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alcibiades_mystery

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142. Very good analysis of some very scary rhetoric: "no principles" and "no moral compass" can be

Mon Feb 25, 2013, 09:17 PM

Feb 2013

tweaked very easily into "you're just evil," and we all know where that leads. There really is a case to be made that some of our friends on DU are verging into some very dangerous territory indeed: the repeated and seemingly coordinated use of "no moral compass" was just chilling - it's easy to see how that slides into "you're just expendable," and "you can't be saved" (for the light). There's something very sinister and inquisitorial and creepy about these kinds of arguments, where the interlocutor is devoid of reason, principle, morality, seemingly by sheer virtue of disagreement. I used to enjoy and learn from discussions with many of our far left contingent, but, as with the "no principles" and "no moral compass" arguments, I think many of them are getting quite scary.

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Michelle, the Oscars and Autocratic Trappings [View all] cthulu2016 Feb 2013 OP

Mrs. Obama used the occasion to make an argument for the hedgehog Feb 2013 #1

As an artist, I object to the State having much of an opinion on art either way. cthulu2016 Feb 2013 #5

Well, if the state didn't fund a lot of the work of artists, we wouldn't have any art except the Cleita Feb 2013 #6

Kind of ironic that she's pushing commerical stuff then. progressoid Feb 2013 #25

What commercial stuff is she pushing? She was using the Oscars that would have a very wide Cleita Feb 2013 #32

Well having grown up around and known movie people all your life, then you know it is a progressoid Feb 2013 #49

Unfortunately, funding has been cut like in everything else. Cleita Feb 2013 #54

You object, on principle of course, to NEA funding...I guess nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #35

Bill Clinton Introduces "Lincoln" - Golden Globe Awards ProSense Feb 2013 #40

"That's gross." Scurrilous Feb 2013 #94

Michelle Obama Glows At 2012 Kennedy Center Honors In Michael Kors (PHOTOS) ProSense Feb 2013 #45

The TV and movie industry is the fastest growing part of the american economy AverageMe Feb 2013 #93

So I take it you think the NEA should be axed? cali Feb 2013 #117

Congrats: You've Raised Public Hissyfits To The Level Of An Art Form. (nt) Paladin Feb 2013 #170

Message auto-removed in-the-hall Feb 2013 #46

place of Art in our society Not a Fan Feb 2013 #83

Many K & R's. Scurrilous Feb 2013 #2

meh, ok, I can see your viewpoint, but I don't watch that crap in the first place quinnox Feb 2013 #3

I'm not sure treestar Feb 2013 #4

LOL.. I can just *imagine* the DU reaction should Pickles have announced best picture at the Oscars Fumesucker Feb 2013 #7

Pickles did a lot of work with Sesame Street to encourage books for children. Cleita Feb 2013 #9

She was trained as a librarian if I recall correctly Fumesucker Feb 2013 #16

I don't know. We didn't have DU during Reagan's Presidency but Nancy Reagan was Cleita Feb 2013 #21

It's not mere coincidence that Reagan's last paid gig as an actor was narrator of Death Valley Days Fumesucker Feb 2013 #42

Neither elected Not a Fan Feb 2013 #88

It wouldn't have bothered me at all. The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2013 #65

That's the thing about DU, there's always someone who is atypical Fumesucker Feb 2013 #66

+1 treestar Feb 2013 #161

It wouldn't have bothered me in the slightest cali Feb 2013 #120

Maybe not you but the majority on DU would have hated and mocked the woman for doing that Fumesucker Feb 2013 #131

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #149

Imagine if Argo had been the winning picture, too. Marr Feb 2013 #158

And if the winner was a film based on a CIA covert action, even worse. morningfog Feb 2013 #162

I kind of agree, however tularetom Feb 2013 #8

First ProSense Feb 2013 #10

Bad enough those people live in our White House, do we have to see them on TV, too? How gross! freshwest Feb 2013 #166

Unrec. FSogol Feb 2013 #11

Here's the bullshit line ProSense Feb 2013 #14

Exactly. n/t FSogol Feb 2013 #15

Projection cthulu2016 Feb 2013 #34

You're a riot. n/t ProSense Feb 2013 #36

I imagine it's rather convenient to conflate disagreement LanternWaste Feb 2013 #127

"Argo," "Lincoln" and "Zero Dark Thirty" were biggest Oscar contenders... KoKo Feb 2013 #12

I really thought that the reason she accepted was because the odds were that "Lincoln" Cleita Feb 2013 #37

Hilarious faux-rage. JaneyVee Feb 2013 #13

Those of you without principles will always find them inauthentic in others cthulu2016 Feb 2013 #18

So you equate this bullshit outrage with "principles"? ProSense Feb 2013 #23

I work in the industry, I find the faux-rage hilarious. Michelle Obama is NOT "the State" JaneyVee Feb 2013 #27

+1 nt Javaman Feb 2013 #89

Agree Mz Pip Feb 2013 #96

Could it be possible that other people have principles nobodyspecial Feb 2013 #28

Could it be possible that other people search high and low for something to be outraged about? jeff47 Feb 2013 #156

^^^this^^^ Puzzledtraveller Feb 2013 #55

lol did you hurt your arm patting yourself on the back. grantcart Feb 2013 #72

"Those of you without principles..." Wait Wut Feb 2013 #78

Now that is a nasty piece of holier-than-thou assholery from you muriel_volestrangler Feb 2013 #139

It is no different from labelling the post itself "faux outrage". Marr Feb 2013 #159

Calling one post 'faux outrage' is very different from saying a DUer has no principles muriel_volestrangler Feb 2013 #168

What principle is at work here? treestar Feb 2013 #163

lol DURHAM D Feb 2013 #22

Just knowing that it pissed off Rush, and DU's Obamas' Hater Brigade, tickles the shit outta me. Tarheel_Dem Feb 2013 #17

I wish I could laugh, TD. Maybe it's just me today. It's stretching to find any fault. Tedious. freshwest Feb 2013 #128

I mean, you expect it from the right, because it's what they do. But, when this foolishness comes.. Tarheel_Dem Feb 2013 #135

TD, it hurts me inside. The RW, I expect. This cuts deeper. And it's applauded. No, it's not pretty. freshwest Feb 2013 #137

Thank you. I thought it was inappropriate to say the very least. At any time it would show MotherPetrie Feb 2013 #19

My Word! juajen Feb 2013 #63

If Michelle Obama was Laura Bush, we wouldn't like her BeyondGeography Feb 2013 #20

what I don't exactly understand is the uniformed ppl behind her grasswire Feb 2013 #24

She was hosting a military service dinner. JaneyVee Feb 2013 #33

Thanks for clearing that up. bemildred Feb 2013 #26

I hesitate...you're not going to like this: ProSense Feb 2013 #29

Thanks for that, ProSense! countryjake Feb 2013 #102

Yawn...serious...yawn nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #30

I watched a Greek film about Iphigenia who was sacrificed by her father to his nationalistic patrice Feb 2013 #43

I have to admit I enjoy coming across your posts Inkfreak Feb 2013 #119

Thank you for your kind words! I love good synergy, especially from the Arts! nt patrice Feb 2013 #133

Did you see Michelle dance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last week? Avalux Feb 2013 #31

You mean this? The full dance routine? KoKo Feb 2013 #44

Yes that's it. Avalux Feb 2013 #51

The first lady appearing on camera is a slippery slope to a govt. takeover of artwork. EastKYLiberal Feb 2013 #38

Seriously? What about the Kennedy Center Awards? onenote Feb 2013 #79

I don't watch that stuff, but I strongly agree! nt patrice Feb 2013 #39

I am Re-Invoking the Auntie Em rule blogslut Feb 2013 #41

You're kidding right? You're madmom Feb 2013 #47

All those people who contribute to the Economy Island Deac Feb 2013 #48

I know! They should just be invisible! freshwest Feb 2013 #172

To the OP SCVDem Feb 2013 #50

The issue i have is it seemed......out of place davidn3600 Feb 2013 #52

Spot on cthulu2016!!!! Puzzledtraveller Feb 2013 #53

It was "un-American" ProSense Feb 2013 #57

The wonderful thing about all of this....FLOTUS doesn't really care a whit what any of you think.n/t monmouth3 Feb 2013 #56

Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #58

I wasn't going to REC the OP...but, because of your rant KoKo Feb 2013 #61

Quelle Surprise! KoKo agrees with an Obama bashing o.p. I'm shocked! Shocked, I say! Tarheel_Dem Feb 2013 #121

You've got company: ProSense Feb 2013 #59

And, Jennifer Rubin.. See link below.. Cha Feb 2013 #62

Right wing hack Jennifer Rubin agrees with you.. Cha Feb 2013 #60

Would Rubin have written the same critique about Pickles in the same situation? Fumesucker Feb 2013 #70

I do not buy the premise LuckyTheDog Feb 2013 #64

Nor do I. The Velveteen Ocelot Feb 2013 #68

To me it would be...the oscars...yawn nadinbrzezinski Feb 2013 #74

I see posts like that around here all the time. NYC Liberal Feb 2013 #152

^^^This^^^^ treestar Feb 2013 #164

Celebrities and politicians both enjoy the spotlight. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2013 #67

the reason I disagree is that the Oscars don't matter Enrique Feb 2013 #69

You must need a month at a spa everytime the President throws out the first ball on opening day. onenote Feb 2013 #71

It lacked a certain 'flow'. Awards shows are ego-fests. toby jo Feb 2013 #73

I was thrilled to see FLOTUS in the Oscars, Bette Noir Feb 2013 #75

Why put this much thought into a biased farce? ecstatic Feb 2013 #76

What an utter load of disingenious bullshit. phleshdef Feb 2013 #77

You nailed it. ProSense Feb 2013 #80

Not to mention that, except for the over-bangs, the First Lady was stunning! kelliekat44 Feb 2013 #81

Yep. (nt) LuckyTheDog Feb 2013 #110

In the end...just your opinion. Deal with it. Pretzel_Warrior Feb 2013 #82

DURec - although politicians are just celebrities now leftstreet Feb 2013 #84

Article: Michelle Obama Wasn't the First First Lady To Take Part in the Oscars. So Who Was? Tx4obama Feb 2013 #85

Considering the winner was filled with CIA brainwashing propaganda..... JohnyCanuck Feb 2013 #86

Oh my leftstreet Feb 2013 #92

I agree with that assessment alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #140

She just opened an envelope and named the winner. MineralMan Feb 2013 #87

Some of their biggest supporters are from Hollywood goclark Feb 2013 #98

Even if they weren't, I can't see what the issue might be. MineralMan Feb 2013 #99

Totally agree! goclark Feb 2013 #123

Hollywood employs about 1 million UNION workers graham4anything Feb 2013 #90

But it's okay for every (male) president to throw out the first pitch in MLB frazzled Feb 2013 #91

WOW NCTraveler Feb 2013 #95

And "the worst of human history." really? Is this a Hitler comparison? tblue37 Feb 2013 #148

I agree, n/t MuseRider Feb 2013 #97

Oh dear, turns out Laura Bush WAS the first First Lady to appear in the Oscars show frazzled Feb 2013 #100

Do you remember how this place EXPLODED over that? alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #141

Post removed Post removed Feb 2013 #101

I thought it was creepy, too. My husband and I looked at each other and Flaxbee Feb 2013 #104

Right because Presidential spouses taking part in a pop culture event = emperialism. phleshdef Feb 2013 #112

No you didn't. And no one is actually buying that. phleshdef Feb 2013 #111

You must have the lowest threshold for being creeped out of anyone on the planet onenote Feb 2013 #114

I happen to agree with you. RevStPatrick Feb 2013 #103

Laura Bush DID make an appearance at the Oscars as First Lady NYC Liberal Feb 2013 #153

She did it just to piss you off... SidDithers Feb 2013 #105

That's our Michelle.. she really knows how Cha Feb 2013 #113

I can assure you that during Bush's terms, Denzil_DC Feb 2013 #106

One of the funniest bits of lunacy I have seen in a while on DU Vinnie From Indy Feb 2013 #107

If you're serious about this, Zoeisright Feb 2013 #108

I wouldn't have cared one way or the other if Laura Bush was announcing Oscars Matariki Feb 2013 #109

Did I fall asleep and wake up in Free Republic? tarheelsunc Feb 2013 #115

Seriously? sheshe2 Feb 2013 #116

Here: ProSense Feb 2013 #118

I have the same level of outrage as when Nancy Reagan appeared on "Diffrent Strokes" (nt) Nye Bevan Feb 2013 #122

This is just redonkulous. Mrs Obama has advocated more for the arts than any major political Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #124

Where is the fainting couch when you need one? JoePhilly Feb 2013 #125

Smelling salts. Skidmore Feb 2013 #132

Ah yes, those are good when one gets the vapors. JoePhilly Feb 2013 #134

No "Fainting Couches" here...from what I read.. KoKo Feb 2013 #136

I had to come back to add that the Academy Awards are an international event Bluenorthwest Feb 2013 #126

I'm rather happy (more often than not) when the President, his wife, or any member LanternWaste Feb 2013 #129

really?!? this seems very silly, and petty noiretextatique Feb 2013 #130

I could add to the litany Summer Hathaway Feb 2013 #138

Very good analysis of some very scary rhetoric: "no principles" and "no moral compass" can be alcibiades_mystery Feb 2013 #142

Another analysis I appreciate. freshwest Feb 2013 #174

Yes, very tiresome, loaded insinuations being used. No way to answer, already condemned. freshwest Feb 2013 #173

I didn't like this either LittleBlue Feb 2013 #143

That's the problem.."We didn't like it under Bush...but. we Like It KoKo Feb 2013 #145

Just so you know, ProSense Feb 2013 #146

Ohhh...ProSense...I am Well Aware and find it amusing to deal with you KoKo Feb 2013 #155

"We didn't like it under Bush...but. we Like It under President Obama." Denzil_DC Feb 2013 #154

we didn't like Bush because he was a shitty fucked up President JI7 Feb 2013 #167

Aren't there more important things to get upset over? 6000eliot Feb 2013 #144

Than protecting the country from a "gross" and "un-American" action by the First Lady? ProSense Feb 2013 #147

Not if you can't stand the sight of Michelle or Barack on television, there isn't... freshwest Feb 2013 #175

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Feb 2013 #150

Speak for yourself! I wouldn't give two shits if Ann Romney awarded the trophy at the Super Bowl NYC Liberal Feb 2013 #151

I did not really resent Laura Bush Skittles Feb 2013 #157

To repeat a famous quote: jazzimov Feb 2013 #160

Video LuckyTheDog Feb 2013 #171

lol @ you donheld Feb 2013 #165

Actually - the answer is "Yes" - but nice try lame54 Feb 2013 #169

I'm not a big fan of any Taliban, whatever political stripe. Zen Democrat Feb 2013 #176