Godwin's Law

I wish the media would encourage the public political discourse to embrace Godwin's Law -- and especially its primary corollary.

Godwin's Law was introduced into electronic discourse around 1990, & referred to discussions on Usenet (that was back in the internet's pre-www, pre-GUI Olden Days, sonny).

The law states: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of one side likening the other to Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."

And my favorite corollary is "The first one to mention Nazis or Hitler loses the argument."

Swobbie

who used to chip out her computer programs onto stone tablets

ps. Also see Reductio ad Hitlerum

Excuse Generator v5.0

Well I didn't go to the Town Hall mtg last night after all. I was late getting away from work and was tired and cranky. And also didn't know where it was.

Hmm.

Let's see, what other excuses can I come up with? I used to be extremely good at excuse invention. Bet I used 'em all at one time or another. Flu. Car trouble. Back trouble. Car trouble again. Sore foot, can't walk. Traffic jam. Got lost. There are many more possibilities. That was in the years before I dragged self out of denial about depression & bipolarness, & was still trying to be functional. Been getting a bit rusty at it lately (excuse-mongering, that is), & I think I prefer it that way. I am trying to be a truthmonger these days.

Swobbie

who manages to be somewhat functional in her once-in-a-while, one-week-at-a-time, half-time office job. But it's a strain.

The bigger the gun...

I'm going to go to some Town Hall meetings soon. My congresscritter is having one tonight, tho it's not on health care. I'm going anyway -- I want to see what these things are like, and I'm also interested in the topic. And I also want to see if the shouters show up. There are a couple more coming up soon by some nearby congresscritters that ARE on health care -- going to those too. If I see anybody carrying a gun, I'm going to sidle up behind him (assuming it'll be a male) and mutter "Big gun, small dick." And see what happens next. Maybe he'll shoot me. But probably not.

Swobbie

who has a smallish gun (which she's never fired) and no dick at all

Health care reform

Here is what I think is happening: Obama is playing a very shrewd, deep game. He said "I want this passed before the August recess" but he KNEW it wouldn't happen that way. And he knew that the Repubs would use the recess to throw everything they had at it, which they are... AND he knew that his poll numbers would drop, which they have. What he gets from all this is that the Repubs have shown their hand. It is now obvious that they have no intention of negotiating in good faith ANYTHING about health care reform. They will not vote for any bill no matter what's in it.

So what happens next is, when the Congress comes back from recess, he can tell the Dems, "Okay, now we know that bipartisanship is out. So, throw out all those other mishmash bills, and write me one that has what we want in it. Single payer? Back on the table. Do it. We don't need the Repubs to get it passed."

That's my prediction, anyway. Hope Hope Hope!!

With fingers crossed (makes it hard to type!)...

Swobbie