Ignorant hillbilly plays treason card

November 18, 2005 4:01 AM

Ignorant hillbilly plays treason card STATEMENT FROM REP. GEOFF DAVIS ON SHAMEFUL DEMOCRATIC CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ 11/17/2005 - “An arbitrary call for the withdrawal of our troops serves only to embolden our enemies and makes meaningless the sacrifice of American men and women. The universal message I hear from our troops – from enlisted soldiers to West Point classmates of mine serving in the Middle East – is that we are making progress."
posted by warbaby (48 comments total)

but what do you think, warbaby?
posted by shmegegge at 4:02 AM on November 18, 2005

RTFP - Ignorant hillbilly plays treason card
posted by warbaby at 4:07 AM on November 18, 2005

So how many more American soldiers have to die before their sacrifice is meaningful, Congressman Davis? Or do you mean we have to "win" the occupation to make their deaths meaningful? What's your timeline for that, Congressman?
posted by orthogonality at 4:10 AM on November 18, 2005

Oh, and - Geoff Davis Moron
posted by warbaby at 4:10 AM on November 18, 2005

warbaby: "Ignorant hillbilly..."

As someone not originally from the city I'm trying to decide whether or not to take offence. Please explain why you had to use the word "hillbilly" and why it might not differ from any other derogatory name for a group of people.
posted by Jase_B at 4:14 AM on November 18, 2005

I gave up thinking these guys actually believe anything they say to their constituents a long time ago. I think he's probably more cynical than ignorant.
posted by Opposite George at 4:14 AM on November 18, 2005

Rep Geoff Davis (R-KY) today on Rep. Murtha: "I think it's important to understand the political climate in which these shameful statements have been made. Ayman Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's deputy, as well as Abu Musab Zarqawi, have made it quite clear in their internal propaganda that they cannot win unless they can drive the Americans out. And they know that they can't do that there, so they've brought the battlefield to the halls of Congress. And, frankly, the liberal leadership have put politics ahead of sound, fiscal and national security policy. And what they have done is cooperated with our enemies and are emboldening our enemies."

via Josh Marshall
posted by warbaby at 4:15 AM on November 18, 2005

Opposite George: See for yourself. Looks like the shallow end of the gene pool to me. Moron in the plural is also a derogatory name for a group of people. What's the legal age of consent in Kentucky? 13 or 60 lbs?
posted by warbaby at 4:18 AM on November 18, 2005

the liberal leadership have put politics ahead of sound, fiscal and national security policy.

It is that comma that is key. Politics should never be ahead of sound.
posted by srboisvert at 4:18 AM on November 18, 2005

Please explain why you had to use the word "hillbilly" and why it might not differ from any other derogatory name for a group of people.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:21 AM on November 18, 2005

True, he doesn't look that bright but then again neither does W and he... uh, never mind.
posted by Opposite George at 4:21 AM on November 18, 2005

Um, people like Davis' constituents will never take the view of we who oppose the war seriously if we resort to the same kind of low-brow name calling that the right-wing talking heads do on Fox. I think the expectation for the left is that we raise the bar a tish. Otherwise, it's the same old stupid game of politics that that fails to achieve anything other than drawing imaginary lines through the playground. Carry on.
posted by moonbird at 4:25 AM on November 18, 2005

InformationWeek: What makes a good...post?

Bates: It's being able to state things well, actually being able to write and form coherent sentences, which is a surprising task for many people, far more challenging than one would think it is. But also having good links ... not just having one link to the story but if there's supporting information. This is the World Wide Web. Let's use it for that. ... The other major characteristic is trying to remove, or make obvious, bias. ... Because what we're trying to encourage is the discussion. ... I don't want to host a flame war, I want to host a discussion.
posted by furtive at 4:27 AM on November 18, 2005

SlashdotFilter: Mod moonbird up.
posted by Opposite George at 4:27 AM on November 18, 2005

Wow. I had never thought of that. Please explain the difference between name calling and politics. Enquiring minds want to know.
posted by warbaby at 4:29 AM on November 18, 2005

Looks like the shallow end of the gene pool to me.

So disagreeing wth his opinion isn't enough, we're supposed to despise the man for the way he looks?

Abuse is no argument.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:33 AM on November 18, 2005

My first name happens to be Billy and I take offense!

I think the good Congressman is a little behind the curve...the noble sacrifices of our servicemen and women became meaningless when the Administration finally conceded there weren't any WMDs after all.
posted by alumshubby at 4:39 AM on November 18, 2005

warbaby: "Wow. I had never thought of that. Please explain the difference between name calling and politics. Enquiring minds want to know."

What is this, "he did it to us, first"? There is no difference between name calling and politics. Every liberal who insults the people he disagrees with reflects badly on all liberals. Just as every conservative who insults the people he disagrees with reflects badly on all conservatives. If you don't want the other side to play the treason card, don't play the hillbilly card. It's pretty fucking simple.

I have a feeling that a lot of the country is far more liberal than they vote. It's just that Democrats come off as holier-than-thou assholes so often. Calling this guy a hillbilly offends just about everyone south of the Mason-Dixon. In fact, it offends me, and I'm a white bread Yank. And if you need to be told why that might be bad politics, then I feel sorry for you.

Yes, I am registered as a Democrat.
posted by Plutor at 4:42 AM on November 18, 2005

This could actually turn out to be an interesting discussion. Let me lay out my thesis and the underlying assumptions.

1) I'll fight these bastards anywhere I find them. If I have to get into the gutter to keep our Marines out of the mud, so be it.

2) There is no moral high ground in politics. It's about power, morality is just posturing.

3) The whole notion of prior censorship via polite language is nonsense. It's not a restraint on ignorant inbred bastards like this one. (see #1 above.)

4) There is an interesting subtext to the honorable representative's rhetoric -- he is clearly opposed to civilian control of the military. That's dangerous and tantamount to treason.

5) How has the spineless Democrat strategy worked so far? Maybe it's time for a little rowdiness in the body politic. How much abuse from these traitorous morons is enough?

These feelings underly my rhetoric and guide my use of language in this colloquium.
posted by warbaby at 4:42 AM on November 18, 2005

MeTa
posted by shmegegge at 4:44 AM on November 18, 2005

Plutor, it looks like I wrote your answer before I saw the question.
posted by warbaby at 4:44 AM on November 18, 2005

Smooth move shmegegge. Your second post in the thread is whining to MeTa. I take it this meta-move amounts to conceding the rhetorical argument? Sheesh.

I'm going to breakfast. Carry on.
posted by warbaby at 4:49 AM on November 18, 2005

Davis' constituents will never take the view of we who oppose the war seriously if we resort to the same kind of low-brow name calling that the right-wing talking heads do on Fox.

I wonder if Lynndie England is one of Davis' constituents?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:50 AM on November 18, 2005

Do you even know what rhetorical means?
posted by shmegegge at 4:52 AM on November 18, 2005

warbaby:

> 1) I'll fight these bastards anywhere I find them.
>
> I'm going to breakfast. Carry on.

Chestbeating goes better on a full stomach.
posted by jfuller at 4:56 AM on November 18, 2005

RTFP - Ignorant hillbilly plays treason card

Not real perceptive, are you there, warbaby? Puts me in mind of... heck, an 'ignorant hillbilly', come to think of it. Now, ain't that amusin'?
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:58 AM on November 18, 2005

Do you even know what rhetorical means?

You don't really want me to answer that, do you? : )
posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:00 AM on November 18, 2005

The president and his administration have been saying this crap for years. It, like so many other statments, is immediately and completely refutable without much throught and even by those who do not follow politics closely -- I'd argue that these sorts of statements are near the core of the falling approval ratings for the war and the White House, as they make the ridiculousness so easy to see.

One person from the House repeats the talking points, and it's big news?
posted by VulcanMike at 5:02 AM on November 18, 2005

Benny Andajetz FTW!
posted by shmegegge at 5:03 AM on November 18, 2005

The Hillbilly Dictionary.

Also, warbaby: Jesus loves you.
posted by swift at 5:05 AM on November 18, 2005

If I were working for the GOP I would use the wording of this post to the fullest extent, for maximum PR value.
posted by troutfishing at 5:06 AM on November 18, 2005

This thread is hotter'n a set of jumper cables at a redneck picnic!

Thanks, swift!
posted by Opposite George at 5:08 AM on November 18, 2005

You're nothing but an asshole fuckwit, warbaby. Your assholeness transcends politics. With friends like you, the left doesn't need enemies. You inspire flatulence—and that's the most productive thing you'll do all day.

These feelings underly my rhetoric and guide my use of language in this colloquium.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:12 AM on November 18, 2005

Oh come on, tell him what you really think, EB.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:15 AM on November 18, 2005

Please explain the difference between name calling and politics. Enquiring minds want to know.

Name calling is the human adaptation of primate poo-slinging. Politics is the science of achieving the will of a certain philosophy without having to reach behind and throw. Sadly, we've really mixed politics with poo-slinging, and you can see how far we've advanced (not just in western civilization, but pretty much everywhere the west influences). Little is truly ever achieved in Washington and elsewhere because the dialog is broken and we've grown comfortable with each side's shit. My hope is that real politics and real debate can emerge (once we realize how broken the system is) without partisan vitriol and rancor, and maybe we can progress a little in this promised "new millennium" deal. Alas, my grandmother always said "dream big." But it all begins with the people first, not politicians.
posted by moonbird at 5:19 AM on November 18, 2005

Distant siren screams
Dumb-ass Verne's been playing with
Gasoline again

Stav caught me! It's hard to post with sufficient drawling and moseying and not lapse into lame dialect obviousness.
posted by warbaby at 5:20 AM on November 18, 2005

So howazer brikfist, wahrbaby? Didji etsum flapjiaks?
posted by swift at 5:23 AM on November 18, 2005

It's because of crap like this, slurring a whole state or region for the sake of one person in it, that encourages me that one third of the country is correct in not voting at all.

meanwhile, kentucky is being bombed for your coal consumption.

Keep them computers humming!
posted by eustatic at 5:23 AM on November 18, 2005

I had corned beef hash out of a #10 tin and eggs. It was mighty tasty what little there was of it.
posted by warbaby at 5:28 AM on November 18, 2005

calling this guy a hillbilly is an insult to hillbillies every were. this guy is no hillbilly , you can find this milk sop in any city in the country.
posted by nola at 5:31 AM on November 18, 2005

Hillbillies don't mosey, man. There's not enough flat ground around here. I think your shooting for "cowboy"...
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 5:32 AM on November 18, 2005

Damnit. *you're*
posted by PantsOfSCIENCE at 5:32 AM on November 18, 2005

You got one leg shorter'n'tother, Pants? You might be kin.
posted by sciurus at 5:34 AM on November 18, 2005

We're a mix of country and hill out here. By the time you get to Kendall, you're definitely in hill country. Loretta Lynn was a flatlander out by Delta.

Pants, I suspect that you're right and the word I was thinking of was country.
posted by warbaby at 5:46 AM on November 18, 2005

Country humor, that is.
posted by warbaby at 5:46 AM on November 18, 2005

*hums*
posted by warbaby at 5:51 AM on November 18, 2005

Wait a minute here folks, slurring one man is not slurring a whole state. For one thing let's look at what warbaby called him, he called him an ignorant hillbilly. Hillbilly, while somewhat derogatory, is more of a geographical term, embraced by people of the hill country of Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee much in the way "redneck" is embraced by the white yeoman farmers of Mississippi and Alabama. This particular Representative shows a stance which his opponents find to be a bit lacking in factual reality, in other words he is ignorant. As he is from Eastern Kentucky, he could therefore be labeled with the geographical term hillbilly and one who opposes his view might refer to him as ignorant.

calling this guy a hillbilly is an insult to hillbillies every were. this guy is no hillbilly

no, no, he called him an ignorant hillbilly, meaning that most hillbillies know better.
posted by Pollomacho at 5:57 AM on November 18, 2005

Boy, that "Geoff" Davis must be dumb -- his parents didn't even know how to spell "Jefferson".
posted by lodurr at 5:59 AM on November 18, 2005