[Rhodes22-list] To DAVE about Virginia and in reply

[Brad Haslett]

Philip,

Here is the definition of 'moonbat'.

Brad


*Moonbat* is a political
epithet<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_epithets>popularized
in 2002 by Perry
de Havilland<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Perry_de_Havilland&action=edit>of
Samizdata <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samizdata>, a
libertarian<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian>
weblog <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weblog>. Contrary to some speculation,
de Havilland has stated it was not originally a play on the last name of George
Monbiot <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Monbiot>, a columnist for *The
Guardian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian>*, regardless of the
fact he and Mr. Monbiot have appeared on the BBC together expressing
politically opposed views. The term was originally rendered as 'Barking
Moonbat', suggesting that certain issues seem to trigger a reflexive
response from some people much like wolves howl at the moon (i.e. the term
evokes the traditional association between the moon and
insanity<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunacy>).
It now enjoys great currency in the
conservative<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative>and libertarian
blogosphere <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere> as a label for
certain individuals of the American radical
Left<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-wing_politics>,
often used to criticize their opposition to the Iraq War. Though it may be
more broadly applied by certain people, liberals and Democrats who disagree
with the Bush administration<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bush_administration>'s
approach to the War on Terror
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Terror>are typically not singled
out as moonbats; the term is generally used
against people that the aforementioned bloggers accuse of supporting or
sympathizing with the U.S.'s enemies. "Moonbat" similar to the epithet
Idiotarian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiotarian> and like that term can
also be applied to people anywhere on the political spectrum (for example
both terms have been used to describe US conservative Pat
Buchanan<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Buchanan>
).

According to de Havilland, a moonbat is "someone on the extreme edge of
whatever their -ism happens to be". Adriana
Cronin<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adriana_Cronin&action=edit>defines
the term as "someone who sacrifices sanity for the sake of
consistency". This term has long been used to describe protesters on the
political Left <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left>, but was originally
coined to also describe commentators on the political
Right<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-wing_politics>as well as
certain libertarians.

Moonbat has frequently been used to refer to those who believe certain
conspiracy
theories <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspiracy_theories>. Examples
include those who believe that elements in the US government orchestrated
the terrorist attacks of 9/11 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11> or that
these were executed under the direction of
Israel<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel>
.

Lately the term has come into wider use appearing in political cartoons,
political forums, and blogs <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog>, oftentimes
as "moonbat crazy".



On 7/5/06, 3drecon <3drecon at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Dave,
>
> I know where Vienna is, I used to moon-light at the Tyson's Loewes
> Cineplex as the head projectionist before I was recalled to active
> duty.  Ft. Belvoir not only provides a cheaper alternative, though probably
> not as nice as a private marina, it is  relatively close.
>
> I am sure when you say Republicans out-spent the Democrats you are
> adjusting dollars for inflation?  Do you also include the  Social Security
> Administration and all its siblings and offspring (Medicare, WIC, Medicaid
> (though a state program, it is Federally Funded), Department of Education,
> "The Great Society" programs, all of which, under Democrat Rule became
> untouchable (third rail) entitlements?  Also during most of those
> Republican" administrations, the Democrats had control of the House and
> Senate, and in many cases, a veto-proof majority, prior to 1994, and all
> spending bills originate in the House.  The Republicans have held only a
> thin majority since 1994.  We are also at war now.  It is a-symetrical, but
> it is war non-the-less.  If you don't think so, it will take another attack
> to prove it.
>
> I don't agree with everything the Republicans do, and I don't like the way
> they have gone hog-wild spending on the social programs.  I don't agree with
> subsidies to farmers, milk, or others.  I also think we need to repeal the
> 17th amendment(before we start amending the Constitution for flag burning
> and other non-sense).  I don't think Congressmen and Senators should receive
> retirement benefits after office either (see the Federalist and
> anti-Federalist papers).
>
> I don't know what a moon-bat is.
>
> I think the Democrats are corrupt from too many years of power.  They feel
> entitled to it.  Sane voices like Joe Lieberman are locked out and loonies
> like Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, Schumer et al are lauched to the head of the
> party.  Until they come up with a plan, other than gun control, higher taxes
> and more government "solutions", they will continue to lose elections, and
> they have to stop pandering to the loonie left.  The "I hate Bush more than
> you" platform have not won them any elections yet and won't in the future
> (except in places like NYC, DC and LA).
>
> Glad you got to sail.  I can hardly wait.
>
> Philip
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of DCLewis1 at aol.com
> Sent: Monday, July 03, 2006 6:30 PM
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] To DAVE about Virginia and in reply
>
>
>
> Philip,
>
> Thanks for your response, it's always good to hear from a
> fellow  Virginian.
>
> Sorry to take so long to respond to you, but we've been off sailing - as
> opposed to posting to this board.  No offense meant, but sailing
> is  better.
>
> Actually, it was interesting, the powerboat in the slip next to us had
> turtled and sank in it's slip - I presume because of the humongous rains
> we've
> had.  Our R22 was just sitting there with no problems.  It's a
> good  product, you
> 're going to enjoy your boat when you get it.
>
> We're kind of close to you.  We live in Vienna, which is smack  adjacent
> to
> Tysons Corner.  You may know where that is.
>
> Deale is due east of Washington.  Get on the outer loop going north,  get
> off
> onto Rt4 east, go about 11 miles east to the Bristol/Deale exit from  Rt4,
> the exit puts you on Rt 258, which takes you to Deale Md, the hot spot
> of  the
> eastern shore.  There may be 10 buildings in all of Deale,  they  do have
> a
> post office and fire dept, however (and they are 2 of the 10).   It's
> really a
> very nice part of the world.  It takes just about an hour to  get to Deale
> from
> Vienna - I don't know about Woodbridge, you have to deal with  I95, and
> that'
> s tough.
>
> There are a number of marinas on the eastern shore, as you might  imagine.
> If you strike out with the Belvoir marina and other local marinas  in the
> Washington area, I commend the Md eastern shore to you.  There's a  lot of
> room to
> sail on the Chesapeake.  But I'm sure any private marina is  going to cost
> more than Belvoir.
>
> Regarding your post that said you see Democrats as relying on
> big  government
> and growing it - I suggest you've been listening to too much talk  radio.
> Look at the facts.  Over the past 100+ years the Democrats  have increased
> the
> national debt by $2.1B, the Republicans, through 2004 had  increased it by
> $5.35B (with more since 2004).  Trick question - who spent  for the bigger
> government?  Also, you might note that the $2.1B the Dems  are charged
> with include
> all the costs for WWII and the Great Depression, and  WWI.  The really big
> spenders are---- the Republicans.  Funny how you  never hear that on talk
> radio.
> To get the data for the above go to  ustreas.gov, click on "offices" and
> then
> click on "debt statistics", they don't  break it down by party or
> president
> instead it's there by fiscal year, you have  to make the party/president
> association - and the surprising fact is, that you  never heard about this
> from
> Rush Limbaugh, the Republicans have grossly  outspent the Democrats.
>
> Regarding your concerns about agricultural subsidies, I hope
> you've  followed
> the series of article reporting and analyzing the farm subsidy
> program  that
> appeared in this past weeks Washington Post.  You don't even have to  be a
> farmer to get a subsidy, just buying a house that was built on land
> a  farmer
> once owned is enough.  The interesting thing to me was that  the single
> farm
> subsidy program that consumes about 1/2 the Dept of  Agricultures budget
> is a
> consequence of Ronald Reagan's "Freedom To Farm" act -  no, not the
> Democrats and
> not FDR.  I don't doubt that FDR had a program  long-long ago, but your
> Republican friends have vastly "improved" on that -  which frankly, is one
> reason
> many/most of the "red" states are farm  states.
>
> As to your characterization of many Democrats as moon-bats, I share that
> opinion.  There are many times that I feel the Democratic Party could
> use  some
> adult supervision; however, the numbers show that at their very worst
> they  are
> much more responsible than the "new conservative Republicans", which by
> itself is a phrase laden with oxymorons.  Remember, it was VP Cheney
> that  said "
> taxes don't matter", and we've got the debts to prove it.
>
> Dave
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