DISQUS

jozay · 2 years ago

If I wanted political commentary, I wouldn't be at Mashable. Just the facts, please.

Art Lindsey III · 2 years ago

Well, nobody ever accused democrats or liberals of being all that bright, you know. It's that whole "outcome based education" thing, methinks. This is going to be fantastic. The Dems have created another outlet for conservative viewpoints, and hopefully it will lead to all the hippies out there seeing the error of their ways. I'm all for actually educating America while Obama wastes time trying to figure out what color he is. Keep an eye out for skyrocketing soap sales, at the very least.

Look for the GOP to re-assume control in '08.

And no....it isn't going to be Ron Paul, you freaks, no matter how many times you post "Ron Paul '08!" in a forum. Go get jobs.

kevin · 2 years ago

"Bright"? Coming from someone who uses the word, "methinks"?

centrex · 2 years ago

rofl, yeah it's "tha evil libruls" that are not bright. It's not like conservatives are idiot inbreeders who drink bud light and speek in southern draws.

nah, that's the "libruls"

Tim · 2 years ago

This isn't meant to bait you, but are you really under the impression that Republicans are going to do well in '08? It's also not intended to be a comment saying Democrats are better than Republicans, butthere isn't a single reputable pollster or political commentator (conservative or liberal) that doesn't currently believe that '08 is likely to be worse for Republicans than '06. I mean, bending reality is a great concept but you don't think you can really do it, do you?

Mark \"Rizzn\" Hopkins · 2 years ago

Tim: Actually, yeah. Most people who read the polls (not just of conservative persuasion) are of the opinion that the Republicans are doing well this cycle.

http://www.memeorandum.com/071127/p164#a071127p164

Just about anyone on the Republican side polls better than just about anyone on the Democrat side. Even Huckabee and Ron Paul

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins · 2 years ago

@advicenetwork: While you're right in general, I think it's clear that the president actually flip-flops a bit too much. There have been immeasurable promises the President has put forth that he later backed away from, as they weren't as important as the war on terror.

The problem of the Democrats isn't that they change their mind, it is that they attempt to argue that they don't change their mind and message, when they plainly do.

If they were to simply say "hey, I changed my mind due to [some compelling reason]," I think it would diffuse the whole situation.

Unfortunately, they play directly into the Republican strategy when they attempt to fight fire with fire, as with FlipperTV.

Tim · 2 years ago

So far, I can only think of two specific instances where video of a candidate from 06 that could pretty clearly be linked to the result of an election. Conrad Burns and his firefighter comments. George Allen and his macacca comments.

I'm gonna go with the fact that video will make candidates more accountable for what they say, and hope that the result is a place where all video footage regardless of party or candidate is available. My guess is that regardless of what side of the political aisle you sit on, you are sick of politicians just saying whatever they want depending on the audience they are in front of.

B · 2 years ago

Since when did Mashable turn into some Ann Coulter zelot site?

I don't care if you are republican, a democrat, libertarian, etc but it pathetic to see just plain nonsense on this site.

Instead of issues, you throw out cheapshots like saying "B. Hussian Obama"...oooh his middle name is Hussian, he must be bad, be scared!

You say republicans don't flip flop?!

Mitt Romney changed all his positions on social issues just before starting to run for president.

Bush said he would have a humble foreign policy and not get into nation building.

The republican party used to be associated with fiscal conservatism, yet 6 years of Bush and a republican congress led to more non millitary spending than any other time in history. Where was Bush's veto pen?

You have a few deficit hawks remaining, McCain, Tom Colburn (Sen Oklahoma) but thats about it.

Go Ron Paul & Barack Obama 2008

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins · 2 years ago

Interesting how those that have been sending hate mail and commenting here on this piece since it's been posted have all seized upon a few bits of the piece and mis-interpreted or just plain skipped over the facts.

In the comment just above you, @B, I mentioned Bush's several flip-flops. I also *never* stated that Republicans were free of flip-flopping. I said it was rare. It is. Certainly more rare that Obama's or Hilary's oft-documented recent flip-flops.

Everything in my post is factually correct. Certainly, the thrust of my post's analysis is spot on, as well: This is a dumb idea from the DNC, sure to have major blow-back.

Tim · 2 years ago

Are you counting the flip flopping on sexuality?

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmid · 2 years ago

Complaining about "nonsense" on this site? This site drones on and on about silly social networks. This whole place is ROOTED in nonsense!

PB · 2 years ago

Someone at Mashable please remove this person's permission to post. We are definitely not faithful readers of Mashable becuase of the biased political posts. Just give us the straight dope with no hidden agendas!

N-oid · 2 years ago

Interesting how those that have been sending hate mail and commenting here on this piece since it's been posted have all seized upon a few bits of the piece and mis-interpreted or just plain skipped over the facts.

Hmm... ok... Interesting how you failed to respond to the "Hussein" bit (although the commenter sadly failed to spell it correctly). And those "few bits" in the piece are nevertheless part of the piece, and if you're not prepared to defend them, why include them in the first place? Are you capable of self-editing? Apparently not.

"Only in rare cases have the Republicans contradicted themselves"??? Let us see your statistical analysis. I'll grant that Hillary flip-flops like a fish out of water, but Romney is at least as bad from what I've seen. If you're going to make a claim, prove it. You're throwing out unsubstantiated accusations as fact and failing to provide any evidence. How incredibly erudite of you. Actually, have you considered running for President? I think you'd fit right in...

The Democrats won't be hurting themselves here... until the Republicans get the same idea. When both parties have access to an encyclopedic database of everything their opponents have said... well, I think America may benefit a great deal. That is, if we actually care when Presidents lie to us. Which we obviously don't, considering that the last four have patently* lied to all of us, and no one seems to give a damn about it.

*Reagan Re: Iran/Contra - "I don't recall..."
*HW Re: Taxes - "Read my lips"
*Clinton Re: Cigars and BJs - "I did not have..."
*Bush Re: Iraq - There are too many here to pick just one...

Scott Bannon · 2 years ago

What's with the political op-ed on Mashable? I'd expect covering the social tech/networking details of the story, but publishing personal slants and/or commentary reflects poorly on both the venue and Hopkins himself.

carlo · 2 years ago

I agree, this seems to be a pattern for "Rizzn". Can we stop this already. I don't want to hear personal views like this from either side. Just the facts no Op-Ed about things you don't specialize in.

Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins · 2 years ago

@N-Noid: Is B. Hussein Obama not his name? If this is incorrect, I'll change it.

With respect to other Republican *candidates*, there has been much less flip-flopping on the issues than on the Democrat side. When a candidate changes his position over a 10 year period as opposed to a 4 minute period, you can hardly call these two things the same.

@PB: I didn't think my agenda was all that hidden, to be truthful. I've been very open and honest about my political positions since I've begun my tenure here at Mashable.

Desspec · 2 years ago

"@N-Noid: Is B. Hussein Obama not his name? If this is incorrect, I'll change it."

Ohhhh, okay. See, pretty much everyone else calls him by his first and last name, Barack Obama. In fact, it's customary to refer to others by their first name. It's actually kind of odd to assume to call someone by their middle name unless they request it.

That being so, it might seem like you're trying to emphasize the "Hussein" part of his name and draw a subconscious connection between the name of the young Democratic Senator and the name of one of the most reviled, hated, widely known enemies of America. So some might consider it a cheap shot from a partisan hack.

But that's not what you were doing. You're an analyst. You're above that.

Right?

E.T.Cook · 2 years ago

@Mark

Regardless of your political affiliations, its nice to get the other side of things for once. There are so many democratic blowhards, whether I agree with you or not is immaterial, thank God there is another opinion.

@B
And Ann Coulter zealotry site? A bit of a sensationalist don't you think? And please learn how to spell.

Ben Regenspan · 2 years ago

"Meanwhile, Democrats now have an immense time-sink, as they scour and are exposed to literally days worth of Republican propaganda.

So Republicans, next time you see a Democrat, thank them for the great resource."

This conclusion comes across as somewhat forced. By your own account, the goal of the initiative is to efficiently distribute opposition research (and the task of disseminating it) across a network of volunteers, bloggers, etc. You're severely mistaken if you think that this is an "immense time-sink" relative to the amount of time spent on oppo research and media relations already. And, with what seems like virtually every Republican presidential candidate flip-flopping entirely on immigration, a video of Senator Clinton expressing (in response to a gotcha question) that she is neither for or against driver's licenses for illegal immigrants is poor evidence of how this could backfire on Democrats.

Even if Clinton's response *were* a flip-flop, the idea here is that the standard narrative *already* portrays Dems as flip-floppers, so there's little to lose in fighting back.

Will · 2 years ago

Mark,

You must be purposefully ignoring the issue re: Obama's name. *Obviously* B. Hussein Obama is one way of writing his name. So is Barack Obama, as all reputable news sources do.

So given a couple different options, why did you choose to use just an initial for his first name, but include his entire middle name? Because the name Hussein reminds people (even if sub-consciously) of Sadam Hussein. If not Sadam himself, it at least carries connotations of Islam and the middle east.
And I didn't realize that "Pretty Boy" is John Edwards' official nickname...oh wait, it's not? You mean it's another editorialization?

Personally, I think that these cheap shots are petty and unprofessional.

Mark, you are obviously a talented writer. You are entitled to your opinions, political and otherwise, but please, please keep the editorializations out of news posts.

Andrew · 2 years ago

This will be the post that gets me to mashup Mashable. Look for the Mashable sans Mark Hopkins Pipe on Yahoo! shortly!

E.T.Cook · 2 years ago

I have been reading blogs too long to actually believe any of you that state you will unsubscribe, or create a "san Mark Hopkins" pipe.

The same people bitching here...will be bitching 15 posts down the road. Why make idle threats? You guys know you like to bitch and disagree ;)

Andrew · 2 years ago

Is that so? You on Yahoo Pipes? I'll share it with you. This is the second Republican-friendly post in as many weeks. And ignorantly so. I'll stick with Mashable for tech news. If I want to hear about "Pretty Boys," I'll go to Fox News.

Kyle · 2 years ago

Mark, what's going on at Mashable lately?

You guys used to post items and offer some decent analysis, but lately it seems like it's just reposting stuff you're read somewhere else and not even looking at the original sources. *cough*Stan*cough*

And, like this post, there's detectable traces of bitterness. Is something up?

BrianR · 2 years ago

"This will end up back-firing on the Democrats, in the long run. First of all, only in rare cases have the presidential Republican candidates contradicted themselves, and never three times in a matter of minutes, like Senator Clinton has, for example. Beyond the politics and behavioral studies of various political candidates, the value of providing hours of raw footage of Republican candidates has far more inherent value to Republican supporters than Democrats. Republican conservative online video producers and bloggers, for instance, now have a wealth of source material to pepper their productions with."

You could not be more correct! great commentary!

reechard · 2 years ago

Dear Mr. Hopkins

I was enjoying Mashable's feed until I ran into a few of your precious little political rants.

Since there are plenty of places for disappointed republicans to troll around, I suggest you go there and do your damage.

I have suggested same to your boss.

Wishing you what you deserve...

Richard

P.S. Your infatuation with Helen Thomas is sweet but inappropriate.

B · 2 years ago

So Clinton gave a complex answer to a complex question and you compare that to Romney's changing position on major issues, rights for gays, abortion, immigration, just before running for president?

While on the surface giving driver licenses to illegal immigrants seems not the way to go, if you look at the issue you realize that they are here if we like it or not, and they drive, so one might rather have them licensed so they have to take a test and thus be at least some what safer drivers.

So until the federal gov't does something about illegal immigration state gov'ts have to deal with
safety issues of driving. Now one can disagree with giving licenses but it clearly is a complex issue.

of course you don't want to talk about issues, you want to take cheap shots. There are true conservative/republicans out there who want to move the country forward, you are not one of them. Where is Barry Goldwater when you need him?

Mark \ · 2 years ago

Clinton's answer was not complex. It was convoluted.

Romney's position changed over the course of the better part of a decade, and throughout the campaign has been fairly consistent.

I'm not here to debate illegal immigration with you. I'm actually on your side of the debate on that one. As I'm married into a hispanic family and live in Texas, I'm likely in a much better position to comment intelligently than others.

Speaking to consistency, honesty, and strategy of the parties (which I was in the above article), the Republicans have the Democrats beat hands down. I'm sorry if you're unwilling to face that, but its the sad, sorry truth.

CCNA Discovery · 2 years ago

Thanks for the linkage.

Andy Rosillo · 2 years ago

If Mashable allows posts with hidden political comments and agendas such as these, I would not be surprised to see a DIGG like revolt by fellow Mashable users.


Andy

Mark \ · 2 years ago

Again, I don't see my agenda as "hidden" so much as "out in the open."

It's called analysis.

Kyle · 2 years ago

Mark, it's not so much your analysis that seems to have pissed people off, it's your attitude. If you treated the players (both politicians and readers) with more respect, I suspect you would have fewer negative comments. People generally don't mind if you disagree with them, it's the name-calling they don't like.

ME · 2 years ago

"only in rare cases have the presidential Republican candidates contradicted themselves"

Oh please... you'd have to be a dittohead to think that.

What's with the partisan posting here? mashable isn't a partisan site, why let this sort of drivel be posted here?

B · 2 years ago

Kyle, you are right, it is not just analysis (though it is flawed) it is the Ann Coulterism attitude that is gratting.

Basically don't be a dick!

hans · 2 years ago

From Rizzn's wikipedia Entry:

"In 2005 he made official his libertarian affiliations by going to work for the candidate for Texas Legislature T. Evan Fisher as his campaign manager."


You have a right to do and say what you want. But you won't be doing it in my inbox.

Dustin · 2 years ago

Excellent comment, I agree a hundred percent. I am amazed that anybody even thinks there's a big difference between Republicans and Democrats anymore. Each party has unique members, but by and large, without donkeys and elephants, or R's and D's, or Red and Blue states, nobody would even know the difference between the two anymore.

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Sorry my son wanted to type something. I think it means "Screw you Fox News!" I'm just guessing though.