ATS & The GOP....similar styles?

Last week House Republicans made last-minute changes to a pension bill (which was, incidentally, generally supported by both Democrats and Republicans). The changes were included shortly before midnight, and the next morning Democrats complained that they didn't have enough time to review the new bill before voting on it. Tough noogies, said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, clearly expecting Democrats to simply go along and approve something they hadn't even read. So the Democrats invoked a House rule which forced a clerk to read aloud the entire 200 page bill, line by line, and, leaving only Rep. Pete Stark to hold the fort, retreated to a nearby library to discuss what to do next. Unfortunately they didn't have much of a chance, because Bill Thomas - obviously emboldened by the recent redistricting fiasco in the Texas State House - promptly called the police to remove the Democrats from the library. Back on the House floor, as chaos reigned in the library, Thomas interrupted the reading of the bill to ask for unanimous consent to move on and vote, and immediately brought down his gavel before Rep. Stark had a chance to object. Stark then attempted to make a "parliamentary inquiry," only to be ignored by Bill Thomas, who immediately allowed the Republicans to approve the bill unanimously by voice vote. Nice. Don't give Democrats a chance to read bills before expecting them to vote on them, call the police on them while they're trying to figure out what to do, and then force through a vote anyway after ignoring the objections of the opposition. It's democracy, Republican-style. Thank goodness George W. Bush's plan to end partisanship in Washington has borne such wonderful fruit.


www.washingtonpost.com...

Please chime in and let's hear your thoughts on what is clearly majority hevy handedness.

and... your point is... what?

now that is hillarious.
that's the way the cookie crumbles, in parlimentary proceedure.

Originally posted by William
and... your point is... what?

Would you have preferred a poll? Else, I posted to invite comment on whether:

a) people, regardless of political orientation, felt that an 11:45 pm change and canceling of a right to vote was uncalled for

And

b) it's similar to the style of our Right Wing moderators and some of the things they're calling for.

Funny... I've had some recent U2U on how some of our moderators are flaming liberals... does this mean we have a good balance?

patience grasshopper

all will be clear shortly

The ATS poll on Bush impeachment came out clearly in favor of the "Get rid of the guy" position.

I haven't seen any heavy-handed moderation on presentation of all the issues surrounding this corrupt administration, but I recently read a moderator talking about limiting the number of topics on this subject.

I would like to see new information about the conspiracy that keeps this administration in office, as often as possible.

I would prefer that it is new stuff, or new developments on current stuff at least. These developments occur somewhere in the world every few hours. Reposts without looking at the 'Search' function aren't necessarily productive, as William pointed out.

The stuff that makes it even more useful is calls to action. What should people who care about the impeachment issue do.

I don't mind reading a few right-wingers putting up smokescreens or attempts at defense. They add to the comedy value.

I do mind a little when people drift off into party politics. I still think it is like kids playing in a sandbox with Clinton and Bush dolls.

The downward slide that the US is in is specific to this administration: the Bush administration, and its criminality. It is a cancer that needs to be removed before it spreads further.

Not to seem like i'm kissing anyone's @ss here, but i find this board to be very ecclectic. Alot of politically liberated people, and a very few wingers.

Originally posted by William

patience grasshopper

all will be clear shortly

How "shortly"?

And I reckon the moderators do a good job. You always have to have a group of people mediating when you're expressing thoughts that may offend others.

Leveller

Perhaps the 'Anonymous Complaints' feature is another step to addressing issues of moderation.

I don't think I will have cause to use it, but I'm going to go have a look at what happens when you click the 'Complain' button now.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

The complaint form works fine. It should lead to reduction in some of the rubbish that gets labelled as 'bickering' (as long as people notice it's there), and it will be interesting to see how the feedback and complaint resolution cycle works.


[Edited on 22-7-2003 by MaskedAvatar]

OK. If you're not back in 5 minutes, I'll know that they've "come for you".

(but the crap the dems are pulling for the court nominations is ok with you, bt)

- shakes head -

and what does that have to do with ATS?!?!?!

The Complaint button was made for me cuase they got Public Enemy #1 up in here. (kinda proud actuallly)

Don't break your arm patting yourself on the back Colonel,we just humour you.

[Edited on 07/11/03 by nyeff]

You know, Bout Time, some would consider topics you and others with like mind post to forums as evidence of just the opposite as what you are suggesting. You all get your say and you are not the only members who might have topics removed for one reason or the other.

I think the Moderators and Administration have come down equally if not harder on right wingers who crossed the line. Lets take FreeMason as an example. I think they leave the majority of your posts because they are confident in member's abilities to distinguish between topics made to fairly discuss ideas and those made as political recruiting.

Now, I've got no real beef with you as I have with the radical anti-American activist who dole out their propaganda in efforts to push forward the eventual overthrow of the United States in favor of a militant Islamic society and believe me, I do differentiate between you and them.

If I could make a suggestion that might make ATS look a little different to you than it obviously does at this point...take the time to explore all the forums and explore all the topics and realize what a vast amount of information is exchanged here ...and just take a little break from your political playbook. It'll still be there when you get back.

Please be crystal on this subject: my analogy to the strain of GOP that has infected our political landscape and ATS Mods starts & stop with the fact, as Masked alluded to earlier, that some suggested limiting posts of a type that they find trivial. other than that single circumstance, I've no beef whatsoever with them.

Back to the thread.......

A piece of legislation is altered, literally at the 11th hour, and a vote is demanded without the due diligence of review on the alteration. Parlimentary procedure is envoked, and then the police are called to disband Congressmen meeting in a Congress library who were discussing the alteration.

What don't you see as being wrong with that!?

It has no similarity to Democrat questioning nominees for some of the highest court positions in the land; that ...my fellow fisherman, is by the book and above board.
Our political system does not tolerate police as a tool to quell political opinion dissent amongst our elected officials within the legislative body.

As to "recruitment" - my desire is for everyone to consider facts on there own merit; after, of course, they're intellectually honest enough to see a fact staring them in the face. Our friends on the Right still have not learned that repetition of a rumor does not work like cycles of reincarnation towards 7th heaven - it started out false & it'll end there too!
Posters of a like mind to me have been shut down and called out when their info has been bogus or over hyped. That does not mitigate the fact that there is a high frequency now ( man it's good not to be out here by my lonesome anymore!) of like posts because, well duh!....it doesn't take all day to recognize sunshine!

Originally posted by Bout Time
Please be crystal on this subject: my analogy to the strain of GOP that has infected our political landscape and ATS Mods starts & stop with the fact, as Masked alluded to earlier, that some suggested limiting posts of a type that they find trivial. other than that single circumstance, I've no beef whatsoever with them.

Back to the thread.......

A piece of legislation is altered, literally at the 11th hour, and a vote is demanded without the due diligence of review on the alteration. Parlimentary procedure is envoked, and then the police are called to disband Congressmen meeting in a Congress library who were discussing the alteration.

What don't you see as being wrong with that!?

It has no similarity to Democrat questioning nominees for some of the highest court positions in the land; that ...my fellow fisherman, is by the book and above board.
Our political system does not tolerate police as a tool to quell political opinion dissent amongst our elected officials within the legislative body.

As to "recruitment" - my desire is for everyone to consider facts on there own merit; after, of course, they're intellectually honest enough to see a fact staring them in the face. Our friends on the Right still have not learned that repetition of a rumor does not work like cycles of reincarnation towards 7th heaven - it started out false & it'll end there too!
Posters of a like mind to me have been shut down and called out when their info has been bogus or over hyped. That does not mitigate the fact that there is a high frequency now ( man it's good not to be out here by my lonesome anymore!) of like posts because, well duh!....it doesn't take all day to recognize sunshine!

lol this is normal political practice to add/change things in the 11th hour.

it happens all the time from the senate to your own states government.

trying to act like this is a unique republican tactic is rather ignorant as ive seen this from both sides of the aisle, this isnt the first time and wont be the last.


and there is a HUGE difference between how this board is run and what happens in government. we dont vote for mods, they are selected and enforce the rules of the board set out by the owner of this board. see how this is different? when you come onto this board you're coming into someone elses house and you will play by their rules whether they make sense to you, seem fair or not. the board is privately owned, congress and the senate are not.

you sure wouldnt be allowed to tell me whats what in my house and you wouldnt want it done in your house so dont do it to someone else. even the insinuation is an insult.

when asked to keep (insert type of post here) to a minimum you do it. you are a guest, not the host.

[Edited on 23-7-2003 by ThePrankMonkey]

Originally posted by Bout Time

Originally posted by Bout Time

1) " Unfortunately they didn't have much of a chance, because Bill Thomas - obviously emboldened by the recent redistricting fiasco in the Texas State House - promptly called the police to remove the Democrats from the library. "

2) " b) it's similar to the style of our Right Wing moderators and some of the things they're calling for. "

You right BT. ATS staff is in contact with the FBI and the Homeland Security. We are monitoring all the liberals/leftists/democrat/commies/socialist of the board.

Each time we find a new one, or just think that we found a new one ( you know how we are, us, the evil and ugly right-winger ), we send a report to the both agencies. Actually, the ATS Staff is looking to set up a " special section ". The main goal of that section will be to terminate all the ATS liberals/leftists/democrat/commies/socialist. The ATS Special Section will be in touch with the NSA & the CIA and will have the right to do what she want to anybody.

I'm sorry, but now that you know, I've to kill you. Anyway, don't be sad, you was already a target.

Monkey - my apologizes if you feel insulted. My advice: reach out with both hands and get a grip! Any impedement of ideas, as you obviously & cheerfully subscribe to, is a batardized end result and not the desired outcome to exchanges on this boad.
On the thread, I'll not simplify it any further, because I can't for one, and secondly, it's lost on you and those of your ilk....that whole police thing being injected into the normal slights-jabs-and-beligerence that is partisan politics.

UP: My Americaphile friend...Ferme Le Bouche!
Because you'll need to read the following on this subject:

Congressman Admits to 'Poor Judgment'
Rep. Thomas Says He Exercised 'Poor Judgment' When He Called for Police to Remove Democrats

The Associated Press



WASHINGTON July 23 �
Rep. Bill Thomas, one of the most powerful committee chairmen in Congress, told a somber House of Representatives on Wednesday that he exercised "poor judgment" last week when he called for the Capitol Police to help remove Democrats from a room where they were meeting.

"As my mother would have put it, `when they were passing out moderation, you were hiding behind the door,'" the California Republican a man known for his abrasive style said as he choked back tears.


abcnews.go.com...

Personally, I think that he's just trying to save his job; he won't lose his Rep. job, but should lose his comittee chair.

Bout Time, I guess you mean " ferme ta bouche " ? It's not correct. You had to write " ferme la " or " ferme ta gueule ". The first choice is much better. The second one is too much coarse and vulgar.

Anyway, I don't mind. You're still a target and I will have you since " they " gave me a job to do : I've been ordered to terminate all the liberals.

Again my bad syntax rears it's ugly head! Pardon moi !
(*** here's the Personal Ad now: French speaking woman sought to re-educate NY Businessman in the proper use of the language over dinners, buggy rides in Central Park and weekends over the NY Times***)