News What's Wrong with Democratic activists?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rev Prez
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AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the perceived inconsistency in the legal system's treatment of cases involving life and death decisions, particularly contrasting the de novo hearings offered to murderers with the lack of similar options for Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state. Participants express skepticism about the motivations behind political actions, suggesting that political calculations overshadow genuine concern for individuals like Schiavo. Polling data is referenced to illustrate public opinion on the Schiavo case and broader issues like abortion, revealing a complex landscape where many Americans support restrictions on abortion while also favoring the right to die in specific circumstances. The conversation critiques both Democratic and Republican strategies, highlighting a perceived failure of the left to effectively advocate for vulnerable populations and questioning the integrity of political activism. The thread also touches on the role of government intervention in personal matters and the public's fluctuating approval ratings for political leaders involved in the Schiavo case, suggesting a disconnect between political actions and public sentiment.
  • #51
loseyourname said:
Those percentages add up to 121. How do you interpret that?
russ_watters said:
Do you have a link? That would help clarify...
Smurf said:
How do these numbers work? Is the 42% inside the 61%? Is the total 121%?
Since that data came from a third-party site that was referring to a Gallop Poll, I decided to look for the data directly from Gallop. The following information has been obtained with a 30-day trial (I think it is a $95/year subscription otherwise), so if you can’t access entire information via links--sorry.

2005 Mar 21-23: Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?

Legal under any circumstances - 23%
Legal only under certain circumstances - 55%
Illegal in all circumstances - 20%
No opinion - 2%

Now that's better--I just didn't want to provide stats like 2/3 of Americans support Roe v Wade, because I feel it is important to see the breakdown. Yes, 78% believe abortion should be legal, however what percent of the 55% who believe it should be legal only under certain circumstances (rape, incest, etc.) are pro-life along with the 20% who believe it should be illegal in all circumstances (including when the woman's life is at risk)?

And while I was in the Gallop site I gathered this information as well, which helps separate the variables affecting approval ratings over the same short period (though higher gas prices was not a category in this section):

Presidential Ratings - Issues Approval
All from 2005 Apr 1-2

The Terri Schiavo Case
Approve - 34%
Disapprove - 53%
No opinion - 13%

Social Security
Approve - 35%
Disapprove - 57%
No opinion - 8%

The Economy
Approve - 41%
Disapprove - 55%
No opinion - 4%

In another section with regard to gas prices specifically - "The poll, conducted April 1-2, finds that 58% of Americans have experienced hardship, the first time in the past six years that a majority has expressed this view."

April 7, 2005
Congress Gets Thumbs Down for Stepping Into Schiavo Case http://www.gallup.com/poll/content/default.aspx?ci=15541
Congress went to extraordinary measures to pass legislation on March 21 that allowed Terri Schiavo's parents to take their case for keeping her alive to a federal district court. Although 4 in 10 Americans agree with the parents and believe Schiavo's feeding tube should have been reinserted, only 20% of Americans agree with Congress' intervention in the case.
There are graphs but I would have to link these somehow. But once again, I believe opinions about the Schiavo case is separate from other right-to-life issues, such as abortion. loseyourname--This is why I don't feel polls are the "end all" for information either, though you do a great job interpreting such data if I might say.
 
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  • #52
kat said:
How many more must die before Kofi quits?

I've been wondering where the "Real" left is myself...
I think they've been usurped by the fanatical self interest groups...
While going through the thread I saw this post again, and had meant to post a reply to it. I agree that such issues are neglected, and it would seem the left would be more likely to champion such causes. IMO it's more a matter of Americans being geocentric and uninformed in general, which the media does not help. If these people do tune into the news, apparently they want to hear about celebrity trials, etc. It truly is a shame.
 
  • #53
Rev Prez said:
The world was a harsh place back then. I've no interest in a pissing contest over whose ancestors suffered worse, especially when it involves someone sticking up for a system that murders an innocent woman in this lifetime.

Rev Prez

Wow. I don't know what to say to you. I may have never encountered a more insensitive comment on an internet forum. You're defending a man that effectively killed off several thousand innocent people, men, women, and children, over some land in Georgia, while getting all righteous over the removal of a feeding tube for an unconscious non-person, a body with no frontal cortex.

Shame on you, Rev.

Edit: Congratulations, buddy. You just became the first person to ever go on my ignore list. Back to the relatively civil and respectful forum we had a couple weeks ago. Continue to respond if you feel the need.
 
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  • #54
loseyourname said:
Wow. I don't know what to say to you. I may have never encountered a more insensitive comment on an internet forum. You're defending a man that effectively killed off several thousand innocent people, men, women, and children, over some land in Georgia, while getting all righteous over the removal of a feeding tube for an unconscious non-person, a body with no frontal cortex.
Insensitive is not the word. "[holding] a false belief strongly... in spite of invalidating evidence..."

There is a severe disconnect there. A blatant disregard for reality.
 
  • #55
loseyourname said:
Wow. I don't know what to say to you.

I don't know. I'm too busy laughing up one mods inability to control himself.

Rev Prez
 
  • #56
russ_watters said:
Insensitive is not the word. "[holding] a false belief strongly... in spite of invalidating evidence..."

There is a severe disconnect there. A blatant disregard for reality.
Definitely. Unfortunately this is not the thinking of just one person--but hopefully only a fringe minority.
 

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