Civility in political discourse
 

President Obama has lectured us about the need for civility in political discourse. I think he uses it as a means to shut off debate, as he never lectures the political left on their need for civility.
Last week Maxine Waters wished all Tea Partiers would go to hell.
I waited to see if any of the liberals on OD would call her to task for her out-of-bounds comments, but no one did.
That leads me to believe that no one is serious about civility; it is merely a political tool.

Depends on whether you intend to be civil while working for the common good or be civil while you are beheading the dissenters.

While we're not in the same league as say, the Italian parliament where they routinely throw chairs at each other, this country has seen it's share of brawls and even weapons use if memory serves, in Congress. It's a political tool, nothing more. The President is "civil" because he's a pussy who can't bear confrontation.

Interesting, discussing civility in discourse by citing one example. The House of Representatives is quite the diverse body and for every Maxine Waters, there is a Peter King, no?

And he is being hammered for being one by the left including black supporters.
"He punts on first down".:o:rolleyes:

http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/08/cornel-west-obama-punts-on-the-first-down/

And that is pretty much my point. "Civility" is only used to make political points; there is no substance to the President's call for civility.
If civility were are real goal, then the president would call out members of his own party as well as the Peter Kings and those on the right.

I couldn't give two flying craps toward civility as long as they actually get something done...not holding my breath

I agree.

Personally, I think he ought to drop this civility BS and tell the tea party to go to hell too. :D

I like civility but as long as they get NOTHING done, I'm happy.

Ah, so your reference is to "score points' in criticizing the President?

Aaron Burr sure brought some civility to the circus...;)

How partisan can you get?
The President is the one who has used the bully pulpit to decry the lack of civility. It is therefore incumbent on him to not be such a hypocrite. If he had not brought it up in the first place, it wouldn't be an issue.

I am not scoring points on the President--maybe the so-called fair-minded liberals here, but not the president.

Civil Discoarse?
 

I usually review the work of Dick Cheney, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh when I feel the need to refresh my skills in civil discourse.

And are conservatives laudable, either because of their civility or because they have not made it an important issue, as you imply the President has?

I would guess that the "right wing" does not get a pass . . .

Sumpter, South Carlina, Tea Party chair Sherry Lanford Smith has taken her Facebook page private after using it to joke about throwing Barack and Michelle Obama out of a helicopter.

On Aug. 11, Smith wrote the following:

“Obama looked at Michelle, chuckled and said, ‘You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out of the window right now and make somebody very happy.’ Michelle shrugged her shoulders and replied, ‘I could throw 10 $100 bills out of the window and make 10 people very happy.’

“Hearing their exchange, the pilot of the plane said to his co-pilot, ‘Such big shots back there. I could throw both of them out of the window and make 256 million people very happy.’

“If you’re one of the 256 million, PASS IT ON.”

The entry was pulled and the Facebook page privatized after Smith’s local newspaper, the Sumpter Item, caught wind of the entry.

Republicans are BAD Democrats are good. Is that civil enough? :D:D:D:eek::rolleyes: