Ok, I've got to ask.  I see references to GOP all the time in US politics, but what the heck is it or what does it stand for?

Steph

Here's the Wiki.   

Quote from: LostInTime on November 16, 2006, 07:44:58 AM
Here's the Wiki.   

Thanks a bunch I thought that they ere referring to the republicans.  So they are a Grand Old Party are they.  Well they certainly are grand (size wise), they certainly are old, but I think they need to lighten up a little and party more

Thanks again.

Steph

You're welcome. 

Quote from: Steph on November 16, 2006, 07:50:06 AM
So they are a Grand Old Party are they.  Well they certainly are grand (size wise), they certainly are old, but I think they need to lighten up a little and party more

LOL!!!    So true.  You're too funny Steph.  They are the elephant in the living room.

Melissa

Seems like some of the Republicans have been partying a little too much, if you believe the text messages.  And you ain't seen nothing yet now that the Democrats have the majority in the House and Senate...time for the show to begin...they are already talking about raising taxes, National Health Care and now Al Gore's film is in the running for an Oscar!  On top of all that, I just found out that Larry King (talkshow host on CNN) has never used the internet...ARRGH

QuoteKING: The wife loves it. I wouldn't love it. What do you punch little buttons and things?

Calgon...Take me away!!!!

......Laurie

Quote from: Kiera on November 16, 2006, 04:24:47 PM

Quote from: Steph on November 16, 2006, 07:50:06 AMSo they are a Grand Old Party are they.

Teehe - hey Steph, care for a good cigar!!

Know where "GOLF" comes from???

I'm told "Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden""

Don't you just love 'lil ole men's tendency to club it up!!!

Not true.  Making words out of acronyms is a 20th century phenomenon.

Golf is believed to come from a Germanic (Anglo-Saxon?  I forget...) word meaning "club," presumably as in what you use to hit a golf ball, not an organization for playing golf.

GOP might more accurately be referred to as God-Obsessed Politics.

Melissa

Quote from: Steph on November 16, 2006, 07:50:06 AMSo they are a Grand Old Party are they.  Well they certainly are grand (size wise), they certainly are old, but I think they need to lighten up a little and party more

Steph

Steph, you have no idea how right you are.  The Democratic convention was coming to town one year and I was involved in beefing up the cell phone coverage at the place it was being held.  I was talking to the building manager there who told me when the convention starts be prepared to see the whole neighborhood change.  "There will be cops, hookers, drug dealers, all working side by side.  This place will turn into a bacchanalia.  They put Roman orgies to shame."  I asked if they ever hosted a Republican convention.  "They're boring!  You'd have more fun going to church." 

Julie

Im ordering the cutest shirt..... Its totaly inapropriate but Its makeing fun of the GOP.... Sorry, but I cant post the link here, nor can I repeat its slogan.... But YAY!  stick it to the man heheheh

Quote from: Kelly on December 28, 2006, 05:00:15 PM
The ironic thing about the GOP is that they started out as an anti-slavery party.

I think Lincoln is rolling in his grave looking at what the GOp has become!

Chaunte

It seems as though the party of Lincoln was on the liberal side back then.  The Democratic party of the period was on the conservative side.

They've switched sides since then.

Oddly enough, there is no true liberal side here in the US anymore.  The true liberals have moved to the middle.  The communist party is completely dead (that would be the true left)

I'm not voicing opinion, just my observations. 

Cindi

MoveOn.org was giving away these free stickers:

Quote from: MoveOn.orgI wanted a bumper sticker, but it says you're sold out. How can I get one?

    * How can I get a bumper sticker?

      Thanks for your interest, but unfortunately we've run out of stickers much faster than anticipated. We had 200,000 on hand, but they were all spoken for within 48 hours of sending our email offer. Please accept our apologies and look out for future opportunities to get bumper stickers.

Karen

Quote from: Karen on December 30, 2006, 05:26:23 PM
MoveOn.org was giving away these free stickers:

Quote from: MoveOn.orgI wanted a bumper sticker, but it says you're sold out. How can I get one?

    * How can I get a bumper sticker?

      Thanks for your interest, but unfortunately we've run out of stickers much faster than anticipated. We had 200,000 on hand, but they were all spoken for within 48 hours of sending our email offer. Please accept our apologies and look out for future opportunities to get bumper stickers.

Karen

LOL!  Too true and very funny!

Chaunte

Quote from: Melissa on December 28, 2006, 12:12:37 PM
GOP might more accurately be referred to as God-Obsessed Politics.

Melissa

heh yeah, good one Melissa.
This may rub some of ya the wrong way, but I am a Christian. I believe in God, but THIS administration would have everyone believe that anyone who didn't vote Rep is a Godless heathen. What a messed up thing. They played the religion ticket to the hilt for the 2004 election in particular. I couldn't believe it. What ever happened to separation of church and state???

Oh and as for me being a Christian...how many Christians do you know that are Tarot readers, pre-cognitive dreamers and in love with a
TG?

Quote from: Cindi Jones on December 29, 2006, 11:23:17 PM
It seems as though the party of Lincoln was on the liberal side back then.  The Democratic party of the period was on the conservative side.

They've switched sides since then.

Oddly enough, there is no true liberal side here in the US anymore.  The true liberals have moved to the middle.  The communist party is completely dead (that would be the true left)

I'm not voicing opinion, just my observations. 

Cindi

...the libs are mixed up and have been for a long time...there IS a communist org called World Can't Wait, but no real party.

Quote from: Cindi Jones on December 29, 2006, 11:23:17 PM
It seems as though the party of Lincoln was on the liberal side back then.  The Democratic party of the period was on the conservative side.

They've switched sides since then.

Oddly enough, there is no true liberal side here in the US anymore.  The true liberals have moved to the middle.  The communist party is completely dead (that would be the true left)

I'm not voicing opinion, just my observations. 

Cindi

A choice of only two is no choice at all.  The real powers that be have both these choices co-opted, so all you are doing is reinforcing the binary.  But people are so afraid that voting for a third will throw the election to 'the other side' (WHAT "other side"?) that there is no way to break out of the binary.

I wonder what Instant Runoff Voting would do to upsetting the binary?

Quote from: IRV FAQ*  When there are more than 2 candidates, it ensures the winner has a majority.
      Without IRV, the winner can win with less than 50% of the vote. How do we really know they have a mandate?

    * It will allow more candidates, including independents and third-parties, to get involved in a race, without being accused of "spoiling" the elections.
      Even if your favorite candidate comes in last, at least IRV allows your next favorite candidate to be counted. No more wasting your vote, and no more spoilers.

    * It will decrease negative campaigning. To win, candidates need to get some 2nd and 3rd place votes, as well as 1st place votes.
      They'll be less likely to "go negative" if they need their opponent's voters, too.

    * IRV saves money.
      Some states and local elections hold runoffs weeks later to pick the winner. IRV holds the runoff all in one election--saving money.

Karen

Yeah, IRV is a way to get it done.  It's a little sloppy with regard to the President and the electoral college, but I suppose amending the Constitution to also turn that election into a popular vote is something we are overdue for.

Of course, neither political party currently in power will support it since it would facilitate the rise of a third party, but it would give us more options and confidence.

I can think of some far more descritpive terms for it but I'll be nice and not!
xo
ricki