Hatrack River Forum: Nice to know that we're not the only ones

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Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :

In a few days we will have a new president or a reelection: John Kerry or George Bush, who have demonized each other before the public to the point where a friend of mine wondered if "this will be the year of the third party canidate."

Now that we in the States are making a subtle mockery of the modern democracy that we claim to have pioneered, with our election being "a continuation of civil war by other means," (various organisations for "truth", name calling, mudslinging, dirty tricks, etc) it seems that some other nations have similar political problems.

Take Ukraine for instance:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6365597

quote:
KIROVOGRAD, Ukraine - Viktor Yushchenko, the leading opposition candidate for the presidency of Ukraine, planned to hold a rally on Tuesday in a central square in this small city. But over the weekend, city officials suddenly moved a traveling zoo and amusement park onto the square, forcing Yushchenko's backers to scurry for another location.

"They will try anything to harass us, even tigers and bears and zebras, but it won't work," said Irina Gerashchenko, a spokeswoman for the candidate, as she scanned a crowd of about 15,000 people who showed up Tuesday at a square away from the city center.

Or, Taiwan, where political issues can be settled with a box of chicken turned projectile:

Food fight in Taiwan's parliament

quote:
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A food fight has erupted in Taiwan's parliament as lawmakers, quarrelling over a massive arms budget, hurled their lunch boxes at each other.

"You've got no shame!" screamed Chu Fong-chih of the opposition Nationalist Party, after throwing a take-out box of chicken and rice at Chen Tsung-yi, a legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party who backed the special budget.

So, thankfully, we are not the only ones who have political leaders who, given the right motivation act like, well, hyped-up children fighting over candy on Halloween night.

This is good to know, because I was getting a little worried about us.

[Smile]

--j_k

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

No, that's characteristic of many politicians, I hear. America's just big, so the entire world hears about it. [Wink]

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

Yeah, that food fight in Taiwan was hilarious. A few decades ago, a Japanese legislator brought a samuri sword to help him debate! He drew it, can't remember if he actually cut anyone.

I'd sign up for pay-per-view to see House Republican Majority Leader Tom Delay get a cream pie in the kisser. Although he claims to be quite the moralist, he has all the ethics of a jackal:
Tom DeLay, Ethical Recidivist, WASHINGTON POST
another Post story

[ October 30, 2004, 03:46 PM: Message edited by: Morbo ]

Posted by MaydayDesiax (Member # 5012) on :

Raia: [ROFL]

Aye, J_K, it's nice to know that we're not the only ones that pull dirty stunts.

Although I think that if our legislators started pulling swords, throwing fried rice and moving petting zoos around, maybe the rest of the world would respect us.

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

Hell, you should read the book Molly Ivins can't say that....Can she? , wehre she tells about modern day politicians in Texas...

I know she is liberal, I know she doesn't like Bush...either one of them, really...but keep in mind that that book was written 14 years ago (or so)...

I am NOT making this recommendation as a political move...if I was I would say read her newest one Bushwhacked .. [Big Grin]

She was on the Texas political beat for years before she gained national attention...and it is really funny!

Kwea