Lockstep

[dalem]

You know what I think is interesting?

I've been a little under the weather for the last few days, and so, in my down time at home, I've been re-reading a bunch of threads that I've contributed to in the last couple of years. And with that review, I've noticed one constant:

No dissent amongst the liberal lefties.

You can find a dozen threads here where I take issue with details of Gunnut's posts, Julie's (specifically since she's moved toward the center of American politics), Bigross, 7thsniper, and even my boon companion Bluesman (to know him and his family is to serve them).

But I have not yet run across a thread or post where Rosie, astralis, or bigfella (on my ignore list so I may have missed something) have ever really taken each other to task, or dissented on any lefty-liberal position that the other has taken. Let alone sunk their hooks into any flyby lefty one-posters that have graced this board over the last couple of years.

Am I right? I dunno. If I am, is it meaningful? I dunno.

But ever since zraver (Hi zraver!) abandoned our duello around this time last year, I've been wanting for some WABification.

What does the group think?

-dale

[troung]

But I have not yet run across a thread or post where Rosie, astralis, or bigfella (on my ignore list so I may have missed something) have ever really taken each other to task, or dissented on any lefty-liberal position that the other has taken. Let alone sunk their hooks into any flyby lefty one-posters that have graced this board over the last couple of years.

I am a "liberal".... :whome:

[astralis]

dale,

then you haven't looked hard enough. for instance, i disagree with roosie in regards to the importance of unions, and i'm generally a free-trader.

i was also pro-iraq war, and pro-afghanistan war.

so i'm really not sure how you can paint me as "lefty-liberal" when my positions are actually firmly in the center. i'm actually two ticks to the right of bill clinton, for instance.

one of the things about WAB, actually, is the lack of a real lefty voice here. if you think i'm liberal, then you are not familiar with what an actual liberal is.

[bonehead]

LOL. Dale since you ignored Bigfella it must look like I am talking to myself a lot as he and I don't see eye to eye on much of anything. Although I am not a lefty or a righty by any stretch of the imagination.

[USSWisconsin]

You have a lot of people on ignore - it must be hard to follow some of these threads. But I agree, I don't see much of a far left perspective here. Not that I am looking for that myself. One of the things I like is the fact there are many moderate, centralist views expressed on the WAB.

[dalem]

You have a lot of people on ignore - it must be hard to follow some of these threads.

Nahh:

Bigfella
Evil-Clown
Gabru47
jon_j_rambo
lulldapull
Ray
SovietHonor
unlawflcombatnt

Check / Uncheck All

Of that list only bigfella has been a regular poster for the past few years.

-dale

[USSWisconsin]

Sorry, I misunderstood.

[Bigfella]

This thread is about how Dale percieves WAB, not about what actually happens on WAB. it is about how Dale defines 'lefty' not about how those people necessarily feel about their own politics. Most importantly, it is about how Dale analyses a given set of circumstances.

As it happens I do and have done all of the things Dale seems to think I haven't (including tearing shreds of a Chavezista a while back). Funny thing perception.

There are a lot of self-proclaimed conservatives on this board. There are very few self-proclaimed 'lefties'. I don't know how big the split is, but I'd be surprised if more than 15-20% of the regulars either self-identified as lefties or met any reasonable definition of such (note: political definitions crafted by US conservatives do not count as 'reasonable' without heavy supporting proof). Indeed, Dale listed 3 'lefties', one of who doesn't see himself as such. There are probably a few more regulars, but not many.

What does this mean? First, the scope of disagreement in a larger group is necessarily going to be larger than in a small one. There is obviously going to be more diversity, shades of opinion & perspectives on a topic in 8-10 opinions than 2-3. The fact that a huge chunk of the conservatives are also from one very large & diverse country also increases the possibilities for disagreement within that spectrum. The 'lefties' on the other hand, are a small group largely from different nations. I doubt Roosie or Tarek (I'm assuming he is a 'leftie' on this thread) have much of an opinion on the relative merits of Juila Gillard, Bill Shorten, kevin Rudd & Greg Combet.

Second, a group that percieves itself as a minority is more likely to be supportive of other members. I make no secret of the fact that I go easy on Rosie (generally). He gets howled down so often & by so many that anything I have to say is redundant. Much as I often disagree with him, I value the variety in opinion he brings, flaws & all. Besides, getting caught up in one of the seemingly endless 'Gunnut & Roosie' shows is my idea of a circle of hell. If I were on a forum with a more or less even balance or that leaned left I would be tearing many of my supposed fellow travellers a new one.

[Bigfella]

LOL. Dale since you ignored Bigfella it must look like I am talking to myself a lot as he and I don't see eye to eye on much of anything. Although I am not a lefty or a righty by any stretch of the imagination.

Not sure where you sit on the Dale 'left/right' spectrum.

[troung]

I was WAB's original leftie - I opened the mocking thread on OWS....

Besides, getting caught up in one of the seemingly endless 'Gunnut & Roosie' shows is my idea of a circle of hell. I

They should get a show on Fox at 3AM or a sitcom on the WB.

Bigfella
Evil-Clown
Gabru47
jon_j_ramb
lulldapull
Ray
SovietHonor
unlawflcombatnt

Spoiler!

Most of them have been banned in the time since you placed them on ignore :fish:

[dalem]

I was WAB's original leftie - I opened the mocking thread on OWS....



They should get a show on Fox at 3AM or a sitcom on the WB.

Spoiler!

Most of them have been banned in the time since you placed them on ignore :fish:

I know. But I'm a suspenders AND belt man. :)

-dale

[Stitch]

Besides, getting caught up in one of the seemingly endless 'Gunnut & Roosie' shows is my idea of a circle of hell.

[DOR]

dale,

Thanks for the post; it is an interesting topic. But, maybe you’re not looking hard enough, or you’re seeing something because you want to find it.
Just a thought.

I disagree with astralis on Iraq; the unnecessary invasion, destruction and oh-so-badly-run occupation of the only secular (albeit very brutal) regime in the Middle East was nothing short of a war of aggression.

It hurts my heart to realize that my country was capable of (s)electing people who would do such a thing.

= = = = =

I'm a pro-free trade, pro-union, pro-choice (as if a mere man's views were important on the subject), pro-fair elections, anti-gun, anti-irresponsible fiscal policy active Democrat.

If you find some contradiction in there, you probably don't know me as well as you think.

[astralis]

DOR,

hate to be you when some FTA comes into negotiation. you got both sides hating on you!

of the above, i'm not so much pro- or anti-union as i think of them as irrelevant relics of the past. i lean towards pro-choice but not very much so. not sure what "pro-fair elections" means.

i'm pro-gun. and contrary to what some of the conservatives here might think, i'm not for all taxes all the time. again, i do not have a philosophical bent on taxation so much as i'd like to seek out the point of greatest efficiency, which can change depending on the times. i'm for a re-organization of government spending that means considerably less spending on SS/medicare and a lot more on infrastructure and science.

i'm generally a hawk when it comes to foreign policy, although i believe the execution (vice the idea) of the iraq war and its aftermath was breathtakingly incompetent.

[Blue]

I've seen some lefty dissent, but they don't go at it like we do. I think that passion has more to do with the temperature at which we debate, and really, I don't feel passion from most libs. You should take BF off your list Dale. He's not a lib anyway...he's a commie!