K-9

Yeah, we went to different schools together. But I'm your elder by two years and I expect you to respect that.

The elephant? So you're saying if we only appeal to the GOP things will improve. Nice. Disclaimer: that was a joke. Seriously though, if we can better understand our own motivations, chances to improve bipartisan relations grow. And I appreciate Hajdt's efforts to point that out. I do have a bone to pick with him though, and that is he could do a better job of presenting his data. I suspect that is is own conservative bias at play, so I can forgive that.

Great read. Thanks for the link. They touched upon the explosion and impact of mass media and I would add that doing away with media ownership regulations and the Fairness Doctrine in the 80s was a huge contributing factor. A lot of crap hit the fan in that decade.

Well now, vitriol is as old as the human race and no era can claim superiority in that department. But the electronic age and the speed of messages sent, received, and responded to, makes present day challenges of discord far more challenging. I'll leave it at that.

In my best Hedley Lamarr: "Kinkeeeey"

When you say "differently", do you mean standing up?

No doubt we've had periods of polarization previously. But the 24/7 news industry, the internet, the explosion of mass media producers, social media, and cultural evolutions both here and abroad, have radically changed the playing field compared to other times in history.

Street cred is everything. You can't get that sitting in your ivory tower of academia bird dogging an attractive grad student while she's grading papers.

Very interesting read. Thanks for the link. This quote from the link speaks volumes, I think: "Our legislative process is not designed to withstand the current levels of partisan polarization in the electorate." So yeah, we get the government we deserve.

This is an outstanding post. Elegant, actually. Well done.

I am unequivocally asserting the primary was rigged.

Nice calves.

... is a false flag candidate intending to destroy the DNC from within?

This is the post that I responed to: If I failed to construe that only non-political responses were being called for here, I apologize. "...Clinton will do away with the V.A...." read like an invitation for just kind of response. I am certainly not prescient and like I said, it wasn't my intention to involve you in any unwanted give and take vis a vis the VA program.

I had to chuckle at the hyper link in the story entitled: 'Khizr Khans Deep Legal, Financial Connections to Saudi Arabia' Just out of curiosity, how familiar are you with Pamela Geller?

What, the rick roll or the green pixie guy? In the nearly 20 years Scott has been hosting a Bills forum, I've fallen for Green Pixie Guy at least 100 times. That is no exaggeration, either, as people's ability to disguise hyperlink destinations as evolved. First time for me with the Rick Roll, though. Did I mention d4rk is a bastard?

You bastard! This is right up there with the green pixie dude at TheStadiumWall. Fool me once....

When a post is "reported" who sees it? Who arbitrates whether or not it merits being reported? Is there an escalation protocol if needed?

Ideological bully. That's rich. But I don't apologize for coming across that way. You come at me with some things, I'm gonna call you on it. Sometimes with vigor. My intention isn't to offend, though.

I didn't read your link yet, but was building the media village there deliberate? Holy cow.

So all of this rises to the same level as: You are a phucking tuel, phuck you and eat a dick. Got it. My post about false equivalencies stands. If you take heated political rhetoric as a personal insult, I suggest you ignore my posts, along with countless others as well.

P!ease enlighten me on what I said that was so provocative. The only thing I can think of is "stay classy", which I and others have used forever around here in response to profanity laced insults. But thanks for the advice and headsup, anyway. I will try to check my douchiness at the door.

I'm sure you can justify it seven ways to Sunday. But I would like to know why it was deserved. Because we disagreed on a political issue? That gives you license to engage in behavior that has earned stern rebukes, if not suspensions, from moderators in the past? There was nothing in my response to your post about Clinton and VA care that warranted anything in the way you responded. Nothing at all. Things are going to get heated from time to time in a political discussion forum. I understsnd that. I have no problem with that. And I can well imagine that my positions on certain issues and the rhetoric I use can rub many the wrong way. But your responses were out of line and over the top. P!ease do your best to ignore my posts in the future if they are so upsetting. There is a reason Scott incorporated the use of the ignore feature.

Lynch's favorite play was sneaking a bottle of liquor into any one of the Chippewa hangouts he frequented and then ordering soft drinks all night. Team security was always busy with him around.

Don't insult 4th graders. I was the target of an uncalled for tirade the other night that makes 4th graders look like the mature adults in the room.