whatever.

Bernie is a stateist and a pragmatist. He'll be whatever he needs to be to get elected. But show me a European Socializt country that wants to go as far as Bernie did when he was campaigning:...

Bernie isn't a Democrat, nor is he a communist, nor, for that matter, a particularly influential member of Congress. He's a failed presidential candidate who doesn't represent a threat to our Republic. Morever, there are no soci@list countries in Europe.