Are all comedians essentially Libreals

[Kieran]

Ah, but the other side has the unintentionally funny Geraldo Rivera and Charles Grodin... and I have to admit, Joe Lieberman does a drop-dead perfect impersonation of Henry Gibson...

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Shuckins
The American Government textbook that I use to teach my 9th grade students gives the following definition for fascism:

(A) political philosophy based on nationalism and an all-powerful state.  

It also states that fascists are a right-wing political movement.

SAY WHAAATT?

There is a political movement that wants a drastic expansion of the power of the national government, but isn't right-wing.  At least not in the U.S.



Regards, Shuckins

[Shuckins]

You missed my point Sandman.

Liberal Democrats want an expansion of the power of the national government.  They are considered to be left-wing.

Conservative Republicans do not want an expansion of the power of the national government.

Yet our modern government textbooks describe fascists as being right-wing.

I always thought fascists were something of a mixture of the two sides of the political spectrum;  wanting a national government with great power to control business and society with restrictions on individual rights, as well as being fiercely patriotic, nationalistic, and imperialistic.

Why, therefore, are they routinely described in texts, as well as in the media, as being right-wing?  

I have read quite a few liberal diatribes against Republicans over the years referring to them as fascists.  I really don't think the label fits them very well.

Would it be fairer to call fascists as being centrists?  They have some of the characteristics of both the left and the right?


Regards, Shuckins

[senna]

>I'm not sure if you mean stand up comedy, or something more
>general.
>
>Read PJ O'Rourke if you are looking for conservative humor
>(although be warned, he has some fairly liberal social ideas).

Actually I meant standup so many of the people mentioned above easily could qualify. Dam Rush loss alot of weight huh, now thats FUNNY! Now that you mention it, I'm thinking of some untastefull conservative anti liberal jokes at this moment.

Chuckles to himself...  

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Shuckins
You missed my point Sandman.

Liberal Democrats want an expansion of the power of the national government.  They are considered to be left-wing.

Conservative Republicans do not want an expansion of the power of the national government.

Yet our modern government textbooks describe fascists as being right-wing.

I always thought fascists were something of a mixture of the two sides of the political spectrum;  wanting a national government with great power to control business and society with restrictions on individual rights, as well as being fiercely patriotic, nationalistic, and imperialistic.

Why, therefore, are they routinely described in texts, as well as in the media, as being right-wing?  

I have read quite a few liberal diatribes against Republicans over the years referring to them as fascists.  I really don't think the label fits them very well.

Would it be fairer to call fascists as being centrists?  They have some of the characteristics of both the left and the right?


Regards, Shuckins

I didn't miss your point. It's often stated that Liberal Democrats want expansion of power of the National Government. Maybe that's the Dem agenda, but I don't agree that it's a liberal one.

My real point was that labeling a liberal as a socialist is no more accurate than labeling a conservative as a fascist.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by senna
[

Actually I meant standup

In that case, Bill Cosby.

-Sikboy

[midnight Target]

Originally posted by Sikboy


In that case, Bill Cosby.

-Sikboy

Bill is very involved (quietly, but involved) in many "liberal" causes. He appeals to conservatives, but he certainly isn't one.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by midnight Target


Bill is very involved (quietly, but involved) in many "liberal" causes. He appeals to conservatives, but he certainly isn't one.

Hmmm, I certainly hope you are referring to something other than involvement in the African American Community.

-Sikboy

[midnight Target]

Originally posted by Sikboy


Hmmm, I certainly hope you are referring to something other than involvement in the African American Community.

-Sikboy

Well, I did put "liberal" in quotes.

Most of those causes involving racial pride, support for Black arts etc. seem to be more on the liberal side. I would agree that they are not very political though.

[Dowding (Work)]

Sandman/Shuckins - your little 'debate' is quite pointless.

You are both decadent capitalist pig-dogs in my eyes.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Dowding (Work)
Sandman/Shuckins - your little 'debate' is quite pointless.

You are both decadent capitalist pig-dogs in my eyes.

I should be so lucky.

[lazs2]

sandman... your graph is wrong.   It should be circular with the ends touching.

both extremes want more power over each and every one of us.  These days tho.... the further you go toward liberal the more freedoms you give up (comparitively).   You need to go much further toward conservative in order to lose out as badly (and yes... I realize they won't let you smoke pot in your car).   Fools and mammas boys (did i forget women?)vote democrat nowdays.   Libertarian could be a salvation but I think we are too far gone... well.. maybe it's just that the pendulum has swung too far in the wrong direction..

heck... stick around long enough and the democrats will be the defenders of personal freedoms and the republicans the power grabbers..  trick is... knowing when to switch.
lazs

[MrBill]

Originally posted by Sandman_SBM
I always considered Mort to be a bipartisan comedian. He hit everyone.

IIRC, he was even hired to write jokes for JFK's speeches.

Aye, Mort had no sacred cows and would slash and burn at will.  He was a republican, however, and was nearly destroyed by the hollywood left for his brutal attacks on the Kennedy administration.
  But no matter what ones bias on his politics, the man was funny, and did not need profanity to "embarrass" the audience into laughing.

[mietla]

Originally posted by Sandman_SBM

It's often stated that Liberal Democrats want expansion of power of the National Government. Maybe that's the Dem agenda, but I don't agree that it's a liberal one.
 

What is the liberal agenda then?

How can you enforce it on the rest of us without the omnipotent government?

Personally, I want the government to be as small as possible. I have my set of views, but I'm not interested in forcing them on others.

I want to control my life, and have no problem with you controling yours. This includes accumulating and disposing of my property.

Obviously this is not a case with you, liberals. In order for you to be happy, you have to force me into accepting your views and participating in "your" system (at least financially).

And that's why I resent it.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by mietla


What is the liberal agenda then?

How can you enforce it on the rest of us without the omnipotent government?

Personally, I want the government to be as small as possible. I have my set of views, but I'm not interested in forcing them on others.

I want to control my life, and have no problem with you controling yours. This includes accumulating and disposing of my property.

Obviously this is not a case with you, liberals. In order for you to be happy, you have to force me into accepting your views and participating in "your" system (at least financially).

And that's why I resent it.

This argument holds on both ends. To the left... communism and a more powerful governmetn. To the right... fascism and a more powerful government. In this regard, Lazs2 is correct  I think.