The World’s Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

Calling All Wonks and Wonkettes

The generic "Politics" for this category of posting leaves me wondering, how many atheists and non-theists, freethinkers and agnostics belonging to A|N consider themselves a wonk. (I used "Wonkette" facetiously and with reference to the dot com of a political blogger.) If by now you still do not know what a wonk is, I recommend going back to your own planet and consulting its library. Now, I only ask because I am actually curious about a matter. Can anyone tell me how many vice-presidential candidates, whose ticket lost an election, actually went on to become president themselves when they ran at the top of the ticket?

I am only curious because Paul Ryan appeared on a morning political talk show and prove anew that we are about to see The Second Coming of the Purple Better One. As I recall, that was the late William S. Burroughs' term for all politicians, for whom he had nothing but vitriolic disdain. He likened them to a certain ape that has a, you know, purple..... Since they are all alike in their motive for running in the first place (to get rich, automatically eschewing altruism, casting it aside at the altar of Gold), altruism and profit being mutually exclusive.

Somehow, I simply cannot see Ryan in the White House. No woman in her right mind would vote for him. His sexist, Catholic ideas about women -- he supports state brainwashing of abortion patients in Christian dogmatic practices that should horrify everyone but the Stepford bitches who actually think a woman's place is to be her husband's "help mate." Then, there is his threat to Social Security and Medicare. Finally, there is his perennially smiling, perennially smug face. When I die and go to hell Ryan will be there, pitchfork and tail.

2 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on February 17, 2013 at 9:18am

The "Purple Better One" ... you mean Barney the Dinosaur?

The GOP presidential ticket in the election just past consisted of a man who barely wanted to be president and a man who had no business being either vice-president OR president. I suppose that, if the GOP can manage to retreat from its far-right excursions, that Paul Ryan MIGHT be a touch more acceptable to voters, but there would remain the matter of his previous speech and positions from the 2012 election. Offhand, I'd say the media won't let him or the voters forget that, and disavowals in favor of a new, bluer Paul Ryan are not likely to wash too well.

You suppose Romney could use some help over at Marriott?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on February 17, 2013 at 4:59pm

"You suppose Romney could use some help over at Marriott?" Yes, he constantly complains that handing out towels in the men's room is only fit for a black person or Hispanic. He also does not like making $7.50 an hour and wants a higher minimum wage. And he grumbles about the tips being miniscule now that eight years of George W. Bush have almost destroyed the economy, put millions out of work, and brought us to the brink of bankruptcy and/or a Second Great Depression. He confides: "If that rich ignoramus from Midland, Texas, hadn't fucked everything up during his two terms, the voters wouldn't blame me. I coulda been somebody. I coulda been a contendah." You might say Mittens is embarrassed at ending up in the Marriott men's room, but that's about the best he could get since every potential employer said "overqualified."

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Pat on February 17, 2013 at 9:55am

If there is a hell, I seriously doubt Ryan will be in it. I think Satan has better taste, with regard to his social calendar, than to extend an invitation to him.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on February 17, 2013 at 11:12am

Pat is correct - Ryan would just be terrible and like you said James "No woman in her right mind would vote for him. His sexist, Catholic ideas about women -- he supports state brainwashing of abortion patients in Christian dogmatic practices that should horrify everyone but the Stepford bitches who actually think a woman's place is to be her husband's 'help mate.'"

I would never vote for that.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on February 17, 2013 at 1:32pm

Thanks for quoting the most awkward sentence. Funny, I had you lusting to be a Stepford Woman. ;-)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by booklover on February 17, 2013 at 5:25pm

Exactly Steph!!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on February 17, 2013 at 4:27pm

The people that go to hell are the ones that actually want to go. Humorously posited by George B. Shaw in the 3rd act of Man and Superman - Don Juan in Hell.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on February 17, 2013 at 5:03pm

Besides, we get to meet Voltaire, Hemingway, Mark Twain, Einstein, among many, many others. All you get up there are the Jerry Falwells.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by booklover on February 17, 2013 at 5:26pm

I'm with you James!~ Melinda

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on February 17, 2013 at 6:22pm

James - yes - exactly

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SteveInCO on February 17, 2013 at 7:37pm

Jerry fallwell? Good grief. Eternity with that gasbag? Are we sure we don't have heaven and hell confused?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James M. Martin on February 17, 2013 at 9:42pm

That's the point, isn't it? One person's heaven is another person's hell. So why was Jerry Falwell telling us all how to run our lives? When I studied religion I read a bit about the Yezidis of Iraq. The few of them remaining (those who survived Saddam's pogroms) still worship Satan as the "ruler of the world." It was interesting to see an antinomian gnostic sect in the Muslim world. In their belief that the planet is in the clutches of the Devil, the Yezidis were like the Ophites, whose consecration of sacramental bread began with having snakes crawl over the loaves prior to ritual consumption by congregants. The implication would have to be that both the Qu'ran and the Bible are the collected lies of the Devil.