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FiveGoodMen

(20,018 posts)

108. I think when people talk American Exceptionalism

Reply to Demo_Chris (Reply #106)

Thu May 29, 2014, 02:56 PM

May 2014

it usually amounts to "Such and such an action would be horrifyingly wrong and cruel ... EXCEPT when WE do it."

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We did not choose wisely [View all] FiveGoodMen May 2014 OP

"Patriotism is the most foolish of passions and the passion of fools." Schopenhauer Tierra_y_Libertad May 2014 #1

For starters it would be great to have a Congress that walks upright. Whisp May 2014 #5

He's the President, for gawd's sake. Whisp May 2014 #2

THIS IS NOT A COMPANY!!!! We are CITIZENS, AND HE IS NOT OUR BOSS! God, I hate that WinkyDink May 2014 #11

do you really believe that a President is going to diss his own country? Whisp May 2014 #22

Not believing in American Exceptionalism isn't "dissing" anyone tkmorris May 2014 #47

well I expect a President to do that, or at least not be surprised. Whisp May 2014 #63

Really... RobinA May 2014 #114

Thanks for that. I thought I was at Discussionist by error. :) Whisp May 2014 #115

No, but his added "every fiber of my being" is creepy-treacly-hyperbolic. WinkyDink May 2014 #84

+100000000000000 woo me with science May 2014 #97

This is a democracy until there is some official declaration that it is not. Until then we expect sabrina 1 May 2014 #18

I think we call it a democracy..... abakan May 2014 #36

We're a nation not a company or corporation, if we were a corporation Uncle Joe May 2014 #55

an organization, whether a government, corporation or the Toastmasters Club Whisp May 2014 #65

"great big company" woo me with science May 2014 #91

How about honesty and thoughfulness? Too much to ask? TransitJohn May 2014 #92

Obama is thoughtless and dishonest? Whisp May 2014 #94

Well, if he's honest about believing in American Exceptionalism whole-heartedly, he's a conservative TransitJohn May 2014 #99

You spell funny Whisp May 2014 #101

Obviously, then, you win. TransitJohn May 2014 #102

Obviously, than, I do. Whisp May 2014 #107

How much political damage do you think Obama would take or have taken if he didn't claim a belief el_bryanto May 2014 #3

That's the problem. He tries to please everybody all the time. You can't please the 1% and the 99% liberal_at_heart May 2014 #6

That might well be true but that's another discussion el_bryanto May 2014 #8

I believe they would applaud his honesty. You think the 99% doesn't know that their school system liberal_at_heart May 2014 #15

He's speaking at West Point - I guess I just assume that the context of those comments will be el_bryanto May 2014 #21

whomever the audience, American exceptionalism is the kind of egotistical, arrogant liberal_at_heart May 2014 #24

Well that assumes that his view of American Exceptionalism is that we should dominate the world el_bryanto May 2014 #27

the word exceptional is arrogant. We need to be part of the world, not above it. I don't think we liberal_at_heart May 2014 #34

If you were at a neighborhood block party and you heard a father say "I'm proud of my exceptional el_bryanto May 2014 #35

yes I would. liberal_at_heart May 2014 #37

Fair enough then. I'll just say that I look at things differently. nt el_bryanto May 2014 #38

I might be inclined to say Art_from_Ark May 2014 #83

the term "American exceptionalism" means exactly that... mike_c May 2014 #44

Kind of like that opening scene rant for the News Room episode #1. brewens May 2014 #33

You're probably right about that. Most people like to think of themselves as middle class when liberal_at_heart May 2014 #39

+1000000 Jamastiene May 2014 #79

Then why does the 99% elect him President twice? treestar May 2014 #20

Because they are sold a story tech3149 May 2014 #43

So you are insulting the voters by saying they are morons treestar May 2014 #81

I'm not insulting the voters, I'm just stating facts tech3149 May 2014 #85

Then why does the 99% elect him President twice? bvar22 May 2014 #57

Because he is NOT George Bush and never will be. Rex May 2014 #105

While I agree Lee-Lee May 2014 #7

What does American Exceptionalism mean, though? I know it's a dog-whistle for Republicans to say el_bryanto May 2014 #12

Now's the time for POTUS to show some political bravery, for once. TransitJohn May 2014 #93

His isolation from us is now complete Warpy May 2014 #4

Every head of state says their country is the best and is special. That's not the point. stevenleser May 2014 #9

This guy ^^^^ gets it. NT Adrahil May 2014 #96

It's West Point? Blue_Tires May 2014 #10

I really don't believe we get to choose. We vote for whom we are given. Autumn May 2014 #13

We are presented with a list of candidates Jamastiene May 2014 #80

That's a mighty big responsibility you're taking there... blue neen May 2014 #14

Are you taking issue with 'we' or with 'choose wisely'? FiveGoodMen May 2014 #16

Well, freaking go back and get me some Mitt. Skidmore May 2014 #17

I think Big Macs kinda suck tkmorris May 2014 #50

Speak for yourself, please. MineralMan May 2014 #19

I'm sure president Palin would be making us very proud. ucrdem May 2014 #25

Indeed. And then there was Rmoney. MineralMan May 2014 #26

I'd say so. ucrdem May 2014 #32

Who are these people tweeting, and why? ucrdem May 2014 #23

Uncommon Dreams. MineralMan May 2014 #29

They're tweeting the author? ucrdem May 2014 #31

We didn't, but that's been apparent for awhile, alas villager May 2014 #28

I know President Romney certainly thinks so. bigtree May 2014 #30

This. Times a million. nt AverageJoe90 May 2014 #49

I am not sure how Obama was defining "American Exceptionalism . . ." Brigid May 2014 #40

Balderdash with every fiber of my being. GeorgeGist May 2014 #41

Says who? Drunken Irishman May 2014 #42

JESUS CHRIST ON A POGO STICK! MohRokTah May 2014 #45

Fuck American Exceptionalism! whatchamacallit May 2014 #46

"Us"? If you feel someone else can turn you into an asshole, well...okay. Ikonoklast May 2014 #59

"Us" as in what we collectively, as a nation, manifest in the the world whatchamacallit May 2014 #60

Travel outside this country. Ikonoklast May 2014 #73

I travel outside the US frequently whatchamacallit May 2014 #75

Yes. bvar22 May 2014 #61

Good thing I'm not a Black Pot, then. Ikonoklast May 2014 #72

So do I. KamaAina May 2014 #48

Huge K&R. Yes, it has been clear for a very long time that we made a mistake in the 2008 primaries quinnox May 2014 #51

.... Skidmore May 2014 #52

Shocking I know, not everyone thinks Obama's presidency has been the "most progressive in history" quinnox May 2014 #56

She's still not at the top of my list on the next go. Skidmore May 2014 #62

Strange thing to say for a Kenyan... Gidney N Cloyd May 2014 #53

The one line quote in context - pinto May 2014 #54

So is he planning to ratify the Kyoto treaty anytime soon, then? Spider Jerusalem May 2014 #88

I have no info on his plans. pinto May 2014 #90

If the answer to those questions is "no"... Spider Jerusalem May 2014 #110

I think you ought to direct your questions to the Administration, directly. pinto May 2014 #116

Makes all the difference, doesn't it? greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #113

He's no Rand Paul, right Medea?...nt SidDithers May 2014 #58

Just curious Union Scribe May 2014 #64

"just as I suspect the Brits belive in British exceptionalism..." a snipped quote is often misleadin bhikkhu May 2014 #66

I doubt he really believes that....... Swede Atlanta May 2014 #67

I knew exactly who I was voting for-a centrist Democrat. He never claimed to be a progressive icon Rowdyboy May 2014 #68

Would you have liked to vote for a progressive (if the Dems had backed one)? FiveGoodMen May 2014 #69

I've voted for every Democratic nominee since 1976....I'd love a chance to vote for a Democratic Rowdyboy May 2014 #70

I disagree. bvar22 May 2014 #74

I pay very little attention to what any contemporary politician says or promises. Rowdyboy May 2014 #78

No. bvar22 May 2014 #86

Oh, I've made plenty of political mistakes in the past but believing campaign promises is not one Rowdyboy May 2014 #87

So you ARE admitting.. bvar22 May 2014 #95

If my stating the obvious (that Obama campaigned as a "real" Democrat) makes you happy.... Rowdyboy May 2014 #112

Thank you for not tolerating revision of history. woo me with science May 2014 #104

Damn him! Why didn't he give 'em the full Chomsky! Throd May 2014 #71

we don't have much choice when it comes time to vote. m-lekktor May 2014 #76

I know. FiveGoodMen May 2014 #77

So, I take it that you will be working in the primaries MineralMan May 2014 #109

where's my f'n pony! PowerToThePeople May 2014 #82

You don't speak for me. warrior1 May 2014 #89

Obama: The sky is blue. Liberal Veteran May 2014 #98

From the speech: struggle4progress May 2014 #100

Yes we did, what would you have us do? Vote for McCain or Palin? Rex May 2014 #103

I am no Obama supporter, but respectfully, this is weak criticism... Demo_Chris May 2014 #106

I think when people talk American Exceptionalism FiveGoodMen May 2014 #108

Of course, and it's the same way with parties and positions, but Obama is speaking to... Demo_Chris May 2014 #111