Electile Dysfunction (Current students plz look!)

[Ken]

Republicans seem to defend each other to the death, while dems don't mind throwing each other under the bus.

None of those things were over okay unless, of course, you were the one perpetuating them. 

If you could expand upon that statement a little more maybe that'd be helpful to me. Maybe "ok" means something different to us. Just given the Judy Garland example, are you saying that anyone in 1938 that saw her in "Everybody Sing" and didn't cringe at her in blackface should be judged a racist?

Well. To start, you started off by saying slavery was, "ok" and then equating it to blackface. If you can't see the issue with that comparison, i don't know where to start.

As Gerald stated, some things were "ok" by the standards of the time. We, as a culture, evolve and realize that shit was pretty fucked up. Blackface was used to perpetuate stereotypes, and, was used in american theaters to exclude blacks from performing. It was always shitty, it just took some people longer than others (i.e. the ones NOT being discriminated) to realize that. 

I used to drop terms like, "fag" and "retard" pretty freely. I realized over time those were both really shitty things to say and other words conveyed the sentiments i truly meant behind that much better.  If i ran for office, i would expect that to come up. I would also need to explain myself and hope people see that my overall "body of work" would prove I'm not a terrible person. The opportunity that Northam completely fucked up.

[WRXtranceformed]

Basically nobody is perfect and we've all done shameful things, just some people do things that are more shameful than others.

I for one think we should let AI (Skynet?) start calling the shots. Machines would probably be a lot more productive than the dummies on both sides of the political spectrum up in Washington right now. And you wouldn't have to worry about racism or sex scandals

[Ken]

Basically nobody is perfect and we've all done shameful things, just some people do things that are more shameful than others.  

I for one think we should let AI (Skynet?) start calling the shots.  Machines would probably be a lot more productive than the dummies on both sides of the political spectrum up in Washington right now.  And you wouldn't have to worry about racism or sex scandals

Lol - problem is, someone would need to code said AI. HOW DO WE CODE IT CORRECTLY? 

This actually reminds me of Travelers, for anyone who watched that on Netflix.

[BLINGMW]

Well. To start, you started off by saying slavery was, "ok" and then equating it to blackface. 

I didn't say they were equivalent, that isn't what we're discussing, and everything else you said I agree with, so I'm going to assume we're on the same page.

[G.Irish]

Soooo the Lt Governor is definitely out of the governorship sweepstakes:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/vir...3e1455a0dd

Not talking his way out of that shit

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[JPolen01]

This is Kavanaugh all over.

[WRXtranceformed]

So Senor Blackface just decides he's going to ride out his term? What are the odds of that actually happening?

[JPolen01]

Who's going to stop him? Democrats certainly aren't going to impeach him and some Republicans have even said this isn't really worth an impeachment. He's not going to step down now and hand over the keys over to a guy with two sexual assault allegations.

It's kind of hard to say Northam needs to step down when you have a president who has said blatantly racist things in the past and present and bragged about assaulting women. Everyone will forget about this in 6 weeks anyway.

[WRXtranceformed]

So we're at the point now in society where we give politicians a free pass for being racist scum but we're not okay with sexual abuse allegations some of the time? The invisible line of political morality seems to be moving further toward "Emperor Nero" every year

[Apoc]

 Can someone please explain to me how upset I'm supposed to pretend to be about this?

Well that depends.

Is the blackface person in question on your team?

Be a little upset. Maybe tweet about it? 

 Are they on the other team?

Perhaps tou missed this, Lee?

[G.Irish]

I don't think the fact he dressed up in blackface 30 years ago is really impeachable on it's own, but the incompetent way he addressed the issue is. I can see how in the mid 80's a dumbass college student couldve done blackface without understanding the implications. Doesn't mean he isn't actually racist, but there is a possibility he isn't.

If this had happened much more recently there'd be zero excuse. But I think Northam handled it so poorly that he really should just step down.

Either way, I would in no way use Trump to calibrate my acceptability-meter. Him and his administration is so far into corruptness, immorality, ineptitude and stupidity that it defies any scale of measurement. It's hard to believe even for people who hate him.

The interesting thing is that there are a number of examples of other politicians trying to channel the same bat shit offensiveness of Trump and failing miserably (Roy Moore comes to mind). It only seems to work for Trump and Trump alone.

[WRXtranceformed]

I just heard Northam tried to explain the picture away because he's left handed, and the people in the photo are holding beers in their right hands. Because people apparently never do things with their non-dominant hands. Well, except when they drink beers and sign bills



I think what G said about his handling of it is an understatement. Apparently he forgot that not only are yearbooks forever, but so is the internet

[JPolen01]

I agree that he handled it poorly but being a PR nightmare isn't an impeachable offense either.

[WRXtranceformed]

So we're saying that as long as you're a Democratic politician, blackface and racist nicknames are acceptable as long as it was a long time ago?

[JPolen01]

Who me? I'd like to see it even across playing fields. Both Democrats and Republicans need to be consistent on how they handle situations like this. So far it seems Democrats are more willing to push out there own when allegations arise than Republicans (see: Al Franken).

But the knee jerk reactions need to stop. We need to investigate allegations before burning someone at the stake in public (no matter which side they are on).

[Apoc]

Lee, seems like you're asking leading questions to get people to admit there is a double-standard. I think G and Polen are putting up a pretty good argument there isn't one.

Also, I'm with Polen. Being incompetent at PR isn't impeachable. That's what elections are for.

[WRXtranceformed]

Lee, seems like you're asking leading questions to get people to admit there is a double-standard. I think G and Polen are putting up a pretty good argument there isn't one.

Also, I'm with Polen. Being incompetent at PR isn't impeachable. That's what elections are for.

I agree with Polens stance but I agree with Rex that the outrage from your own party when this happens on both sides isn't exactly believable or as harsh as when it's the opposing side.  Nobody wants their star striker to get a red card but the game should be played fairly. 

Let me put it another way:  Do you feel a racist / sexual harasser still represents you as a person even if it comes out after you voted for him or her?  Do you think that person should represent the People?  The majority of whom do not share those hateful & destructive views / actions?

If your answer is no, what would you propose?  A background check and moral scorecard for every person running for public office?  Everyone has skeletons in their closet but not everyone is racist or a sexual predator.  

It's pretty clear that there is some political stake burning going on, especially from journalists and PIs funded by both sides.  But do we get out ahead of it or create some kind of formal process for inquiry if this stuff comes up post election?

[G.Irish]

Strictly speaking it's not an impeachable offense. But it is the kind of thing that badly damages someone's political capital to the point where they may be completely ineffective. It can also have the effect of undermining the future prospects of your party.

Northam could refuse to resign, but I think he'll have a hard time getting people to back him on his policy goals. Lame ducked in less than a year.

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[CaptainHenreh]

Northam could refuse to resign, but I think he'll have a hard time getting people to back him on his policy goals.  Lame ducked in less than a year.

Ultimately, this is what's at stake. No way Northam gets impeached, not if the VAGOP wants to take back the governorship. No, way better to leave "Coonman" in office, take the "LT bonus" away from the Democrats by going full tilt on Fairfax, and honestly try to run a Gay Black libertarian-leaning republican in the election.


I mean they're probably gonna pull some bullshit like disinter the corpse of Nathan Bedford Forrest and have a weekend-at-bernies campaign but hey, if they're asking Rexy I'm happy to tell 'em what to do.

[JPolen01]