Politics & Team Spirit

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:07 pm

Back in the 1960s the Johnstown / Altoona football rivalry was intense.

One of the Altoona football players had his leg broken on an obvious intentional foul by a Johnstown player. Words like, "Get Him" and "Kill Him" were being screamed by Altoona students.

A gang was rounded up the following week to drive to Johnstown and seek this guy out and beat him senseless. They never found him, but I have no doubt that if they had, they would have carried out their mission.

I know the guy's father. He told me the following story.

The boy that had his leg broken later went to fight the war in Viet Nam. When he got among other soldiers some guys would yell out things like, "Anyone here from Pennsylvania" ? The guy answered, "Yeah, Altoona over here". The other guy answered back, "Johnstown here".

It was the guy who broke his leg, the guy he wanted to beat the crap out of. Long story short, they became great friends who stay in tough to this day.

I think that same team spirit is alive in politics today. I think people feel they belong to one team or another, and have learned to hate the other team.

I listened to Rush Limbaugh do nearly an hour on how Obama (when he threw out the first pitch at a baseball game) never got the pitch to the catcher on a fly. He was upset that the announcers said it was a clean catch, proving that all of the media would lie to protect the image of Obama. He went on and on about the fact that the ball bounced first, and how it is related to the liberal bias.

That's the kind of team spirit I'm talking about. Find ANYTHING to knock a man down. Anything to destroy the other team. In other words, promote HATE and BIAS for your team.

The fact is (I saw the replay in slow motion, not that it even matters) but the catcher caught the ball on a fly.

Has politics come to the level of team spirit. Where you hate the other team and defend your own team under any circumstances ?

I see people here on Rockpage who act like students at a football game when it comes to politics. They will avoid the facts in order to protect their team. FANaticals.

I know this is a philosophical discussion, but does anyone else recognise this fanatical team spirit either on Rockpage or in the media ?

Any opinions at all ?

generationgap · Post by **generationgap** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 2:55 pm

Bill Im getting into deep water here cause I stay out of political threads but in this case the name Rush Limbaugh caught my eye.
First off Rush is a native Pittsburgher and do not care for the man.
He has a real big fan base now after years of his talk show and he kills me.
He keeps talking about all the administations who, what, where, and why they screwed up and what he would do as a replublican to fix it.
If thats the case if he knows how to fix everything great RUN FOR PRESIDENT get elected and do it. Put up and shut up lol
He only does the things he does and says to boost his ratings on the air, get a bigger contract. I think of him as the Terrel Owens of Politics.

All Hot Air .....

cheers lol and dont exspect anymore from me on politic threads

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:33 pm

I think that Fox and MSNBC and the likes of Limbaugh have taken on the part of cheerleaders.

Like the rowdy guys in the stands that try to whip everyone into a mass frenzy. And they suck people in to the team spirit. Do - or say - whatever it takes to see to it that your team wins.

I remember studying something like that in Sociology. Where people do things they might not normally do with the exception of being part of a team (mob). Like when Penn State wins a big game and the mob (under the guise of team spirit) go in to the streets and start fires and overturn cars. Mass frenzy.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:34 pm

Some of it is team spirit. But some of it is also personal perspective towards ones own philosophy. There are two sides to every story, one side is always believed over the other, and the individual who believes that side is also right no matter what. There is no middle ground ..

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:48 pm

Hawk wrote:

Has politics come to the level of team spirit. Where you hate the other team and defend your own team under any circumstances ?

I see people here on Rockpage who act like students at a football game when it comes to politics. They will avoid the facts in order to protect their team. FANaticals.

Bill, I see you as one of the biggest cheerleaders for B. Hussein and his socialistic policies. Read your original post and look in the mirror. There has never been a fact that I or Lonewolf have posted that your have not ignored.

Did you have a comment on his bill to control the internet? Or, are you like Songsmith, you hate the Patriot Act cause W. signed it, but OK with this socialist president planning a potential takeover of the internet and a great loss of our liberty?

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:17 pm

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the Hawk Is right

RamRod 1 · Post by **RamRod 1** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:21 pm

First off Rush is a native Pittsburgher

No, I think Rush is from Missouri but he did work at KDKA in Pittsburgh once.

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:04 pm

undercoverjoe wrote:
Hawk wrote:

Has politics come to the level of team spirit. Where you hate the other team and defend your own team under any circumstances ?

I see people here on Rockpage who act like students at a football game when it comes to politics. They will avoid the facts in order to protect their team. FANaticals.

Bill, I see you as one of the biggest cheerleaders for B. Hussein and his socialistic policies. Read your original post and look in the mirror. There has never been a fact that I or Lonewolf have posted that your have not ignored.

Did you have a comment on his bill to control the internet? Or, are you like Songsmith, you hate the Patriot Act cause W. signed it, but OK with this socialist president planning a potential takeover of the internet and a great loss of our liberty?

I have not read your Internet thread yet. On the surface, it doesn't sound like a good idea. I'm upset Obama hasn't repealed the Patriot act. Not because it was Bush's idea, but because I think it's wrong. Yes, I have championed some ideas of Obama's that are in sync with my way of thinking. Ad as you know, I'm against any more gun control, which I believe is ideological opposing Obama.

No politician can perfect, I'm not a 1 issue voter. I will cheer for what I believe is right.

I would say there are some Rockpagers who can actually think for themselves. Like you, lonewolf, songsmith, and I like to think, myself. Others as well . But there are many people who parrot the rhetoric they hear on their only news / opinion source.

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:06 pm

Interestingly, Rush Limbaugh was comparing sports to politics on Monday. He was agreeing to my premise. Then he went off on a tangent of how "Chicks" (wouldn't even say women) were ruining it.

I was also thinking of a post I put up regarding a NY Times article. fschirillo (spelling) said, "I wouldn't read that left wing propaganda" or something to that affect.

After thinking about that statement, he proves my point entirely. I can say without a doubt that he has likely never subscribed to the NY Times. His opinion is based on what he is told to think. Likely Limbaugh or Beck told him it is unreliable. His "team spirit" just excepts it, without ever reading one newspaper.

This is the base of the Republican Party. And this is how easy it is for the leaders to fool the base. Just as Reagan, Bush and W grew the deficit, they didn't tell f or any of their base. Reagan grew the size of the government, yet we heard NO complaints from the base.

The base, who can't think for themselves (because they DO NOT pay attention to BOTH SIDES (as f demonstrates)) only react when told to by a very united, lock step, Republican party.

Sorry to use you (f) as an example. But you fit the Republican strategy perfectly.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:34 pm

Hawk wrote:Interestingly, Rush Limbaugh was comparing sports to politics on Monday. He was agreeing to my premise. Then he went off on a tangent of how "Chicks" (wouldn't even say women) were ruining it.

I was also thinking of a post I put up regarding a NY Times article. fschirillo (spelling) said, "I wouldn't read that left wing propaganda" or something to that affect.

After thinking about that statement, he proves my point entirely. I can say without a doubt that he has likely never subscribed to the NY Times. His opinion is based on what he is told to think. Likely Limbaugh or Beck told him it is unreliable. His "team spirit" just excepts it, without ever reading one newspaper.

This is the base of the Republican Party. And this is how easy it is for the leaders to fool the base. Just as Reagan, Bush and W grew the deficit, they didn't tell f or any of their base. Reagan grew the size of the government, yet we heard NO complaints from the base.

The base, who can't think for themselves (because they DO NOT pay attention to BOTH SIDES (as f demonstrates)) only react when told to by a very united, lock step, Republican party.

Sorry to use you (f) as an example. But you fit the Republican strategy perfectly.

It is SCIARRILLO. And I do occasionally read the NY Times. I just get tired of seeing it praise obama with every story. The guy could take a dump and they would say it had the best girth ever. That is the biggest liberal paper in the country and they are more in bed with the messiah than any other paper.

Also, I happen to read Barrons, The Wall Street Journal and an occasional USA today, as well as look at the various news sites and blogs from both sides of the fence. Isn't ignorance a grang thing?

Just because some one does follow your opinion doesn't make them ignorant or inept. You, sir, are a prime example of how the liberal bias in this country works. Someone doesn't believe what you believe and what do you do? Start with the name calling and insults - Typical left wing propaganda ..

shredder138 · Post by **shredder138** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:52 pm

f.sciarrillo wrote:Start with the name calling and insults - Typical right wing propaganda ..

FIXED

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:54 pm

shredder138 wrote:
f.sciarrillo wrote:Start with the name calling and insults - Typical right wing propaganda ..
FIXED

Dude, you are killing me here lol ..

T@rgetDrone · Post by **T@rgetDrone** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:33 pm

Hawk may lean a bit hard to the left but he does have a brain that works and a mind of his own. I rarely agree or buy into what his opinions happen to be but he often engages his opinions with genuine interest. So do a few others who participate in posts of a political or religious nature. People who do that exercise some sense and know when and where to draw the line at rooting for "their team." To those people I extend respect for their opinions.

My point is, I suppose, is that Hawk has (finally maybe?) benefited or suffered from an epiphany.

His "pick a team" post is and has been true for generations. It is the general root of our uncivil discourse. It is about the oldest trick in the book, Divide & Conquer.

It still amazes me how many people will root for their team no matter what it costs them. Those people have bought into playing a game that the rules makers set up so that NO ONE can actually win. Dumb Ass is the first words that come to mind. But I suppose LOSER is more appropriate?

Almost no one that has spent a good while on The Hill gives a rats ass about YOU. In order for them to stick around they have to play the OTHER game - the one of high stakes, high risk, and a game that DOES have substantial winners and losers. Believe it or not, their game, most of the time, does not include you winning a damn thing worth having. The good news for THEM is that everyone of us pays for them to play their game. Worse, we pay for the game of futility that they created for us, even if we do not participate.

I tend to want to inject the use of "common sense" when discussing anything involving rewards and consequences. But common sense seems to be more and more an oxymoron. These days there is nothing common about it. Good sense seems a better fit.

joltinjeff · Post by **joltinjeff** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:27 pm

Since this is a political thread, I WILL NOT ADD MY 2 CENTS. Because everyime I do, I get crucified by someone in here.
But, I will say this - Hawk is right. As long as the Liberals can bash W and all the other right-wingers that fine. The minute you speak out against Obama, you are either a racist or an idiot. Liberals want to crack Rush's head open like a coconut because of his views, but God forbid you say anything against Keith Olberman your anti-American.
WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND SHARE A COMMON BOND! WE HAVE TO LIVE TOGETHER AND THEREFORE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENCES. I PRAY TO GOD IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, BUT GEE WHEN 9/11 HIT, WE WERE A COUNTRY UNITED. WHEN OLBERMAN AND MADOW STARTED THEIR ANTI-BUSH CRAP, THE COUNTRY FELL APART.
LET'S GET IT RIGHT - WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM. LET'S LEAVE POLITICS TO THE POLITICIANS DO THEIR JOB WHETHER IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG BY OUR OWN PERSONAL STANDARDS!

shredder138 · Post by **shredder138** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:32 pm

BUSH SUCKED

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:42 pm

joltinjeff wrote: As long as the Liberals can bash W and all the other right-wingers that fine. The minute you speak out against Obama, you are either a racist or an idiot. Liberals want to crack Rush's head open like a coconut because of his views, but God forbid you say anything against Keith Olberman your anti-American.

^^ What I been trying to say. The liberals are always spouting discussed about the previous admin and can not get off the blame game. But as soon as you say something against them they are crying foul. Babies, babies is all they are ..

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:42 pm

f.sciarrillo wrote:
joltinjeff wrote: As long as the Liberals can bash W and all the other right-wingers that fine. The minute you speak out against Obama, you are either a racist or an idiot. Liberals want to crack Rush's head open like a coconut because of his views, but God forbid you say anything against Keith Olberman your anti-American.
^^ What I been trying to say. The liberals are always spouting discussed about the previous admin and can not get off the blame game. But as soon as you say something against them they are crying foul. Babies, babies is all they are ..

The Bull Crap "seek and destroy" mission is equal on BOTH sides. It is not limited to Liberals or Conservatives. I am worried that you hadn't noticed the "attack rhetoric" from each side.

As I posted before, Limbaugh constantly pounded Clinton for "putting his finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing". Constantly berating him for following the polls and catering to the polls. Clinton was to weak to stand on his own, he lived by the polls.

Just last week he went on and on about how Obama doesn't pay any attention to the polls. He doesn't care what the people think. "He doesn't care about YOU or he would look at what the polls, at what YOU are telling him."

That's an example of the team spirit mentality. Say whatever it takes to get your team riled up.

Hawk · Post by **Hawk** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:54 pm

joltinjeff wrote:Since this is a political thread, I WILL NOT ADD MY 2 CENTS. Because everyime I do, I get crucified by someone in here.
But, I will say this - Hawk is right. As long as the Liberals can bash W and all the other right-wingers that fine. The minute you speak out against Obama, you are either a racist or an idiot. Liberals want to crack Rush's head open like a coconut because of his views, but God forbid you say anything against Keith Olberman your anti-American.
WE ARE ALL AMERICANS AND SHARE A COMMON BOND! WE HAVE TO LIVE TOGETHER AND THEREFORE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENCES. I PRAY TO GOD IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, BUT GEE WHEN 9/11 HIT, WE WERE A COUNTRY UNITED. WHEN OLBERMAN AND MADOW STARTED THEIR ANTI-BUSH CRAP, THE COUNTRY FELL APART.
LET'S GET IT RIGHT - WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM. LET'S LEAVE POLITICS TO THE POLITICIANS DO THEIR JOB WHETHER IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG BY OUR OWN PERSONAL STANDARDS!

I agree we're all in this together. That is, we the people, not cngress. Many of them are in the pockets of the lobbyiests. And they care about THEIR power and THEIR money and then their team.

The bottom line is we all want America to be the best country in the world. We just disagree on how to make it / keep it that way. And rather than working together, the politicians (and their cheerleaders Fox and MSNBC) are busy attacking each other. Offence / Defence. Attack at any cost, just so the other team looks bad. No matter the cost. Just RILE the people up so it looks like our team is winning.

T@rgetDrone · Post by **T@rgetDrone** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 5:35 am

Unfortunately, we can not just walk away and go back to living our lives, avoiding our discourse, without intervention of our elected officials. We need to understand that most of OUR differences are minor (excluding the far left and far right fringe/minority). We, the people, are not so far apart as those in power attempt to push and divide us. The day we (most of us, collectively) discover this, is the day we regain the power that we GAVE, not lost, to them. At that point they should fear us.... fear that we will vote their asses out if they do not look out for our best interests.

As far as the recent anger over our government, we have a right to be angry. It's the recent part that perplexes a lot of people. This shit has been going on, endlessly, for decades. And that is OUR fault for letting it go on. I guess we're not too bright sometimes - a little slow? But once we get it, we fuggin get it! We are pretty close to that point. Not quite there but close. We have finally gotten the hell off our lazy asses and said enough already. We need to put the popcorn aside - save it for a little later. We're gonna be busy for a while. It will be worth it.

Those of us who refuse to pimp for those chumps can almost always agree and civilly agree to disagree. WE are not so much of the problem.

The media is an entirely different monster. The "news" media has Constitutional powers beyond what you and I have. They have it because it is their JOB to look out for us. They are suppose to be asking the tough, critical and hard questions. They are suppose to REPORT what they find - FACTS. Aside from the "news" which is suppose to be strictly FACTUAL, they have the liberty to run editorials - Even Op-Eds. Problem is the "news" media is largely SILENT. Nothing new. They were only whispering during the previous administration - Just short of SILENT.

It's up to us to challenge and question since we can not largely trust our elected officials or a large part of the media. Again, nothing new. Freedom ain't fuggin free. You wanna keep it, you better be willing to fight for it. Otherwise, no whining as others snatch it away from you ::::he said snatch::::

I predict quite a few of our elected officials don't have the stomach to put up a long fight. Mostly talk, hype, type and temper tantrums. Once we, the people, shake things up a little, most will hide under their desks hoping we will just go away - Go back to ignoring them.

These ass clowns have been and are representing THE greatest country on the planet. Is this the best WE can do, really? You gotta be fuggin kidding me.

UNEARTHA7XMatt · Post by **UNEARTHA7XMatt** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:24 am

All politicians are crooked bastards! Liberals or Conservatives, Dosent matter. They are all Crooks and Liars. Fuck Politics!

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Fri Sep 18, 2009 11:50 am

Rush Limbaugh is to political journalism/discussions as Dr. Phil is to psychology. How's that one, bassist_25?

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:28 am

Ooh, a simile! Something intelligent in a political thread.
I'm not sure how to respond.

--->JMS

witchhunt · Post by **witchhunt** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:05 pm

I've never watched Dr. Phil cause I think his occupation is a racket. I did catch a glimpse of him on TV the other day, though. Seriously, does he have ears?

Dragan Kalasa · Post by **Dragan Kalasa** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:54 pm

I'm probably the only douchebag on here who hates politics. So I will post my inept thoughts, figuring that media can do it, so can I. And those of you who think otherwise...freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom from speech.

As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't even be a game. There should be no teams. I think people who vote for people just because of some useless title as republican or democrat, liberal or conservative, left wing or right wing are just as much of the problem with our government as the people who think not voting is a bad idea. What ever happened to..."I voted for him because I liked his policy on..." or "I didn't vote for him because I don't agree with..." Instead it's straight card balloting, based on what happened in the 60's and 70's and some influence on the 80's and 90's now. I didn't vote and I don't plan on voting...ever, or maybe until the corruption is out of the government. So I guess then it is...ever.

Can somebody tell me why people are constantly thinking that their side would do better when the whole system is screwed up? How do you change greed? How do you change stupidity? How do you change prejudiced OPINIONS on people before they even make a move (notice the word is opinions and not fact) ? Recently, I've been watching Bill Maher and so far he's the only one who can make me laugh and say "...that's true."

So there...inept thoughts, media influenced, and probably what people perceive my views as anarchy and un-american. I'm the #1 problem with the government. Now all I need is an award and Kanyé to walk up and scream Beyoncé's video is the greatest all time.

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:55 pm

ZappasXWife wrote:Rush Limbaugh is to political journalism/discussions as Dr. Phil is to psychology. How's that one, bassist_25?

Excellent analogy, except Dr. Phil did indeed finish an accredited graduate program in clinical psychology, whereas Limbaugh dropped out of college yet is seeminly an expert on everything. Hey, it's kind of like Rockpage!

Lately, I've been wondering where everyone's been getting their Juris Doctors from, because we seem to have a lot of people who fancy themselves lawyers on here.

Granted, I guess Dr. Phil's still better than another talking head, Dr. Laura, who, while has a legitimate doctorate, has it in a completely different field unrelated to the field in which she tries to establish herself an expert. Trying to establish her credibility with the "Dr." title would be like me reading off my professional curriculum vitae over the mic before starting a gig.

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