THE POLITICAL ARENA!!! Political Gladiators Inside!!

[RobTheDrummer]

When people tell me I suck, I just look at them and say..."yep."

[f.sciarrillo]

You don't need to tell me that I suck. I already know I do.

[Don Hughes]

Going off of politics here, but this is an interesting concept to me. I feel that as a musician, I suck too, and a few people here have said that. We are so hard on ourselves that what talents we indeed may have are skewed by the fact that we are so hard on ourselves. It has always interested me that no matter what we may achieve, no matter how many lives we touch, no matter how many students we teach, to ourselves, we're always looking more at our own faults.

[Hawk]

I feel I'm the weakest link in our band.

Did you know John Lennon wrote "Help" because he thought he was the weak link in the Beatles. He went to Paul and Paul said, "No it's me". Then they went to George and Ringo and each one thought they were the odd man out. Then Paul wrote the music for John's words for "Help".

[shredder138]

Hey guys, remember Metalrules, Aja, and there were a few others I can't remember their names. They sucked but at least they left after a fairly short period of time or got banned. It sure would be nice if the ucjoe would do the same. 5 years of assholism deserves a ban I'd say.

[songsmith]

Yeah, joe's NEVER going to understand that. Look back through this or any other thread, and figure out where I said I'm better than those guys he's talking about. I'm not afraid of those guys, musically or otherwise (I played alongside Jason this summer and had a blast) but I never once even suggested I'm better at their instrument than them.
Joe's a different matter altogether. I will cut heads with him any day of the year, on any instrument, vocals, any style, anywhere, anytime. This is his attempt at getting out of that challenge, because he has nothing to back it up. When you push back at a bully, they back down like the wounded little birds they are.
Joe, the rivalry you're trying to create between myself and Jason and Scott is made-up, false, and completely untrue. We have the psychological ability to seperate politics and our craft. You wield your politics like a club, and YOU HAVE NO CRAFT. You are a fanboy, UNLESS...
Accept my challenge to play onstage. Or post your original music, so we can compare it to mine. This is no longer about my abilities, it's about yours. What's it gonna be, Joe?

[shredder138]

I love your sig, when and where would that be?

[songsmith]

Iraq War vet shot in the face with a tear-gas canister by police. I think we were discussing injustices to military personnel earlier. He was not demonstrating violently, he was standing still, and had been saluting the flag. When people tried to help him, they were gassed as well.
The Bill of Rights guarantees the right to peaceably assemble.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEj_4fqD ... ture=share

Are you questioning the actions of an authoritarian government? I thought you love it when your beloved fascist government stomps on liberty, as when they raided the Gibson Guitar factory. You took the side of the government then.

Actually, I was the one who pointed out that Martin sicced the dogs on them. Two corporations using police as a weapon is different than Republican mayors using police as a weapon. I'm blaming the shooter, you're blaming the gun.

[KeithReynolds]

This is a political thread, and youre STILLLLLLL arguing about who sucks at instruments more???

[Banned]

Yeah, joe's NEVER going to understand that. Look back through this or any other thread, and figure out where I said I'm better than those guys he's talking about. I'm not afraid of those guys, musically or otherwise (I played alongside Jason this summer and had a blast) but I never once even suggested I'm better at their instrument than them.
Joe's a different matter altogether. I will cut heads with him any day of the year, on any instrument, vocals, any style, anywhere, anytime. This is his attempt at getting out of that challenge, because he has nothing to back it up. When you push back at a bully, they back down like the wounded little birds they are.
Joe, the rivalry you're trying to create between myself and Jason and Scott is made-up, false, and completely untrue. We have the psychological ability to seperate politics and our craft. You wield your politics like a club, and YOU HAVE NO CRAFT. You are a fanboy, UNLESS...
Accept my challenge to play onstage. Or post your original music, so we can compare it to mine. This is no longer about my abilities, it's about yours. What's it gonna be, Joe?

Yo asswipe, it was Paul, your geek buddy who started the comparison, why would I ever bring up those two great musicians and you in the same sentence.

You did not like it that I said that I listen to them because of their talent, not politics.

You then went on and on bragging about your unbelievable successful music career.

When I pointed out that you had hit the pinnacle of said career by achieving part time retail work at age 46 you did not like it. I see you recorded 500 songs, which you so proudly bragged. One would think you would have some great financial payoff from that output. Yet, you did not even pay federal income taxes and received the earned income tax credit. How could that be with someone as successful as you?????

This truth pissed you off even more, as the truth often does.

You then try to make it a comparison to me. I never compared myself musically to anyone. I am just an amateur beginner, and always will be. I like to jam with my friends and did sit in a few times with a local band that is no longer playing.

So you want to pretend to be a big man, , and pretend I made this a personal music challenge. Nice try. I have clearly said those 2 mentioned musicians are much better than you, and that is why I go to see them play.

If you really are this competitive, lets make it more personal. You grew up on a farm, so did I. Lets make it a good ole wrassaling match. Much more mano a mano, less room for subjective outcomes.

Lets get personal. Or leave it alone.

[songsmith]

Yo asswipe, it was Paul, your geek buddy who started the comparison, why would I ever bring up those two great musicians and you in the same sentence.

You're the one trying to make it look like I have some sort of musical beef with your buddies.

You did not like it that I said that I listen to them because of their talent, not politics.

Not true at all. I say on a regular basis that I don't care what you or any other fanboy thinks. I just prove you wrong.

You then went on and on bragging about your unbelievable successful music career.

Yes, when I achieve anything, it's a character flaw. POST YOUR SONGS, JOE.

When I pointed out that you had hit the pinnacle of said career by achieving part time retail work at age 46 you did not like it.

Yes, anyone who has a day-job is a failure. You covered that already. I think I pointed out that you do not work for a living at all.

I see you recorded 500 songs, which you so proudly bragged. One would think you would have some great financial payoff from that output.

Let's hear the original music output that allows you to be the judge. Stop avoiding it, joey. You are the jury, and juries are made up of PEERS. Be my peer. Show your opinion is based on something other than "I like what I like." If you want to engage in a pecker contest, put some meat on the table, or go away.

Yet, you did not even pay federal income taxes and received the earned income tax credit. How could that be with someone as successful as you?????

So you remember little things like my income and tax status, and forget the entire Bush administration? You also seem to forget your own tax status, which government-dependent non-employed.

This truth pissed you off even more, as the truth often does.

The truth is that you can't sing, write, or play anything, you don't have a job or a marriage, and you have a big f*cking mouth online. I'm not pissed off by that at all, I think it's pretty typical for an average superfan.

You then try to make it a comparison to me. I never compared myself musically to anyone. I am just an amateur beginner, and always will be. I like to jam with my friends and did sit in a few times with a local band that is no longer playing.

Then, pray tell, who are you to judge my abilities? One of us works their ass off for decades to make music, and one of us passes judgement without the benefit of a clue.

So you want to pretend to be a big man, , and pretend I made this a personal music challenge. Nice try. I have clearly said those 2 mentioned musicians are much better than you, and that is why I go to see them play.

More of the same. You didn't make the challenge, I DID. Show the world what you can do, I do it all the time, I'm unafraid. You can't twist my words, it's all here in white-on-black. Answer the challenge like a man.

If you really are this competitive, lets make it more personal. You grew up on a farm, so did I. Lets make it a good ole wrassaling match. Much more mano a mano, less room for subjective outcomes.
Lets get personal. Or leave it alone.

Yes! I've been waiting for the bully to take this to the physical realm. I won't vaccillate, or back down, or twist anything. Let me make this iron-clad and absolutely clear:

I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE.
Any time you want to swing on me, in any way, at any place, for any reason. Bring a gun, bring a knife, bring a friend, bring an atom bomb. I am not, and will not threaten you in any way. It is YOUR choice.

Now, answer MY challenge to a musical showdown, and prove you are worthy of what you say. If this gets me bounced, I have no problem with that, because the admin's here are old friends, and will remain so. As for you, you need to quit while you're still a free man.

[bassist_25]

Paul compared you to them musically. I laughed at that.

I didn't compare anyone musically. You invented that strawman straight out of your own head. I simply said that if Johnny had similar politics to you, you'd be more apt to follow him. Reading comprehension, Joe - you don't need a fancy education to have that.

[Banned]

Are you jealous that I am very comfortably retired? You seem to harp on that alot. Well we all know that jealousy and envy are your strengths.

Where ever do you get the brain fart that one has to write music to know good from bad? Does everyone who has ever bought music have to be a composer too? Fail. Nice reach, but fail like everything else you do.

You are the competitive one wanting a confrontation. I am just giving you a chance at your twisted fantasy. You want a challenge, I have to stop giggling.

Of course everyone can plainly see you have no balls to challenge the 2 musicians you were compared to that started this whole thing.

In the future, I wouldn't brag about you great songwriting career when all you have to show for it is part time retail work and living off other people's taxes. An objective judgement of your life is a failure so far. You still have time to do something with your life, but I doubt it. The douche is strong in you.

[songsmith]

Of course everyone can plainly see you have no balls to challenge the 2 musicians you were compared to that started this whole thing.

In the future, I wouldn't brag about you great songwriting career when all you have to show for it is part time retail work and living off other people's taxes.

Still trying to poison the well, eh, fan-puppy? Any competition between myself and them is your fantasy. In fact, I will now make it a special point to play music with both of them... because I can.

I'm going to keep bragging about my great songwriting, too... all I have to show for it lots and lots of applause, compliments, and respect from here to Nashville, which you'll never get. Have fun "comfortably retired" on unemployment, I'll keep my part-time job, and you and I will both make too little to pay taxes. My challenge to you stands: Put up, or shut up, Superfan. DO something musical, and let people judge it. If not, you're stuck with all the LAZERZ_and_ENERGY you deserve.

[Banned]

Of course everyone can plainly see you have no balls to challenge the 2 musicians you were compared to that started this whole thing.

In the future, I wouldn't brag about you great songwriting career when all you have to show for it is part time retail work and living off other people's taxes.

In fact, I will now make it a special point to play music with both of them...
Have fun "comfortably retired" on unemployment, I'll keep my part-time job, and you and I will both make too little to pay taxes.

I am sure they are so excited.

I am retired and probably pay in taxes what you earn. PM Lonewolf and ask him to explain investing.

[RobTheDrummer]

Ok, so who cares who does what? The thing is, there are a lot of problems facing this country, and have been for years. What does arguing about your income or bands have to do with anything political? Calling each other out accomplishes nothing, just makes you look like a bunch of children. Be grown ups people, and have a real discussion.

[songsmith]

I am retired and probably pay in taxes what you earn. PM Lonewolf and ask him to explain investing.

Riiiiiight. You're a Unemployment Compensation gazillionaire. You're retired alright, who'd hire you? Nobody's buying it. PM Lonewolf and ask him to explain about being a musician.
You're just butthurt because I won't back down... get used to it.

Rob, good luck having any kind of adult conversation with Baby Huey calling everyone Marxists and authoritarians. He's mad as a March hare, and getting worse by the day.

[Banned]

Second Energy Department-backed company goes bankrupt

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wir ... s-bankrupt

"A Massachusetts company that received a $43 million Energy Department loan guarantee last year filed for bankruptcy Sunday, a step certain to fuel criticism of federal green energy financing in the wake of the solar company Solyndra’s collapse."

I wonder if we will find out that the CEO of fraud is also a big money bundler for stumpy's god.

[shredder138]

Hey joe, songsmith has been a respected member of this forum since it's birth and has been nothing but informative and helpful to a lot of people throughout the years. You have been a flaming dickhead on here for what, six years? You prove time and time again how immature you are with your ridiculous know-it-all rants and defamatory remarks. I can't figure out why you're still here, plenty of people have been banned for much less than what you spew out on a daily basis. This is ROCKPAGE and you, joey, don NOT rock, so why don't you get on your little keyboard and see if cockpage exists and go there. Dick.

[DrumAndDestroy]

[songsmith]

Ron Paul didn't think Texas got enough Stimulus money from Obama, so he and his buddies asked for more. For high-speed rail. Scan of actual document. Blog posts are okay with joe, so they're allowed now.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2 ... -paul.html

[songsmith]

Fred Upton, who is "investigating" the Solyndra debacle, asked Energy Sec. Stephen Chu for money for the exact same consortium that funded Solyndra. A few other deficit-hawks' names are on this document, too. Sounds like the usual election-cycle tactic of pointing out political money with one hand, while taking political money with the other:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2 ... upton.html

[songsmith]

List of Ron Paul earmarks for FY2010. 2011 has even more, like testing imported shrimp for $3M. (The shrimper's lobby doesn't want Gulf shrimp tested for petrochemical toxins)

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/ ... =n00005906

[Gallowglass]

Ron Paul didn't think Texas got enough Stimulus money from Obama, so he and his buddies asked for more. For high-speed rail. Scan of actual document. Blog posts are okay with joe, so they're allowed now.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2 ... -paul.html

I don't know about this particular instance, because I just saw it and haven't had time to research it; but you can find numerous examples of similar proposals from Ron Paul. Invariably, when it comes to the vote he votes against it. When asked in the past why he will propose something only to vote against it later, he states that he feels it is his duty as a representative to bring proposals that people in his district have asked him to, but as a principled (yes, that word actually applies to him) politician he can't vote in favor of it. This somewhat paradoxical behavior seems confusing to some, but I understand it. He's trying to fill his obligations to both his district and his convictions about our Constitution at the same time.

These convictions have certainly gotten him into trouble in the past. One time Congress was proposing awarding a gold medal in honor of Rosa Parks that would have cost U.S. taxpayers $30,000. Despite the fact that Dr. Paul had openly praised Ms. Parks prior to the event and cited her as an important example of civil disobedience (something he has often advocated), he voted against the award stating that it wasn't something that was Constitutionally within Congress' rightful authority to do. He then made a proposal that the whole thing should still be done, only privately, and made a personal donation that would go towards the acquisition of the gold medal. He invited his fellow Congressmen to do the same. Not one of them would contribute when it was their own money they were spending and not the taxpayer's. I think Mr. Hocherl should consider this action before the next time he slanders Dr. Paul with racist epithets, btw. Dr. Paul has done a lot towards contributing to equality in this country. The fact that he holds the individual as more important than the group think racial categories shouldn't undermine that.

Another time a similar award was on the table in recognition of Reagan. Despite the fact that Reagan was a personal friend of Dr. Paul's he still voted against it, citing the same reasons and stating that the whole idea was counter intuitive to the small government mindset that Reagan advocated.

[lonewolf]

More good reasons why the federal government needs to get out of the business of picking winners and losers (mostly losers) in business.

High speed rail is a joke. With ridership at or near all time highs, Amtrak is bleeding red ink at the tune of almost a $billion per year.

A high speed rail with significantly lower capacity will probably fare worse.

This means that the government will put an IRS gun to our head and make us pay for a few suburbanites' commutes to their 6 and 7 figure jobs in the city.

I recently saw a FB sign where "liberals" were bragging that they "gave" us everything from Social Security to federal parks. They didn't "give" us jack shit. They put an IRS gun to our head, took our tax money, combined it with borrowed money and then paid top dollar for all that stuff.