Comments on: Slander, politics, the Internet, and anonymity http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/ Think - it ain't illegal yet... Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:40:11 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: john doraemi http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-47411 john doraemi Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:54:28 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2397#comment-47411 <b>"...tolerance of slander in political campaigns encourages cynicism and destroys trust in both the system and the politicians who function within it."</b> I think the legalized bribery and absence of accountability, morality and even common sense has destroyed "trust" in this overwhelmingly FASCIST system of governance. Real obvious immoral and illegal activity like Crimes Against Peace, torture, and open impunity to prosecution (see Kucinich, impeachment) are simply the true state of the nation (empire). Some minor slander about a swift boat incident pales in comparison to Kerry's desire to continue Bush's ongoing war crimes in Iraq, when he ran in 2004. Does not the murder of millions of innocent civilians factor in anywhere? Is that not the very "terrorism" they cry about at their pulpits? Oh yeah, and then there's the actual support of terrorist networks such as Jundullah, MEK, the KLA, the Afghan warlords, the Contras, ad nauseum -- perhaps even Al Qaeda with their partners in the Saudi and Pakistani governments. Wow. And I'm supposed to actually care that someone called Obama a Muslim? Since he takes his marching orders from AIPAC, I'd say that's a diversion not worth commenting on. http://crimesofthestate.blogspot.com/ “…tolerance of slander in political campaigns encourages cynicism and destroys trust in both the system and the politicians who function within it.”

I think the legalized bribery and absence of accountability, morality and even common sense has destroyed “trust” in this overwhelmingly FASCIST system of governance.

Real obvious immoral and illegal activity like Crimes Against Peace, torture, and open impunity to prosecution (see Kucinich, impeachment) are simply the true state of the nation (empire).

Some minor slander about a swift boat incident pales in comparison to Kerry’s desire to continue Bush’s ongoing war crimes in Iraq, when he ran in 2004.

Does not the murder of millions of innocent civilians factor in anywhere? Is that not the very “terrorism” they cry about at their pulpits?

Oh yeah, and then there’s the actual support of terrorist networks such as Jundullah, MEK, the KLA, the Afghan warlords, the Contras, ad nauseum — perhaps even Al Qaeda with their partners in the Saudi and Pakistani governments.

Wow. And I’m supposed to actually care that someone called Obama a Muslim?

Since he takes his marching orders from AIPAC, I’d say that’s a diversion not worth commenting on.

http://crimesofthestate.blogspot.com/

]]> By: John M. Cooper http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-47351 John M. Cooper Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:35:56 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2397#comment-47351 Untruth has been growing and growing in American politics forever. What has changed has been the exponential growth in the refusal of those lying to admit responsibility for same. Standards need to come into existence whereby individuals who are "off the record", "anonymous", or otherwise untraceable are not given an implied credibility <b>boost</b>. Anonymous anything is junk. Journalism that takes any sources' credibility at face value is advertising. The sooner we accept that realization, the healthier the body politic will be. Untruth has been growing and growing in American politics forever. What has changed has been the exponential growth in the refusal of those lying to admit responsibility for same. Standards need to come into existence whereby individuals who are “off the record”, “anonymous”, or otherwise untraceable are not given an implied credibility boost. Anonymous anything is junk. Journalism that takes any sources’ credibility at face value is advertising. The sooner we accept that realization, the healthier the body politic will be.

]]> By: Dr. Slammy http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-47314 Dr. Slammy Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:44:06 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2397#comment-47314 Maybe, Russ. Or it could go back further to Tricky Dick and plausible deniability. Maybe, Russ. Or it could go back further to Tricky Dick and plausible deniability.

]]> By: Russ Wellen http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-47313 Russ Wellen Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:11:10 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2397#comment-47313 The public is no longer outraged by lying on the national scene. Perhaps, like national debt makes Americans feel a little less worse about being in debt, they think lying by or about public figures gives them license to lie in their personal life. Calumny aside, I can't prove this, but I suspect lying first went respectable when President Reagan did his "I can't recall" act about Iran Contra. As far as anonymity on the Web, with services that search private records, I think there's a legitimate fear that a threatening party could show up at your doorstep. The public is no longer outraged by lying on the national scene. Perhaps, like national debt makes Americans feel a little less worse about being in debt, they think lying by or about public figures gives them license to lie in their personal life.

Calumny aside, I can’t prove this, but I suspect lying first went respectable when President Reagan did his “I can’t recall” act about Iran Contra.

As far as anonymity on the Web, with services that search private records, I think there’s a legitimate fear that a threatening party could show up at your doorstep.

]]> By:   links for 2008-07-11 by Kevin Bondelli’s Youth Vote Blog http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-47195   links for 2008-07-11 by Kevin Bondelli’s Youth Vote Blog Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:31:39 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2397#comment-47195 [...] Scholars and Rogues » Slander, politics, the Internet, and anonymity [...] [...] Scholars and Rogues » Slander, politics, the Internet, and anonymity [...]

]]> By: Dr. Slammy http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2008/07/10/slander-politics-the-internetn-and-anonymity/comment-page-1/#comment-46982 Dr. Slammy Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:44:47 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=2397#comment-46982 I agree in principle. Of course, we also live in a world full of the dirtiest tricks ever invented. If you speak publicly, and if you're significant enough that certain powers deem you a threat, there's nothing they won't stoop to in order to destroy your life. Think Karl Rove. Think FOX "News." Now, I've always been fairly public about who I am. But I can imagine that changing. I'd love to see the system fixed, but am I willing to be a martyr (and in the process, to martyr my family) for the cause? I agree in principle. Of course, we also live in a world full of the dirtiest tricks ever invented. If you speak publicly, and if you’re significant enough that certain powers deem you a threat, there’s nothing they won’t stoop to in order to destroy your life.

Think Karl Rove. Think FOX “News.”

Now, I’ve always been fairly public about who I am. But I can imagine that changing. I’d love to see the system fixed, but am I willing to be a martyr (and in the process, to martyr my family) for the cause?

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