Propeller Week In Review: February 1, 2008 — Feb 1st 2008

By James Marcus

BUSH LEAGUE

Although he has been largely overshadowed by the primaries in recent weeks, George W. Bush regained center stage at Propeller this time around. "State of the Union Reactions" notched 211 votes and 325 comments, including a skeptical reaction from rimbaud: "It's all just talk, and more of the same." UnusualSuspect was clearly on the same wavelength: "Same mumbo gumbo... nothing new, but what did we really expect? Can't wait until January 2009." But DamnLiberals stuck up for POTUS, while simultaneously poking at least one Democratic candidate in the eye: "At least Bush knows who the real enemy is, while Hillary creates her own axis of evil inside her own party." Another story, "Bush Would Rather Talk About Sex Than God," disclosed one of the president's lesser known enthusiasms. "The thought of Dubya talking about sex is creeping me out," confessed tomboy501. "Now my whole day is ruined!" But lovemylibs wondered if Bush was being unfairly pilloried: "I think that statement has a little truth for all of the candidates. Except, and only maybe, Huckabee." There was also "The Legacy of George W. Bush's Presidency," with 152 votes and 250 comments. For the most part, the comment thread was a turkey shoot, with Dubya in the crosshairs, but BB64 found some kind words for the guy's reputation abroad: "The leadership may pay lip service to the masses, but for the most part they respect this President. Look at France and the UK, they are actually playing a game of who can be a better friend to the USA."

NOW YOU SEE IT....

"Interrogator: Saddam Faked WMDs to Prevent Iran Invasion" clocked 174 votes and a whopping 496 comments. Clearly the subject of Saddam's chimerical weapons can still stir up a stormy conversation--and the article seemed to supply both sides with ammunition. For eyesopen, Saddam's comments to his FBI interrogator George Piro fully justified the invasion: "If you go around telling everyone you got a gun and are willing to use it, do the cops say prove it before they storm the house?" AlphaGnosis concurred, with an almost audible chuckle: "You lose the argument for all time, liberal moonbats!" But Justice4All raised the issue of Saddam's credibility, given that the wily dictator was known to float an occasional fib: "So we should take the word of Piro about what Saddam wanted us to think? Why not just ask the weapons inspectors who were already in the country?" In any case, MichaelRodente was sure of one thing: "George Soros is not going to like this at all."

PRIMARY COLORS

The presidential campaign also generated its share of votes and comments. "John Edwards to Quit Presidential Race," with 170 votes and 235 comments, caused nostalgia to wonder whether the former senator was "hedging his bets in hopes of the VP nod." Codi6934 got a little wistful about Edwards's exit: "If he was only a conservative Republican. He would be outstanding." A story about Barack Obama's win in South Carolina racked up 160 votes and 273 comments. One member, injest, noted the embarrassing outcome for S.C. native Edward: "Skippy lost his home state. That's really really bad." But catstevens pointed out the small percentage of white voters who abandoned Hillary: "That is not good news going forward for Obama." On the other side of the aisle, "Rasmussen: Romney Pulls Into Lead In National Poll," got 138 votes and 145 comments. Wolfie2007 viewed this as vindication: "I told you guys last week on Propeller that Romney would be the Republican candidate. He's not my choice, but he will be the candidate and the next President of the United States." But smithichie expressed some doubts about this candidate, as well as all the others: "Sometimes I wonder if a Magic 8 Ball wouldn't make the best president." There were also popular stories about the Florida primary and Rudy Giuliani, who has since bowed out and thrown his support behind John McCain. His exit, however, was anticipated by AtheismIsReality: "Rudy will be stomped like a narc at a biker rally. Put a fork in him. He's done." Remember, you read it here first!

AND DON'T OVERLOOK....

"Marijuana vending machines in US" hit the sweet spot here, with 101 votes and 273 comments. There was a fiery exchange about the pluses and minuses of legalizing the drug, with a dose of lucidity from crespi: "No 'recreational' drug is good for children. Common sense." There was also this scientific nugget from earthlingerer: "A very, very big study conducted in many, many universities and even high schools found that marijuana makes people who don't smoke it very, very crazy, even violent." Meanwhile, the story that generated the lengthiest thread this week was "Coping with Bigotry on Propeller." Among the 545 comments were protests against bigotry, some honest self-examination, some apologies, and some fresh accusations. Blackacereturn, citing his "experience as a black man in a world where I am viewed as public enemy number one," insisted that "to end bigotry you must face it down whenever you encounter it, regardless of who is being offended." And in a notably intense conversation, nobody seemed to disagree with that.

Tags: propeller, week in review, wir

2 Comments