Comments on: No Difference? http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252 Ian Lance Taylor Wed, 7 Jan 2009 02:47:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on No Difference? by: Ian Lance Taylor http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14889 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:29:11 +0000 http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14889 While it's a truism that one can't trust politicians, surprisingly often they do at least try to do what they say. I recall that in 2000 many people said there was no difference between Gore and Bush—hence the strong support for Nader. However, they did in fact say that they would do different things, and in fact, before his administration was completely sidetracked by 9/11, Bush pretty much did what he said he was going to do. Not that that will convince anybody who isn't prepared to believe it. While it’s a truism that one can’t trust politicians, surprisingly often they do at least try to do what they say. I recall that in 2000 many people said there was no difference between Gore and Bush—hence the strong support for Nader. However, they did in fact say that they would do different things, and in fact, before his administration was completely sidetracked by 9/11, Bush pretty much did what he said he was going to do. Not that that will convince anybody who isn’t prepared to believe it.

]]> Comment on No Difference? by: rskrishnan http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14886 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:03:27 +0000 http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14886 From talking to a few late-teens and a couple of mid-twenties in my neighbourhood - the general response is "oh it really means nothing". The general theme seems to be "can't trust politicans to do what they say, so why bother with what they say" - which is a slight downer to say the least. From talking to a few late-teens and a couple of mid-twenties in my neighbourhood - the general response is “oh it really means nothing”. The general theme seems to be “can’t trust politicans to do what they say, so why bother with what they say” - which is a slight downer to say the least.

]]> Comment on No Difference? by: Ian Lance Taylor http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14883 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:28:36 +0000 http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14883 fche: I do still dream of an honest debate on the issues between U.S. politicians. I don't know why this is an unattainable dream. Perhaps surprisingly, some of the best debates are on abortion: the issues are clearcut, easy to understand, and many politicians have thought about them in detail. ncm: They are both unquestionably politicians, but nevertheless there is a clear difference between their positions. Concluding that there is no difference between them seems very strange to me. fche: I do still dream of an honest debate on the issues between U.S. politicians. I don’t know why this is an unattainable dream. Perhaps surprisingly, some of the best debates are on abortion: the issues are clearcut, easy to understand, and many politicians have thought about them in detail.

ncm: They are both unquestionably politicians, but nevertheless there is a clear difference between their positions. Concluding that there is no difference between them seems very strange to me.

]]> Comment on No Difference? by: ncm http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14878 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:56:36 +0000 http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14878 Probably the "young people" who didn't see much difference saw them both as mouthing practiced windbaggery, each according to his or her capacity. It's hard to disagree. Biden certainly loves to hear himself talk, and Palin loves the limelight. Probably the “young people” who didn’t see much difference saw them both as mouthing practiced windbaggery, each according to his or her capacity. It’s hard to disagree. Biden certainly loves to hear himself talk, and Palin loves the limelight.

]]> Comment on No Difference? by: fche http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14875 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:49:51 +0000 http://www.airs.com/blog/archives/252#comment-14875 > It was reasonably interesting To my surprise, I could not sit through it. The Canadian federal leaders' election debate was on at the same time and was much more entertaining and even substantial. > I was hoping that Sarah Palin would address the obvious impossibility I guess it's obvious enough not to warrant a slice of that scarce air time. > It was reasonably interesting

To my surprise, I could not sit through it. The Canadian federal leaders’ election debate was on at the same time and was much more entertaining and even substantial.

> I was hoping that Sarah Palin would address the obvious impossibility

I guess it’s obvious enough not to warrant a slice of that scarce air time.

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