Pepper sprayed for public safety.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I came over here to see the reaction to Romney's latest shit-on-everyone moment and I find this.

What the fuck are you talking about? Anyone can take a charge. You don't have to be guarding the person who commits a charge. You can be helping out on defense. And you can be old, fat, slow, or in your case, stupid.

No one says Obama walks on water because he is trying to play help defense and regularly plays in a game where the players are clearly better than he is. What the author was saying is that he challenges himself, that he seeks the truth, that he embraces the difficult.

Jesus fucking Christ.

TM

Let's see where we can agree. First we're both voting for the President although I suspect for different reasons. We also both think he is the most human president we have seen, or maybe the one we'd most like to hang around. One example for me was picking Omar as the best character in the Sports Guy interview. Any other president would have picked Bunk or Daniels, be honest none of them have seen the show.

But this ball thing? Hell I admire the man for playing at his age, and he can play with whoever he wants. I even get the stess relief of being just a nobody compared to most of the other players. But a 50 year old cannot "work hard" to play to the speed 28 yo college players play at. I have been the 50 yo on that court. It's not a challenge, you cannot keep near them.

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Did the poor who don't pay taxes not have access to public schools? Roads?

I can only speak for Podunkville, but we don't have a state income tax, so just about everything school-wise and road-wise is financed by sales taxes and property* taxes. Oh, and the lottery and massive "sin" taxes on tobacco and John Barleycorn. And the most recent highways built have been toll roads. So, at least around here, there ain't none of those poor people who don't pay taxes.

*if you don't think renters pay property taxes, you sir are wrong.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

Is it possible for someone to be ambivalent going into an article like this and come out with a glowing positive opinion of their subject after spending a lot of time with them? Maybe. Maybe not. But I think the shit you don't like is puff for you and the shit you do like is insightful. Even if I'm completely wrong, you sound like an asshole.

TM

Fawning over a politician is pathetic. If pragmatically noting what ought to be obvious makes me an asshole-- Well, fuck, it sure as hell wouldn't be the first time I've heard it.

And honestly, little else makes me smile more. If you're going to use the pen... (I think I'm paraphrasing Voltaire here): Might as well stick it in someone's neck.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Sebby doesn't trust anyone who would say nice things about someone else. It's a sign of weakness.

I have much good to say about a lot of people. None of them are politicians. None of them would be. To fawn over Reagan, or Obama, is pathetic. To laud Romney would be abject idiocy.

(I do like Clinton, though.)

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges...." Anatole France

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.” ― de Tocqueville

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

But this ball thing? Hell I admire the man for playing at his age, and he can play with whoever he wants. I even get the stess relief of being just a nobody compared to most of the other players. But a 50 year old cannot "work hard" to play to the speed 28 yo college players play at. I have been the 50 yo on that court. It's not a challenge, you cannot keep near them.

I fail to understand why you are completely focused on the fact that there are 28 year olds on the court. They are not the only players on the court and I think Ty has already pointed you to the sections of the article that say he picks balanced teams of young and old. Presumably that means, although he's on the lower end of the athletically skilled in this game, he has someone of similar ability on the opposite team to guard. Unless you're saying that he has no business on the court if ever there is a 28 year old on the opposite team, I just don't understand your point.

So, what the fuck is your point? Are you saying that the president doesn't play in a game where there are more talented players? Or are you saying that the author is clearly full of shit about the entirety of the article because he clearly couldn't see either (i) how abused the president was getting by the younger, more talented players or (ii) how delusional the president is because he can't tell that they're all completely tanking it because he's the president? I just don't. fucking. get it.

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

Fawning over a politician is pathetic. If pragmatically noting what ought to be obvious makes me an asshole-- Well, fuck, it sure as hell wouldn't be the first time I've heard it.

And honestly, little else makes me smile more. If you're going to use the pen... (I think I'm paraphrasing Voltaire here): Might as well stick it in someone's neck.

"Pragmatist" and "asshole" are not synonyms. Once you learn that, everyone you know will be better off.

TM

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

I have much good to say about a lot of people. None of them are politicians. None of them would be. To fawn over Reagan, or Obama, is pathetic. To laud Romney would be abject idiocy.

(I do like Clinton, though.)

Gleaning from past interactions on the board, I think you've praised Clinton, Hunter S. Thompson, and the Huntsman girls. Though, of course, not Clinton if he plays his horn in rock 'n roll.

Am I missing anyone?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.” ― de Tocqueville

Alexis de Tocqueville is long dead and the United States (and many other democracies) persevere. In the words of Matt Groening:

God is dead.
-- Nietzsche

Nietzsche is dead.
-- God

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

a 50 year old cannot "work hard" to play to the speed 28 yo college players play at.

Also, a man of normal height cannot play with giants. They smell the blood of Englishman, and will eat him and suck the bones.

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Gleaning from past interactions on the board, I think you've praised Clinton, Hunter S. Thompson, and the Huntsman girls. Though, of course, not Clinton if he plays his horn in rock 'n roll.

Am I missing anyone?

Duane Allman, Richard Nixon, and Tom Wolfe, I think, but your point is well-taken.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Not Bob

Duane Allman, Richard Nixon, and Tom Wolfe, I think, but your point is well-taken.

He has spoken well of me and I'm borderline D-list famous.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

I fail to understand why you are completely focused on the fact that there are 28 year olds on the court. They are not the only players on the court and I think Ty has already pointed you to the sections of the article that say he picks balanced teams of young and old. Presumably that means, although he's on the lower end of the athletically skilled in this game, he has someone of similar ability on the opposite team to guard. Unless you're saying that he has no business on the court if ever there is a 28 year old on the opposite team, I just don't understand your point.

So, what the fuck is your point? Are you saying that the president doesn't play in a game where there are more talented players?

That would require me to accuse Ty of posting falsehoods, and no one here would dare to do that. That joker deletes posts.

Or are you saying that the author is clearly full of shit about the entirety of the article because he clearly couldn't see either (i) how abused the president was getting by the younger, more talented players or

I don't think the author claimed Obama played even, so no I'm saying that.

(ii) how delusional the president is because he can't tell that they're all completely tanking it because he's the president?

The story says if you play halfway you don't get invited back, so I'm not say this.

I just don't. fucking. get it.

TM

This very interesting debate started with Ty saying he admired that Obama chose to play with great talent, and that said something, that he wanted a challenge, I believe.

My point was simply I am not impressed that he chose to be on a court with people he cannot stick with. It does not imply a challenge. I'm impressed he still plays regularly though. And I have no problem with him playing with whoever he wishes to play with. If something helps the President, any president, deal with the stress, god bless.

But I'm not impressed by the fact that he plays with very young, very tall players. Because, as you have now explained, he is guarding an older shorter guy (although the article implies the only 6 foot guy is the 28 yo point guard.). And if he is on a court where he is only sticking with a 45 yo guy his height, how can we be impressed that younger taller guys are whipping past him. Again, impressed he plays at all, but not by that particular factoid.

To me, if he really wants to challenge himself, he would be playing with 45-55 yo former college players.

But, at the end of the day, I suspect Obama plays with these guys because it is fun to be on the court around very talented players. I'm willing to bet he doesn't give a fuck if it impresses me, or you.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

the article implies the only 6 foot guy is the 28 yo point guard

The article doesn't say the former FSU point guard is 28. But was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? I won't stop you -- you're on a roll.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

That would require me to accuse Ty of posting falsehoods, and no one here would dare to do that. That joker deletes posts.

Actually, that would require that you actually read the article.

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

My point was simply I am not impressed that he chose to be on a court with people he cannot stick with. It does not imply a challenge. I'm impressed he still plays regularly though. And I have no problem with him playing with whoever he wishes to play with. If something helps the President, any president, deal with the stress, god bless.

But I'm not impressed by the fact that he plays with very young, very tall players. Because, as you have now explained, he is guarding an older shorter guy (although the article implies the only 6 foot guy is the 28 yo point guard.). And if he is on a court where he is only sticking with a 45 yo guy his height, how can we be impressed that younger taller guys are whipping past him. Again, impressed he plays at all, but not by that particular factoid.

To me, if he really wants to challenge himself, he would be playing with 45-55 yo former college players.

But, at the end of the day, I suspect Obama plays with these guys because it is fun to be on the court around very talented players. I'm willing to bet he doesn't give a fuck if it impresses me, or you.

Well, that's an interesting opinion. If you don't think it says something that he chooses not to play with people he is much better than, then whatever. If you don't think it says something that he appreciates high-quality basketball and has structured a game in which he is not the best player at all, but is still able to contribute at his age, then whatever.

What I really think is that you don't want to give Obama credit for anything (especially when it comes to basketball, where you feel you are some kind of expert) and you jump in to try to shit on whatever Ty says because of your sick fascination with him.

Frankly, I'm not impressed by your analysis or your opinion, but that's fine. That's what this place is for, right? Throw shit at something as often and as hard as you can and pretend you've done something brilliant.

TM