Funny political pictures

[Flint]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Did you understand what he said, past the zinger?

I did, but it wasn't necessary for me to. It was packaged to be effective in the absence of comprehension. That is the insulting aspect of the 'zinger' format (irrespective of who is doing it--this and ALL OTHER critiques of the process are NOT subject to one party or one candidate only). The 'zinger' isn't a harmless packaging, inconsequentially chosen, it's a purposeful appeal to the lowest common denominator. In the complete absence of any meaningul throught process relating to the subject matter, the 'zinger' strikes up points in the 'win column' which resides in a substance vacuum.

I hate that it is done this way, and I hate that it is effective.

Think of people you know who have 'gotten ahead' in 'office politics' in this manner. These individuals are well-deserved recipients of intense dislike.

[Gravdigr]

[Adak]

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Flint

I did, but it wasn't necessary for me to. It was packaged to be effective in the absence of comprehension. That is the insulting aspect of the 'zinger' format (irrespective of who is doing it--this and ALL OTHER critiques of the process are NOT subject to one party or one candidate only). The 'zinger' isn't a harmless packaging, inconsequentially chosen, it's a purposeful appeal to the lowest common denominator. In the complete absence of any meaningul throught process relating to the subject matter, the 'zinger' strikes up points in the 'win column' which resides in a substance vacuum.

I hate that it is done this way, and I hate that it is effective.

Think of people you know who have 'gotten ahead' in 'office politics' in this manner. These individuals are well-deserved recipients of intense dislike.

In the complete absence of any meaningful thought process on the part of the listener, the impact of the zinger will have been made anyhow, even absent any substance. Look at all the stupid fuckers out there who persist in their ignorance, despite actual substance, that President Obama was not born in the United States or that he is a Muslim. For low information voters like this, communication via zinger is reaching your audience where they are. For high information voters, or thoughtful people for whom substance matters, zingers, pre-emptive "our navy is smaller now than in 1916" or retaliatory "we have fewer horses and bayonets too", it ranges from amusing to insulting.

It works because we humans don't always form our decisions based on facts only, but on many factors, much to tw's dismay, were he capable of feeling dismay. :poke: This is true in office politics as much as it is in national politics. Have you never heard of the saying "A ounce of image is worth a pound of performance"? Sad but true.

How do you change this this kind of dialog from effective to ineffective? Make everyone who's listening smarter and more mature so that playground insults like this are pointless. Make everyone who votes smart about the facts of the issues. Make substance feel more substantial and appearance look less attractive. Noble, worthy and Sisyphean. I will work shoulder to shoulder with you in this effort.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by Big Sarge

I haven't misrepresented the facts.

I don't know about that. He said "we also have fewer horses and bayonets". You've made that out as though he said "the military no longer uses any bayonets at all". Forgive me if I've misinterpreted.

Originally Posted by Big Sarge

What concerns me are military cuts with a growing Chinese military and the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood throughout Southwest Asia and Africa. Plus, I feel the current administration has not supported Israel.

How much do we need to spend? Is spending as much as we do working?

[Stormieweather]

Thanks a lot Spexxy. Now I have to scroll over to the right to see the whole screen.

[Big Sarge]

You misunderstood me. I agreed we had fewer horses, but all the figures I have reported and the reference to the National Defence Act of 1916 show we have more bayonets. Also, this in the emblem I wear on my uniform. Notice the M9 bayonet?

[Gravdigr]

The kid knows something about something, ya can tell that much...

[BigV]

jailbird!

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Flint

I did, but it wasn't necessary for me to. It was packaged to be effective in the absence of comprehension.

It seems that you're objecting to "style over substance" so strenuously that you are just objecting to style without respect to substance.

The offensive zingers are the ones whose underlying point is false, but they are cleverly worded in such a way that refuting them is too complicated to explain easily. Or maybe they don't actually say anything at all, but they imply things, and the utterer can then claim they never said the implication.

Obama's "zinger" was just a clever way to make a good point, and he explained that point in long form immediately afterward, rather than letting the zinger stand on its own.

And, of course, it could have been cleverer, if he'd picked something other than bayonets, as quibbling over the bayonet count is just as much a way of glossing over the point as is accepting a zinger wholesale, and there is probably another piece of military hardware whose numbers have dropped in the last hundred years.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Big Sarge

Also, this in the emblem I wear on my uniform. Notice the M9 bayonet?

OK, now I get it. All of this talk about bayonets is so that Big Sarge can properly accessorize his clothing. After all, nothing says 'sharp dressed man' like, well, something that's actually sharp.

Try not to get too stylish Sarge. If Romney wins he might go straight to reinstating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and too much bling is suspicious.

[jimhelm]

[glatt]

Holy jpeg compression artifacts, Batman!

[BigV]

*cleans glasses*

[BigV]

Reasons to vote republican.