Wednesday, April 11, 2007


A post dedicated to Israel for his political rants...
=)


Disclaimer:Provided by: Jeshanah's blog, entertaining 10's of people for almost 1 year. The posts contained within are in no way affiliated with either party. This message was not paid for by either party nor does it promote either party's interest. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of dragged2az.blogspot.com nor its affiliates.

59 comments:

Hully said...

George Washington's farewell address

"All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels and modified by mutual interests."

...

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty."

Anonymous said...

I guess Israel didn't have anything to say.

Jeshanah said...

I don't get it, Israel, you came to my blog all sad (and a little whiny...)because some other blogs(ahem, John's) were censoring your political posts, so I, out of the kindness of my heart, make this great post just for you, and you don't even use it?!

What a slap in the face!! I bet none of your other sister-in-laws ever made a post just for you before, and you don't even appreciate it. I'm hurt, truly hurt!!

Hully said...

The problem with this topic is that it is about politics. For Israel to make a political post under a topic about politics with completely go against his M.O. You need to pick a completely innocuous topic, say little league softball, in order to get him to discuss politics.

Anonymous said...

ouch!

Hully said...

That should say, "would completely go..." I have no clue where the "with" came from. :saywhat:

Israel said...

No, what it usually takes is for either

1) Jeshanah to complain about Arizona in a way that causes me to crack back at Ohio

or

2) John to either say something politically 'tarded on his blog or say something nice about some Republican toad like Scalia.

or

3) Ohio State Losing in the biggest game of the year to Florida which is the only state that is more to blame than Ohio for the Bush administration being able to continue to bless us with its unique brand of stupidity and incompetence.

Pictures of elephants alone ain't enough...

Jeshanah said...

There's a donkey on there, too. =P

Sharla said...

lol Shan. No wonder you said he's not as bright as he likes to make himself out to be! Man! He thought the elephant was alone!

Sharla said...

See, that is what I mean about seeing things from a different perspective! All of us saw the elephant and the donkey, but the liberal in our midst was filled with so much hate he couldn't even SEE the donkey! In his sad little mind you had posted just the elephant! That is what he saw. An elephant alone.
Here you are, being as fair and balanced as a post can be, even allowing that despised symbol of the democrats to appear on your blog! You are magnanimous! (It was really big of you) But does HE appreciate it? He doesn't even SEE it!
But it IS interesting that a lib couldn't see that you HAD represented his party, too, don't you think? ;)

Sharla said...

(That ought to get him going!);)

Israel said...

Since little Georgie Bush has been the biggest Jack Arse in politics for so many years, I feel that it's no longer fair for the Democrats to use the Donkey symbol.

So all I see now is an Elephant talking to the Head of the Republican party. Although he's probably talking to the wrong end...

Jeshanah said...

I know I'm not supposed to censor this, but let's keep the language clean, people.

Israel, I'm not going to delete your previous comment, but the next time I see curse words,(even insinuated ones...) I will delete your comments.

There will be no more warnings... I thought I had already made my feelings on this matter known almost a year ago...

Israel said...

Hey we already went through this, remember?

The Bible is full of that "curse word" and so I don't consider it a "curse word" at all.

And you should embrace it because it also happens to be the proper name for the animal who most resembles our Commander and Chief.

Jeshanah said...

I guess I have just assumed that you, being raised the way you were, would know what I, being raised the way I was, would consider to be foul language.

Since you apparently don't get it, let me make it simpler for you; do not put words on my blog that I wouldn't personally say to my own mom, pastor, nieces and nephews, friends and relatives.

Why, you might ask, would I be concerned about such things? Because that is who reads this blog you big ninny!

Jeshanah said...

Did you notice how I lightened the tone of that by calling you a ninny?! That's funny because not too many people use that word as an insult anymore... if you have to resort to name calling to get your point across, (which is a lame tactic if you ask me...) use something like ninny!! =P

Anonymous said...

haha not trying to feed isreals head with any ideas but that last i checked an elephant had a bigger posterior than a donkey kinda however i dont know what that has to do with anything i dont think i would even say that about a democratic president i think it has something to do with respect for the office but the only things liberals have respect for is money i think they really dont even respect themselved kinda sad really

Anonymous said...

hmmm... Justin, I'd hate to diagram that last sentence you just posted

Sharla said...

Justin has some very good thoughts, but it's hard to read them without punctuation! He KNOWS punctuation, he just refuses to use it. I nag him about it every once in a while. You can see the good that does! :)

Sharla said...

Shan,

You are right. If you HAVE to resort to name calling, ninny is definitely the way to do it. It is funny and charming and not really offensive.

New subject
Has anyone seen Amazing Grace yet? (the new movie about Wilberforce) I keep hearing rave reviews from the media and I want to go see it.

Israel said...

Respect for the office?

Plenty...

Respect for the Man?

None...

(The guy you support regularly uses the "F" word you know. He also uses his middle finger to communicate. Then it's off to the prayer breakfast to pander to gullible Christian Rightists.)

I could post a link to him doing so but you guys wouldn't like it.

Anyway, you guys goad me and goad me and then I respond you start crying. I thought Republicans were supposed to be tough...

Jeshanah said...

Zion, 1) like your sentences are much better... 2)it's no worse than Sam's drivel... (No offense, Sam)

This is what Justin meant to post:

haha, Not trying to feed Israel's head with any ideas, but the last I checked, an elephant had a bigger posterior than a donkey. However, I don't know what that has to do with anything. I don't think I would even say that about a Democratic President; I think it has something to do with respect for the office, but the only things liberals have respect for is money. I think they really don't even respect themselves, it's kinda sad really...

=)

Jeshanah said...

Israel, how is posting a kids softball practice 'goading' you? And the reason that my mom cries at times because of you is because you make things personal. You attack us, personally.

"(The guy you support regularly uses the "F" word you know....)"

Regularly? I have only voted once in my entire life. I did vote for him, and I would do it again if given the same choices of candidates. I do believe that he was better than the alternative.

I guess you could say that we regularly support him in the fact that we pay our taxes, and (I'm not really sure how this all works, but...) he gets some money from taxpayers dollars? But if that's the case, then (assuming you pay your taxes...) you regularly support him, too. Even more than I do!! Hahaha

Anonymous said...

wow that was great punctuation shanny

Anonymous said...

watch it buddy!
you have a dangling participle!

Jeshanah said...

ROFL, Zion!!!!!



(For those of you who don't get that... that's a line from "Oscar" a hilarious mob/mafia type movie starring Sylvester Stallone. One of the funniest movies I've ever seen!!)

Hully said...

The Internet has killed the English language. From chat rooms to instant messages to message boards to blogs, there is now a whole generation that is incapable of coherent written communication. When I was at Ohio Northern I would edit papers for some of the freshmen. It was a painful experience. My IQ still hasn't fully recovered. Thinking about it makes me want to go cry in the shower.

Jeshanah said...

Don't do it, John, or Israel will think it's all because of him. He's a little conceited...














J/K, Israel... kinda. =)

Jeshanah said...

Originally posted by Israel under the wrong heading. I'm sure it was an honest mistake...



WHAT MAKES A PERSON A CONSERVATIVE?

Warning this article contains ideas supported by actual scientists and researchers who believe in the scientific method. It may make you head hurt.

(ie pointy- headed intellectuals)

Politically conservative agendas may range from supporting the Vietnam War to upholding traditional moral and religious values to opposing welfare. But are there consistent underlying motivations?

Four researchers who culled through 50 years of research literature about the psychology of conservatism report that at the core of political conservatism is the resistance to change and a tolerance for inequality, and that some of the common psychological factors linked to political conservatism include:

* Fear and aggression
* Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
* Uncertainty avoidance
* Need for cognitive closure
* Terror management

"From our perspective, these psychological factors are capable of contributing to the adoption of conservative ideological contents, either independently or in combination," the researchers wrote in an article, "Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition," recently published in the American Psychological Association's Psychological Bulletin.

Assistant Professor Jack Glaser of the University of California, Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy and Visiting Professor Frank Sulloway of UC Berkeley joined lead author, Associate Professor John Jost of Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, and Professor Arie Kruglanski of the University of Maryland at College Park, to analyze the literature on conservatism.

The psychologists sought patterns among 88 samples, involving 22,818 participants, taken from journal articles, books and conference papers. The material originating from 12 countries included speeches and interviews given by politicians, opinions and verdicts rendered by judges, as well as experimental, field and survey studies.

Ten meta-analytic calculations performed on the material - which included various types of literature and approaches from different countries and groups - yielded consistent, common threads, Glaser said.

The avoidance of uncertainty, for example, as well as the striving for certainty, are particularly tied to one key dimension of conservative thought - the resistance to change or hanging onto the status quo, they said.

The terror management feature of conservatism can be seen in post-Sept. 11 America, where many people appear to shun and even punish outsiders and those who threaten the status of cherished world views, they wrote.

Concerns with fear and threat, likewise, can be linked to a second key dimension of conservatism - an endorsement of inequality, a view reflected in the Indian caste system, South African apartheid and the conservative, segregationist politics of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-South S.C.).

Disparate conservatives share a resistance to change and acceptance of inequality, the authors said. Hitler, Mussolini, and former President Ronald Reagan were individuals, but all were right-wing conservatives because they preached a return to an idealized past and condoned inequality in some form. Talk host Rush Limbaugh can be described the same way, the authors commented in a published reply to the article.

This research marks the first synthesis of a vast amount of information about conservatism, and the result is an "elegant and unifying explanation" for political conservatism under the rubric of motivated social cognition, said Sulloway. That entails the tendency of people's attitudinal preferences on policy matters to be explained by individual needs based on personality, social interests or existential needs.

The researchers' analytical methods allowed them to determine the effects for each class of factors and revealed "more pluralistic and nuanced understanding of the source of conservatism," Sulloway said.

While most people resist change, Glaser said, liberals appear to have a higher tolerance for change than conservatives do.

As for conservatives' penchant for accepting inequality, he said, one contemporary example is liberals' general endorsement of extending rights and liberties to disadvantaged minorities such as gays and lesbians, compared to conservatives' opposing position.

The researchers said that conservative ideologies, like virtually all belief systems, develop in part because they satisfy some psychological needs, but that "does not mean that conservatism is pathological or that conservative beliefs are necessarily false, irrational, or unprincipled."

They also stressed that their findings are not judgmental.

"In many cases, including mass politics, 'liberal' traits may be liabilities, and being intolerant of ambiguity, high on the need for closure, or low in cognitive complexity might be associated with such generally valued characteristics as personal commitment and unwavering loyalty," the researchers wrote.

This intolerance of ambiguity can lead people to cling to the familiar, to arrive at premature conclusions, and to impose simplistic cliches and stereotypes, the researchers advised.

The latest debate about the possibility that the Bush administration ignored intelligence information that discounted reports of Iraq buying nuclear material from Africa may be linked to the conservative intolerance for ambiguity and or need for closure, said Glaser.

"For a variety of psychological reasons, then, right-wing populism may have more consistent appeal than left-wing populism, especially in times of potential crisis and instability," he said.

Glaser acknowledged that the team's exclusive assessment of the psychological motivations of political conservatism might be viewed as a partisan exercise. However, he said, there is a host of information available about conservatism, but not about liberalism.

The researchers conceded cases of left-wing ideologues, such as Stalin, Khrushchev or Castro, who, once in power, steadfastly resisted change, allegedly in the name of egalitarianism.

Yet, they noted that some of these figures might be considered politically conservative in the context of the systems that they defended. The researchers noted that Stalin, for example, was concerned about defending and preserving the existing Soviet system.

Although they concluded that conservatives are less "integratively complex" than others are, Glaser said, "it doesn't mean that they're simple-minded."

Conservatives don't feel the need to jump through complex, intellectual hoops in order to understand or justify some of their positions, he said. "They are more comfortable seeing and stating things in black and white in ways that would make liberals squirm," Glaser said.

He pointed as an example to a 2001 trip to Italy, where President George W. Bush was asked to explain himself. The Republican president told assembled world leaders, "I know what I believe and I believe what I believe is right." And in 2002, Bush told a British reporter, "Look, my job isn't to nuance."

Jeshanah said...

This was originally posted by John in response to Israel's previous comment.


I read until I saw Hitler, Mussolini, and Ronald Reagan in the same sentence. After that I couldn't stop laughing long enough to get through the rest of it.

The problem with ideological classifications is that they are too sweeping and broad. If I tell people that I am pro-life, pro-gun, and I support tax cuts and privatized social security, they say, "Oh, you're one of those right-wing nut jobs."

Then if I tell another group of people that I support the separation of church and state, more-open border access, a guest-worker program, and a mechanism for possible amnesty for illegal aliens, they say, "Oh, you're one of those bleeding heart liberals."

Blanket allegiance, or opposition, to an ideology also promote intellectual laziness. Just as people will label a person based on his beliefs, people will base their own beliefs on the label they wear. "If I am a conservative, then I must be anti-immigration," or, "If I am a liberal, then I must be pro-abortion."

Just my personal take on it, but I think it has a lot to do with the sound-bite-based drive-by media we have today.

Thursday, April 12, 2007 10:59:00 PM

Hully said...

CENSORSHIP!!!! CENSORSHIP, CENSORSHIP, CENSORSHIP!

Hully said...

By the way, the post Shan reposted goes back to my original posting of excerpts from Washington's farewell address. He recognized the dangers of faction more than 200 years and I think his words are just as relevant now, if not more, as they were then.

Jeshanah said...

The whole reason I made a special post just for you, Israel, is so I wouldn't have to continue reading your nonsense.

This way, if I ever feel a need to be insulted for my political choice of voting for Bush (which by the way is my right) given the options, I'll know just where to go. Now they won't have to creep up under my everyday little comments, it's a beautiful thing, really.

Anyone who wants to, can choose to read, or not to read, the politically heated gibberish you are spewing forth so vehemently.

Sharla said...

I read every word of all the comments. I especially agree with "Conservatives don't feel the need to jump through complex, intellectual hoops in order to understand or justify some of their positions"! :)

Sharla said...

Jeshanah,
You could adopt a sweeter tone when dealing with Israel. I know you feel like he is lashing out, but I believe he truly feels misunderstood. In other words, in his mind he knows he is totally right and thinks we would all be better off if we saw things his way. He is trying to persuade us for our own benefit in his mind. I could be wrong but let's give him the benefit of the doubt. :)

Hully said...

Sharla sez: "I believe he truly feels misunderstood. In other words, in his mind he knows he is totally right and thinks we would all be better off if we saw things his way. He is trying to persuade us for our own benefit in his mind. I could be wrong but let's give him the benefit of the doubt."

Unless you jumped through complex, intellectual hoops to reach that conclusion, I'm not buying it.

Sharla said...

Rofl John! You guys are so funny! I wish I was a smart as you and Israel just so I could be so quick witted. You are a riot. You two guys make me laugh out loud everyday (actually so does Shan). Laughing out loud is good for a person. Thanks! :)

Sharla said...

Shan,
Don't get me wrong, even though I think you could be a tad bit nicer, I am VERY proud of you for having an opinion and not being afraid to express it! (I just re read your last comment and was cracking up laughing!)
Come to think of it, say it like you feel it I guess. A few months ago I was asking Israel for some business advice and I asked him how I could tactfully ask a prospective franchisee something and his response was "Why do you have to be tactful?"!! Lol!
That response is so foreign to me, it still cracks me up!

BeccaHolsapple said...

This is most likely the only comment you are going to get from me under this post,I don't know a whole lot about politics... But I just wanted to let you guys know I am enjoying reading it!

Israel said...

I don't know how I feel about having my wonderfully reasoned discourse being banished to this political ghetto.

Now that it is separate it no longer feels equal. That said I guess it is nice to have my own section even if it is segregated.

How do I set up a link so I can start selling my "Republicans are Stupid!" shirts.

I have some more ideas for that line that will make it an even better seller...

(drum roll please!)

"Republicans are Ugly!"

and...

"Republicans Smell Bad!"

and a golden oldie that Sharla enjoyed so much...

"Republicans are Fecalicious!"

I would be happy to buy John and Sharla some of these shirts, because they are now ex-Republicans and don't have to take offense because as Ex-Republicans they are now better looking, they smell better and they've gained tons of IQ points even though they are not as smart as I am yet, they're getting there.

So won't you join them?

Jeshanah said...

Answer to Israel's... "How do I set up a link so I can start selling my "Republicans are Stupid!" shirts." You don't. =) You can start your own site, nothing I can do about that, but I'm not going to advertise it for you.

Jeshanah said...

That would be the same as having a t-shirt that says, "I'm Stupid, and Most of my family and friends are stupid." I really don't think it would be as big of a seller as you think it would.

Jeshanah said...

Mom, can I help it if my insults are better written than his? I guess I could resort to his kind of name calling and say something like, "Democrats Stink" and we should print off t-shirts that say just that... but I think that is much ruder than anything I've said. Just because I used some bigger words, doesn't mean I'm being meaner. Besides, as Emma put it after insulting Miss Bates, "How could I help saying it, I daresay (s)he did not understand me."

Sharla said...

ROFL! Shan! You are a riot! You make me laugh till tears come almost every day.

Sharla said...

Israel, that "Now that it is separate it no longer feels equal." was a great line! I am laughing so hard my tears are making puddles on the desk! You can be hysterically funny when you want to be.

Israel said...

This here political ghetto is a rough neighborhood, so you better stay out if you don't wanna get mugged.

Tall blonde, blue-eyed white girls from Ohio, especially should think twice before coming round these parts.

John, I think can handle it. The rest of you I'm not sure about...

Hey! There John is now, "Yo John, waaaassup my Honkey?!!? What's a ex-Republican like you doing kicking it in this hood?"

Jeshanah said...

(shaking head from side to side and waving finger back and forth as if scolding a child...) "Oh, No, you dinnit!!!"

I think I'll be okay in this political ghetto. (I'm getting pretty tough after living in the real ghetto for almost a year...) Plus, you're the only one who would try to hurt me, and I'm not too scared of you... you're getting kind of old, your bones are probably getting pretty brittle by now. LoL I think I could take you if we ever really had to duke it out. =P













Seriously, how much do you wish you could choke me right now?? hahahaha

Israel said...

That's true I forgot you're from the hood now.

And Castro St. in Tucson is a lot rougher than Castro St. in San Francisco, let me tell you.

And if you can whip up on Zion you can definitely whip me as Zion outweighs me by over 100 lbs and is at least four inches taller than me. I am meaner than him though...

Sharla said...

That's not really saying much Israel. Zion doesn't have a mean bone in his big, brown, glorious body!
(For those who don't recognise it, I borrowed that phrase(with the exception of brown) from one of my heroes and noble peace prize nominee, Rush)

Jeshanah said...

I rarely 'whip up on Zion', but I do believe that you are meaner...

Israel said...

How many mean bones does Jeshanah have?

Sharla said...

How many bones are in the human body?









just wondering...

Jeshanah said...

MOM!! What are you saying??!!!

How Rude!!! I know when I've been insulted, I know when I've been insulted!!

Jeshanah said...

Yeah, if anyone was wondering where I get my 'mean bones' from, you just showed 'em!!! Mean, Mean, Mean!!!

BeccaHolsapple said...

I wouldn't go as far as every bone...but... you don't want to get on Shan's bad side! Warnings to you Israel!! LOL

Sharla said...

< proudly > I taught her everything she knows!

Hully said...

More global warming hypocrisy:

Last year all we heard was that global warming was causing the surge in killer hurricanes such as Katrina. Now comes word that global warming is PREVENTING hurricanes...

Global warming may spur wind shear, sap hurricanes

"MIAMI (Reuters) - Global warming could increase a climate phenomenon known as wind shear that inhibits Atlantic hurricanes, a potentially positive result of climate change, according to new research released on Tuesday.

"The study, to be published on Wednesday in Geophysical Research Letters, found that climate model simulations show a "robust increase" in wind shear in the tropical Atlantic during the 21st century from global warming.

"Wind shear, a difference in wind speed or direction at different altitudes, tends to tear apart tropical cyclones, preventing nascent ones from growing and already-formed hurricanes from becoming the monster storms that cause the most damage.

Sharla said...

Yea, and the first earth day all the signs said we were DEFINITELY going into an ICE AGE!!
But, that doesn't mean you can question any theory these brilliant scientists put forth. They KNOW what they are talking about! (this time)

Hully said...

I think the problem is that we overreacted to global cooling and that's why we have global warming. Sort of like when the room gets cold so you turn up the thermostat, but an hour later the room is too hot, except for the parts of the room where the heat actually makes it snow more....