Rules of Politics, or How the Game is Played

I can't stop thinking about the gaul of Bill O'Reilly crabbing about Howard Dean because Dean had the temerity to ridicule that paragon of principle, Rush Limbaugh. They've got a different set of rules.

I'm thinking about the different set of rules my three sisters and I used to have for our nightly softball games as kids, along with a gang of other "faculty brats" (most of us girls): the rules were flexible to make sure everybody was okay. One night we'd use "Joan's rules." Another night with fewer players, "Mel's rules" worked better. Most often we negotiated rules.

For example, four strikes and you're out, unless the catcher wants to give you a few more or the pitcher feels bad about any of the pitches. Sometimes we played that you could swing 'til you hit. Standing rule: roll the ball instead of throwing it if the person catching doesn't have a glove, or if it could hit anyone. If the ball goes into the street, the runners have to stop until it's back in the field.

There was a lot of, "You were on base before I tagged you." "No, it's okay, you tagged me before I got there." "You sure you don't mind? I don't want you to be mad." "No, don't feel bad. I was out."

And yet we were pretty good players. It was partly that we wanted everybody to be okay, because they'd all do the same for us individually, too. But it was also very bad form to cheer when you won, or win at somebody else's expense, or have an unfair advantage, or allow someone to be hurt, emotionally or physically. And if you did, then EVERYbody would be mad at you for being such a mean, selfish, conceited, unfair creep. There's nothing quite so devastating as having your whole group of girls shunning you, whispering about you, and holding that silent, hateful grudge for up to 48 hours. So you'd lose a lot by being mean.

This is how the Republicans play us. They love to play the politeness police, warning us that we'll lose a lot by being mean. "You can't do that, that's so meeeean and against the rules!" (Plus God hates you for it.) And Democrats say, "We have to be careful. If we come on too negative, it'll turn voters off and they won't like us."

Then Republicans lie, cheat, attack, villify, manipulate, insult, and gain points. Too late for Democrats to say, "Wait a minute! You said that sort of thing's against the rules!" Because then we get, "What are you a whiner? Everybody remember how meeeeean they were to Joey?" And they lie some more.

In my childhood softball games, we were basically on the same team, because we so valued behaving considerately to each other; we valued our collective group. But in politics, we're not on the same team, not even in ways Republicans and Democrats used to be. We are NOT all rooting for what's best for America, and we are NOT playing by the same rules for the good of all. We are dealing with real bullies, and much as I still value being considerate and "taking the high road," I think we need a real rumble.

I think we need to surprise our opponents the way BossHog surprised that little twerp the other night.

I think we need to embrace it when somebody calls the Chimp "a deserter." I think we need to call this administration "liars." I think we need to say they're turning this country into a fascist state. I think we need to shout that they're robbing our children with sky-high debts, and selling the country to China and Japan. I think we need to say that they're oil-thirsty, greedy murderers. I think we need to be brave enough to tell the truth about what they're doing to our laws, our environment, our healthcare, our children, our military, our place in the world, our unity as a nation, and our freedom -- in NO uncertain terms.

As Husb would say, "FUCK polite!" We can go back to rules that rely upon a level of consideration and concern for the whole after we take back the country and restore truth, dignity, and respect for disagreement. Until then, as I see it, the rules have changed.

when my wife :hug: is calling for a rumble. This is a woman who values all people and loves everyone. This is a woman who has difficulty criticizing (lovingly and constructively) her little piano students for fear they may feel bad.

A call to arms from her is pretty damned serious.

So yeah ... 'fuck polite'. Its long past time to bring it to them.

"Fuck Polite"

and on that note, I must say I agree completely!

only spoken fucks ...... and as of this evening, I'm out a ton of nickels. :)

(for those not following ... see this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3522650)

that's why politicians can break laws but voters go to jail.

This and the news that Bill Clinton and Poppy Bush are now best buds

(see "Bill Clinton has Gone Insane"...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1741784 )

are enough to convince me that Politics is not only a dirty game, but a whacked-out one now, too.

Something's gotta give sooner or later. The idiocy of Democrats could just crystallize the thinking of many like me, who see the Democratic Party going down the tubes, join with what we see as the lack of backbone and the lack of a will to win, and reach critical mass. Then, and only then, will there be the true "cleaning of house" that needs to happen from the top down as we grow a new Party from the bottom up.

Barbara Boxer and is the only member of the Senate with a visible backbone these days (flashes of fire from Ted Kennedy every so often not withstanding...), and most of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Barney Frank are the only electeds there who keep Congress from being a total laughing-stock.

Special interests and corporations own most of the Senate and Congress, and so it is they who control the process and what comes out of those bodies. Things need to change. Now. "FUCK polite!", indeed!

TC