Obama's Portland victory speech was opened by indie rock band "The Decemberists"

This is a band that opens their acts with the fucking soviet national anthem. The name of the band is from the Decemberist Revolt in Russia that the singer believes was an attempted communist uprising.

So let's run down the list here.

In his book, Dreams From My Father, Obama reveals that he grew up in Hawii and was mentored by a poet named Frank Marshall Davis who just happens to actually be a member of the communist party and writes racist and communist poetry. He went to church for 20 years with a racist pastor who just happened to advocate the destruction of the united states and the greatness of communism. And most recently, he launched his political career with a gala at the house of William Ayers, an unrepentant 1960's Weather Underground bomber.

But he's not a communist, right?

edit: also the Decemberists are a fun band

You conservative types are trying really, really hard to find reasons to hate Obama. It's obvious that you dislike his policies and don't think they're the right direction for this country, but nobody should begrudge you for that.

The dumb thing is where people make the leap from disagreeing to going out of their way to find ways to portray the opponent as a villain through weak guilt by association attacks that don't mean a fucking thing

Kegwen fucked around with this message on 05-23-2008 at 08:34 PM.

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Peanut butter ass Shaq Kegwen booooze lime pole over bench lick:
fuck guilt by association

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Yeah, I heard that silly dismissal on The Daily Show, too.

"Guilt By Association" is when you blame a person for the actions of people with whom they are only incidentally related.

This concept has no relation to Obama's willful and voluntary associations with communists. He chose to launch his career at the house of a Weather Underground member. He chose to remain at the church of Jeremiah Wright for twenty years. He chose to allow a band that openly advocates communism to play at his rally. It's not a case of guilt by association, it's a case of guilt by spectacularly bad choices.

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edit: also the Decemberists are a fun band

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You conservative types are trying really, really hard to find reasons to hate Obama

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UH OH, I'M RACIST BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THE BLACK MAN!!!!!!!

It's not that he spews socialist propaganda every time he opens his mouth, that he's surrounded by marxist radicals and black racists, and that he constantly states hilariously ignorant views on foreign policy.

No, all those painfully obvious things can't possibly be why I hate him. I have to try really hard to find a reason to hate him.

I mean I understand how him being pretty damn left is a valid criticism of him as a candidate, but the William Ayers and Reverend Wright ordeals just seem like they're already scraping the bottom of the attack barrel.

Also I never accused you of being or intended to imply that you were racist. Both political parties shamelessly try to dig up things from their opponents past to smear them because it's easier to grab the public's attention with sound bytes than with a policy debate. It just so happens that republicans are often better at it because they have testicular fortitude

Also I really, really doubt the Decemberists were chosen because of their alleged extremist socialist political leanings (as revealed through their opening tape). Obviously they support Obama since they took the gig, but come on seriously

Kegwen fucked around with this message on 05-23-2008 at 09:03 PM.

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From the book of Azymyth, chapter 3, verse 16:
Yes, because supporting a candidate and one's own political agenda are never related.

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They're absolutely 100% related but that's a pretty fucking convoluted way to criticize a political opponent

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x--KegwenO-('-'Q) :
I can't contest most of those allegations. I don't agree with all of his policies, but he's the most agreeable person on the ballot [among those that matter]. His most "socialist" policies will never get passed and, if nothing else, he seems to listen to others on things that he isn't as well versed in

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Obama says tons of shit that I agree with. His speech about breaking down the age barrier and making politics "cool" again is something I've been waiting a long time for someone to say.

But he is at best unqualified to be president, and at worst an absolute disaster waiting to happen.

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Also I really, really doubt the Decemberists were chosen because of their alleged extremist socialist political leanings (as revealed through their opening tape). Obviously they support Obama since they took the gig, but come on seriously

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Think about that for a second: You are a presidential candidate. You know that your every action is going to be scrutinized. You have an enormous rally and a popular local band wants to open for you. This band opens their acts with the soviet national anthem and is named after a communist uprising.

Do you REALLY think that sort of thing just slips past the radar of a presidential candidate to whom tens of millions of dollars are being donated?

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Kegwening:
They're absolutely 100% related but that's a pretty fucking convoluted way to criticize a political opponent

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Part of the reason that this happens so much is that Obama simply doesn't have a track record to criticize. In his brief time as a senator he had a habit of voting "Present", ie abstaining.

It's hard to criticize Obama because he simply doesn't say much, so you're left with what he manages to get out (which is bad), and the people around him (who are worse).

Maradon! fucked around with this message on 05-23-2008 at 10:55 PM.

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Steven Steve had this to say about Punky Brewster:
I'd just like to mention that I go to Portland State and I too am a Party member.

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Fuck. Democracy is foiled.

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Maradon! enlisted the help of an infinite number of monkeys to write:
In his book, Dreams From My Father, Obama reveals that he grew up in Hawii and was mentored by a poet named Frank Marshall Davis who just happens to actually be a member of the communist party and writes racist and communist poetry.

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I've only heard the first CD while I wait for my friend to finish with the second disk, but I don't think that's what the book is about.

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Maradon! isn't in Kansas anymore:
OMFG

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I'm sure Obama personally picks the bands for all his events, and I'm sure that he researches how they perform and exactly what music they play to make sure it corresponds with his message (AND HIDDEN POLITICAL AGENDAS). I'm sure that he doesn't just pick a popular band to fit the age demographic he is lauded for bringing out in spades, that is available to play at the venue he was able to get on short notice, and doesn't charge more than he's willing to pay.

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Verily, the chocolate bunny rabbits doth run and play while Blindy. gently hums:
I'm sure Obama personally picks the bands for all his events, and I'm sure that he researches how they perform and exactly what music they play to make sure it corresponds with his message (AND HIDDEN POLITICAL AGENDAS). I'm sure that he doesn't just pick a popular band to fit the age demographic he is lauded for bringing out in spades, that is available to play at the venue he was able to get on short notice, and doesn't charge more than he's willing to pay.

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If he's smart, he has people whose job is exactly that.

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x--Blindy.O-('-'Q) :
I'm sure Obama personally picks the bands for all his events, and I'm sure that he researches how they perform and exactly what music they play to make sure it corresponds with his message (AND HIDDEN POLITICAL AGENDAS).

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Actually, I'm 100% certain that he does.

But I suppose that's because I've been swindled, and so all of my knowledge of both the Decemberists and Marx doesn't allow me to say anything contrary to the point--being that Obama is a pinko on the grounds that the Decemberists are the Bards of Trotsky.

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Vorbising:
I can't really think of a single song by the Decemberists that stands out as Communist in persuasion. If anything, they seem to continue the trend of most pedants of being closet (at least) Monarchists.

But I suppose that's because I've been swindled, and so all of my knowledge of both the Decemberists and Marx doesn't allow me to say anything contrary to the point--being that Obama is a pinko on the grounds that the Decemberists are the Bards of Trotsky.

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Other than the soviet national anthem, you mean?

And being named after a communist uprising. Right. You've got an uphill battle ahead of you if you're going to try and argue that these guys aren't communists.

Maradon! fucked around with this message on 05-24-2008 at 12:44 PM.

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Maradon!'s account was hax0red to write:
Other than the soviet national anthem, you mean?

And being named after a communist uprising. Right. You've got an uphill battle ahead of you if you're going to try and argue that these guys aren't communists.

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Actually, it's upon you to prove that a group of scrawny indie-rockers are actually communist propagandists. Burden of proof lies on the affirmative, G.

That said, you're quite excellent at pitiful misreadings of your own source if you think that they even played a rendition of the Soviet Anthem at the rally. Moreover, it's completely specious to conclude that their choice to play the anthem ipso facto proves them as communists. Especially when the only evidence provided that supports it being a frequent occurance is this fan-report of a single concert.

And, so you know spunky, the Decemberist uprising was anti-monarchial, not communist. The First International wasn't formed until 1836, and wasn't even Marxist until 1848. The uprising was in 1825. Kropotkin wasn't even born, nor was Trotsky, nor Lenin nor Stalin; Bakunin was 11, and Marx was younger still.

Hell, they could be Ragin' Reds personally. But none of it comes out in their music, lyrics, or anything really aside from the fact that they have been known to play a cover of the Soviet National Anthem. So that theory sounds just a little completely off.

[edit: typographical error ]

Vorbis fucked around with this message on 05-24-2008 at 02:03 PM.

He knows he has to keep his true political intentions closesly guarded, or else the revelation would doom him from holding even the lowest political office, let alone president.

But, just for fun, he decides to have his favorite commie band play at his campaign rally. One little hint couldn't hurt.

Why does this thread exist

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Over the mountain, in between the ups and downs, I ran into Zair who doth quote:
Ok, lets say Barack Obama is a communist.

He knows he has to keep his true political intentions closesly guarded, or else the revelation would doom him from holding even the lowest political office, let alone president.

But, just for fun, he decides to have his favorite commie band play at his campaign rally. One little hint couldn't hurt.

Why does this thread exist

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Plausible scenario:

Barack is a communist and believes that there is a substantial pro-communist movement in the country waiting to be tapped.

He doesn't have to play it very close to the vest since the party-line talking points of the American left already pretty much resemble communist propaganda, but if he makes it obvious he may create a resistance movement. So when he has his rally in Portland, which is basically a suburb of Beijing to begin with, he allows a popular pro-commie band to play so that pro-commie supporters will know he's "down with the movement".

You don't need to look at a band to know that Obama is a communist. The fact that he's pro-big government and pro-nanny state (the kinder, gentler totalitarianism) are pertty damning. The fact that he wants to confiscate profits and raise taxes across the board, open the borders, nationalize the healthcare industry, and double capital gains taxes out of "fairness" (his words), these things are pretty huge indicators as well.

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Over the mountain, in between the ups and downs, I ran into Vorbis who doth quote:
Actually, it's upon you to prove that a group of scrawny indie-rockers are actually communist propagandists. Burden of proof lies on the affirmative, G.

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How much more does a band have to do to qualify as communist propagandists in your eyes?

Proof: They're named after an uprising that the lead singer describes as an EARLY communist uprising. Meloy is quoted as saying that he named the band after The Decemberist Revolt because he believed it was a proto-communist uprising, it was quoted in a magazine interview and cited in their Wikipedia article, but removed after the story on the obama rally broke.

Proof: They play the national anthem of a communist nation

Proof: Even their imagery contains Obvious communist cliche symbolsim

What the hell more do you need?

Maradon! fucked around with this message on 05-24-2008 at 04:14 PM.

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x--Aaron (the good one)O-('-'Q) :
I posted the soviet national anthem in the mp3 thread I must be a communist

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There's a slight difference between posting an mp3 of a communist anthem and opening your concerts with it on most occasions.

Incidentally, the interview wherein Meloy reveals that the band was named after a communist uprising.

The wikipedia article, with citation, pre-edit

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Maradon! had this to say about Reading Rainbow:
open the borders

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I didn't realize open borders are "communist." Maybe communism is just code for what you don't agree with?

Noxhil fucked around with this message on 05-24-2008 at 06:02 PM.

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Peanut butter ass Shaq Noxhil booooze lime pole over bench lick:
I didn't realize open borders are "communist." Maybe communism is just code for what you don't agree with?

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No, I don't agree with protectionist tariffs, dismantling our nuclear arsenal, or putting an end to american military superiority, but none of those things are communist.

Open borders are communist because communism is internationalist socialism, hence the slug line "Workers of the World Unite." Communists organize around class boundaries and view national boundaries as an obstacle.

The question of nationalism is what separates communism (international socialism) from fascism and nazism (national socialism).

Maradon! fucked around with this message on 05-24-2008 at 06:10 PM.

We are already suffering from a shortage of doctors and nurses in this country. If government-mandated healthcare takes over and those stalwart medical professionals end up making about as much as the kid who busses your table at Sizzler, watch the bottom really drop out.

Of course Congress will continue to have their own private healthcare setup. Top shelf and no expense spared. Can't have them standing in line with us plebes, they might see a sick person or something equally upsetting.

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Over the mountain, in between the ups and downs, I ran into Skaw who doth quote:
Yeah, let's never raise taxes so this country can stay in the hole. FIGHT COMMUNISM!

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Revenue increases when tax rates go down. Federal revenue increased when Bush cut taxes, he just spent the country's asshole bloody.

Look up the Laffer Curve.

Anyway, Obama doesn't want to raise taxes for revenue, he wants to raise them to make things "fair".

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Maradon! had this to say about Optimus Prime:
Revenue increases when tax rates go down. Federal revenue increased when Bush cut taxes, he just spent the country's asshole bloody.

Look up the Laffer Curve.

Anyway, Obama doesn't want to raise taxes for revenue, he wants to raise them to make things "fair".

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Bush may be the one who proposed and may have "spent" the tax money, but I have a feeling that Congress had a bit more to do with actually spending the money, seeing as their the ones with the purse.... and the checks, etc.

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x--RazorO-('-'Q) :
Bush may be the one who proposed and may have "spent" the tax money, but I have a feeling that Congress had a bit more to do with actually spending the money, seeing as their the ones with the purse.... and the checks, etc.

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That's true and it isn't. Congress ultimately has power of the purse, but Bush can make plans and requests (prescription drug program lol) and can veto spending as well.

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Maradon! thought about the meaning of life:
Revenue increases when tax rates go down. Federal revenue increased when Bush cut taxes, he just spent the country's asshole bloody.

Look up the Laffer Curve.

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Sweet, let's cut taxes to 1%, then we'd probably make 10 trillion a year to support our military escapades

Noxhil fucked around with this message on 05-24-2008 at 09:57 PM.

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Noxhil had this to say about Cuba:
Sweet, let's cut taxes to 1%, then we'd probably make 10 trillion a year to support our military escapades

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Look up the Laffer Curve.

"What good is virtual reality if you cannot maim people?" - Bas Rutten

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Noxhil had this to say about dark elf butts:
For fun look up the Neo-Laffer curve

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You mean one of the simplist economic models doesn't accuratly predict actual data? Policies regarding corporations are obviously going to have a large impact on how much revenue you are going to get.

The Neo-Laffer Curve is taking a simple constuct and applying it to a complex system, then being amazed when it doesn't match perfectly. I am not impressed.

1) In any discussion of economic theory, the number of theories postulated will equal or exceed the number of economists involved in the discussion.

and

2) God invented weathermen so economists wouldn't look so bad in comparison.

In contrast to Communists, the Libertarian Party chose their nominee today; Bob Barr got the nomination on the sixth ballot. Bob Barr is the co-author of the Defense of Marriage Act, and voted for the Patriot Act. Blah. I like his running mate much better.