In Which I Joust With Yet Another Right Wing Nut Job.
The other night I'm sitting here "minding my own business", if you know what I mean, when my friend Satyavati devi dasi popped up in Yahoo IM requesting my assistance.
For those of you who don't follow her blog (you should), here is her bio:
"About Me
Hare Krishna RN specializing in bhakti-yoga, patisserie extraordinaire,micro-farming, invertebrate palaeontology, bass guitar, socialist propaganda, proletariat uprisings and flight of ideas. Original compositions and incidental wedding music extra. Call for details."
How can you not love someone that intelligent, quirky and exotic?
She had been attempting to carry on an intelligent dialog with a conservative blogger who calls himself...wait...get ready for it..."Jo-Joe Politico".
Here is HIS bio:
"About Me
I was born in Miami, Florida, the son of an Air Force officer, traveled the world, was saved at age 17, and have served the Lord since. That's me on the right and my lovely wife, Bonnie...the pretty one...on the left."
I think that tells you everything you need to know about "Jo-Joe".
The first two paragraphs of the post she was responding to should tell you what we were up against.
"The reason I created this blog [xo - he means "post", not "blog". Bugs me when people don't know the difference] was not to list the facts about political candidates, good or bad, but to try to give some meaning, from my perspective, to those facts.
For instance, Why is it important to know that John McCain was a POW? Why is it important to know that BO hung around with a domestic terrorist?"
The illustration to this post was a picture of an A4 Skyhawk, but it wasn't one like McCain would flown.
It had the green and brown camo scheme of a ground based aircraft, not the battleship grey scheme of carrier based aircraft.
That sort of sloppy research pisses me off. But I digress.
A bit later in this diatribe, we get the following:
"John McCain has personal experience being assaulted by terrorists, which experience he gained as a POW in the infamous HANOI HILTON.
He understands how terrifying terrorists are.
Barack Obama, on the other hand, has aligned himself with known terrorists, in the person of William Ayers and his wife.
While I do not mean that BO participated in any direct terrorist activity. As far as I know, he did not, but with association comes alliance and with alliance comes complicity.
BO comes closer to being more aware of how to commit terrorism than to combat it."
Obviously, I had to respond to this nonsense. Which I did. However I am unable to reprint my original response here because "Jo-Joe" responded by simply deleting my comment and leaving this comment of his own:
"Joe has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
Xavier Onassis: "I can see the moon. That don't make me an astronaut."
Don't make you no linguist, neither.
You have engaged in the same twisted stuff your ilk always does.
You are a spewer of hatred spewing your hatred toward those who dare disagree with you.
Bye!
October 18, 2008 1:12 AM"
Well, now you know me. I had no choice but to step things up. And through the techno-miracle of gmail thread tracking, I have all of the other responses that he deleted. Ain't technology great?
"Xavier Onassis has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
"Don't make you no linguist, neither.
You have engaged in the same twisted stuff your ilk always does.
You are a spewer of hatred spewing your hatred toward those who dare disagree with you.
Bye!"
"Twisted stuff"? So, logic and reason is now "twisted stuff"?
Explaining the facts and shining the light of truth is now "spewing hatred"?
Wow. Just...wow.
Post a comment."
Which he of course promptly deleted and again left his own comment:
"Joe has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
Xavier Onassis: Well, you are pretty scary, but that is not why I deleted your comment.
I've been to your blog, and find it to be everything that is wrong in our country today, so I don't want people to accidentally be directed there from my blog.
Since this is my blog, I get to do what I want with it, including deleting your comments.
You don't have to like it. I'm sure you won't. I'm just as sure that you'll have some vile, vulgar remarks to say, not having the wisdom to understand why "freedom of speech" is not license to say what you want, when you want, where you want.
So, once again...goodbye.
Post a comment."
My turn again...
"Xavier Onassis has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
Your Rules [xo - taken from the right column of his blog]...
1. Absolutely no foul language. If you are not man or woman enough to control your language, you are not welcome here...go somewhere else.
My comment contained no foul language.
2. I am not looking for strings of commenters arguing with each other, so confine your comments to the topic at hand and address your comments to me, unless you can be exceptionally gracious and polite.
My Comment did not address or attach any other commenter. I confined my comment to the topic at hand and addressed my comments to you.
3. Since this is my blog, I am the sole arbiter of what can be placed on this blog. My decisions are final and without recourse.
AH! Here we are. This was my crime. I disagreed with you using actual, real, verifiable facts that you were unable to refute with facts of your own so you just deleted me. So very typical of your "ilk".
4. Within the scope of those rules, you may feel free to have fun here (I sure will). Sarcasm, wit, half-wit, nit-wit, parody, satire, puns (especially puns), etc. are encouraged.
Apparently not.
Post a comment."
Ol' "Jo-Joe" seemed to have stepped away from his computer for a bit. After all, it was well after 1am by now. So I was able to get a couple more comments up that stayed there for a while:
"Xavier Onassis has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
When the facts aren't on your side, delete the facts.
Typical McCarthy style, Christo-fascist, right-wing Republican censorship.
Since you deleted my effort to engage in intelligent dialogue, I no longer have any incentive to be polite. Do I?
Ring any bells? Like when Bush announces that he won't talk to our enemies until they unconditionally agree to be our friends?
Post a comment."
"Xavier Onassis has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
I guess I'll just have to publish a post on my blog about what occurred here tonight to get the truth out and flank your attempt to suppress Free Speech and the First Amendment.
Way to uphold the Constitution.
You are so silly.
Post a comment."
"Xavier Onassis has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
"I've been to your blog, and find it to be everything that is wrong in our country today"
Like the fact that I allow anyone to comment about anything and have never deleted a comment or blocked anyone from commenting?
The fact that I exercise and encourage Free Speech is "...everything that is wrong in our country today"?
I can see where a person like you might feel that way.
I encourage you to come back to my blog and express your opinion.
I look forward to the debate.
Post a comment."
But he eventually made it back, deleted all of the above comments and left his own:
"Joe has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
Xavier Onassis: (Oh...I stayed away too long and you came back)You're wearing out your welcome...ever since your second comment.
Bye
Post a comment."
He then left his FINAL WORD on the subject:
"Joe has left a new comment on the post "IMPORTANT OR NOT?":
"Xavier Onassis: You've been told that the Constitution guarantees you the right to free speech.
It does no such thing.
It guarantees that congress (the law making bodies of the federal government) cannot abridge your right to free speech.
You really should have paid attention in Social Studies class.
It says nothing about the rest of society, of which I am part.
Post a comment."
By this time it's 2am and I am sick of trying to teach a pig to sing, so I let it go.
And I agree with "Jo-Joe" that a person's blog is their castle and he is free to do whatever the fuck he wants. It neither breaks my bones nor picks my pocket.
But the reason I go to the trouble of re posting this nonsense is because it is SO TYPICAL of the Right Wing blogosphere and the Right Wing in general.
I have been BANNED from commenting on two prominent Right Wing blogs.
Little Miss Chatterbox banned me.
Mike's America banned me.
My crime? Calling SHENANNIGANS on their bullshit and refuting it with links to actual facts. Facts are like Kryptonite to conservatives.
And I'm sure that Jo-Joe Politico would ban me if he knew how, but I don't think he's all that web savvy.
Yesterday, Barack Obama held rallies in St. Louis and Kansas City. Both were free and open to the public. He attracted an estimated 100,000 attendees in St. Louis and another 75,000 in Kansas City.
That is the largest single day political gathering for a single candidate EVER in U.S. history.
Republicans, on the other hand, carefully restrict attendance at their political events by requiring tickets that are only dispensed to loyal and vetted Republicans, or by charging thousands of dollars "per plate" for boiled chicken and canned green beans.
Democrats and Liberals are not afraid of open debate and the free exchange of ideas. The only bloggers in my circle of friends who have had to block anyone from commenting were bloggers that feared for the safety of their family because of specific and credible threats from right wing, religious, nut jobs with guns.
Republicans and Conservatives are TERRIFIED of open debate and the free exchange of ideas. Circle the wagons, erect the fences, defend the borders, DO NOT let any idea enter the Inner Sanctum that contradicts what we already know is true.
DELETE! CENSOR! BAN! Whatever it takes to keep contradictory thoughts and ideas from corrupting the indoctrination of the faithful.
The lack of intellectual acuity, analytical acumen, or even basic curiosity and skepticism in the face of outrageous assertions among right wing conservatives is astounding.
Vote on November 4th.
Posts
30 comments:
I don't go to Reich wing blog. I don't have a high blood pressure problem & want to keep it that way. I'll let you slay those windbags. OOPS I mean windmills.
I agree with ya XO... Jo Joe censored you, while proclaiming to be about free speech. No big deal. It happens on lots of blogs... both left, right, and the 3rd parties.
Lots of blogs NEVER edit comments. Good for you. That is why you get repeat business, and he doesn't.
I believe in FREEDOM. INCLUDING the freedom that if people fuck up, they don't get government money.. whether they be a business or my next door neighbor. Unless of course I CHOOSE to give them that money.
So, fluff your feathers... feel superior to Jo Joe, it's not hard to do given that he's a fucking liar according to his blog.
Obama and McCain are the same person. The final result is the same whichever one gets in the White House. Our rights as stated in US Constitution get erroded. Just pick which rights you're most willing to give up.
Jo Joe seems to be a bit of a douche (I didn't go to his blog so I'm taking your word for it).
But I fail to see how he abridged your right to "Free Speech and the First Amendment" -- your blog post proves that he did not.
And just to be fair (which, granted, you may not be interested in), this sort of thing is de rigeur for liberal bloggers as well. My banning from The Daily Koz is proof of that.
Emaw... JoJoe can't claim to be about free speech, AND EDIT replies (or outright delete them) to his posts. If you believe in FREE SPEECH, then it isn't just a government thing. If that is what a person believes, then they need to express it as such. "Talk all the shit you want about [insert your party here], but don't call me out for believing their bullshit". That would be a more accurate disclaimer for JoJoe. IOW, if you disagree with me, you're posts are gone. No rhyme, and certainly no reason... just gone because he doesn't agree with a different opinion. JoJoe screws himself by wrapping himself in the free speech mantra that the right too often tells us "Ediths" to just "STIFLE".
Bravo XO!!! Keep it coming. 24% of the people who still think Bush is OK will never be swayed, but it's important that their voices are countered. You're never going to change this guy's mind, but his silliness in deleting your posts and the comments he left will speak volumes.
I'm constantly having to babysit the blogs at examiner.net. Almost every day last week a right-winger would be spewing the "Obama's a Muslim" etc garbage, and I tried to stay on top of it.
Keep up the good work!
Leigh Ann - Thanks for the support! Sometimes it feels like such a waste of time and effort! They clearly don't get it and don't WANT to get it.
But if I can save only one of them...
OMG...
I'm blushing.
You did a great job over there. And I'm proud of you.
I think I must have eventually scored a point or two, though... he did say 'Caribou Barbie' made him laugh.
Up the people.
PS. No one's ever called me 'quirky' before.
LOL!
"The reason I created this blog [xo - he means "post", not "blog". Bugs me when people don't know the difference]..."
Uh...I DO know the difference. I was stating the reason I started my blog...not that particular post.
Your misunderstanding of this truth illustrates what's wrong with your conclusions about the rest of that particular post.
To old fart I say, "Yep. I censored him. I believe in censorship by individuals, not by the govenrment, which is prohibited from censoring by the First Amendment. You and I both censor things every day."
You confuse FREEDOM with LICENSE.
BTW: I really do like ole Satyavati devi dasi, even though we disagree on a lot.
Yet I have chosen to invite her to let certain things go, because the same things were being written over and over.
I got tired of trying to apply my sense of reason.
When I went to her blog, I was impressed with her intelligence, even though I disagreed with her.
I'm not impressed with the intelligence of all bloggers, right or left wing.
"nut jobs with guns" Are you sure they had guns? Maybe all they had were sticks and stones.
Well I agree with you on just about everything...cept the stuff I don't and we both know what that is.
Bow season is upon us BTW.
Say it aint so Jo Joe! You delete one mans comments, yet feel compelled to post a retort on said persons blog. Nice to know you feel your opinion should be heard, while you deny the same on your own hack site, er I mean Blog. Gawd Bless ya.
Facts have a well-known liberal bias XO.
I was banned at Daily Kos too and I don't think I'm too much of a threat to anybody..lol...oh well
Been treated pretty well here even though I'm one of the few conservatives.
Be interested in your take on the Fairness Doctrine some day. Nancy Pelosi can't wait to get started on that one as soon as "the one" is in office.
I would rather discuss politics (like religion) in person. The Internet seems to encourage behavior in otherwise rational folks that they would never engage in face to face.
If somebody want's to make an unrefuted statement, close the comments on your blog (or a specific post) but don't delete anything. Leaving comments open invites a spirited debate in my opinion.
Without regard to your political affiliation or Joe's, I CAN say that I prefer the environment here to one where only those who agree with the author are heard.
Shut the fuck up. All of you.
I don't agree with what you say and therefore you have no right to say it.
Have you learned nothing these past eight years?
nightmare - If I suddenly developed a hankerin' to trapse off into the woods lookin' to kill sumpthin', I'd do it with a bow rather than a gun. I think bow hunters are much more skilled and sportsman-like than gun hunters.
travel - The Fairness Doctrine was a legitimate concept when there were only 3 broadcast television networks and news sources were limited. But these days the news sources are damn near infinite. If you only want to read news about albino chipmunks who subsist soley on rancid blueberrys, there is probably an internet site out there dedicated to covering that topic. As for Nancy Pelosi...never been a big fan. She is definitely the intellectual weak link in the Democratic chain of command and she scares me.
And you know you are always welcome here, travel.
Jo-Joe! What are you doing here? I'm "everything that is wrong with America." Everything? Aw, ya flatter me!
Seriously, you delete my comments but have the audacity to came over here and leave comments on my site?
I'll give you a couple of minutes to let the hypocrisy sink in.
I'll check in on ya in a few.
I lost my interest in arguing here after I noticed that when confronted with a fact you just repeat your statement with more words and angrier. but just to break up a list of "you go girl"'s you normally get, I will only call BS on one statement:Republicans, on the other hand, carefully restrict attendance at their political events by requiring tickets that are only dispensed to loyal and vetted Republicans, or by charging thousands of dollars "per plate" for boiled chicken and canned green beans.
"Oscar-winning singer and actress Barbara Streisand performed at a glittering and lucrative Hollywood fundraiser for Democrat Barack Obama.
The White House hopeful hosted a dinner in Beverly Hills costing attendees 28,500 dollars each and Streisand then sang at a reception at the swanky Beverly Wilsher hotel, campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. ..... Obama aides declined to say how many people were expected at the dinner and reception nor which other stars might attend. politico.com said upwards of 250 high rollers would attend the events and they could raise $ 9 million, which would be the most amassed by any candidate in a single day.
The audience also included supermodels Cindy Crawford and Heidi Klum, whose husband, singer Seal, sang two songs to fire up the VIP crowd. Today’s events in Beverly Hills come after Obama racked up a record-breaking $66 million in fundraising last month, beating his previous high mark of 55 million in February." I am sure the menu was organic.
and here is to free discussion:
"The speaker took no questions from the volunteers. The Obama campaign offered media access to Dr. Biden but only with restrictions on the types of questions that could be asked. The News-Press declined the offer."
Midtown Miscreant: Neas as I can tell, this is his blog. He has my permission to feel free to delete my comments if he wants to...that's up to him.
meesha - you always bring up the most unrelated, and irrelevant links to make your point. That is a fund raiser, and unlike the majority of events and rallies. Thanks though for always keeping us in the wrong in check.
xo - we agree on the fairness doctrine!! And, thanks for the you're welcome...
sandie - don't rush out trying to get tickets to the Obama Toleda rally today. They're all gone...
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/politics&id=6445367
"sandie - don't rush out trying to get tickets to the Obama Toleda rally today. They're all gone...
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/politics&id=6445367"
Hahahaha!
I think the hypocrisy is awesome. (In the commenting phenomenon, I mean.) Its the people with closed minds that scare me the most in this world...not the people that SPEAK their minds. As you well know, I'm on the political right, and I've had some very interesting discussions and some small arguments as well throughout this past year with regards to my political leanings. As far as I'm concerned, those discussions are healthy AND helpful. I learn vauluable tidbits of info from them.
Why does it seem like there are so few like me out there? So, sooo frustrating...
Wow. You go on one stinking vacation and practically manage to single handedly take down the blogosphere. Impressive, my friend. Very impressive.
See? Look Jo-Joe. People with differing points of view calmly and rationally discussing topics without censorship. An open dialogue where everyone is invited to participate and no one gets deleted.
Truly, this place does indeed represent "everything that is wrong with this country".
Also, can I just say how much I appreciate that he deleted your comments AND responded to them? Id have been googling your ass immediately if I were his reader.
I Like Pants!
I appreciate the heads up, XO, on new blogs. New territories to discover and comment on.
I'm still laughing at "You are so silly".
If JoJoe thinks your blog is everything that's wrong with America, I guess he hasn't been by mine yet.
And, you're right. We all should be reading Satyavati's blog on a regular basis. Where else can we get a Krishna Socialist Nurse's view on things?
I know I go by on a regular basis.
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