Tea Parties...........WDYT??

[soxfan22]

Hey, guess what, I wasn't a sample dropper either.

And went on a few of those trips myself.

I never said you talk politics with your customers. What I said was, to persuade a customer, you can't treat them like dirt.

Likewise, we can't expect for people to listen to us or understand our position if we are acting like a jerk.

If you are here just to "vent", you are causing more harm than good because you make conservatives look bad.

Guess what. We are in the minority. And we are not going to get back in power by acting like A-holes.

You can be nice=civil without giving up principals.

I can assure you, I do not treat my customers like dirt.

Aren't we all here to vent, to one degree or another? I haven't started many of the political threads over the past 6 months, but I have partaken in most. Many are over 10 pages long. Surely I am not the only one around here interested in voicing an opinion.

As for being in the minority. I don't think that's true. This country has always been, and in my opinion will always be, center-right. We are in the elected minority right now because of two reasons:

1. An unpopular war
2. A president that spent FAR too much money (Bush), and in many ways, was not a conservative.

There has been plenty of nastiness that has gone around here, not all propegated by me. I believe someone told SJ that his family must be in the mob because he is from New Jersey.

You also have a very short memory when it comes to the names I have been called (douche). At this point, I don't remember who said it, but it doesn't change the fact that you choose only to focus on me saying that there are no "centrists" living in VT.

[toes in the sand]

Sox, what you don't seem to grasp is that it is ok for their side to be emotional and petty. It's all they know. We are supposed to be the grown-ups.

[soxfan22]

Can someone please point to an instance that I was "emotional and petty" on this thread? In fact, I'm not even the one who originally said that there are no centrists in VT. I agree with that, but it was not my original thought. All I did was to make an observation after Cid said he was in the middle...His posts have never struck me as coming from a centrist. Just like I'm sure nobody here thinks I bow at the alter of Jimmy Carter. Why is that wrong? If I said I was a centrist, how long would it take for someone to call me out?

Conservatives are supposed to be the grown-ups in a debate, yet according to Cid we are incapable of simple comprehension.

Unbelievable.

[cypressgirl]

I started this thread, so blame me.

I don't think we're in the vast minority in the country, but we are on this forum. That's the only point I was trying to make. I think most people who go to the VI live in more liberal states. For some reason their plane fare is cheaper.

[Lex]

What an amazing phenomenon. A political thread appears and people who have barely been heard from for quite a while are suddenly all over it. Have they been crouching in the weeds watching for a political thread to pop up, then pounce? And it starts up with the same nasty tone that we'd all gotten only too familiar with. Never missing a beat. Must have been keeping the beat going in their heads all this time. I'd sort of forgotten how distasteful things can get here, but my memory of the general unpleasantness of the rants and bickering and insults is quickly refreshed. The forum has been pretty well decontaminated. This is an unfortunate development. There are definitely folks on this forum that I really want nothing to do with. I certainly wouldn't stick around if I realized that I was sharing any sort of space with them.

So I'm not going to participate beyond this. Hopefully this stuff can be contained in this one thread. Might as well keep a thread open where people who like to insult others and engage in bitter rants can hang out. Keep it contained so it hopefully doesn't contaminate the rest of the forum. Kind of like the forum cesspool.

This an internet travel forum. There are many other places where it makes sense to have political discussion or argument or rant. Many where it's very appropriate to do so. Go there for that, don't come here for that. When the bulk of someone's posts on a travel forum is political in content, why come to a travel forum?

I'm assuming that everyone is in agreement that posting political opinions on an obscure little internet travel forum doesn't constitute political activity. It doesn't bring about change. It certainly isn't going to influence anyone's beliefs. It doesn't really do much at all except feed the pathology of bitter, angry people who want a place to rail where they won't get smacked in the mouth.

[soxfan22]

Well hey - on a different note, I'm going to see Kenny Chesney tonight. Looking forward to it!

[loria]

Lex, i think it's sort of like extended family on thanksgiving--Uncle Ed is going to spout his opinion and then Cousin Vie (who maybe had a couple of glasses of wine) is going to take him to task and it snowballs from there.

frankly, i am happy that people can have tea parties--i like tea (earl grey is nice, but a good oolong is so nice too) and i like parties--probably too much! --it's all good and these good folks can go and make their opinion known. That's a good thing.
were they complaining about taxes? i don't think so, not really....

[cypressgirl]

Well hey - on a different note, I'm going to see Kenny Chesney tonight. Looking forward to it!

Then you'll be there with Ali (B-as-u-r). Give us all the details. I'll be seeing him here in Houston on May 3rd with an SOTB sister. 2nd row......pit.

Have a great night!!

[Ron in South Texas]

Ah Heck...our "wonderful" Governor Perry is threatening to leave the Union. Not sure on the legality of that, but Texas does have the right to split into 5 states. So, we could add ten senators and a zillion reps to congress. Shoot, we'll just take over Congress and impose our Texas will on the whole country.

Some of you think Bush was an idiot...wait till get to know Gov. Perry. He makes "W" look like a rocket scientist!!

I'm going to see KC in San Antonio on the 1st of May...can't wait!!

[loria]

Ah Heck...our "wonderful" Governor Perry is threatening to leave the Union. Not sure on the legality of that, but Texas does have the right to split into 5 states. So, we could add ten senators and a zillion reps to congress. Shoot, we'll just take over Congress and impose our Texas will on the whole country.

Some of you think Bush was an idiot...wait till get to know Gov. Perry. He makes "W" look like a rocket scientist!!

I'm going to see KC in San Antonio on the 1st of May...can't wait!!

ok, Ron, you are scaring me now....

[Ron in South Texas]

ok, Ron, you are scaring me now....

Be afraid...very afraid. Move to Canada or Mexico if our Governor has national political aspirations and, heaven forbid, gets elected!!!

[cypressgirl]

Ron........you heard that too??? What's he running for now? What a dufus. Kay Bailey Huchinson is even worse. They're all RINO's. Tax, spend, suck up to Mexico....I don't get any of it. Are you familiar with Dan Patrick? He's a local Houston guy that used to be a sports caster, owned restaurants, then got in the radio business and owns a local am station. It's all conservative talk radio. Local guys in the morning, Laura Ingraham, Hannity, etc. He ran for State Senate in our area and won hands down. I think he'll run for gov. some day. He's 50, so not too old yet. He's the real deal if you are a conservative. They HATE him in Austin, and he likes that just fine. His big band wagon is propery taxes. I hope he can help. So many people are being taxed out of home they paid for years ago.

[soxfan22]

Ron........you heard that too??? What's he running for now? What a dufus. Kay Bailey Huchinson is even worse. They're all RINO's. Tax, spend, suck up to Mexico....I don't get any of it. Are you familiar with Dan Patrick? He's a local Houston guy that used to be a sports caster, owned restaurants, then got in the radio business and owns a local am station. It's all conservative talk radio. Local guys in the morning, Laura Ingraham, Hannity, etc. He ran for State Senate in our area and won hands down. I think he'll run for gov. some day. He's 50, so not too old yet. He's the real deal if you are a conservative. They HATE him in Austin, and he likes that just fine. His big band wagon is propery taxes. I hope he can help. So many people are being taxed out of home they paid for years ago.

As Elaine from Seinfeld would say..."Get Out!!!". DP is a conservative? He and Keith Olbermann are VERY close friends from their days on Sportscenter. In fact, for about the last two years of Dan's show on ESPN radio, he would often have Olberman on as guest host...I never would've thought Patrick was a conservate.

Alright, off to the show I go.

[cypressgirl]

Sox, it's not the Dan Patrick from ESPN or Sportsceter, completely different guy.

[Ron in South Texas]

Ron........you heard that too??? What's he running for now? What a dufus. Kay Bailey Huchinson is even worse. They're all RINO's. Tax, spend, suck up to Mexico....I don't get any of it. Are you familiar with Dan Patrick? He's a local Houston guy that used to be a sports caster, owned restaurants, then got in the radio business and owns a local am station. It's all conservative talk radio. Local guys in the morning, Laura Ingraham, Hannity, etc. He ran for State Senate in our area and won hands down. I think he'll run for gov. some day. He's 50, so not too old yet. He's the real deal if you are a conservative. They HATE him in Austin, and he likes that just fine. His big band wagon is propery taxes. I hope he can help. So many people are being taxed out of home they paid for years ago.

Yup...I've heard of him. If he can fix the property tax mess, more power to him. The state lowered our property tax rate and then the appraisal district raised the value of my house and I'm paying MORE than I was before. Austin is full of FRUITCAKES (I can hear JB singing)!!!

Funny thing about me...I'm a conservative in national elections. But, the conservatives in Texas have completely f***** up the education system. So, I have been voting for democrats in Texas elections. The republicans in Texas can "kiss my grits" until they treat teachers with respect and pay us what we are worth!!!

If y'all haven't figured it out, I'm an educator...with 2 degrees (music and math) and 32 years experience. I'm overworked, underpaid, and p***** off!!

I need a beer!!