Have you noticed that people are super sensitive about even the most courteous of correction on the stupid things they say or is it just me? I love it when people post political news stories and then freak the fudge out and delete you when you’re not on board because I don’t delete anyone ever so other peoples intolerance gives me the friend-cleansing I would otherwise be deprived of. The keywords though are “politely” and “disagree”, because such a response is justified if its in reply to you going overboard with the hate first.
Today I found this posted item on Facebook to be provocative and replied. You can’t see my replies here of course, because the fellow who posted them (Chris Slick) is a scared little girl who said some stupid things, got called on them, and then got embarrassed, so he bleached the record.
Luckily for you, dear reader, I have Chris’s replies saved and can easily reconstruct my own responses.
What I said that was “completely nuts” was that Romney has a stigma against him that will do damage off the bat and if he is to be a contender for 2012 he must combat his negative image more effectively than he did in 2008.
Super controversial, right? Chris replied:
Richard – the only person the Governor lost to was McCain. McCain will obviously not be in the race this time around.
Additionally, if you we were to follow your premise then Reagan and McCain would never have been GOP nominees. They both ran and lost before they came back the following cycle and won the nomination. So to answer your question – these are at least two reasons why I am so confident. Plus, as of now, Huck and Palin are his closest competitors. Both of them are easy to take out – they are literal fools in ever aspect of the word.
Chris misunderstood my observation that “Romney has image-problems” to mean “Romney can’t win because he lost a previous primary”. An understandable mistake, if you’re dyslexic and retarded.
I clarified by noting that if you take the pulse of prominent bloggers and pundits concerning Romney, you’ll find the dude has major problems with his political base. I even said that the charges are mostly smears (calling him liberal, unreliable, a flip-flopper, etc are all eye-rolling nonsense when you look at the meat behind the charges for instance). For some reason, this still wasn’t taken well and got this response:
CHRIS SLICK: Well, Richard, I would have to completely disagree with you on the Governor not being able to shake the criticisms you listed. He did so and he did it quite well. He would not have beat out the folks he did without shaking those criticisms. People can have their opinions but we can have our facts – and facts will carry the day in the end.
Terrible strategy because its not true at all. Facts don’t just win because they’re facts. Perception is everything and if you have a perception problem, you need to get those facts out there – not just sit back with confidence that the truth will carry you home.
This is important, which is obviously, why I’m posting it here now: because a lot of you think this wrong way and need to not be doing that. Especially since I like Romney a lot – I have no interest in lies about the dude being the prominent headlines.
I said that its a mistake to think Governor Romney combated those criticisms effectively by using “he lost, but ahead of other people” as evidence and that “having your facts” doesn’t equal a win unless you convey those facts articulately and often. I said that its entirely possible that I could end up supporting Romney in 2012, but that he would have to do a lot better at his weak points or I would have to jump ship.
CHRIS SLICK: Richard – you completely missed what I said. I am not talking about facts in the purest sense of the word. I was speaking about past history. Additionally, you should probably just jump ship now because you are a fair weather friend. You know, the kind no one likes.
Please never do this. Unless you’re trolling and trying to make the candidate you’re fake-supporting, Stephen Colbert style, look like a buffoon with only buffoonish supporters, never ever say something like “If you think the person I’m supporting has an unfair PR disadvantage then don’t support the person i’m supporting”.
I asked how I missed what he said about facts/history and how my response didn’t effectively reply to that point. “Additionally”, I said that its creepy to “make friends” with a politician because they’re not our friends, they’re our employees. You can’t be both without doing a crap job at one or both of those titles. Then I asked if he wrote Romneys name in on the 2008 ballot since that appears to be what he was saying with his whole “stick with your guy, even if he loses and is not a candidate anymore” policy — made especially weird given the fact that Governor Romney dropped out of the race for president at a time when many thought he could still pull the Republican nomination off, given the right circumstances – yet Romney halted and endorsed McCain “for the good of the country” and the party. so. erm. Romney was being a “fair weather friend; the kind no one likes” to himself?…
CHRIS SLICK: Richard, you do not know me – you obviously have some personal issues about what you believe and why you believe it that you need to deal with. I hope you find a good conservative to support in 2012. Best of luck.
I asked why he’s turning a political candidate strategy topic into a personal one and why, if he supports Governor Romney for president in 2012, does he keep encouraging me not to support Romney.
CHRIS SLICK: Richard – your comments are getting deleted – your completely nuts.
I asked what was so alarming about my comments that caused him to whitewash the record. I resisted temptation and did not mention his use of the wrong “your” the second time. I did ask though if he deleted his own comments as well as mine because he was conceding that what he said in them was, in hindsight, not exactly intelligent. He replied calmly and pleasantly, without resorting to personal attacks and crybaby ranting.
Just kidding:
CHRIS SLICK: Richard – what the hell is your problem? making accusations etc. I don’t have time for this shit. I deleted my comments because without your delusional thoughts processes it would not make sense for them to be here. Nor would it make sense for me to address a “Richard” when I have deleted your comments. Now, go take your medicine, smoke some crack, and try to keep your ADD under control.
Ryan – want to talk about splitting the nutty vote? Looks no further…”
I typed this response, again calmly explaining my words and his in an attempt to clarify what the dudes deal was or what he was even getting at:
Why are you asking what my problem is when I’ve stated each problem clearly and concisely? You said you deleted my comments and I asked why. That’s not an accusation, that’s repeating the fact that you had just told to me.
This is the 4th time I’ve asked what I’m allegedly “delusional” about (should i be asking “what the hell is your problem? making accusations etc.”? or is that right reserved only for you?). Thanks at least for answering why you deleted YOUR comments. so now: why did you delete MINE? what was so crack-user delusional about me saying that I hope Romney combats his critics more effectively?
You also never answered my question of whether you wrote Romneys name in on the ballot in 08. I asked since you attacked me and suggested that I not support Romney in 2012 if I planned to vote for someone else (possibly the Republican nominee) in the event Romney does not become a candidate.
I considered as an exit question: “why are you so personally offended by questions that ask for clarity on the positions you publicly espouse?” but it didn’t matter because Chrissy had deleted and blocked me on Facebook after delivering his last reply calling me a nutty delusional crack-addict with ADD for asking questions, so that reply could not be sent.
Well… I guess he sure told me.
Brb. Crack to smoke.
