Does political name calling add to intellectual discourse?

Question

Does political name calling add to intellectual discourse?

Is it getting carried away, are there any legimate questions and answers being rationalized.

are these the greatest minds of our generation?

And if all else fail why are liberals funnier and smarter
i mean in society as a whole,

for example who are the greatest conservative comedians,
songwriters, civil rights leaders, film makers...
and overall do they count?

Where can i debate a repulbican with facts and logic compared to opinion and name calling?

Don't get me wrong i'm not above just better at it.

the question was does political name callling add to discourse.

second part was are these the greatest minds.

and as side i asked why one party seems to be cuturally significant while the other obsucure.

"who told you that liberals are smarter and funnier than anyone?, you amoral liberal ho-mo-loving god-hating sack of swine excrement! Repent or you'll burn in Hell! :)"

you left out i like romantic walks on the beach.

Answer 1

Well, I'm a republican, and I agree mostly with your point. All this name calling and juvinial insults really don't do anything besides show your slant and stupidity. While I agree that both sides do it, I certainly feel that to a much greater extent, the liberals are more guilty of it. It's certainly not only the case on answers, but in the media, on the news, in public, in Washington DC, it's all over.

I will tell you this, I firmly believe there are some bright individuals out there on both sides that will and do listen and consider arguments that are supported with clean talk and facts. I believe myself to be such. Keep it up, some people are listening and reading, it's just hard to see it because of the B.S. that comes out of some ignorant peoples minds and mouths.

To you last point, I happen to think that concervatives have some extrodinarily bright individuals, but perhaps you don't see them because they gravitate towards fields that don't get as much media attention, and yes they count very much. Think about the farming, mining, energy industries. Pretty much dominated by conservatives, and our country couldn't exist without them.

Answer 2

What I have seen of this is even done on the so called hi brow debate shows. Many years ago before Fox news was around the only time you would see a Conservative was if 3 libs were on too. If the Conservative made a point and the libs could not back put their statement the names would fly. Today that has become the norm. With the libs mostly and a few so called Conservatives that do not do the research needed to have a good debate.

I love a good debate and have never used names when the liberal made a good point. But that happens so seldom I can not think of a time it can about. most of the time we talk and find we have more common ground than not.

I have found many libs think Conservatives are just tying to rob the poor and do not know thy they vote and think the way they do other than the mob move so I will to

Answer 3

To the first question no. But it does polarize the populace so that they can be manipulated towards a political agenda. If you understand averages, you would see that most of the country is smack-dab in the middle of a bell curve socially, politically, philosophically, etc. In order to "get people off the fence," it has been shown that inflammatory commentary (especially by those with bigger mouths than brains) does indeed serve this purpose. At least for awhile. Like anything else, there will be a narrowing of the window for this kind of political manipulation and the effect will be small to nil when the majority of people see how they are being used.
As for Liberals being more funny and intelligent than Conservatives, that might be stretching opinion just a tad. However, it is possible for anyone to be wrong, unfunny and stupid some of the time.

Answer 4

In my personal experience, some liberals are NOT light-hearted about their debates. My brother (or anyone in my immediate family, for that matter) is massively liberal and is a huge name-caller when it comes to politics. He gets his news from The Daily Show yet thinks he's well-informed & knows everything there is to know about everything. He's extremely close-minded regarding politics- if it's got anything to do with Republicans, he wants nothing to do with it- he doesn't even listen to a concept with an open mind to consider its validity. I should probably point out that he also thinks he's hilarious.

My experience has been that both sides are comprised of very intelligent and humorous members. Both sides are also made up of loud-mouthed idiots. We all know that the dumber they are, the louder they talk. THAT'S why it doesn't seem like there are any "good ones" on the "other side" (whichever side you're not on).

I think political name calling is childish. When a person cannot reason his or her way out of an argument, name-calling is a common resort. I'd much rather just ignore someone who's obviously stupid than call them names. The whole "neocon" thing is extremely annoying. It's just as bad as "Bennifer" or "Brangelina." Ugh.

Answer 5

Rational, intelligent, conservative repube-lican? I'm sorry, no such person exists.

Why are they always angry? They have everything the way they wanted it with all of the control for almost 6 years. Still they are angry. The wealthy have their tax cuts, big oil has its record profits, scandal after scandal and barely anyone in jail, Bill O'Reilly still has a job blowing hot air after sexually harrassing a co-worker, he even got a best seller out of it! Ann Coulter still selling angry books, ..the list goes on & on. And yet, they are still angry....I dont get it. There has to be some Repube-lican political play book that says that you are always to be angry and on the attack.

They don't believe in civil rights, so ther are no great conservative leaders for that, however, for film they have Charlton "pistolpackin' Heston (though not a filmmaker), and AL:L of the country music folk EXCEPT The Dixie Chicks and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. I do think that they have a few football players...probably because they have taken a few too many shots to the head though. And yes, they do have a comedian...Jeff Foxworthy is a supporter..not an atlethic supporter but a Bush supporter. But then, he is a self-admitted redneck.

Answer 6

I'm neither a liberal or a conservative. Nor am I either a Democrat or Republican.

I'm sick of both sides.

Frankly, they are equally guilty, equally unfunny, equally full of themselves and equally wrong about their high opinion of their own cleverness.

The best that either side has to offer is pathetic. A bunch of empty suits and neatly coiffed hairdos without an ounce of substance.

And if the leadership is beneath contempt then the rank and file is even worse. A quick glance at the "questions" posted here demonstrates what bunch of fools they (which is to say most of you) are.

Perhaps the best thing that could happen is for most of the population to simply shut up and take the time to educate themselves.

When study after study reveals that the average person in this country doesn't know the name of his congressman, can't name the members of the Supreme Court and can't locate China on a blank world map its time for them to realize that a little humility (and a little silence) might be a good idea.

Answer 7

I think that the political name calling is a way of detracting from the fact that you have nothing worthwhile or intelligent to say, and by the way, who told you that liberals are smarter and funnier than anyone?, you amoral liberal ho-mo-loving god-hating sack of swine excrement! Repent or you'll burn in Hell! :)

Answer 8

You question is based on a faulty premise, so it makes it difficult to answer. The truth of the matter is you have it completely backwards.
The conservative side of the aisle, it the one with the ideas, the libs are still in shock, they have run this country for 50 years before they finally lost it in 94. They have no new ideas, they have no new strategies, when confronted by solid debate all they can do is resort to name calling.

Lets walk through some examples....
Social Security is dying, probably won't be there for us when we need it.
Republican idea: Allow people to opt to set aside a percentage of the money that goes into SS, to go into private accounts, and that money is yours to invest as you see fit. If nothing else, you have something and a very good chance you end up with more then you would have gotten with standard SS.
Democrat idea: Raise taxes, spend more.

Educational system in America is failing us after 50 years of increasing federal spending we have a matching decline of graduate test scores over the same 50 years.
Republican idea: Use competition to encourage the betterment of schools. If you have no choice on what school you go to, unless you are rich, your school has no incentive to improve. By allowing school vouchers, alternative types of schools, and bringing competition, you force good schools to get better and bad schools to shape up or fade away.
Democrat idea: Raise taxes, spend more.

This list could go on and on. Those of you who considered themselves Democrats, ought to really take a long look inwards and figure out why. You should take a look at the Democratic party in it heyday and that a look at them now. John F Kennedy was an example of a good Democrat, he spoke and acted strongly against Communism, he lowered taxes to spur on economic growth, and he challenged this country to set a goal as high as the moon. He made people feel proud to be American's not by begging the world's good graces, but by setting America higher then all others.

If the Democratic party could get back to their routes, they could salvage their party, but they have been taken over by far left wing nut cases who hate America. They are bankrupt of any new ideas, and all they do now is try to put everything in the same light as Nixon, Watergate, and Vietnam, their glory days.

How could anyone, support a party who longs to relive the glory days by having America lose another war. We now have only the party of Clinton left, self serving, close minded individuals, who attack the opposition at every angle, because they have no ideas, just bitterness.

Answer 9

No, but it seems to help some people get elected. Then again, I don't think it's aimed at "intellectuals".

However, I do not beleive Republicans started it . It has always existed where there have been elections. What the Romans used to say about each other is worse than what you hear today.

However, I will agree that it is the major tactic of Coulter, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, Scarborough. And the personal attack is also major tactic of Rove.

PS Dennis Miller used to be funny, look at him now.

Answer 10

Watching some of our representatives in both bodies on c-span can make me cringe. Some of them act like seven year olds with silly antics, name calling, etc...all for self-glorification. They go on and on but don't show up for votes or if they do not have an opportunity to pontificate to the whole country.

I was embarassed for some of them making such fools of themselves at the confirmation hearings. They set a terrible example for children when they call names and just act silly. Who is really impressed? I'm disgusted with that type behavior and will never vote for anyone who resorts to that behavior. No matter what party.