Advertisement It’s a jungle of hardcore McCain and Obama supporters on the Tribune’s news Web site, and nuance is not their stock and trade.
Here’s a sample of the comments readers attached to a story
about local Democrats’ enthusiasm for Sen. Barack Obama’s visit to La Crosse:
k.m. wrote: “I agree Sen. Obama may have had some questionable associations in the past with a few people. But guilt by association and innuendo does not disqualify him from the office he is seeking. He has disavowed those people’s comments, views and actions. Even though Sen. McCain was a brave soldier back in the day, you cannot dismiss his character flaws.”
Little Lady wrote: “I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows that I am not part of the La Crosse residents who love Obama.
I think that the sign needs to read, ‘Some confused La Crosse residents love Obama.’”
hochunkguy wrote: “Pol Pot energized the Khmer Rouge. Mohamed Farrah Adid energized al-Qaida in Somalia. Adolf Hitler energized the Germans. So why shouldn’t BHO energize the brown-shirted ‘Obama Youth?’ Adolf Hitler was a community organizer. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a governor.”
7Blue State Bruce wrote: “You forgot the one about Rumsfeld’s failed war strategy energizing/helping to create al-Qaida in Iraq.”
Double A wrote: “My Republican family and friends talk about the Democrats as if they are raving lunatics who will drag this country through the mud. My Democrat friends talk about Republicans like they are power-driven maniacs about to lay waste to our country. The issues are serious. The language is vitriolic. It scares me.”
Melon Head wrote: “Time for a group hug!”
This is capitalism?
Things turned mildly thoughtful in the discussion of the $700 billion financial rescue package rejected Monday by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Here’s a sample of comments visitors left at www.lacrossetribune.com.
Michael Welch wrote: “A capitalist system per Adam Smith’s ideal contains dozens of SMALL enterprises (Smith’s famous ‘pin factory’) competing in a ‘free,’ i.e. ‘open,’ market unaffected by government intervention in favor of any one. Smith in fact authored ‘The Wealth of Nations’ in 1776(!) in order to rail AGAINST the British government’s ‘merchantilistic’ policies which aided monopolies and concentrations of capital, e.g. the famous and notorious British East India Co., which really ‘started’ the British empire. Since Smith has been roundly ignored by the REAL controllers of wealth, the result has ALWAYS been government favoritism for the rich and now, ironically or obviously, take your pick, a REPUBLICAN administration blatantly advocates SOCIALISM but ONLY for those richest! Would ya ever?!”
rickL wrote: “As Michael Welch said, the Republican president is advocating socialism. Nobody can deny that. It is right in our face. The Democrats are no better. They want to take all our money and give it to people who feel entitled to get free stuff like health insurance. ...”
seekthetruth wrote: “Why is it no one wants to accept the fact that it was corporate greed that caused this problem? Look at the salary increases of the CEOs involved with this mess. America is being ‘forced’ to pay for their greedy plans not working out like they had wanted.”
random annoying bozo wrote: “There is no one problem that caused this mess, but a series of monumental stupidity over the decades, by politicians, by corporate interests and by citizens. There is enough blame to go around to everyone on this one ....”
That time of year
Dan Springer’s column about the dopey things people do after drinking too much on the opening weekend of Oktoberfest drew more readers — and comments — than any other recent column.
Here’s what a few visitors at www.lacrossetribune.com had to say:
rfield wrote: “This isn’t Oktoberfest’s fault. This drunken stupidity excuse has been used very recently in the theft of a wheelchair. Go downtown any weekend night and you’ll find someone relieving himself in the alley. They just don’t get caught. ...”
please wrote: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Oktoberfest besides the fact that contrary to what they claim, the city DOES encourage drunken behavior. Opening the festivities with the tapping of a keg, for one. And two, closing off the streets downtown pretty much says, ‘Well, we don’t encourage binge drinking, but if it’s going to happen, at least we have them enclosed in a corral.’ That makes those downtown even LESS responsible, knowing they don’t even have to ‘look both ways’ before crossing a street. ...”
The Shining wrote: “I think it’s long past due that there be NO MORE OKTOBERFEST. ...”
tgjdsr wrote: “This event may bring out the drunk and stupid in people, but this is no different than any other weekend here in La Crosse. Granted the population more than doubles during this event and the odds of actually witnessing these types of behavior become much more apparent, but blaming the fest for it is not the reason behind people’s behavior. It’s sad that people can’t find enjoyment in such events without the satisfaction of getting ‘drunk and stupid.’”
Coughin Corner wrote: “The bottom line is this: As long as Octoberfest makes money for the city of La Crosse, it’s not going ANYWHERE!”
