General Discussion

forest444

(5,902 posts)

38. I'm with you there.

Fri Apr 3, 2015, 01:55 AM

Apr 2015

My attitude on history is this: We should redeem the past when we can, with the same fervor we condemn it when we must.

Considering Athenian democracy took place 2400 years ago, it was a remarkable feat of egalitarian, pragmatic, and progressive governance - and in some ways more responsive to its people's needs than ours is now.

Did you know that, for example, public officials could be exiled from Athens for years not only for malfeasance, but also upon popular demand?

And here we are, 24 centuries later, with the likes of Dick Cheney and Tom Cotton committing treason and Mitch McCocaine profiting from his father-in-law's drug-running - without a thing we could ever do about it.

Some progress.

Good night, merrily. It's been an education, and above all it's been fun.

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Imagine my horror when I agreed with Pat Buchanan. [View all] arcane1 Apr 2015 OP

Even a broken clock .... Downwinder Apr 2015 #1

Actually Buchanan has been consistent on this. He also was against the Iraq war. Just goes to show still_one Apr 2015 #2

Yeah, but that dickhead Hannity didn't back down an inch... TreasonousBastard Apr 2015 #3

Both Bibi and Churchill are (were) notorious anti-Arab racists, although I'll bet KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #9

Chuchill was generally known to be an ignorant, racist scumbag, and... TreasonousBastard Apr 2015 #10

It's not entirely out of bounds to mention the old witticism that whether KingCharlemagne Apr 2015 #11

Yes he was an ignorant, racist and would-be genocidal maniac who thought that all Arabs were sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #12

As bad as Chuchill was, I don't think elevating... TreasonousBastard Apr 2015 #13

Actually I was placing Churchill at Giuliani's level. Anyone who advocates the mass murder sabrina 1 Apr 2015 #14

Ah, I see. But, one could have a lot of fun... TreasonousBastard Apr 2015 #18

Wow, Buchanan surprised Hannity with his clear thinking analysis. I love it when he said your friend Pisces Apr 2015 #4

"Why are you so afraid?" just doesn't get asked of right-wingers enough. arcane1 Apr 2015 #6

That was hard to Watch. Isannity made me ill. bahrbearian Apr 2015 #5

I can't take more than a few seconds of him. arcane1 Apr 2015 #7

I'm sorry Kalidurga Apr 2015 #8

Even O' Reilly is supporting it rpannier Apr 2015 #15

Thanks, that's a much better way to phrase it arcane1 Apr 2015 #16

Yes, I like that much better also. mountain grammy Apr 2015 #19

Good. Thanks. Now I don't have to throw up in my mouth. GoneFishin Apr 2015 #20

Yeah, I agreed with Bush II once (and not about broccoli). But just once. nilram Apr 2015 #17

Hannity hibbing Apr 2015 #21

Seeing Buchanan's name (which, luckily, rarely happens anymore) always reminds me of this: forest444 Apr 2015 #22

We were writing our posts at the same time and thinking similar things about Pat. merrily Apr 2015 #24

They do say great minds think alike. forest444 Apr 2015 #25

Then, we must both have great minds on this issue. merrily Apr 2015 #26

I'd like to think so, sure. forest444 Apr 2015 #29

No doubt, most posters would like to think so. merrily Apr 2015 #30

I hear you. forest444 Apr 2015 #31

I'm not sure you did hear me. merrily Apr 2015 #32

A misunderstanding then. forest444 Apr 2015 #33

But a felicitous one. I loved your post. No apology needed. Just say "Merrily, you're welcome for merrily Apr 2015 #34

Well, thank you - and you're welcome. forest444 Apr 2015 #35

Ancient Athens had democracy. Ancient Sparta too, maybe. We have representative government. merrily Apr 2015 #37

I'm with you there. forest444 Apr 2015 #38

He's a Nixon/Kissinger guy. Nixon got a lot of crap for going to "Red" China. merrily Apr 2015 #23

I wish PB was level-headed like this more often. nt Jamaal510 Apr 2015 #27

That had to hurt some... Historic NY Apr 2015 #28

Not surprising at all. He's libertarian. Most are anti-war. davidn3600 Apr 2015 #36

Take a look at Daniel Larison in Pat's old American Conservative Magazine; Faryn Balyncd Apr 2015 #39