Posted on 10/26/2006 11:25:28 AM PDT by A_perfect_lady
I just sat in the teacher's lounge of my middle school and listened to my fellow teachers hold forth about President Bush, the war in Iraq, and politics in general. Naturally they all agree that Bush is evil, the anti-christ, a religious fanatic, well not really a true religious fanatic, but a phony pretending to be one, actually an evil schemer who started the war to allow Halliburton to steal the oil, but really a simpleton who thought he could bring democracy to a culture that is incompatible with democracy, well they are but it will take a long time and he obviously thought he could do it overnight because he's naive and really just schemed to do it for Halliburton anyway....
In other words, they leap from one cliche to the next, never noticing that the cliches and conspiracies are mutually exclusive, and they talk and talk without listening to anything but their own voices.
But this is what really got me: Several of them said that we should release Saddam Hussein, put him back in charge of Iraq, declare defeat, pull out, impeach Bush and try him for crimes against humanity. These are your kids' teachers. And they really believe this. As far as they can tell, there was no sectarian violence under Saddam because "He knew how to handle them." (The fact that Iraq didn't have a free press and they wouldn't have been reading the Iraqi papers back in the 1990s anyway seems to escape them.) They believe that we haven't helped Afghanistan rebuild, that we should have invaded North Korea instead but we didn't because there's no oil there, that we should have invaded Iran (despite the fact that there is oil there - presumably - and we would have no justification to present the sacred UN for that.)
In other words, these people are limitlessly arrogant, uninformed, and LOUD. I sat quietly until someone asked me a direct question and I told them that I think we did the right thing and that they are wrong to think that Bush had no idea it would take a long time to bring stability to Iraq, as he had said from the beginning it would be a long, hard haul. Let me tell you, once they realized I wasn't part of the chorus they started talking at me a mile a minute. They would just spout accusation after accusation and not let me say a full sentence back. Occasionally I'd ask a question, like, "Are you aware that the Johns Hopkins study that claims an Iraqi death toll of 655,000 used only 47 cluster samples, which is an abnormally low sample?" But for the most part, I couldn't get a word in. They just talk and talk like a monkey jumping from tree to tree. Welcome to publik skool.
We can't move until my husband gets tenure (hopefully this year). But then after that, he has a secret plan to try and get ROTC back on campus -- after the mindless loons can't fire him without cause anymore. Bwahahahah! :)
When they spout things like "Bush owns the Supreme Court!" ask them to name three SC justices. They can't.
When they spout things like "Put Saddam back in power!" ask them if they know when and how Saddam came to power initially. They don't know.
Any stupid cliche they bring up, just ask them a related question and challenge them to produce a correct factual answer instead of a hyperbolic cliche.
They never can. They'll stop discussing big issues in front of you, because they'll be intimidated.
They're idiots. The lot of them. And they absolutely hate it when you point it out conclusively;.
Parents - keep an eye on your child's homework - especially in history/social studies.
Good luck with your (his) plan, but I think that Callie is a lost cause...there are too many liberals and illegals there (an more coming every day).... If you live in the high desert areas, then you'll probably be less affected....liberals won't live where the living isn't subsidized some way....
"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." > - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program." > - President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998 > >
Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face." - Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998 > >
"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten time since 1983." > - Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18,1998 > >
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." > - Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry( D - MA), and others Oct. 9,1998
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." > - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998 >
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." > - Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999 > >
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." - Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, > December 5, 2001 > >
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them." > - Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002 > >
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." > - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 > >
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." > - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002 > >
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." > - Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002 >
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..." > - Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002 > >
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." > - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9,2002 > >
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002 >
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do" > - Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002 > >
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weap ons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." > - Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002 > >
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." > - Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002 > >
"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction > ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real" > - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003 > >
Yeah, and there's a lot of the Liberal Bully Boss out there, too. The guy who has to step into the hall and rant at someone trying to do his job, and feel like he's bringing wisdom to the world (while he happens to be bringing disaster to his company's bottom line). The more his company's stock goes down in a bull market, the louder he howls about Bush.
Typical of liberals. In fact, this encompasses their very core belief, "I'm right, I know I'm right, I don't need to CHECK that I'm right, therefore go away, there's nothing more for me to learn, because I know it all, already."
Do not touch any student, even to save him from getting run over. Don't even be alone with him. Do not advise any student concerning a personal problem. In fact, don't even listen. Just refer him to school counseling or the principal.
Do not mention the word "God" in any context while on school grounds.
Do not trust any school employee or parent who approaches you "sympathetically" and seeks to gain your confidence.
Document absolutely everything.
Get used to having a disproportionate number of the school's problem kids routed to your classes.
You are now more alone than you would be on the planet Pluto.
Yeah, those open graves and nerve gas work every time.
One of the lines making the rounds here in San Francisco is "the war has lasted longer than World War II!" As far as I can tell -- I don't know for sure because the people spouting this never qualify it -- this is only measuring the time from December 1941 when the United States declared war on Japan up until August 15, 1945, V-J Day. The numbers still don't work because the Iraq war began in April 2003, but that's beside the point; what I would say if that came up is, "It would be easy to end THIS war the way we ended WWII. It certainly would save a lot of soldiers' lives. Is that what you want?"
"Naturally they all agree that Bush is evil, the anti-christ, a religious fanatic, well not really a true religious fanatic, but a phony pretending to be one, actually an evil schemer who started the war to allow Halliburton to steal the oil, but really a simpleton who thought he could bring democracy to a culture that is incompatible with democracy,..."
In that situation I usually start with "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard" and then wing it from there. Then again, I love single handedly battling groups of raving liberals. It's not for everyone, especially if you care what they think about you.
Well, you know, we didn't invade NK because it doesn't have oil. On the other hand, we didn't invade Iran because it does have oil. It all makes perfect sense to liberal idiots.
I would have told them that they are absolutely correct, that I had bought stock in Halliburton when W was elected, and that I am now too rich to care.
I think you have nailed it here. My liberal/moderate friends always seek out my opinions, especially around election time. They want to know "what the hate-talkers are saying" about various issues. Even long time liberals realize their thought process does not always jive with reality. And they are amazed I know so many things they don't hear on the MSM.
It's wrong to stay silent when we can help influence the thoughts of those around us. We won't be able to convert everyone, but there are alway those in the middle who can be persuaded with facts and common sense.
When confronting die hards just keep smiling. Libs hate that. They are the most humorless people on earth.
ALL conservatives should support vouchers or homeschool their children or send them to good private schools.
1-) Projection, and
2-) Displacement.
The first has been discussed many times ( "I'm not the racist [ despite quotas, affirmative action, etc. ] you guys are..." ) so let me address the second.
You are presented with two versions of reality- the real one, where the world is a savage, merciless place, and a lot of people wish us ill... or the fantasy version, where everything is George Bush's fault...
Now that first version is really, really scary... hard to deal with, so you take all those negative feelings it invokes, and displace them over to one bad guy- who, incidentally, is a lot easier to hate, since he really can't hurt you. Unlike the "real" reality version.
See how much more comfortable that is?
I posted "The Maturity Quotient of the Left" some time ago, which dealt humorously with the very juvenile thinking of the Leftwingers.
Carry a recorder and then give me the tape.
I think I could make hay with such a recording.
In the 60's I enjoyed the tachers lounge as we swapped ideas and successes. Then, by 1979, it was a plaqce to stay away from. Most conversation was about excuses, especially complaints about parents.
For a few minutes I just sat and listened. Then I asked them where they got the information that 655,000 Iraqis were killed, and one fellow said, "Oh, it was a study." By whom? "Scholars, they're scholars!" That's when I brought up the part about the cluster points. Then a young woman and I got into it about how Bush has tried to convince the world that he only went into Afghanistan to liberate the women (?!) and I asked her to tell me when and where he'd said that, and of course, she retreated into "statements were made to that effect." By whom? "The government!"
I'm blown away by how vague they are. "Some guy said..." and "some study said..." and "I read in the newspaper..."
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